ESCAPE OF JOSEPH W. BROWN AND
NANCY BARTON
"Joseph W. Brown, whose name is attached to my credentials as one of the trustees of our church property in Windsor, is a man who made his escape from slavery ten years ago. He had a master who was called a good man, so far as slaveholders can be called good. Brown was hired out as a cook on a steamboat which was running from the city of St. Louis to New Orleans. The money for which Brown was hired, month after month, of course went into the hands of his master, and all Brown would get was what any passenger might feel disposed to give him. In this respect, however, he was very fortunate. Gentlemen would frequently give him from one to four shillings. Besides, he was allowed to keep for his own use the proceeds of the refuse of the kitchen, which refuse he would sell in any port. For several years he lived thus, much esteemed by the captain. But Brown did not forget that he was a slave, and that the money for which he worked went into the hands of another. This inspired Brown with the idea of saving all he could, with the object of making his escape. He had an old stocking in which he kept his money, and he filled it with silver coin. He was now about to return from St. Louis to the city of New Orleans. He had fully made up his mind to leave the captain and his master. But as he wished at the same time to secure the freedom of the person whom he expected would be his wife, he deferred leaving until he could make further arrangements. This person was then living in the city of St. Louis. She was a widow, and had two children, one living with her, and the other belonging to another family of slaveholders. He called to see this woman, and told her of his intention to leave for Canada upon the first opportunity. He broached the idea of her going with him, and promised, if they were successful in reaching Canada, that they would then get married. Mrs. Barton readily agreed to the proposition. She had about six weeks to prepare for the exit. Brown went on board of the boat, and made his trip to New Orleans as usual. When he returned to St. Louis the six weeks had expired. True to his promise, he called to see Mrs. Barton in relation to going, and found she had everything arranged except the obtaining the youngest of her children. This daughter it was difficult to reach, because she slept in the house of her owners. Besides she was obliged to retire at nine o'clock at night, and was not permitted to leave the yard after that hour. All attempts, therefore, to obtain the girl would be in vain, and would, no doubt, betray the rest. They planned night after night, but every plan seemed to fail. They finally gave up the idea of getting the girl, and they made arrangements for themselves at the earliest opportunity. They boxed up their clothing, as if they were ordinary passengers travelling. Under cover of night, they came down to the river some miles below the city, and crossed into the State of Illinois. Their only hope now was in being able to make an early start for the city of Chicago, in the express train. The captain of the boat would not miss Brown until the dinner hour, as the second cook was told to get breakfast. His intended wife's owners had been told that she had gone to see after her daughter. Thus neither of the party was pursued until they had reached the city of Detroit, Michigan. They had no trouble in getting through, and the next day after they left St. Louis they arrived at Windsor, Canada West. They stopped to make some little arrangements, and they were married according to the laws of Great Britain. They are now living in the town of Windsor. Brown is well known as a well-disposed, industrious man. He is getting on well.
It is very often said, with regard to the coloured people, that they are indisposed to work; that they are unlike white persons. I am afraid that some of our friends even are disposed to believe this falsehood, because this argument is so frequently used against us by our enemies and by persons who have not been conversant with this class of people. I may name Brown as one, among many others, as a refutation of this false charge. And I do this to set ourselves right with those who may read this little book. For the last ten years Brown has been living in one place, Windsor, and I therefore know him well. When he came from. St. Louis he had no more money than enough to pay the fare of the company through by railway. He then was obliged to secure a place where he might board himself and the two others under his care. When he was married, he borrowed money from a friend, in order to get a few things to put in his house. He worked at any job work he could pick up, but at last found an opening at the railway station. By his steady habits he gained the respect and confidence of his employers, and is now working at the cattle yard of the Great Western Railway Company of Canada. Brown, through this industry, has purchased a house and lot, and is still making progress. I can certify to his credit, and for the encouragement of the friends of freedom, that instead of freedom being a curse, as it is said to be by some who would like to see us all in slavery, it proves a blessing to this man, as it will to many others who have made good their escape to Canada. I have had need to speak of this frequently since I have been in this country; just as if industry was the only thing which would entitle a man to freedom. It is true industry is a virtue which should be sought by all--by white men as well as by black men; and indolence should be condemned in all alike; yet I could not agree with that doctrine which would enslave a man if he chose to be idle or lazy. If that is to be the rule by which the world is to be tried, and upon which the freedom of men is to depend, then I would ask some of those who might be appointed to make arrests, to first go to old Virginia and arrest thousands of slaveholders who are too lazy to work for an honest living, but have been engaged in a system of stealing for the last two hundred years. This would not be difficult to prove, if persons will only look at the great number of ships which have emptied their cargoes of stolen men and women upon American shores. Then look at the system--a system of raising slaves for the market. They make men's backs bleed in order to grind corn to feed and fatten others for the slaughter yard. Oh! South Carolina! what are you learning? The same thieving lesson your mother taught you. North Carolina! your hands drip with the blood of the slave. Georgia! your heart is sick with the disease which must be fatal. Oh! Southerners! hating us because we are the injured, you trade in our flesh, and by lying reports traduce our character. Your best statesmen have endeavoured to ally us with the monkey tribe. You have poisoned the hearts of even our Northern States, and they have poured proscription upon our heads; while the presses of the country endeavour to write disgrace upon our foreheads. We accuse you of this evil. We charge upon you what you would lay upon us--idleness, vice, crime. We ask you who manufactured the lie against us to take it back upon yourselves, and to admit that, with equal chance, we are not less worthy than you of the respect of impartial men.
