USA > Pennsylvania > Delaware County > Chester > History of the Underground railroad in Chester and the neighboring counties of Pennsylvania > Part 15
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My father's house sheltered most of the prominent abolitionists of the land. Garrison, the Burleighs, Thomas Earle, Lucretia Mott, Daniel Gibbons, J. Miller McKim, Thomas Whitson, Lucy Stone, Robert Collyer and many others. I was just at an age to enjoy their rare company, and what a coterie of noble spirits they were ! How can we reverence them enough ?
* * * I have a particularly distinct recollec- tion of Thomas Earle ; I remember he was a man to take notice of a boy of twelve or fifteen. What most im- pressed me in him was his exceeding mildness-as gentle as a woman was he. He dressed well, too, I remember, and was tall and elegant looking. * * *
There is another character I will describe to you, who lived in Southern Lancaster county, Joseph C. Taylor.
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** * * He was a young farmer. One June morning . some one rattled and shook his door furiously, at the same time setting up an unearthly yell that caused him to put his head out of the window in short order. The cause of the noise was that a colored girl had been kid- napped near by, and that the kidnappers were making off with her in a covered wagon at break-neck speed toward the Maryland line, about three miles distant. In less time than it can be told, Taylor was mounted on the bare back of a plow-horse that had only a " blind " bridle, and, hatless and bootless, away he went. He had time to think, going along, and he thought how foolish would be his journey without arms. Just then he came to Jacob Kirk's store. The clerk was taking down the shutters. "For God's sake, give me a gun," said Taylor. There happened to be one in the store which he took and away. His steed was too fleet for the Marylanders. He overtook them, within, I think, about one hundred yards of the line. Riding around the wagon, he wheeled in the road, aimed his old fowling piece at the driver's head in a way that seemed to "mean business," and brought the horses to their haunches as he exclaimed: "Stir another foot and I'll blow your brains out!" A part of the sequel is that he marched the party back to a magistrate's .office, had the girl discharged and the kidnappers put in jail. That is not the best part of the sequel, how- ever; that remains to be told. The old gun hadn't the ghost of a load in it! Taylor didn't know this, neither did the kidnappers, of course, but the old gun not loaded served its purpose just as well as though it had been. * * *
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THOMAS GARRETT.
UNDERGROUND RAILROAD.
THOMAS GARRETT. (1789-1871.)
Thomas Garrett, aus uncompromising advocate of the emancipation and education of the colored race, was born in Upper Darby, Delaware county, Pennsylvania, on Eighth mo. 21st, 1789 ; he was a son of Thomas and Sarah Garrett.
A member of the Society of Friends, he held to that faith which is one of their cardinal principles, that God moves and inspires men to fulfill the work which He re- quires at their hands; from this conviction he never swerved, no matter what labor it cost, nor what vicissi- tudes and trials might beset him. His motto was " Always do right at the time irrespective of conse- quences."
He was married twice. His first wife was Mary Sharp- less, of Birmingham, Chester county, Pennsylvania, who died at Wilmington, Delaware, Seventh mo. 13th, 1827 ; his second, Rachel Mendenhall, who died Fourth mo. 20th, 1868. He survived them both. Whilst yet living at his father's house, on his return from a brief absence from home, he found the women in great distress, two men having kidnapped a colored woman in the employ of the family, and removed her in a wagon; mounting a horse, he followed them rapidly by means of a mark left by a broken tire. They went to the Navy Yard, Philadelphia, and thence to Kensington, where he saw the wagon. The men were in the bar-room-the woman was in the kitchen and was taken home with him.
It was during this ride, while meditating upon the wrongs and oppressions of the colored race in bonds, that he felt the call to aid them in throwing off the
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yoke of slavery, as his special mission in life. He de- voted himself there after fearlessly and faithfully to this work.
He removed to Wilmington, Del., in 1822.
It is a remarkable fact that, while living in a slave state, and in the largest city in that State, with a popu- lation hostile to abolitionists, and his house frequently under the rigid surveillance of police, that of the near- ly twenty-nine hundred fugitives who passed through his hands, not one was ever recaptured, with the exception of a man who had lived some years in Canada and re- turned to Wilmington to preach. Remaining there some time, he was seized and returned to bondage.
