USA > Pennsylvania > Delaware County > Chester > History of the Underground railroad in Chester and the neighboring counties of Pennsylvania > Part 19
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they said "they followed the star by day and slept in the woods or in the houses of colored people by night, and were directed from place to place until they reached there." They were very guarded in con versa- tion until assured, when talking with William, that he was " Massa Barnard," when they would tell him "We'se some cul'lud folks goin' North." If it was in the early part of the night, they were given a good supper and beds, and started again on their journey before daylight. If very weary from traveling a long distance, they were kept until next night. Women and children were always brought and taken in covered wagons. If there were reports of close pursuit they were sent on- ward without delay.
After the enactment of the Fugitive Slave Law, three rough looking men drove up in front of the house, whose demeanor aroused suspicion that they were look- ing for negroes. There were six concealed in the house at that time. These were hurried out the back-door into a wheat-field, while William engaged the inen in conversation.
Immediately after the Christiana riot, when the whole country was aroused, the vicinity of the tragedy in a state of excitement, and the negroes around there were hunted in every direction, a number of them came to William Barnard's almost crazed with fear, and asked for protection. They had traveled all night. A good breakfast was given them, and as houses afforded but doubtful security then from officers with search warrants, they were put into shocks of corn-fodder in an adjacent field. Next night they were taken further from the scene of disturbance.
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William Barnard was a man of warm, social nature, strongly attached to friends, and, having a Christian love for the whole human family, his desire always was to promote their best interest and happiness.
Firm in his adherence to what he believed to be right, conscientious in his business relations, and keenly alive to the wrongs of slavery, he abstained from tlie use of all articles produced by the unpaid labor of the slave.
Being descended from a long line of Quaker ancestry, his love for that Society was strong; but when they were unwilling to advance as far as he in works of moral reform, his feeling of unity with them began to wane, and by an act of the Society, he, with several others of a reformatory spirit, ceased to be members. He then gave his support in organizing the Society of Progressive Friends.
He was a sincere seeker after truth, and always wel- comed to his home and heart all who sought to promote the higher culture of humanity, however much their views might differ from his own.
" No soul can soar too loftily whose aim Is God-given Truth and brother love of man."
He was twice married, his second wife being a sister of that earnest pioneer in the anti-slavery cause, Benja- min Lundy.
The name of Zebulon Thomas, (Born 1781-Died 1865), occurs several times in this history. His house in Downingtown was the scene of one of the most infamous cases of kidnapping that ever took place in Pennsyl- vania. This event occurred early one morning in the Fourth Month (April) of 1848. The colored boy had
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just arisen, opened the house and was kindling the fire when three white men entered. Frightened at their appearance he ran and hid. Taking the lighted candle, they went up stairs directly to the chamber where the poor girl lay sound asleep. They lifted her from the bed and carried her down stairs. In the entry of the second floor they met one of the women who, hearing an unusual sound, had sprung from her bed. Her screams and those of the girl, aroused Zebulon, who hurried, undressed, from his chamber on the ground floor. He endeavored to save the girl, but his efforts were powerless against the three. With frightful im- precations they hurried her to the carriage which was in waiting, and drove off. Quickly as possible he started in pursuit. Reaching West Chester he learned that they had driven through the borough in a two- horse vehicle at full speed a half an hour before.
This stealing of the girl must have been concocted, and the carrying out of the plan aided by persons well acquainted with the premises and the town. And a knowledge of the scheme was not confined to those who came to the house, as three or four men of that village took a position in a barn close by, to " see the fun."
Through the efforts of many friend, this unfortunate child was rescued froin the hands of slave-traders in Baltimore and, with her mother, was afterward helped on to the North. When Zebulon Thomas's family last heard from mother and daughter, they were living in Canada.
CHAPTER XVIII.
ISAAC AND THAMAZINE P. MEREDITH .- MORDECAI AND ESTHER HAYES. -MAHLON AND AMOS PRESTON .- CHANDLER AND HANNAH M. DAR- LINGTON .- BENJAMIN AND HANNAH S. KENT .- A Large Party of Fugitives .- ENOCH LEWIS .- Conscientious Laborg .- Redeems & Negro at Great Risk.
