NARRATIVE 
 
 ROPER'S' ESCAPE 
 
 PROM 
 
 SLAVERY 
 
2S / 
 
Digitized by the Internet Archive 
 in 2013 
 
 http://archive.org/details/narrativeofadvenrope 
 
In 18-10. 
 
NARRATIVE 
 
 OF THE 
 
 ADVENTURES AND ESCAPE 
 
 OF 
 
 MOSES ROPER 
 
 9 
 
 FROM 
 
 AMERICAN SLAVERY. 
 
 WITH AN APPENDIX, 
 
 CONTAINING A LIST OF PLACES VISITED BY THE AUTHOR IN 
 
 GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND AND THE BRITISH ISLES; 
 
 AND OTHER MATTER. 
 
 THIRTY-SIXTH THOUSAND. 
 
 (ENTERED AT STATIONERS' HALL.) 
 
 BERWICK-UPON-TWEED: 
 PUBLISHED FOR THE AUTHOR, AND PRINTED 
 AT THE WARDER OFFICE. 
 MDCCCXLYIII. 
 
 Published in England at 2s. Sterling. 
 The Price of this Edition is Is. W%d. Currency {Three York Shillings.) 
 
nir 
 
 PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION. 
 
 The determination of laying this little narrative 
 before the public, did not arise from any desire to 
 make myself conspicuous, but with the view of ex- 
 posing the cruel system of slavery, as will here be 
 laid before my readers ; from the urgent calls of 
 nearly all the friends to whom I had related any 
 part of my story, and also from the recommenda- 
 tion of anti-slavery meetings, which I have atten- 
 ded, through the suggestion of many warm friends 
 of the cause of the oppressed. 
 
 The general narrative, I am aware, may seem to 
 many of my readers, and especially to those who 
 have not been before put in possession of the ac- 
 tual features of this accursed system, somewhat at 
 variance with the dictates of humanity. But the 
 facts related here do not come before the reader 
 unsubstantiated by collateral evidence, nor highly 
 coloured to the disadvantage of our cruel task- 
 masters. 
 
 My readers may be put in possession of facts re- 
 specting this system which equal in cruelty my 
 own narrative, on an authority which may be in- 
 vestigated with the greatest satisfaction. Besides 
 which, this little book will not be confined to a 
 email circle of my own friends in London, or even 
 
 fJcU 
 
iy PREFACE. 
 
 in England. The slave-holder, the colon izationisfc, 
 and even Mr. Gooch himself, will be able to obtain 
 this document, and be at liberty to draw from it 
 whatever they are honestly able, in order to set 
 me down as the tool of a party. Yea, even Friend 
 Brechenridge, a gentleman known at Glasgow, 
 will be able to possess this, and to draw from it all 
 the forcible arguments on his own side, which in 
 his wisdom, honesty, and candour, he may be able 
 to adduce. 
 
 The earnest wish to lay this narrative before my 
 friends as an impartial statement of facts, has led 
 me to develope some part of my conduct, which I 
 now deeply deplore. The ignorance in which the 
 poor slaves are kept by their masters, precludes 
 almost the possibility of their being alive to any 
 moral duties. 
 
 With these remarks, I leave the statement before 
 the public. May this little volume be the instru- 
 ment of opening the eyes of the ignorant of the 
 system — of convincing the wicked, cruel, and har- 
 dened slaveholder — and of befriending generally 
 the cause of oppressed humanity. 
 
 MOSES ROPER. 
 
 London, 1839.. 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 Birth-place of the Author. — The first time he was sold from 
 his Mother. — He passes through several hands, . 7 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 The Author is sold to Mr. J. Gooch. — The cruel treatment 
 he both received and witnessed on that Estate — Repeated 
 attempts at running away. — Escapes to his mother after 
 being absent from her about ten years. — Meets with his 
 sister, whom he had never seen before, on the road, who 
 conducted him to his mother, . . . 10 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 An Account of the Author's meeting with his mother, who 
 did not know him ; but was with her a very short time be- 
 fore he was taken by armed men, and imprisoned for thirty- 
 one days, and then taken back to his Master, . 19 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 The Author is flogged and punished in various ways, but still 
 perseveres in his attempts to escape, till he was sold to Mr. 
 Wilson, ... 24 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 The Author was not long with Mr. "Wilson, who was a Negro 
 trader, before he was exchanged to Mr. Rowland, who was 
 also a Trader, for another slave, and after being with him 
 for about a year, was sold to Mr. D. Goodly, Avho soon ex- 
 changed him again to Mr. Louis, . 32 
 
Tl CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 Travels with Mr. Louis to Pendleton Indian Springs, from 
 thence to Columbus, where he was sold at auction to Mr. 
 Beveridge. — His Travels and History with Mr. B. — Is sold 
 again to Mr. Register, . . . . ' 34 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 The Author's last attempt and final Escape from Marianna 
 to Savannah. — From thence to New York. — Quarantined 
 at Staten Island, . . . . .37 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 His arrival in New York. — On to Poughkeepsie. — Albany. — 
 Rogester. — Vermont. — Boston, and returned from thence 
 to New York, and embarked for England, . .45 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 The Author arrives at Liverpool, November 29, 1835. — 
 Makes his way for London, . . . .48 
 
 Appendix, ..... 52 
 
NARRATIVE, &c. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 Birth-place of the Author.— The first time he was sold from hia 
 Mother, and passed through several other hands. 
 
