USA > Pennsylvania > Delaware County > Chester > History of the Underground railroad in Chester and the neighboring counties of Pennsylvania > Part 21
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" He made his case known to the veteran friend of the slave, Thomas Garrett, who gave him accurate direc- tions for finding our father's place. He had set out be- fore midnight and had reached his destination in safety, and without having made a single enquiry, until he asked his question at the gate. He afterward said that ' his heart jumped right up in his mouth as he asked, from fear of being betrayed and sent back,' and he thought that every eye that looked toward him, as he came along after daylight, might be an enemy who would give information that he had been seen upon the road.
"It now seems incredible that it should have been deemed safe for him to remain in a neighborhood so little removed from the vicinity of his former home. But he became impressed with a feeling of security, re- sulting from his confidence in our father, which made
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him reluctant to leave us. He engaged in work on the farm and proved to be an industrious and reliable hand, was a great talker, very jocular, was notionate and peculiar to a degree, somewhat superstitious, and had imbibed a dread of medical students, whom he called ' Studeons,' getting possession of his body after death. He was something of a wit and became a great favor- ite with us all, in our work together on the farm. He continued with us for some years, during which time he becanie desirous of having his wife and family join him. They were free and had for some time resided in Wilmington, but it was deemed inadvisable on account of increasing his liability to recapture. The only com- munication between them was through Thomas Garrett. He now began to entertain the project of purchasing his freedom from his young master, who, it was ascertained, had taken the absconded chattel at a risk at a moderate rate, upon an appraisement in the adjustment of the estate. Negotiations for this purposes werc opened through Thomas Garrett, which, after much unsatisfac- tory parley and delay, evidently prolonged in the hope . of discovering the refuge of the slave, were finally successfully accomplished and the money paid by Thomas Garrett, who then received a clear bill of sale. "Henry had been very saving and had a considerable sum laid by for this purpose. Some contributions were added and he was soon enabled to clear his indebted- ness. He now rented a house belonging to the late James Painter which stood by the road-side, between Painter's dwelling and the Street Road ; here his family came to live, and remained for several years. Having now obtained his freedom, Henry resumed his former
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name of Andy (Andrew) with his master's surname, as of old, and by this name he was afterwards known. He continued to work for our father for a considerable period ; but his landlord having need of a large force of help, became desirous of his services if he should con- tinue to occupy his house. After this he only worked for us occasionally, when he could get off from his employer, at the end of harvest, corn-husking, etc. In later years he became afflicted and helpless from the exposure and overwork of his early years under the task-master. His constitution, originally of the most robust character, became broken and he gradually suc- cumbed to the cncroachments of disease. He died in the old log house at the corner of the Wilmington Road and the road leading to Jessee Mercer's place, in the year 18 -. Our brother, Dr. Jacob Price, of West Chester, long gave him comfort and faithful attention and strove, as far as possible, to smooth the declining path of the faithful servant of many years in our early home. He was always grateful for the kindness and care manifested for his welfare, which he felt had been uninterrupted from the morning he first entered the lane to our parent's dwelling.
" These few cases may serve to give some insight into the unobtrusive fulfillment on the part of our parents of the Christian command, ' As you would that men . should do unto you, do ye even so unto them.'
" Benjamin Price, son of Philip and Rachel Price, of East Bradford, Chester county, was born Twelfth Month, (December) 17th, 1793. He died First Month (January) 8th, 1871. Jane Price, daughter of Jacob and Mary Shaw Paxson, was born in Abington township, Mont-
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gomery county, Tenth Montli (October) 18th, 1791, ard dicd at West Chester, Fifth Month (May) 8th, 1876. They were married at Abington Meeting House, on the 12th of Six Month, 1817, and celebrated their golden wedding 12th of Sixth Month, 1867.
SAMUEL M. PAINTER.
Samuel M. Painter, of West Chester, was an earnest advocate and supporter of human liberty and of justice to all; and, like Abraham Lincoln, " he would that all men, everywhere, were free." He was an outspoken, uncompromising opponent of negro bondage; and as a consequence, had .just as outspoken proslavery oppo- nents. He kept a book store and circulated many anti- slavery tracts from the central anti-slavery office of J. Miller McKim, in Philadelphia.
