Record #145 from Abstracts from William Still's Underground Railroad - Enduring Connections

Traveler's Names	Henry Smallwood
Age	33
Description	a tal, dark, and amnly-looking individual
Alias	–
Origin- Town/City	–
Origin- County	–
Origin- State	Maryland
Destination	Canada
Birthplace	–
Slaveowner's Name	Washington Bonafont
Chapter Title	Sundry Arrivals from Maryland, 1859
Page Number	506
Other Travelers	James Andy Wilkins and wife Lucinda, with their little boy, Charles, Charle Henry Gross, a woman with her two children--one in her arms--John Brown, John Roach, and wife Lamby and Henry Smallwood
Other Conductors	–
Additional Names	–
Method of Travel	–
Additional Resources	–
Items in Possession	–
Full Narrative	HENRY SMALLWOOD saw that he was working every day for nothing, arid thought that he would do better. He described his master (Washington Bonafont) as a sort of a rowdy, who drank pretty hard, leaving a very unfavorable impression on Henry's mind, as he felt almost sure such conduct would lead to a sale at no distant day. So he was cautious enough to " take the hint in time." Henry left in company with nine others; but after being two days on the journey they were routed and separated by their pursuers. At this point Henry lost all trace of the rest. He heard afterwards that two of them had been captured, but received no further tidings of the others. Henry was a fine representative for Canada; a tall, dark, and manly-looking individual, thirty-six years of age. He left his father and mother behind.

If you are citing this record, please use the following format:

[Author (if known)], Abstracts from William Still's Underground Railroad, [Date (if known)], Enduring Connections: Exploring Delmarva’s Black History, Nabb Research Center, Salisbury University.

Similar Records in this Source

Traveler's Names James Andy Wilkins and wife Lucinda, with their little boy, Charles

Age –

Alias –

Origin- Town/City –

Origin- State Maryland

Destination Canada

Birthplace –

Slaveowner's Name George Biddle

All Fields in This Record

Traveler's Names James Andy Wilkins and wife Lucinda, with their little boy, Charles

Age –

Description –

Alias –

Origin- Town/City –

Origin- County Cecil Co

Origin- State Maryland

Destination Canada

Birthplace –

Slaveowner's Name George Biddle

Chapter Title Sundry Arrivals from Maryland, 1859

Page Number 504

Other Travelers James Andy Wilkins and wife Lucinda, with their little boy, Charles, Charle Henry Gross, a woman with her two children--one in her arms--John Brown, John Roach, and wife Lamby and Henry Smallwood

Other Conductors –

Additional Names –

Method of Travel –

Additional Resources –

Items in Possession –

Full Narrative JAMES ANDY WILKINS " gave the slip " to a farmer, by the name of George Biddle, who lived one mile from Cecil, Cecil county, Maryland. While he hated Slavery, he took a favorable view of his master in some respects at least, as he said that he was a " moderate man in talk; "but "sly in action." His master provided him with two pairs of pantaloons in the summer, and one in the winter, also a winter jacket, no vest, no cap, or hat. James thought the sum total for the entire year's clothing would not amount to mote than ten dollars. Sunday clothing he was compelled to procure for himself by working of nights; he made axe handles, mats, etc., of evenings, and caught musk rats on Sunday, and availed himself of their hides to procure means for his most pressing wants. Besides
these liberal privileges his master was in the habit of allowing him two whole days every harvest, and at Christmas from twenty-five cents to as high as three dollars and fifty cents, were lavished upon him.
His master was a bachelor, a man of considerable means, and " kept tolerable good company," and only owned two other slaves, Rachel Ann Dumbson and John Price.

Click on a field to move that field into top summary row for all records in this source.

View Record

Traveler's Names Lucinda, companion of James Andy Wilkins

Age 20

Alias –

Origin- Town/City –

Origin- State Maryland

Destination Canada

Birthplace –

Slaveowner's Name George Ford

All Fields in This Record

Traveler's Names Lucinda, companion of James Andy Wilkins

Age 20

Description good-looking, well-formed and of a brown color

Alias –

Origin- Town/City –

Origin- County Cecil Co.