 I was born in North Carolina, in Caswell County, I am 
 not able to tell in what month or year. What I shall now 
 relate, is what was told me by my mother and grandmother. 
 A few months before 1 was born, my father married my 
 mother's young mistress. As soon as my father's wife heard 
 of my birth, she sent one of my mother's sisters to see whether 
 I was white or black, and when my aunt had seen me, she 
 returned back as soon as she could, and told her mistress 
 that I was white, and resembled Mr. Roper very much. Mr. 
 Roper's wife not being pleased with this report, she got a 
 large club-stick and knife, and hastened to the place in which 
 my mother was confined. She went into my mother's room 
 with a full intention to murder me with her knife and club, 
 but as she was going to stick the knife into me, my grand- 
 mother happening to come in, caught the knife and saved my 
 life. Rut as well as I can recollect from what ray mother told 
 me, my father sold her and myself, soon after her confinement. 
 I cannot recollect anything that is worth notice till I was six 
 or seven years of age. My mother being half white, and my 
 father a white man, I was at that time very white. Soon 
 after I was six or seven years of age, my mother's old master 
 died, that is, my father's wife's father. All his slaves had to 
 be divided among the children.* I have mentioned before 
 
 * Slaves are usually a part of the marriage portion, but lent rather 
 than given, to be returned to the estate at the decease of the father, 
 in order that they may be divided equally among his children. 
 
8 ROPElt's ESCAPE 
 
 of my father disposing of me ; I am not sure whether he ex- 
 changed me and my mother for another slave or not, but think 
 it very likely he did exchange me with one of his wife's bro- 
 thers or sisters, because I remember when my mother's old 
 master died, I was living with my father's wife's brother-in- 
 law, whose name was Mr. Durham. My mother was drawn 
 with the other slaves. 
 
 The way they divide their slaves is this : they write the 
 names of different slaves on a small piece of paper, and put 
 it into a box y and let them all draw. I think that Mr. Dur- 
 ham drew my mother, and Mr. Fowler drew me, so w r e were 
 separated a considerable distance, I cannot say how far. My 
 resembling my father so much, and being whiter than the 
 other slaves, caused me to be soon sold to what they call a 
 negro trader, who took me to the Southern States of America, 
 several hundred miles from ray mother. As well as I can re- 
 collect I was then about six years old. The trader, Mr. Mit- 
 chell, after travelling several hundred miles, and selling a 
 good many of his slaves, found he could not sell me very well, 
 (as I was so much whiter than other slaves were) for he had 
 been trying several months — left me with a Mr. Sneed, who 
 kept a large boarding-house, who took me to wait at table, 
 and sell me if he could. I think I stayed with Mr. Sneed 
 about a year, but he could not sell me. When Mr. Mit- 
 chell had sold his slaves, he went to the north, and brought 
 up another drove, and returned to the south with them, and 
 sent his son-in-law into Washington, in Georgia, after me ; 
 so he came and took me from Mr. Sneed, and met his father- 
 in-law with me, in a town called Lancaster, with his drove 
 of slaves. We stayed in Lancaster a week, because it was 
 court week, and there were a great many people there, 
 and it was a good opportunity for selling the slaves ; and 
 there he was enabled to sell me to a gentleman, Dr a Jones, 
 who was both a Doctor and a Cotton Planter. He took me 
 into his shop to beat up and mix medicines, which was not a 
 very hard employment, but I did not keep it long, as the Doc- 
 tor soon sent me to his cotton plantation, that I might be 
 burnt darker by the sun. He sent me to be with a tailor to 
 learn the trade, but the journeymen being white men, Mr. 
 Bryant, the tailor, did not let me work in the shop ; I cannot 
 say whether it was the prejudice of his men in not wanting 
 me to sit in the shop with them, or whether Mr. Bryant 
 wanted to keep me about the house to do the domestic work, 
 
PROM SLAVERY. 1) 
 
 instead of teaching me the trade. After several months, my 
 master came to know how I got on with the trade : I am not 
 able to tell Mr. Bryant's answer, but it was either that I could 
 not learn, or that his journeymen were unwilling that I should 
 sit in the shop with them. I was only once in the shop all 
 the time I was there, and then only for an hour or two before 
 his wife called me out to do some other work. So my master 
 took me home, and as he was going to send a load of cotton 
 to Camden, about forty miles distance, he sent me with the 
 bales of cotton to be sold with it, where I was sold to a gen- 
 tleman, named Allen ; but Mr. Allen soon exchanged me for a 
 female slave to please his wife. The traders who bought me, 
 were named Cooper and Lindsey, who took me for sale, but 
 could not sell me, people objecting to my being rather white. 
 They then took me to the city of Fayetteville, North Carolina, 
 where he swopt me for a boy, that was blacker than me, to 
 Mr. Smith, who lived several miles off. 
 