At one time a prominent citizen of West Chester, purchased paper at his store, which his wife chanced to wrap in an anti-slavery tract. Seeing the word anti- slavery, he tore off the wrapper, threw it way contempt- ously, and walked out saying " I didn't come here to be insulted."
A neighbor remonstrated with the subject of this sketch for being an abolitionist, and proceeded to advise him in the matter. Samuel replied, " My religion is to relieve those who are oppressed, as I would have them do for me under similar circumstances."
" Yes," responded the neighbor, "you would wrong the Southerners and sell your soul for a nigger."
A young, genteel, intelligent looking colored man, once called at the store with a note from Thomas Gar- rett,, Wilmington, written in hieroglyphics, and said he
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knew his pursuers were close after him. He was well- bred and used extraordinarily good language.
Samuel kept him until night and then took him to John Vickers, whence he was sent to Emmor Kimber, Kimberton, thence to Boston. He had been brought up as a house servant. His suavity and intelligence won for him the esteem of some friends who took him to Europe. Here he met with unexpected success, and wrote back to the friends who assisted him, expressing his deep gratitude for the unselfish, unrecompensed kindness they had bestowed upon him in his hazardous journey from bondage to freedom.
A messenger came in haste to the store one night and told Samuel that he was wanted at the Sheriff's office ; "that two negro women had been arrested and taken there by their masters who had proven them be- fore Judge Darlington to be their slaves; but the papers the owners presented were defective in some legal point, and P. Frazer Smith, Esq., who was ever active in defending fugitives, seeing this, was demanding their release. While the slave-catchers were devising some plan by which the women could be secured until other papers were obtained, Samuel told these that he wished to see them alone in another room. The owners objected, but he persisted and obtained the in- terview. He told them to come with him, that he would provide for them during the night and they should not be returned to slavery. They hesitated, saying that their masters had promised them silk dresses if they would return, that they could be in the parlor and would not have to work out, and that they should not be sold. Samuel told them they knew the slave-holders well
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enough not to believe that they would go to the trouble and expense of coming so far and capturing them, just to take them back and keep them in that style ; that as soon as they returned with their masters they would be sold into Georgia. They went with him, the slave- holders following them to the house. Samuel forbade the masters to enter. In the night he took the women to John Vickers, who immediately sent them with a colored man to Esther Lewis. The night being very dark and stormy, the man missed the road and upset the dearborn. After considerable effort in the impene- trable darkness, he got it right side up again ; but getting bewildered he started in the wrong direction and finally found himself at his starting point, at John Vickers' house. The next night they were more successful, and the Lewis family started them on a direct line for Boston, which they reached in safety.
One day a man came hurriedly into the store and told Samuel Painter he was wanted at the office of Judge Thomas S. Bell immediately-that a slave had been brought there. He locked the store-door at once and started, Just then a Friend accosted him and asked " why he was locking up at that time of day." Samuel told him: "Thee had better attend to thy business and let the niggers take care of themselves," was the volunteer advice of the man in plain attire. But it did not accord with Samuel's view of a Christian's duty, and - he proceeded to the judge's office and found there a woman whom her master had captured and proved to be his property. The required certi ficate of rendition had been made out, and the poor woman had to return to her former dreaded condition as a slave.
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It was the custom of slave owners to employ persons in the North known by the sobriquet of " kidnappers " to assist them in catching " runaways." About 1837, a carriage was driven up to the Washington House, West Chester, where David M. McFarland's bank now stands, with two men in it, who, after having ordered their din- ners and their horses to be fed, inquired of the landlord where they could find some one who would catch a slave for them, whom they described very minutely, saying at the same time that " he was now in the employ of Joshua Sharpless, near Downingtown." They were re- ferred to one who would do this shameful thing.