He would never directly nor indirectly entice a slave to leave his master, but when one applied to him for aid in escaping from bondage, he never refused assist- ance, let the consequences bewhat they might.
Open assistance given at one time involved him in a law suit, an account of which we extract from William Still's "Underground Railroad."
. "He met at New Castle a man, woman and six chil- dren, from down on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. The man was free, the woman had been a slave, and whilst in slavery had had, by her husband, two chil- dren; she was then set free and afterwards had four children. The whole party ran away. They traveled several days and finally reached Middletown, Del., late at night, where they were taken in and cared for by John Hunn, a wealthy Quaker. They were watched by some persons in that section, who followed them to New Castle, arrested them and sent them to jail. The sheriff and his daughter were anti-slavery people and
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wrote to Mr. Garrett, who went over and had an inter- view ; after finding that four of the party were undoubt- edly free, he returned to Wilmington and, on the fol- lowing day, he and United States Senator Wales went to New Castle and had the party taken before Judge Booth, on a writ of habeas corpus. Judge Booth decided that there was no evidence on which to hold them and that, in the absence of evidence, the presumption was al- ways in favor of freedom, and discharged them.
Mr. Garrett then said, "Here is this woman with a babe at her breast, and the child suffering from white swelling on its leg ; is there any impropriety in my get- ting a carriage and helping them over to Wilmington ?" Judge Booth responded, " certainly not." Mr. Garrett then hired the carriage, but gave the driver distinctly to understand that he only paid for the woman and the young children ; the rest might walk ; they all got in, however, and finally escaped; of course the two children born in slavery among the rest.
Six weeks afterwards the slaveholders followed them, and incited, it is said, by the Cochrans and James A. Bayard, commenced a suit against Mr. Garrett, claiming all the fugitives as slaves. Mr. Garrett's friends claim that the jury was packed to secure an adverse verdict. The trial came before Chief Justice Taney and Judge Hall in the May term, (1848) of the United States Court sitting at New Castle, Bayard representing the prosecu- tion, Wales the defendant. There were four trials in all, lasting three days; we have not room here for the details of the trial, but the juries awarded even heavier damages than the plaintiffs claimed and the judgments swept away every dollar of his property."
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The amount taken was about $8,000-all he was worth, but his spirits were not in the least affected ; and after sentence, he arose in open court and said, "Now, Judge, I do not think that I have always done my duty, being fearful of losing what little I possessed; but now that you have relieved me, I will go home and put an- other story on my house, so- that I can accommodate more of God's poor." Then turning to the large crowd in the court-room he addressed them. He was listened to throughout with the closest attention. Sometimes profound silence prevailed. Sometimes his bold asser- tions were applauded, while some who felt the keenness of his remarks tried to relieve their feelings by hissing.
But those who prosecuted him, were so impressed with his candor and honesty that one of them came forward aud shook him by the hand, asked his forgive- ness and desired his friendship, which was fully promised on condition of the person's " ceasing to be an advocate of the iniquitous system of slavery."
His household goods, along with his other property, " were sold, but were purchased by his friends and were used by him until he was able to pay for them.
He was at that time keeping an iron store and coal yard. His friends volunteered all the means needed to continue the business, and even more than he required ; they saw his faith, honesty and boldness put through a severe test in the crucible of a Southern court, and that these came out pure as gold.
He was then sixty years of age, but he applied him- self assiduously to business, which vastly increased ; he put the additional story on his house, as he promised the Judge; fugitives came to him in greater numbers,
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for his name became more known in the Southern States than ever before ; he aided all who came, at the same time contributing to the reliet of other suffering poor, regardless of color, and with all these acts of charity, he was enabled to repay all who had loaned him money, and amassed a competence within a few years.
Charitable friends in England had long assisted him with funds for the relief of the slave, and of later time they furnished more than he could advantageously use in the cause. This excess he returned to them.
In an obituary it is said of him that he seemed scarcely to know what fear was, and although irate slave- holders often called on him to know the whereabouts of their slaves, he met them placidly, and never denied having helped the fugitives on their way, but positively declined to give any information, and when they flourished pistols or bowie knives to force their demand, he calmly pushed the weapons aside and told them that none but cowards resorted to such means to carry out their ends, and that Quakers were not afraid of such things.