 I was with Mr. Smith nearly a year. I arrived at the first 
 knowledge of my age when I lived with him. I was then 
 between twelve and thirteen years old ; it was when President 
 Jackson was elected the first time, and he has been President 
 eight years, so I must be nearly twenty-one years of age. At 
 this time I was quite a small boy, and was sold to Mr. Hodge, 
 a negro trader. Here I began to enter into hardships. 
 
10 roper's escape 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 The Author's being sold to Mr. J. Gooch. — The cruel treatment he 
 both received and witnessed while on his estate. — Repeated at- 
 tempts at running away. — Escapes to his mother after being absent 
 from her about ten years.— Meets with his sister, whom he had 
 never seen before, on the road, who conducted him to his mother. 
 
 After travelling several hundred miles, Mr. Hodge sold 
 me to Mr. Gooch, the Cotton Planter, Cashaw County, South 
 Carolina ; he purchased ute at a town called Liberty Hill, 
 about three miles from his home. As soon as he got home, 
 he immediately put me on his cotton plantation to work, and 
 put me under overseers, gave me an allowance of meat and 
 bread with the other slaves, which was not half enough for 
 me to live upon, and very laborious work ; here my heart 
 was almost broke with grief at leaving my fellow -slaves. Mr. 
 Gooch did not mind my grief, for he flogged me nearly every 
 day, and very severely. Mr. Gooch bought me for his son- 
 in-law, Mr. Hammans, about five miles distance from his 
 residence. This man had but two slaves besides myself ; he 
 treated me very kindly for a week or two, but in summer, 
 when cotton was ready to hoe, he gave me task work, con- 
 nected with this department, which I could not get done, not 
 haviug worked on cotton farms before. When I failed in my 
 task he commenced flogging me, and set me to work without 
 any shirt, in the cotton field, in a very hot sun, in the month 
 of July. In August, Mr. Condell, his overseer, gave me a 
 task at pulling fodder ; having finished my task before night, 
 I left the field, the rain came on which soaked the fodder ; 
 on discovering this, he threatened to flog me for not getting 
 in the fodder before the rain came. I attempted to run away, 
 knowing that I should get a flogging. I was then between 
 thirteen and fourteen years of age ; I ran away to the woods 
 half naked ; I was caught by a slave-holder who put me in 
 Lancaster Gaol. When they put slaves in gaol, they adver- 
 tise for their masters to own them ; but if the master does 
 not claim his slave in eix months from the time of imprison- 
 
FROM SLAVERY. II 
 
 merit, the slave is sold for gaol fees. When the slave runs 
 away, the master always adopts a more rigorous system of 
 flogging ; this was the case in the present instance. After 
 this^ having determined from my youth to gain my freedom, 
 I made several attempts, was caught, and got a severe flog- 
 ging of one hundred lashes, each time. Mr. Hammans was a 
 very severe and cruel master, and his wife still worse ; she 
 used to tie me up and flog me while naked. 
 
 After Mr. Hammans saw that I was determined to die in 
 the woods, arid not live with him, he tried to obtain a piece 
 of land from his father-in-law, Mr. Gooch: not having the 
 means of purchasing it, he exchanged me for the land. 
 
 As soon as Mr. Gooch had possession of me again, knowing 
 that I was averse to going back to him, he chained me by 
 the neck to his chaise. In this manner he took me to his 
 home at Mac Daniels Ferry, in the County of Chester, a dis- 
 tance of fifteen miles. After which, he put me into a swamp 
 to cut trees, the heaviest work, which men of twenty-five or 
 thirty years of age have to do, I being but sixteen. Here I 
 was on very short allowance of food, and having heavy work, 
 was too weak to fulfil my tasks. For this, I got many severe 
 floggings : and, after I had got my irons off, I made another 
 attempt at running away. He took my irons otf*, in the full 
 anticipation that I could never get across the Catarba River, 
 even when at liberty. On this, I procured a small Indian 
 canoe, which was tied to a tree, and ultimately got across 
 the river in it. I then wandered through the wilderness for 
 several clays without any food, and but a drop of water to 
 allay my thirst, till I become so starved, that I was obliged 
 to go to a house to beg for something to eat, when I was 
 captured, and again imprisoned. 
 
 Mr. Gooch having heard of me through an advertisement, 
 sent his son after me ; he tied me up, and took me back to his 
 father. Mr. Gooch then obtained the assistance of another 
 slaveholder, and tied me up in his blacksmith's shop, and gave 
 me fifty lashes with a cow-hide. He then put a log chain, 
 weighing twenty-five pounds, round my neck, and sent me into 
 a field, into which he followed me with a cow-hide, intending 
 to set his slaves to flog me again. Knowing this, and dread- 
 ing to suffer again in this way, I gave him the slip, and got 
 out of his sight, he having stopped to speak with the other 
 slaveholder. 
 