It so happened that Samuel M. Painter was standing. unobserved on his doorsteps, directly adjoining the hotel, where he overheard the conversation, and imme- diately dispatched a messenger to Joshua with the in- telligence, who notified the slave of the circumstance, when the latter at once started in haste toward Lion- ville. Here he met with John Vickers and begged of him to secrete him somewhere about the premises. John knew he would be suspected and was fearful of the re- sult, but finally concluded to take him to his woodpile, where he had a great many cords of wood ranked away. There they fixed him up a secure hiding-place and had but just left when the party who had struck the trail came driving up and inquired if there was such a person about. Vickers said: "There is no such man in my house." " How is it at the barn ?" the party in- quired. "I know of none there; if there is any such person in any of my buildings it is unknown to me," replied Vickers. The guide told his employers that if Mr. Vickers passed his word there was no use in search-
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ing, so they drove on. The stranger was fed in his coop for some days and then sent off for Canada.
In 1862, during the war, a free colored woman in one of the northern slave States, learned one night that her husband, living with his master ten miles distant, was to be sold next day. Braving the darkness of night she started on foot through fields and forests to visit him, reaching the place long before morning. Arousing some of the colored inmates, she told her errand, found the report to be true, and that her husband was then locked in jail to prevent his trying to escape before auction- day. In the morning she remonstrated with his master and implored him not to sell her husband, reminding him of the promise made his wife before her death that he would not sell Mike, but would give him his freedom. The appeal touched a sympathizing cord in the slave- holder's heart, and he yielded to her earnest supplication, so far as to revoke his decision to sell him at that time.
While there, there appeared to her in a dream a northern town and in it a brick house with ivy clinging · to the walls; to that place she felt herself directed to go. Being devoted to prayer, and having full faith in the manifestations and directions of Divine Providence, she resolved to leave her husband, take her child and pro- ceed northward, trusting that the way would be pointed - out to her, and that her husband would soon find means to escape and follow her. She was passed from friend · to friend until she reached West Chester, Pa. Here her child was taken sick. On her way up High street to the office of Dr. J. B. Wood, she saw the identical house that she had seen in her vision. Entering it she found it to be the residence of Saniuel M. Painter. He
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had a sick soldier in the house, whom his wife was caring for, and they were in pressing need of help. After the woman related her story they engaged her to assist them. She remained with them three months, and proved herself an excellent woman and faithful servant. At the end of this time she learned that two men who had fled from the South were then in Kennett ; the description of one of them corresponded with that of her husband. Means were furnished her to go there and see if it were he. To her unbounded joy, her fond anticipations were realized. The heart that has never known the ecstasy and sweet delights of home-love can scarcely conceive the rapture of a meeting such as this. Escaped from the bonds of a hated slavery, reunited by the guidance of a Divine Providence amidst friends in a free State, exulting in the consciousness that no slave owner could now separate them, their thanksgiving and praise went up to Heaven as earnestly and devoutly as ever these ascended from the banks of the Red Sea or the Rock of Plymouth.
They went to Samuel M. Painter's, house and in a few days started for Harrisburg.
ABRAHAM D. SHADD, JOHN BROWN AND BENJAMIN FREEMAN.
These three colored men lived in West Chester, and were considered by Samuel M. Painter among his most reliable assistants.
Abraham Shadd owned property and entertained and forwarded fugitives. He was free-born in Maryland, was intelligent and quite well educated.
John Brown rendered assistance at all times when called upon. P
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Benjamin Freeman had not accommodations for lodging fugitives, but gave them food and conducted them to places in and out of the town.
At one time a man and a woman called. He con- sented to fix a place in which they could sleep that night. Next day he took them as far as the malt-house north of West Chester and directed them to John Vickers. Arriving there, the family had doubts about their being genuine Underground Railroad passengers. A few well-directed questions were put to them, when it was decided they were impostors. They were turned out to take care of themselves.
NATHAN EVANS.
The anti-slavery cause and the negro fleeing from bondage, had no more staunch friend than Nathan Lvans, of Willistown, Chester county. Living in a conservative neighborhood, surrounded by a conserva- tive element, his labors in that vicinity in behalf of the colored race had but few sympathizers and fewer sup- - porters. His honest opponents disparaged him; the bigoted decried him, but
" Like a firm rock that in midrocean braves The war of whirlwinds and the dash of waves,"
he was unmoved by any opposition, and maintained calmly, persistently and uprightly what he believed to be the true principles of righteousness and the duty of man to his fellow-man.