On one occasion $10,000 were offered for him in Maryland ; he wrote to the parties, that this was not enough ; send $20,000 and he would go himself. They did not send it, nor did they make any further efforts to be confronted by a man of such boldness.
For a long time when it was expected that he would be murdered for his avowed interest in the poor slave, many of the blacks would get into his yard by turns and stay there all night to protect him, against his posi- tive orders, for he feared nothing except neglect of his duty to the cause which he had espoused.
He was fertile in plans for directing or conveying fu- L
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gitives out of Wilmington to safer places. As the phy- sician prescribes for each individual case according to conditions and symptoms, so did he promptly advise means to meet the necessities of each individual case that applied to him. Frequently he would give a man a scythe, hoe, rake or some other implement to carry on the shoulder through the town as if going to work, with directions that when a certain bridge was reached to hide the tool under it, then strictly follow directions to the next station.
These tools would find their way back and again be ready for similar duty.
He gave those he sent on foot such directions as en- abled them readily to find the places of safety, and gave the fugitives papers by which the persons to whom they were sent would know from whom they came, and that they were neither impostors nor spies.
He wrote many letters to the managers of the anti- slavery office in Philadelphia, informing them of slaves en route for their place, sometimes of single individuals, sometimes of parties of from two to thirty or more; if hunters were in close pursuit and large rewards offered, he apprised them of all danger and gave them such di- rections as were necessary to secure protection and safety. These letters gave evidence of his ever-watch- ful mind, the secrecy, wisdom, discreetness and success of his plannings, his indefatigable labors and his liber- ality in paying money where needed for the assistance of " God's poor," as he was pleased to call them, out of slavery.
Ifhe knew of a party coming who were in danger, he sent his agents to intercept thein before entering the
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city, and have them ferried across the Christiana river, where a carriage would meet them, if they were women and children; if men, they were guided to some safe place on foot, and then directions were given them how to proceed.
Joseph G. Walker, now living, Tenth mo. 1881, at the age of seventy-six years, was one of Thomas Garrett's principal assistants in the removal of fugitives out of Wilmington to safe routes northward. Though now quite crippled and nearly blind, he warms up with the animation of earlier days when he recounts the many exploits and the long journeys he frequently made to
" Point the bondman's way, And turn the spoiler from his prey."
During one fall he took away one hundred and thirty slaves ; on one occasion he went with seven. From three o'clock in the afternoon until six o'clock next morning he walked over sixty miles ; he did complain a little of this, however, and said he would not do it again in the same time. His father was a West Indian and his mother was English or Scotch; hence his inherited powers of locomotion and endurance.
Fugitives were frequently taken from Thomas Gar- rett's in carriages or on foot, while the reputed owners or their agents were watching his movements in other parts of the city where he was apparently engaged in his business pursuits.
Officers were sometimes stationed around the house to capture slaves who had been traced to Wilmington. At times it was necessary to wade the Brandywine in winter with fugitives ; after which careful directions were given and the agents would return by the bridge,
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on seeing whom, the constables in waiting, on one occa- sion, said quietly, " it is all over, we may as well go home."
His house being a Southern station of the under- ground line was the scene of many startling and even amusing experiences. One summer evening when there was a collection of old plain Friends at the house, he was called to the kitchen where he found a greatly ter- rified poor woman who had run away, and from her statement it was evident that pursuers would be there in a few minutes to watch the house. He took her up stairs, dressed her in his wife's clothes, with plain hand- kerchief, bonnet and veil, and made her take his arm. They walked out of the front door where she recog- nized her master as she passed. He was eagerly watch- ing the house at the time.
(There were several underground stations below Wil- mington, nearly all Friends. Those who resided down the State could be depended upon for the service. John Hunn, spoken of in the extract from " William Still's Underground Railroad," was particularly active and was at one time fined very heavily, perhaps to the extent of his property).