 I gut to a canal on the Catarba River, on the banks of 
 
12 roper's escape 
 
 which, and near to a loch, I procured a stone and a piece of 
 iron, with which I forced the ring off my chain, and got it off, 
 and then crossed the river, and walked about twenty miles, 
 when I fell in with a slave-holder, named Ballad, who had 
 married the sister of Mr. Hammans. I kuew that he was not 
 so cruel as Mr. Gooch, and therefore begged of him to buy 
 me. Mr. Ballad, who was one of the best planters in the 
 neighbourhood, said that he was not able to buy me, and 
 stated that he was obliged to take me back to my master, on 
 account of the heavy fine attaching to a man harbouring a 
 slave. Mr. Ballad proceeded to take me back ; as we came 
 in sight of Mr. Goooh's all the treatment that I had met with 
 there, came forcibly upon my mind, the powerful influence 
 of which is beyond description. On my knees, with tears in my 
 eyes, with terror in my countenance, and fervency in all my 
 features, I implored Mr. Ballad to buy me, but he again re- 
 fused, and I was taken back to my dreaded and cruel master. 
 Having reached Mr. Gooch's he proceeded to punish me. 
 This he did, by first tying my wrists together and placiug 
 them over the knees, he then put a stick through, under my 
 knees and over my arms, and having thus secured my arms, 
 he proceeded to flog me, and gave me five hundred lashes on 
 my bare back. This may appear incredible, but the marks 
 which they left at present remain on my body, a standing 
 testimony to the truth of this statement of his severity. He 
 then chained me down in a log-pen with a forty pounds chain, 
 and made me lie on the damp earth all night. In the morn- 
 ing, after his breakfast, he came to me, and without giving 
 me any breakfast, tied me to a large heavy harrow, which is 
 usually drawn by a horse, and made me drag it to the cotton 
 field for the horse to use in the field. Thus, the reader will 
 aee, that it was of no possible use to my master to make me 
 drag it to the cotton field and not through it; his cruelty 
 went so far, as actually to make me the slave of his horse, 
 and thus to degrade me. He then flogged me again, and set 
 me to work in the cotton field the whole of that day, and at 
 night chained me down in the log-pen as before. The next 
 morning he took me to the cotton field, and gave me a third 
 flogging, and sent me to hoe cotton. At this time I was 
 dreadfully sore and weak with the repeated floggings and 
 cruel treatment I had endured. He put me under a black 
 man, with orders, that if I did not keep up my row in hoeing 
 with this man, he was to flog me. The reader must recollec - 
 
FROM SLAVERY. 13 
 
 here, that not being used to this kind of work, having been a 
 domestic slave, it was impossible for me to keep up with him, 
 and therefore I was repeatedly flogged during the day. 
 
 Mr. Gooch had a female servant about eighteen years old, 
 who had also been a domestic slave, and, through not being 
 able to fulfil her task, had run away : which slave he was at 
 this time punishing for that offence. On the third day, he 
 chained me to this female slave, with a large chain of forty 
 pounds* weight round my neck. It was most harrowing to 
 my feelings thus to be chained to a young female slave, for 
 whom I would rather have suffered one hundred lashes than 
 she should have been thus treated ; he kept me chained to 
 her during the week, and repeatedly flogged us both, while 
 thus chained together, and forced us to keep up with the 
 other slaves, although retarded by the heavy weight of the 
 log-chain. 
 
 Here again, words cannot describe the misery which pos- 
 sessed both body and mind whilst under this treatment, and 
 which was most dreadfully increased by the sympathy which 
 I felt for my poor, degraded fellow-sufferer. On the Friday 
 morning, I entreated my master to set me free from my chains, 
 and promised him to do the task which was given me, and 
 more if possible, if he would desist from flogging me. This 
 he refused to do until Saturday night, when he did set me 
 free. — This must rather be ascribed to his own interest in 
 preserving me from death, as it was very evident I could no 
 longer have survived under such treatment. 
 
 After this, though still determined in my own mind to 
 escape, I stayed with him some months, during which he fre- 
 quently flogged me, but not so severely as before related. — 
 During this time, 1 had opportunity for recovering my health, 
 and using means to heal my wounds. My master's cruelty 
 was not confined to me, it was his general conduct to all his 
 slaves. I might relate many instances to substantiate this, 
 but will confine myself to one or two. Mr. Gooch, it is proper 
 to observe, was a member of a Baptist Church, called Black 
 Jack Meeting House, in Cashaw County, which church I at- 
 tended for several years, but was never inside. This is ac- 
 counted for by the fact, that the coloured population are not 
 permitted to mix with the white population. In the Roman 
 
 * This was a chain that they used to draw logs with from the 
 woods, when they clear their land. 
 