ISAAC AND THAMAZINE P. MEREDITH.
(Isaac Meredith, Born Eleventh Mo. 18th, 1801 .- Died Ninth Mo. 28th, 1874.) (Thamazine P. Meredith, Born First Mo. 11th, 1812.)
The home of Isaac and Thamazine P. Meredith, Newlin, Chester county, was situated in a secluded spot, and therefore possessed rare advantages as a station for the aid of "God's Poor" to freedom. Slaves were brought there from Thomas Garrett, John Cox, Simon and William Barnard, Moses and Samuel Pennock, Dr. Fussell, and frequently from other places ; and were generally taken to Dr. Eshleman, Gravener Marsh, Benjamin Price, John Vickers, Nathan Evans and Maris Woodward.
Simon Barnard frequently brought them part way, then gave them a slip of paper with writing to show they were not imposters. Isaac Meredith, or some other trusted person, took them to other stations, or so far on the way as to obviate the necessity of their making any enquiries along such sections of the routes as were known to be hostile to them.
There were more arrivals in winter than in summer. Scarcely a week passed during that season in which one or more " trains " did not arrive with passengers leaving
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the pleasant breezes of the South for a more rigorous climate North, that the natural rights and blessings of liberty might be enjoyed by themselves and their children.
A slave woman was at one time brought by her mis- tress to Wilmington. While in the back yard adjoining Thomas Garrett's residence, his hired girl told her that if she wished to be free, she could be. She accepted the offer, and was taken to Dr. Bartholomew Fussell, from there to Isaac Meredith and thence to Joseph Hawley's house, where she hired. She soon became discontented on account of her husband and child, whom she had left behind. She " wanted to go back to massa," for, she said, " we'll all be free some time ; we'se all prayin' for it ; and we'se sure de Lord will set us free soon. I knows he will ; he will hear ; 'cause we'se all prayin." She went back, but the family never heard from her afterward.
Six large, strong men, were brought to Isaac Mere- dith's house at one time by William Barnard. They had escaped from Maryland, had been pursued and shot at, and the bullet-holes in their coats attested to the proximity of the death-dealing missiles to their bodies. Isaac Meredith and Lewis Marshall took them to a station further northward.
Many fugitives when arriving were weary and ex- hausted from anxiety and rapid flight. If immediate danger was not apprehended, they were kept a few days to rest.
John Cox's train, conducted by his son, J. William, frequently came well laden. He announced his arrival by a rap at the door; and when called to from a win- dow above " Who's there?" replied in his familiar, cheerful style, " Will Cox ; got a wagon load."
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One cold November night about twelve o'clock, he brought fifteen men, women and children, cold, hungry and excited. They had come from Delaware City, and were brought to John Cox's by "Conductor Jackson," who drove fast with the women and children while the men ran. The women at John Cox's prepared a hot substantial supper for them, but they were afraid to take time to eat. They warmed themselves while the horses were being harnessed to a large dearborn. The mnoment he drove up to Isaac and Thamazine Meredith's house, their son who had been away, returned. The fugitives were affrighted, thinking he was one of their pursuers and had overtaken them. And he, just being able in the darkness to distinguishi a dearborn and per- sons moving hurriedly around it, thought they were robbers. Both parties were for the instant surprised, and not a little disconcerted. By some, almost invol- untary, expressions, each at once recognized the other's voice -- a mutual relief.
The fugitives were willing to remain there long enough to eat. The women had just finished a baking, of which, after the fifteen had satisfied their hunger, unlike the loaves and fishes told of in the Scriptures, there was nothing left.
Isaac and his son took this party on different roads that night, and met at a designated place above Marshall- ton ; then separated and met near Downingtown, where they made a disposition of them among agents at and near that place.
Isaac Meredith was a member of Kennett Monthly Meeting of Friends, took an active part in the business of the Society, and was clerk for many years, until the
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anti-slavery trouble in the meeting reached its climax, when he and his wife, who was also a member and an earnest co-worker with him, came under the ban of con- demnation and their life-long connection with the Society was severed. They then united with the Pro- gressive Friends.
