Edward H. Nabb Research Center for Delmarva History & Culture Enduring Connections: Exploring Delmarva's Black History

Record Detail

Record #146 from Abstracts from William Still's Underground Railroad

Traveler's Names Anna Elizabeth Young
Age 24
Description dark chestnut color
Alias
Origin- Town/City
Origin- County Kent Co
Origin- State Maryland
Destination Canada
Birthplace
Slaveowner's Name Massey
Chapter Title Arrival from Maryland
Page Number 507-508
Other Travelers Two Young mothers, each with babes in their arms--Anna Elizabeth Young and Sarah Jane Bell--whipped till the blood flowed
Other Conductors
Additional Names
Method of Travel
Additional Resources
Items in Possession
Full Narrative The appearance of these young mothers at first produced a sudden degree of pleasure, but their story of suffering quite as suddenly caused the most painful reflections. It was hardly possible to listen to their tales of outrage and wrong with composure. 'Both came from Kent county, Maryland, and reported that they fled from a man by the name of Massey; a man of low stature, light-complexioned, with dark hair, dark eyes, and very quick temper ; given to hard swearing as a common practice; also, that the said Massey had a wife, who was a very tall woman, with 1)1 ue eyes, chestnut-colored hair, and a very bad temper ; that, conjointly, Massey and his wife were in the habit of meting out cruel punishment to their slaves, ?without regard to age or sex, and that they themselves, (Anna Elizabeth and Sarah Jane), had received repeated scourgings at the hands of their master. Anna and Sarah were respectively twenty-four and twenty-five years of age ; Anna was of a dark chestnut color, while Sarah was two shades lighter ; both had good manners, and a fair share of intelligence, which afforded a hopeful future for them in freedom. Each had a babe in her arms. Elizabeth had never been married. They had lived with Massey five years up to the last March prior to their- escape, having been bought out of the Balti- more slave-pen, with the understanding that they were to be free at the expiration of five years' service under him. The five years had more than expired, but no hope or sign of freedom appeared. On the other hand, Massey was talking loudly of selling them again. Threats and fears were so horrifying to them, that they could not stand it ; this was what prompted them to flee. " As often as six or seven times," said Elizabeth, " I have been whipped by master, once with the carriage whip, and at other times with a raw hide trace. The last flogging I received from him, was about four weeks before last Christmas ; he then tied me up to a locust tree standing before the door, and whipped me to his satisfaction." Thus, after all their suffering, utterly penniless, they reached the Committee, and were in every respect, in a situation to call for the deepest commiseration. They were helped and were thankful.

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[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.

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