14 roper's escapb 
 
 Catholic Church no distinction is made. Mr. Gooch had a 
 slave named Phil, who was a member of a Methodist Church ; 
 this man was between seventy and eighty years of age ; he 
 was so feeble that he could not accomplish his tasks, for which 
 his master used to chain him round the neck, and run him 
 down a steep hill ; this treatment he never relinquished to 
 the time of his death. Another case was that of a slave, 
 named Peter, who, for not doing his task, he flogged nearly 
 to death, and afterwards pulled out his pistol to shoot him, 
 but his (Mr. Gooch's) daughter snatched the pistol from his 
 hand. Another mode of punishment which this man adopted, 
 was that of using iron horns, with bells, attached to the back 
 of the slave's neck. The following is the instrument of tor- 
 ture : — 
 
 A WOMAN WITH IRON HORNS AND BELLS ON, TO KEEP HER 
 FROM RUNNING AWAY. 
 
 This instrument he used to prevent the negroes running 
 away, being a very ponderous machine, several feet in height;, 
 and the cross pieces being two feet four, and six feet in length. 
 This custom is generally adopted among the slave-holders in 
 South Carolina, and other slave States. One morning, about 
 
FROM SLAVERY. „ 15 
 
 an hour before day break, I was going on an errand for ray 
 master ; having proceeded about a quarter of a mile, I came 
 up to a man named King, (Mr. Surnlin's overseer,) who had 
 caught a young girl that had run away with theabove machine 
 on her. She had proceeded four miles from her station, with the 
 intention of getting into the hands of a more humane master. 
 She came up with this overseer nearly dead, and could get 
 no farther ; he immediately secured her, and took her back 
 to her master, a Mr. Johnson. 
 
 Having been in the habit of going over many slave States 
 with my tuaster, I had good opportunities of witnessing the 
 harsh treatment which was adopted by masters towards their 
 slaves. As I have never heard or read anything connected 
 with slavery, so cruel as what I have myself witnessed, it will 
 be as well to mention a case or two. 
 
 A large farmer, Colonel M'Quiller in Cashaw county, South 
 Carolina, was in the habit of driving nails into a hogshead 
 so as to leave the point of the nail just protruding in the 
 inside of the cask ; into this, he used to put his slaves for 
 punishment, and roll them down a very long and steep hill. 
 I have heard from several slaves, (though I had no means of 
 ascertaining the truth of this statement.) that in this way he 
 had killed six or seven of his slaves. This plan was first 
 adopted by a Mr. Perry, who lived on the Catarba River, and 
 has since been adopted by several planters. Another was that 
 of a young lad, who had been hired by Mr. Bell, a member 
 of a holding church, to hoe three-quarters of an acre of cot- 
 ton per day. Having been brought up as a domestic slave, 
 he was not able to accomplish the task assigned to him. On 
 the Saturday night, he left three or four rows to do on the 
 Sunday ; on the same night it rained very hard, by which 
 the master could tell that he had done some of the rows on 
 the Sunday ; on Monday, his master took and tied him up to a 
 tree in the field, and kept him there the whole of that day 
 and flogged him at intervals. At night, when he was taken 
 down, he was so weak that he could not get home, having 
 a mile to go. Two white men who were employed by Mr. 
 Bell, put him on a horse, took him home, and threw him, 
 down on the kitchen floor, while they proceeded to their 
 supper. In a little while, they heard some deep groans pro- 
 ce ding from the kitchen ; they went to see hiin die ; he had 
 groaned his last. Thus, Mr. Bell flogged the poor boy, even 
 to death, for what ] for breaking the Sabbath, when he (his 
 
16 roper's escape 
 
 master) had set him a task, on Saturday, which it was not 
 possible for him to do, and which, if he did not do, no mercy 
 would be extended towards him ! The general custom in 
 this respect is, that if a man kills his own slave, no notice is 
 taken of it by the civil functionaries ; but if a man kills a slave 
 belonging to another master, he is compelled to pay the worth 
 of the slave. In this case, a jury met, returned a verdict of 
 ""Wilful Murder" against this man, and ordered him to pay 
 the value. Mr. Bell was unable to do this, but a Mr. Cun- 
 ningham paid the debt, and took this Mr. Bell, with this re- 
 commendation for cruelty, to be his overseer. 
 
 It will be observed that most of the cases here cited, are 
 those in respect to males. Many instances, however, in re- 
 spect to females, might be mentioned, but are too disgusting 
 to appear in this narrative. The cases here brought forward 
 are not rare, but the continued feature of slavery. But I 
 must now follow up the narrative as regards myself in pecu- 
 liar. I stayed with this master for several months, during 
 which time we went on very well in general. In August, 
 1831, (this was my first acquaintance with any date), I hap- 
 pened to hear a man mention this date, and, as it excited my 
 curosity, I asked what it meant ; they told me it was the num- 
 ber of the year from the birth of Christ. On this date, August 
 1831, some cows broke into a crib where the corn is kept, and 
 ate a great deal. For this, his slaves were tied up, and receiv- 
 ed several floggings : but myself and another man, hearing the 
 groans of those who were being flogged, stayed back in the field, 
 and would not come up. Upon this, I thought to escape punish- 
 ment. On the Monday morning, however, I heard my master 
 flogging the other man who was in the field ; he could not 
 see me, it being a field of Indian corn, which grows to a 
 great height. Being afraid that he would catch me, and 
 dreading a flogging more than many other, I determined to 
 run for it ; and, after travelling forty miles, I arrived at the 
 estate of Mr. Crawford, in North Carolina, Mecklinburgh 
 county. Having formerly heard people talk about the Free 
 States, I determined upon going thither, and, if possible, in 
 my way to find out my poor mother, who was in slavery, se- 
 veral hundred miles from Chester ; but the hope of doing the 
 latter was very faint, and, even if I did, it was not likely that 
 she would know me, having been separated from her when 
 between five and six years old. 
 