Origin- State Maryland

Destination Canada

Birthplace –

Slaveowner's Name George Ford

Chapter Title Sundry Arrivals from Maryland, 1859

Page Number 504-505

Other Conductors –

Additional Names –

Method of Travel –

Additional Resources –

Items in Possession –

Full Narrative LUCINDA, the companion of James, was twenty-one years of age, good- looking, well-formed and of a brown color. She spoke of a man named George Ford as her owner. He, however, was said to be of the " moderate class " of slave-holders ; Lucinda being the only slave property he possessed, and she came to him through his wife (who was a Methodist). The master was an outsider, so far as the Church was concerned. Once in a great while Lucinda was allowed to go to church, when she could
be spared from her daily routine of cooking, washing, etc. Twice a week she was permitted the special favor of seeing her husband. These simple privations not being of a grave character, no serious fault was found with
them ; yet Lucinda was not without a strong ground of complaint. Not long before escaping, she had been threatened with the auction-block; this fate she felt bound to avert, if possible, and the way she aimed to do it was by escaping on the Underground Rail Road. Charley, a bright little fellow only three years of age, was " contented and happy " enough. Lucinda left her father, Moses Edgar Wright, and two brothers, both slaves. One
belonged to " Francis Crookshauks," and the other to Capt. Jim Mitchell. Her mother, who was known by the name of Betsy Wright, escaped when she (Lucinda) was seven years of age. Of her whereabouts nothing further had ever been heard. Lucinda entertained strong hopes that she might find her in Canada.

Click on a field to move that field into top summary row for all records in this source.

View Record

Traveler's Names John and Lamby Roach

Age 33

Alias –

Origin- Town/City Seaford

Origin- State Delaware

Destination Canada

Birthplace –

Slaveowner's Name Joshua O'Bear

All Fields in This Record

Traveler's Names John and Lamby Roach

Age 33

Description –

Alias –

Origin- Town/City Seaford

Origin- County Sussex

Origin- State Delaware

Destination Canada

Birthplace –

Slaveowner's Name Joshua O'Bear

Chapter Title Sundry Arrivals from Maryland, 1859

Page Number 505-506

Other Conductors –

Additional Names –

Method of Travel by foot

Additional Resources –

Items in Possession –

Full Narrative JOHN and LAMBY ROACH had been eating bitter bread under bondage near Seaford. John was the so-called property of Joshua O'Bear, "a frac-
tious, hard-swearing man, and when mad would hit one of his slaves with anything he could get in his hands." John and his companion made the long journey on foot. The former had been trained to farm labor and the common drudgery of slave life. Being a man of thirty^hree years of age, with more than ordinary abilities, he had given the matter of his bondage considerable thought, and seeing that his master " got worse the older he
got," together with the fact, that his wife had recently been sold, he was strongly stirred to make an effort for Canada. While it was a fact, that his wife had already been sold, as above stated, the change of ownership wasnot to take place for some mouths, consequently John " took out in a hurry."
His wife was the property of Dr. Shipley, of Seaford, who had occasion to raise some money for which he gave security in the shape of this wife and mother. Horsey was the name of the gentleman from whom it was said that he obtained the favor ; so when the time was up for the payment to be made, the Dr. was not prepared. Horsey, therefore, claimed the collateral (the wife) and thus she had to meet the issue, or make a timely escape to
Canada with her husband. No way but walking was open to them. Deciding to come this way, they prosecuted their journey with uncommon
perseverance and success. Both were comforted by strong faith in God, and believed that He would enable them to hold out on the road until they should reach friends.

Click on a field to move that field into top summary row for all records in this source.

View Record

Prev. Record in Source

Next Record in Source

About Abstracts from William Still's Underground Railroad

Print Record

Original Unavailable