The war over, slavery abolished, the Dove of Peace settled down once more upon the Society, and the olive branch was tendered to Isaac and his wife, who accepted the offering and the unity of former days was again es- tablished. They, however, maintained their freedom of thought, and their desire to see and aid the advancement of all necessary reforms.
MORDECAI AND ESTHER HAYES.
(Mordecai Hayes, 1794-1837.) (Esther Hayes, 1788-1869.)
Mordecai and Esther Hayes, Newlin, were among the first agents on that branch of the route through Chester county. They were earnest in the cause, and no weather, however stormy, deterred them from attending anti- slavery meetings within reasonable distance.
Fugitives were brought to their place from Wilming- ton, from William Barnard's and other stations on that route, in numbers ranging from two to a wagon load. It was customary for those bringing them to drive under an open wagon-shed, arouse the family, and then unload. They were secreted in the house and at the barn. ยท Mordecai's son, Jacob, took them at night in a dear- born to Gravener Marsh, Dr. Eshleman, Esther Lewis, John Vickers or Nathan Evans. If there was but one or two, they were given a slip of paper with directions either to Gravener Marsh or Dr. Eshleman.
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MAHLON AND AMOS PRESTON.
(Mahlon Preston, 1781-1855.) (Amos Preston, Born Seventh Mo., 15th, 1786. Died Twelfth Mo. 2d. 1856.)
Mahlon and Amos Preston, two brothers, members of the Society of Friends, the latter a minister, lived on adjoining farms, near West Grove, Chester county. Their places were not regular stations, but when fugi- tives came, they always gave assistance.
About the year 1819 or 1820, a colored man named Jarvis Griffith, with his wife and three or four children, came to Amos Preston's, and was allowed by him to live in an apartment over his spring-house. The man and wife proved to be industrious, faithful, hard-working people, and Amos was so well pleased with them that he built a small house for them on one part of his land. The children were put under the care of farmers in the neighborhood. All went on well for about two years, when one morning, about daylight, a person came run- ning to Mahlon's house with a message that kidnappers were at Jarvis's. He hastened there and found three or four rough men with pistols. They had obtained entrance into the house by finesse, had pinioned the father, mother and youngest child, and were about starting with them for Maryland, when a number of the neighbors, who had by that time arrived, deterred them. Slave-hunters were not quite so bold and defiant then as in after years, when the Fugitive Slave Law gave them greater authority upon free soil, and these men were com- pelled to go to West Chester to prove their property be- fore a judge. After hearing the evidence, the judge gave them the requisite authority to carry the family back to Maryland. A few months after, a person, purporting to
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come from that part of the State, said that Jarvis and Mary were both working for their master and professed to be glad they had got back; that the master was well pleased with them and had made Jarvis foreman on his plantation.
A few weeks later, a knocking was heard one morning before daylight at Mahlon Preston's door. He arose, went down, and there were Jarvis and Mary, tired and foot-sore, just arrived from Maryland. The horses were hitched to a dearborn as quickly as possible, and with utmost speed they were taken to one of the stations in the Great Valley, from which they were passed be- yond the reach of any slaveholders' claims in the future.
Their profession of contentment was a mere ruse to gain the favor of their master ; and their industrious habits and the knowledge they had acquired of the northern method of farming, which was superior to the negligent practice which prevailed to a great extent in the South, made them valuable hands on the plantation. They had been given a holiday of two days to attend a meeting; which time they employed in making their escape on foot.
One morning soon after this, a daughter of theirs, about twelve or thirteen years of age, living with Mahlon, was missing, and was never heard from after- ward. It was supposed that slavehunters had been `lying in ambush about the premises and when out at one of the buildings which stood some distance from the house, she had been seized, gagged, and carried off by them.