 The first night I slept in a barn, upon Mr. Crawford's es- 
 
PROM SLAVERY. 17 
 
 tate, and, having overslept myself, was awoke by Mr. Craw- 
 ford's overseer, upon which I was dreadfully frightened ; he 
 asked me what I was doing there ? I made no reply to him 
 then ; and he making sure that he had secured a runaway 
 slave, did not press me for an answer. On my way to his 
 house, however, I made up the following story, which I told 
 him in the presence of his wife : — I said that I had been 
 bound to a very cruel master when I was a little boy, 
 and that having been treated very badly I wanted to get 
 home to see my mother. This statement may appear to some 
 to be untrue, but as I understood the word bound, I considered 
 it to apply to my case, having been sold to him, and thereby 
 bound to serve him ; though still, I did rather hope that he 
 would understand it, that I was bound when a boy till twenty- 
 one years of age. Though I was white at that time, he would 
 not believe my story, on account of my hair being curly and 
 wooly, which led him to conclude I was possessed of enslaved 
 blood. The overseer's wife, however, who seemed much in- 
 terested in me, said she did not think I was of the African 
 origin, and that she had seen white men still darker than me ; 
 her persuasion prevailed ; and after the overseer had given 
 me as much butter-milk as I could drink, and something to 
 eat, which was very acceptable, having had nothing for two 
 days, I set off for Charlotte, in North Carolina, the largest 
 town in the county. I went on very quickly the whole of 
 that day, fearful of being pursued. The trees were thick on 
 each side of the road, and only a few houses, at the distance 
 of two or three miles apart ; as I proceeded, I turned round 
 in all directions to see if I was pursued, and if I caught a 
 glimpse of any one coming along the road, I immediately 
 rushed into the thickest part of the wood, to elude the grasp 
 of what, I was afraid, might be my master. I went on in this 
 way the whole day ; at night, I came up with two waggons, 
 they had been to market ; the regular road waggons do not 
 generally put up at inns, but encamp in the roads and fields. 
 When I came to them, I told them the same story I had told 
 Mr. Crawford's overseer, with the assurance that the state- 
 ment would meet the same success. After they had heard 
 me, they gave me something to eat, and also a lodging in the 
 camp with them. 
 
 I then went on with them about five miles, and they agreed 
 to take me with them as far as they went, if I would assist 
 them. This I promised to do. In the morning, however, I 
 
IS roper's escape 
 
 was much frightened by one of the men putting several 
 questions to me — we were then about three miles from Char- 
 lotte. When within a mile of the town, we stopped at a 
 brook to water the horses ; while stopping there I saw the 
 men whispering, and fancying I overheard them say tbey 
 would put me in Charlotte gaol when they got there, I made 
 my escape into the woods, pretending to be looking after 
 something till I got out of their sight. I then ran on as 
 fast I could, but did not go through the town of Charlotte, 
 as had been my intention ; being a large town I was fearful 
 it might prove fatal to my escape. Here I was at a loss how 
 to get on, as houses were not very distant from each other 
 for nearly two hundred miles. 
 
 While thinking what I should do, I observed some waggons 
 before me, which I determined to keep behind, and never go 
 nearer to them than a quarter of a mile — in this way I 
 travelled till I got to Salisbury. If I happened to meet any 
 person on the road, I was afraid they would take me up. I 
 asked them how far the waggons had gone on before me 1 to 
 make them suppose I belonged to the waggons. At night, I 
 slept on the ground in the woods, some little distance from 
 the waggons, but not near enough to be seen by the men be- 
 longing to them. All this time, I had but little food, prin- 
 cipally fruit, which I found on the road. On Thursday night, 
 I got into Salisbury, having left Chester on the Monday 
 precading. After this, being afraid my master was in pur- 
 suit of me, I left the usual line of road, and took another 
 direction, through Huntsville and Salem, principally through 
 fields and woods ; on my way to Caswell Couit-House, a dis- 
 tance of nearly two hundred miles from Salisbury,* I was 
 stopped by a white man, to whom I told my old story, and 
 again succeeded in my escape. I also came up with a small 
 cart, driven by a poor man, who had been moving into some 
 of the western territories, and was going back to Virginia, to 
 move some more of. his luggage. On this I told him I was 
 going the same way to Hilton, thirteen miles from Caswell 
 Court-House ; he took me up in his cart, and went to the 
 Red House, two miles from Milton, the place where Mr. 
 Mitchell took me from, when six years old, to go to the 
 Southern States. This was a very providential circumstance, 
 
 * The distance from Salisbury to Caswell Court-house is not so 
 far, but I had to go a round-about way. 
 