Thomas Garrett, after the opening of the Rebellion, wrote several very strong letters to President Lincoln, urging the "Emancipation Proclamation." He lived to see his most earnest wish accomplished-that to which he had devoted the energies of a lifetime-viz. : the Emancipation of the Slaves of the United States of America. On the arrival of the glorious news he was waited upon by a delegation of his colored friends re- questing him to surrender himself to them for the day.
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He yielded to their wishes implicitly and the event was duly celebrated, without noise but with thankfulness and joy.
He expressed himself as entirely satisfied with his work and died calmly and peacefully on First mo. 25th, 1871, in the eighty-second year of his age.
He was interred in Friends' Grounds at Wilmington, Del .; a vigorous oak (now of good size) was planted be- tween the head and foot stones of his grave.
JACOB LINDLEY. (1744-1814.)
Jacob Lindley, who lived in New Garden, Chester county, near where the village of Avondale is now situ- ated, and owned six hundred acres of land in that vicinity, was the first to give assistance to fugitives in Chester county, of whom we have been able to glean any account. He aided many on their way to freedom long before the Underground Railroad was established.
About the year 1801, a line was formed by a few friends from Elisha Tyson's, Baltimore, to his place, thence to Pughtown and Valley Forge as described in the account of Abraham Bonsall.
Jacob Lindley was sympathizing and affable in dis- position, sensitive in feeling and energetic in action. He was a prominent and powerful minister in the Society of Friends, a man of extraordinary intelligence and ability, a pungent writer when he assailed either open vice or the sinister means used to deceive and wrong others for pecuniary gain.
He possessed a large and strong physique, and a voice of great volume. When addressing an assemblage, and powerfully moved by the earnestness of his feelings in
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rebuking sin in any phase or beneath any guise, or in pleading the rights of humanity, especially of the down- trodden, enslaved and oppressed African, he expressed himself in words and tone and manner so emphatic as to reach the most common understanding, or to touch the most adamantine heart. While he sent the poniard of conviction directly home to the hearts of the guilty, he was tender toward the feelings of the unintentionally erring, or those who strove to do right against adverse influences of a potential character difficult at times wholly to overcome.
His genuine kindness, and love for all the children of God, was a marked trait of his character. A respectable mechanic who had been the recipient of his hospitality remarked that "the house of Jacob Lindley and his wife was in one respect like the kingdom of Heaven, no profession or complexion being excluded."
Toward the close of his life he wrote: "Oh ! surely I may say, I shudder and my tears involuntarily steal from my eyes, for my poor, oppressed, afflicted, tor- mented black brethren-hunted-frightened to see a white man-turned from every source of comfort that is worth living for in this stage of being. The tears, the groans, the sighs of these, have surely ascended to the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth, and as a thick cloud are awfully suspended over this land. I tenderly and tremblingly feel for the poor masters involved in this difficulty. I am awfully awakened into fear for our poor country." He was twice married; both wives being ministers of the gospel.
On the twelfth of Sixth mo. (June) 1814, he attended New Garden meeting, and spoke with his usual earnest-
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ness and power. During the course of his sermon he intimated " his conviction that there were those present who would not see the light of another day," and added, " perhaps it may be myself." That afternoon he was thrown out of a carriage upon his head, dislocating his neck. He was aged about seventy.
LEVI B. WARD.
In 1848, two men drove up to the house of Levi B. Ward, East Marlborough, Chester county, while he was absent from home, seized upon a colored boy seventeen years of age, and claimed him as their property. Mrs. Ward remonstrated against their taking him, but they replied that they had papers to prove that he belonged to them. They did not show the papers, but hurried away with the boy and the family never heard from him after-ward.
It was supposed that the men were kidnappers who had been waiting an opportunity to take him when no one but women was about to interfere.
JAMES N. TAYLOR. (Born Third month 4th, 1813.)
James N. Taylor, from early boyhood, felt an interest in the anti-slavery movement, and a sympathy for the fugitive. In 1841 he removed from East Fallowfield, Chester county, to West Marlborough. Prior to that date he assisted all slaves who came to his place, but was not then connected with the Underground Railroad management. After removing to Marlborough, his willingness to aid fugitives being known, his residence was made a branch station, and he received passengers from William Rakestraw and Day Wood, in Lancaster
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county, and from James Fulton and Amos Preston, Chester county.
