| Traveler's Names | Elizabeth Ann |
|---|---|
| Age | 32 |
| Description | good physical proportions and promising-looking person |
| Alias | – |
| Origin- Town/City | Laurel |
| Origin- County | Sussex Co. |
| Origin- State | Delaware |
| Destination | Canada |
| Birthplace | – |
| Slaveowner's Name | Jane Cooper |
| Chapter Title | Arrival from Delaware, 1857 |
| Page Number | 398 |
| Other Travelers | John Wright and wife, Elizabeth Ann, Charles Connor |
| Other Conductors | – |
| Additional Names | – |
| Method of Travel | – |
| Additional Resources | – |
| Items in Possession | – |
| Full Narrative | She was thirty-two years of age, of good physical proportions, and a promising-looking person, above the ordinary class of slaves belonging to Delaware. She was owned by Jane Cooper, who lived near Laurel, in Sussex county. She had been more accustomed to field labor than house-work ; ploughing, fencing, driving team, grubbing, cutting wood, etc., were well understood by her. During " feeding times " she had to assist in the house. In this respect, she had harder times than the men. Her mistress was also in the habit of hiring Elizabeth out by the day to wash. On these occasions she was required to rise early enough to milk the cows, get breakfast, and feed the hogs before sunrise, so that she might be at her day's washing in good time. It is plainly to be seen, that ^lizabeth had not met with the " ease " and kindness which many claimed for the slave. Elizabeth was sensible of the wrongs inflicted by her Delaware mistress, and painted her in very vivid colors. Her mistress was a widow, "quite old," but "very frisky," and "wore a wig to hide her gray hairs." At the death of her husband, the slaves believed, from what they had heard their master say, that they would be freed, each at the age of thirty. But no will was found, which caused Elizabeth, as well as the rest of the slaves, to distrust the mistress more than ever, as they suspected that she knew something of its disappearance. Her mistress belonged to the Presbyterian Church, but would have "family prayers only when the minister would stop ;" Elizabeth thought that she took greater pains to please* the minister than her Maker. Elizabeth had no faith in such religion. Both Elizabeth and her husband were members of the Methodist Church. Neither had ever been permitted to learn to read or write, but they were naturally very smart. John left his mother and one sister in bondage. One of his brothers fled to Canada fifteen years before their escape. His name was Abraham. |
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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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