PROM SLAVERY. 19 
 
 for it happened, that at the time I had to pass through 
 Caswell Court-house, a fair or election was going on, which 
 caused the place to be much crowded with people, and ren- 
 dered it more dangerous for me to pass through. 
 
 At the Red House I left the cart, and wandered about a 
 long time, not knowing which way to go and find my mother. 
 After some time, I took the road leading over Ikeo Creek. I 
 shortly came up with a little girl, about six years old, and 
 asked her where she was going ; she said, to her mother's, 
 pointing to a house on a hill, half a mile off. She had been 
 at the overseer's house, and was returning to her mother. I 
 then felt some emotions arising in my breast, which I cannot 
 'describe, but will be explained in the sequel. I told her I 
 was very thirsty, and would go with her to get something to 
 drink. On our way I asked her several questions, such as her 
 name, that of her mother ; she said hers was Maria, and that 
 of her mother's Nancy. I inquired, if her mother had any 
 more children 1 she said five besides herself, and that they had 
 been sold, that one had been sold when a little boy. I then 
 asked the name of this child 1 she said it was Moses. These 
 answers, as we approached the house, led me nearer and near- 
 er to the finding out the object of my pursuit, and of recog- 
 nising in the little girl the person of my own sister. 
 
 CHAPTER III: 
 
 An account of the Author's meeting with his Mother, who did not 
 know him, but was with her a very short time before he was taken 
 by armed men, and imprisoned for thirty-one days, and then taken 
 back to his master. 
 
 At last I got to my mother's house ! my mother was at 
 
20 B0PER*S ESCAPE 
 
 home. I asked her if she knew rue ? she said, no. Her mas- 
 ter was having a house built close by, and as the men were 
 digging a we!], she supposed that I was one of the diggers. 
 I told her, I knew her very well, and thought that if she 
 looked at me a little, she would know me, but this had no 
 effect. I then asked her if she had any sons ? she said, yes ; 
 but none so large as me. I then waited a few minutes, and 
 narrated some circumstances to her, attending my being sold 
 into slavery, and how she grieved at my loss., Here the 
 mother's feelings on that dire occasion, and which a mother 
 can only know, rushed to her mind ; she saw her own son before 
 her, for whom she had so often wept ; and, in an instant, we 
 were clasped in each other's arms, amidst the ardent inter- 
 change of caresses and tears of joy. Ten years had elapsed 
 since I had seen my dear mother. My own feelings, and the 
 circumstances attending my coming home, have been often 
 brought to mind since, on a perusal of the 42d, 43d, 44th, 
 and 45th chapters of Genesis. What could picture my feel- 
 ings so well, as I once more beheld the mother who had 
 brought me into the world, and had nourished me, not with 
 the anticipation of my being torn from her maternal care, 
 when only six years old, to become the prey of a mercenary 
 and blood-stained slave-holder : I say, what picture so vivid 
 in description of this part of my tale, as the 7th and 8th 
 verses of the 42d chapter of Genesis, " And Joseph saw his 
 brethren, and he knew them, but made himself strange unto 
 them. And Joseph knew his brethren, but they knew not 
 him." After the first emotion of the mother, on recognising 
 her first-born, had somewhat subsided, could the reader not 
 fancy the little one, my sister, as she told her simple tale of 
 meeting with me to her mother, how she would say, while the 
 parent listened with intense interest: "The man asked me 
 straitly of our state and our kindred, saying, is your father 
 yet alive, and have ye another brother." Or, when at last, I 
 could no longer refrain from making myself known, I say I 
 was ready to burst into a frenzy of joy. How applicable the 
 1st, 2d, and 3d verses of the 45th chapter, " Then Joseph 
 could not refrain himself before all that stood by him, and he 
 wept aloud, and said unto his brethren, I am Joseph, doth my 
 father still live." Then when the mother knew her son, when 
 the brothers and sisters owned their brother ; " he kissed all 
 his brethren and wept over them, and after that his brethren 
 talked with him," 15th verse. At night my mother's hus- 
 
FROM SLAVERY. 21 
 
 band, a blacksmith, belonging to Mr. Jefferson at the Red 
 House, came home ; he was surprised to see me with the 
 family, not knowing who I was. He had been married to my 
 mother, when I was a babe, and had always been very fond of 
 me. After the same tale had been told him, and the same 
 emotions filled his soul, he again kissed the object of his early 
 affection. The next morning I wanted to go on my journey, 
 in order to make sure of my escape to the Free States. But 
 as might be expected, my mother, father, brothers, and sisters, 
 could ill part with their long lost one ; and persuaded me to 
 go into the woods in the day time, and at night come home 
 and sleep there. This I did for about a week ; on the next- 
 Sunday night, I laid me down to sleep between my two 
 brothers, on a pallet, which my mother had prepared for me ; 
 about twelve o'clock I was suddenly awoke, and found my 
 bed sunounded by twelve slave-holders with pistols in hand, 
 who took me away (not allowing me to bid farewell to those I 
 loved so dearly) to the Red House, where they confined me 
 in a room the rest of the night, and in the morning lodged 
 me in the gaol of Caswell Court-House. 
 