One fugitive was so closely pursued that James took him to Lancaster, put him on the cars and sent him to Lafayette, Indiana. He was so nearly white that but few would have suspected that in his veins flowed a trace of African blood.
In 1844, eighteen men, women and children came to his place on their way "toward the North Star." They were sheltered in the depths of some straw, and next night taken to Isaac Mendenhall's.
After the Christiana riot, Parker, Pinkney and John- son and one other came to his place, and were taken to Isaac Mendenhall's. He was not aware at the time who they were.
The last who came were brought in a dearborn in day-time by Ann Preston and Elizabeth Coates. They were well covered so as to attract no attention.
James N. Taylor assisted in organizing the first Anti- Slavery Society in Chester county.
ISAAC MENDENHALL.
CHAPTER XV.
ISAAC AND DINAH MENDENHALL .- Interesting Incidents .- HARRIET TUBMAN .- Assists Parker, Pinkney and Johnson. - 'Squire Jacob Lamborn .- Sarah Pearson Opens Free Produce Store in Hamor- ton .- Isaac Mendenhall Disowned .- Assist in Organizing Society of Progressive Friends. - Reunited to Original Society .- Golden Anniversary of Wedding .- Original Estate.
ISAAC AND DINAH MENDENHALL.
(Isaac Mendenhall, Born Ninth Mo. 26th, 1806, Died Twelfth Mo. 23d, 1882. Dinah Hannum Mendenhall, Born Tenth Mo. 15th, 1807.)
The home of Isaac and Dinah Mendenhall, in Ken- nett township, near Longwood, ten miles from Wilming- ton, was always open to receive the liberty-seeking slave. Their station being nearest the Delaware line was eagerly sought by fugitives as soon as they entered the Free State. They were generally sent by Thomas Garrett, of Wilmington, who, starting them on the road, directed them to " go on and on until they came to a stone-gate post, and then turn in." Sometimes he sent a note by them saying, " I send you three," (or four or five, as the case might be) "bales of black wool," which was to assure them that these colored persons were not impostors.
No record was kept of the number they aided, but during a period of thirty-four years it amounted to several hundred. Many were well dressed and intelli- gent.
At one time fourteen came on a Seventh-day (Satur- day) night and remained over next day. The women and children were secreted in a room in the spring-house,
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and the men in the barn. As they usually entertained a great many visitors on First-days (Sundays), and some of these were pro-slavery Friends, the fugitives had to be kept very quiet. On Third-day (Tuesday) night Isaac and Josiah Wilson, who lived near by, took them to John Jackson's, Darby. Josiah and his wife, Mary, were ever ready to give their personal aid and counsel.
One woman whom Thomas Garrett brought there was a somewhat curious, but interesting character, and endowed with a spiritualistic faith. The first night after leaving her inaster she began to regret and to wonder whether or not she was doing right ; whether she should return or continue her course and risk being captured and taken back. She went into a woods, and sat down and cried. While in that deep, prayerful spirit, as to what was best for her to do, a voice seemed to say to her, " Cheer up, Mary ; go on, I will protect thee." With this fresh cheer in her heart, she went on, arrived at Thomas Garrett's, who, as above related, took her to Isaac Mendenhall's, where she remained three months, and was a most faithful servant. She said they were told in the South that " abolitionists were wicked people," but that " she never knowed there was such kind people in the world as they."
A colored woman named Harriet Tubman, living near the line, was active in helping hundreds to escape. In point of bravery and success she might well be called a second Joan of Arc. She would go fearlessly into the Slave States, talk with the slaves, tell them how to escape, direct them on the road, and thus during one visit among them, would start numbers on their way northward to freedom. Large sums of money were
DINAH MENDENHALL.
ยท
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offered for her capture, but all in vain. She could elude patrols and pursuers with as much ease and unconcern as an eagle would soar through the heavens. She " had faith in God;" always asked Him what to do, and to di_ rect her, "which," she said, "He always did." She would talk about " consulting with God," or "asking of Him," just as one would consult a friend upon mat- ters of business ; and she said " He never deceived her."
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