Their oldest son, William, a bright boy, received a
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fair education, and several years afterward went to Wilmington, where he was employed to teach a colored school. One day his master with an officer entered the school-room while he was in the midst of his duties, seized him as a fugitive slave and took him before a magistrate, who, after hearing the evidence for a few minutes, gave judgment in the master's favor, and William in charge of a constable was hurried down the street to where a carriage was in waiting to take him to Maryland. On the way he remarked that the watch he carried belonged to another person, and he would be obliged to return it. This was refused, the officer say- ing he would return it to the person named as the owner. At the instant the officer reached out his hand to receive it, William took advantage of the slackened grasp upon his arm, broke loose and dashed down the street with a speed that defied all efforts to overtake him. He was noted at school as being a fast runner. How little did he then, or any of his schoolmates whom he distanced in the race, suspect that those fleet limbs would one day in the future bear him from the very jaws of the monster slavery into which he was being led by a policeman's grasp, and secure to him the undisturbed rights of a free man ! Yet they were the means at his command in the hour of necessity, and very effectually did he use them, for he out-ran all his pursuers, and eluded every effort made to retake him. He reached New York safely, where he hired with a gentleman as coachman. His employer became so much attached to him, that in order to secure his absolute freedom from any future molestation, he wrote to the man who claimed to be his master, offering to pay him fifty dol-
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lars for a full deed of manumission ; assuring him that nothing more would be paid and he had " Hobson's choice" to take that or nothing. He acceded to the proposition, and William henceforward breathed the air of undisputed freedom.
Thus every member of that family, with the excep- tion of one girl, was rescued by devoted friends from a system which held them as chattel property.
CHANDLER DARLINGTON.
(Chandler Darlington, Born Eleventh Mo. (November) 4th, 1800. Died Third Mo. (March) 29th, 1879.) (Hannah M., Born 10th Mo., 29th, 1808.)
Chandler and Hannah M. Darlington were well known as friends of the slave. Their place was not a regular underground station. Their locality and surroundings were unfavorable to concealment, or escape, in case of search. The slaves who were helped on their way were from the District of Columbia, Virginia, Maryland and Delaware, under the auspices of Thomas Garrett. They were brought from the vicinity of Wilmington by a conductor in a close carriage, arriving about eleven o'clock, P. M. A gentle tap was usually heard at the window, and a suppressed call, " Can you care for these people?" giving the number. They then alighted from the carriage, and the escort left immediately, without being known to any one; the shutters were closed, a light was struck, the slaves were taken into the house, served with coffee and supper, packed into a carryall dearborn, and Chandler drove the team to the house of one of the Barnard family, or, if time and the roads per- mitted, to a more distant station.
Some mornings there were questions and evasive
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answers : " Anything the matter last night ? I heard a noise." One dark, dismal night, the transfer was rendered difficult by bad roads ; dawn of day approached before the horses were in their stall. A member of the household hastened from the barn to announce the fact that " somebody had the horses out last night ; they were all over wet and muddy," and one of "Miss Opie's white lies " could scarce appease his consternation.
Occasionally a footman presented himself, offering a small piece of paper with a written request, " please help this traveller to a place of safety," or something of similar import.
BENJAMIN AND HANNAH S. KENT.
(Benjamin Kent, Born Third Mo., 23d, 1805 .- Died Eleventh Mo. 29th, 1881.) (Hannah S. Kent, Born Second Mo., 18th, 1806 .- Died Seventh Mo., 4th, 1882.)
Benjamin and Hannah S. Kent, Penn township, were zealous laborers in the anti-slavery cause. While taking an active part at public meetings, their greatest work was done in a quiet, private way. They assisted in organ- izing the Clarkson Anti-slavery Society at West Grove Meeting House, about the year 1831. They gave of their means for anti-slavery purposes, and while their home was not on the main route, it was a branch station where the fugitives who came that way received prompt assistance.
At one time Benjamin Kent, with others, went on a hazardous journey into Maryland to bring away thirty- five men, women and children, who were awaiting means of escape. With prayerful hearts, and trusting in Divine guidance and protection, they made the trip safely and successfully. The fugitives were armed with
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pistols, axes, knives, corn-cutters and old scythes, evi- dently intending that if forced by pursuers to turn their faces toward the South, it would be in a bloody combat for liberty. The whole party were taken to the house of Mahlon Brosius, reaching there between daylight and sunrise. They were quickly secreted in the barn, and being quite hungry, it required no little amount of food to supply their needs. The next night the women and children were taken in two wagons, (commonly used for hauling earthenware) to James Fulton's and Gideon Pierce's, at Ercildoun, a distance of twelve miles ; the men being compelled to walk. Their only guides were Mahlon's two sons, Edwin and Daniel K., then but lads. But their youthful spirits, animated by the importance of the trust, proved equal to the occasion. On ap- proaching a burning lime kiln near their journey's end, they knew that the light from it across the road would expose the whole party to the view of those at work, and thus excite suspicion if they attempted to pass in- a body. To avoid this, they drove the wagons by at such distance apart not as to attract attention, while the colored men were ordered to take a circuitous route through an adjoining wood. They met in the darkness beyond, and traveled the remainder of the way without interruption.