I do not pretend to say that all coloured men are industrious; I mean to say that indolence is not peculiar to the African race. And my complaint is that the laziness of white men is not so much as named, when the no more common laziness of coloured men is sounded all abroad. All I ask is justice. I do not seck mercy at their hands. Mercy they have none. I ask them only to give us back that of which they have robbed us--character, freedom. They may give the latter now; they must yield it bye and bye."
© Hair-breadth Escapes from Slavery to Freedom: Electronic Edition
This work is the property of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. It may be used freely by individuals for research, teaching and personal use as long as this statement of availability is included in the text.
It is very often said, with regard to the coloured people, that they are indisposed to work; that they are unlike white persons. I am afraid that some of our friends even are disposed to believe this falsehood, because this argument is so frequently used against us by our enemies and by persons who have not been conversant with this class of people. I may name Brown as one, among many others, as a refutation of this false charge. And I do this to set ourselves right with those who may read this little book. For the last ten years Brown has been living in one place, Windsor, and I therefore know him well. When he came from. St. Louis he had no more money than enough to pay the fare of the company through by railway. He then was obliged to secure a place where he might board himself and the two others under his care. When he was married, he borrowed money from a friend, in order to get a few things to put in his house. He worked at any job work he could pick up, but at last found an opening at the railway station. By his steady habits he gained the respect and confidence of his employers, and is now working at the cattle yard of the Great Western Railway Company of Canada. Brown, through this industry, has purchased a house and lot, and is still making progress. I can certify to his credit, and for the encouragement of the friends of freedom, that instead of freedom being a curse, as it is said to be by some who would like to see us all in slavery, it proves a blessing to this man, as it will to many others who have made good their escape to Canada. I have had need to speak of this frequently since I have been in this country; just as if industry was the only thing which would entitle a man to freedom. It is true industry is a virtue which should be sought by all--by white men as well as by black men; and indolence should be condemned in all alike; yet I could not agree with that doctrine which would enslave a man if he chose to be idle or lazy. If that is to be the rule by which the world is to be tried, and upon which the freedom of men is to depend, then I would ask some of those who might be appointed to make arrests, to first go to old Virginia and arrest thousands of slaveholders who are too lazy to work for an honest living, but have been engaged in a system of stealing for the last two hundred years. This would not be difficult to prove, if persons will only look at the great number of ships which have emptied their cargoes of stolen men and women upon American shores. Then look at the system--a system of raising slaves for the market. They make men's backs bleed in order to grind corn to feed and fatten others for the slaughter yard. Oh! South Carolina! what are you learning? The same thieving lesson your mother taught you. North Carolina! your hands drip with the blood of the slave. Georgia! your heart is sick with the disease which must be fatal. Oh! Southerners! hating us because we are the injured, you trade in our flesh, and by lying reports traduce our character. Your best statesmen have endeavoured to ally us with the monkey tribe. You have poisoned the hearts of even our Northern States, and they have poured proscription upon our heads; while the presses of the country endeavour to write disgrace upon our foreheads. We accuse you of this evil. We charge upon you what you would lay upon us--idleness, vice, crime. We ask you who manufactured the lie against us to take it back upon yourselves, and to admit that, with equal chance, we are not less worthy than you of the respect of impartial men.
I do not pretend to say that all coloured men are industrious; I mean to say that indolence is not peculiar to the African race. And my complaint is that the laziness of white men is not so much as named, when the no more common laziness of coloured men is sounded all abroad. All I ask is justice. I do not seck mercy at their hands. Mercy they have none. I ask them only to give us back that of which they have robbed us--character, freedom. They may give the latter now; they must yield it bye and bye."
© Hair-breadth Escapes from Slavery to Freedom: Electronic Edition
This work is the property of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. It may be used freely by individuals for research, teaching and personal use as long as this statement of availability is included in the text.