He was a minister in the Society of Friends. His discourses were pure, earnest, solid and instructive, but he would introduce into them the subjects of slavery and temperance. These were objected to; they were not popular in his neighborhood, and his persistence in
NATHAN EVANS.
.
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speaking of them in religious meetings and in private conversation made him also unpopular. The meeting admonished him to cease from bringing these subjects into his sermons, or they would have to deal with him for the offence. But he paid no heed to their counsel, be- lieving the cause he advocated to be just and that people must be spoken to before they would learn. He often repeated the couplet :
" Truths would you teach to save a sinking land All shun, none aid you, and few understand."
He held it to be a religious duty that devolved upon him to speak against all manner of sin or evil, no matter what fascinations it presented, nor how lucrative it might be to individuals, society or the State. If it received the sanction of Government and was legalized by statutes, the church should exclaim against it, and the people be instructed to oppose it.
The opposition to him, however, in the meeting was so strong that he was disowned from membership. He bore this act with patience and charity, never uttering a word of contumely against his adversaries. He was willing to concede that they acted according to the highest light they had received or comprehended. But he considered that they needed more light to dispel the Egyptian darkness through which they were travelling. He continued to attend meeting as before, and took his accustomed seat and preached as usual. A little amuse- ment was created on one occasion when he alluded in a sermon to a party of men and women who had come to his place a few nights before, poorly clad, tired and hungry, their flesh bearing the marks of the lash; when he depicted the agonies of the mother, whose child had
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been torn from her and sold to traders, and spoke of his hearers' apathy in this matter as professing Christians, because they were not personal observers of these wrongs and sufferings, and because their own persons, and those of their friends were exempt from this system of holding chattel property in man ; and when, at this point, one of the elderly friends in the " gallery " behind him remarked : " Have a little mercy on us," he paused for a moment, turned his eyes reverently upward, and then, with a grave and gentle air, replied : " I have yet many things to say unto you, but I see ye are not able to bear them now." He alluded no more to the subject, but the remainder of his sermon was a touching one on love and kindness.
Fugitives were sent to his place from West Chester, and from the western and southern parts of Chester county, and were sent, or taken by him to Elijah F. Pennypacker's, to Philadelphia, and to James Lewis's, in Delaware county.
His son David, now living, has kept a diary since he was a boy, in which he noted anti-slavery and Under- · ground Railroad incidents as they transpired, a few of which we extract to show how the business was con- ducted at that station.
A memorandum is made of the first anti-slavery meet- ing in Willistown, which was held in the Friends' Meeting . School House, Twelfth mo. (December) 17th, 1836; addressed by William Whitehead, of West Chester ; Nathan Evans presided and Dr. Joseph Hickman acted as Secretary.
Twelfth mo. 30th .- Charles C. Burleigh lectured at the same school house.
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1842-Eighth mo. 19th .- I started at two o'clock, A. M., with four colored persons to the anti-slavery office in Philadelphia. They were sent here last evening by James Fulton, in care of Henry Lee (colored). These were the first taken to the anti-slavery office.
Eighth mo. 28th .- Two more came from the land of bondage, on their way to Canada.
Ninth mo. 22nd .- About two A. M., Lukens Pierce drove here with a four-horse wagon containing twenty- five colored persons-men, women and children. I took thirteen that evening to the anti-slavery office in Phila- delphia ; and on the night of the 24th, Davis Garrett, Jr., and John Wright (colored) took the remainder in two dearborns.
Ninth mo. 27th .- Maris Woodward, of Marshallton, brought two colored women, "on their way toward the North Star ; " mother took them to Philadelphia on the 29th.
Tenth mo. 10th .- A man and woman came this even- ing; John Wright took them to Philadelphia on the 12th.
Tenth mo. 19th .- Henry Lee (colored) brought two women and three children from James Fulton's ; cousin Joshua Clendenon took them to Philadelphia that night.