From Ercildoun they were sent to John Vickers, thence to Kimberton, and thus by way of the various stations to Canada.
Quite early one morning, Benjamin Kent sent a slave boy who was working for him on an errand to a neighbor's while he fed the stock. The boy had just got out of sight when the owner, with a constable and
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two or three others, came to the barn in search of him. Benjamin told them there was no slave about his pre- mises. The constable knowing his conscientious regard for truth could take his word on all occasions ; but in his official capacity felt that he must go through the routine of search, which he did. Satisfied that the boy was not there, the party left only a few minutes before he returned.
In 1833, Benjamin and Hannah S. Kent bought a woolen factory and store at Andrew's bridge, Lancaster county, to which place they removed. They were in- strumental there in organizing the Coleraine Anti- slavery Society, and their house was always open to the reception of all anti-slavery speakers who held meetings in that section of country. There were many opponents of "abolitionism " in that vicinity, and their factory and store, with a hotel close by, made their place too public to be a safe station for fugitives, and but few called.
In 1842, their store, factory and dwelling were burned. They rebuilt, and in 1845 sold and removed to Jackson's Valley, West Grove, Chester county, and continued their anti-slavery labors as before. After the Christiana riot, six colored men who had been engaged in it came to their place in the night, were kept in the house until morning, and at the barn during the day. Next night, their son Henry took them to Dr. Bar- tholomew Fussell.
Their family of seven children were so imbued with opposition to the unjust principle of slavery, from daily conversation and example, that they would eat nothing, not even confectionery, that was the product of slave labor.
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About the year 1837, Elizabeth Kent, sister of Ben- jamin, began keeping a free-produce store at Andrew's Bridge, for the accommodation of herself and friends. who bore a testimony against using the products of the slave's uncompensated toil. Although her pro-slavery neighbors refused to buy at her store, she received a fair share of patronage. Benjamin manufactured free satinetts for her-always at a loss to himself as flax was higher priced than cotton.
After remaining there five or six years she removed to Penn's Grove, Chester county, and opened a store for the sale of free produce exclusively. As this could not complete in cheapness with that of slave-labor, the profits were much less. She furnished clothing and money when needed for the aid of fugitives. Among her free-produce customers were Thomas, Eli, and Charles Hambleton, of Chester county, and Joseph Smith, Thomas Whitson, and William Brosius, of Lan- caster county.
Benjamin and Hannah Kent were distinguished as - active abolitionists for a period of thirty years-until slavery had no longer an existence.
ENOCH LEWIS. 1776-1856.
Enoch Lewis was an active and energetic friend of - the colored race. When quite a young man and a teacher at the Friend's Boarding School at Westtown, . he was frequently applied to, on behalf of colored per- sons claimed as fugitives from labor, and in such cases he exerted himself to the utmost to prevent free persons from being carried off as slaves. For upwards of a quarter of a century free negroes were subject to the dan-
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ger of being sent into slavery on certificates of Justices of the Peace fabricated by kidnappers for the purpose. When a negro was arrested as a slave, all that could be done was to attend the hearing before the justice, ascer- tain the character of the evidence exhibited by the claimant, and present such proofs of a contrary tendency as could be had. Enoch Lewis was very well acquainted with the law relating to the rendition of fugitive slaves, and his services on such occasions were valuable in keeping the justices, who usually favored their claim- ants, to the strict line of their duty. It not unfrequently happened that persons supposed to be free were unex- pectedly found to be slaves, and that all efforts to rescue them from the hands of their captors were unavailing. One instance of this kind is recollected. While Enoch Lewis was a teacher at Westtown, he was aroused from his bed before daylight one morning by a negro woman in great alarm, who came to inform him that her hus- band had been arrested in the night by slave-catchers, and carried off to West Chester.
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