Tenth mo. 20th .- Lukens Pierce came with sixteen ; father took them to Philadelphia next night. This party was from Washington City and they seemed re- markably well-bred and intelligent.
Davis Garret, Jr., took to Philadel- phia a man and a woman.
Tenth ino. 27th .- Cousin Joshua Clendenon and mother took three men to Philadelphia.
Eleventh mo. 2nd .- A colored traveler arrived, and
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went to Philadelphia with father on a load of hay. This man informed us that several more were not far behind. Accordingly, about two o'clock on the morning of the 5th, Simon Barnard came with eleven men and two women ; Davis Garrett and William Hibbard, Jr., took them to Philadelphia the following night in two one-horse dearborns.
Eleventh mo. 13th .- Mordecai Hayes arrived about 3 o'clock in the morning with five men. I took them to Philadelphia that night except one old man who re- inained and hired with us.
Eleventh mo. 15th .- Three men came, and we sent them to James Lewis' on the 17th.
These dates of arrival and departure show the amount of business done at that station, and how it was con- ducted. It will be seen that the arrivals were frequent, and that no little labor was required, in addition to farm and house work, to provide for and to transmit the number that called yearly. And thus it continued through a period of several years. Dr. Bartholomew Fussell, and Joseph Painter, of West Chester, also sent fugitives to this place.
Nathan Evans frequently said that a great calamity would yet befall this Nation if the sin of slavery con- tinued to be upheld by the people, and sanctioned by the Government. He seemed to have a clear, prophetic vision of the manner in which God would punish the people of this country if they did not repent and give freedom to the children of Africa held here in chains. His predictions, even to the details of the war and its consequences, have been literally verified.
While the subject of this sketch was unpopular in his
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own section, on account of his persistence in speaking of slavery in religious gatherings, and to his neighbors who opposed him, yet amongst abolitionists he was regarded as a worthy, conscientious man, warm-hearted, and, though advanced in years, his hands and heart and and pocket were all combined to aid in the cause. As a speaker at anti-slavery meetings he was regarded as earnest, sincere and truthful, and his discourses were weighty and argumentative, based upon scriptural grounds. Therefore, while they were solid, they did not especially attract the masses, and he was considered a little more tedious than the speaker who warms up with the enthusiasm of the moment, and carries his audi- ence with him upon the tide of pleasing and thrilling thought.
His adherence to the principles of right, as he saw and believed them, in all his intercourse in life, and his charity for those who held views different from his own, drew to him others who began to think and believe with himself. But it was not until during the war when the general opinion of the country concerning slavery was changed, that the principles he maintained were adopted in his own neighborhood-a period he did not live to see.
CHAPTER XX.
JAMES LEWIS and JAMES T. DANNAKER .- Many Fugitives Taken to the Anti-slavery Office, Philadelphia .- ROBERT PURVIS .- The Dorsey Brothers.
JAMES LEWIS AND JAMES T. DANNAKER.
(James Lewis, Born November 8th, 1802 .- Died May 25th, 1876.) (James T. Dannaker, Born March 11th, 1814.)
In the latter part of 1837, James Lewis, currier and tanner, in Marple township, Delaware county, ten miles from Philadelphia, felt constrained to give his support to the anti-slavery movement then being agitated through- out the country. He was united with in this advanced step in their neighborhood by James T. Dannaker, an intelligent, radical thinker, then residing with him, and who was his co-worker in the temperance cause. Such was the opposition to this "new departure " of James Lewis that some of his customers withdrew their patron- age. But this neither changed his convictions of right nor caused him to swerve from his strictly onward course in what he felt to be a moral duty. As congenial spirits are attracted towards each other, so James Lewis soon found gathering around him new friends whose intel- lectual and moral worth he highly appreciated ; and his feeling was reciprocated by them. Among these were the younger members of the Sellers families, in Upper Darby. They held private meetings at each other's houses for counsel and encouragement. Finally they decided to have a public meeting, and secured an able speaker. After considerable effort they obtained the privilege of using Marple school-house, No. 1. This
irt PocLis varorLL & #
JAMES I.EWIS.
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