 What was the scene at home, what sorrow possessed their 
 hearts, I am unable to describe, as I never after saw any of 
 them more. I heard, however, that my mother was, soon 
 after I left, confined, and was very long before she recovered 
 the effects of this disaster.* I was told afterwards, that some 
 of those men who took me were professing Christians, but, to 
 me, they did not seem to live up to what they professed ; they 
 did not seem, by their practice, at least, to recognise that God 
 as their God, who hath said, " thou shalt not deliver unto his 
 master, the servant which is escaped from his master unto 
 thee, he shall dwell with thee, even among you, in that place 
 which he shall choose, in one of thy gates, where it liketh 
 him best ; thou shalt not oppress him." — Deut. xxiii. 15, 16. 
 
 I was confined here iu a dungeon under ground, the grat- 
 ing of which looked to the door of the gaoler's house. His 
 wife had a great antipathy to me. She was Mr. Roper's wife's 
 cousin. My grandmother used to come to me nearly every 
 day, and bring me something to eat, besides the regular gaol 
 allowance, by which my sufferings were somewhat decreased. 
 
 * My mother had seven children living when I last saw her, and 
 the above one was born soon after I left, made the eighth, and they 
 are now all in slavery except myself. 
 
22 roper's escape 
 
 Whenever the gaoler went out, which he often did, his wifo 
 used to come to my dungeon, and shut the wooden door over 
 the grating, by which I was nearly suffocated, the place being 
 very damp and noisome. My master did not hear of my 
 being in gaol for thirty-one days after I had been placed 
 there. He immediately sent his son, and son-in-law, Mr. 
 Anderson, after me. They came in a horse and chaise, took 
 me from the gaol to a blacksmith's shop, and got an iron col- 
 far fitted round my neck, with a heavy chain attached, thelv 
 tied my hands, and fastened the other end of the chain on a 
 horse, and put me on its back. Just before we started, my 
 grandmother came to bid me farewell ; I gave her my han.l 
 as well as I could, and she having given me two or three 
 presents, we parted. I had felt enough, far too much, for tlu 
 weak state I was in ; but how shall I describe my feelings, 
 upon parting with the last relative that I ever saiv. The 
 reader must judge by what would be his own feelings under 
 similar circumstances. We then went on for fifty miles ; L 
 was very weak and could hardly sit on the horse. Having 
 been in prison so long, I had lost the southern tan ; and as 
 the people could not see my hair, having my hat on, they 
 thought I was a white man — a criminal — and asked me what 
 crime I had committed. We arrived late at night, at the 
 house of Mr. Button. I shall never forget the journey thafe 
 night. The thunder was one continued roar, aud the light- 
 ning blazing all around. I expected every minute that my 
 iron collar would attract it, and I should be knocked off the 
 horse, and dragged along the ground. This gentleman, a 
 year or two before, had liberated his slaves, and sent them 
 into Ohio, having joined the Society of Friends, which society 
 does not allow the holding of slaves. I was, therefore, treated 
 very well there, and they gave me a very hearty supper, 
 which did me much good in my weak state. 
 
 They secured me in the night by locking me to the post of 
 the bed on which they slept. The next morning, we went on 
 to Salisbury. At that place we stopped to water the horses ; 
 they chained me to a tree in the yard, by the side of their 
 chaise. On my horse they put the saddle bags which con- 
 tained the provisions. As I was in the yard, a black man 
 came and asked me what I had been doing ; I told him that 
 I had run away from my master, after which he told me 
 several tales about the slaves, and among them he men- 
 tioned the case of a Quaker, who was then in prison, waiting 
 
FROM SLAVERY. 23 
 
 to be hung, for giving a free passage to a slave. I had been 
 considering all the way how I could escape from my horse, 
 and once had an idea of cutting his head off, but thought it 
 too cruel : and at last thought of trying to get a rasp and 
 cut the chain by which I was fastened to the horse. As they 
 often let me get on a quarter of a mile before them, I thought 
 I should have a good opportunity of doing this without being 
 seen. The black man procured me a rasp, and I put it iuto 
 the saddle-bags which contained the provisions. We then 
 went on our journey, and one of the sons asked me if I wanted 
 anything to eat ; I answered no, though very hungry at the 
 time, as I was afraid of their going to the bags and discover- 
 ing the rasp. However, they had not had their own meal at 
 the iun as I had supposed, and went to the bags to supply 
 themselves, where they found the rasp. Upon this, they 
 fastened my horse beside the horse in their chaise, and kept 
 a stricter watch over me. Nothing remarkable occurred till 
 we got within eight miles of Mr. Gooch's, where we stopped 
 a short time ; and, taking advantage of their absence, I broke 
 a switch from some boughs above my head, lashed my horse 
 and set off at full speed, I had got about a quarter of a mile 
 
 Mf. ANDERSON ATTEMPTING TO SHOOT THE AUTHOR, ATFBIi 
 TELLIlsG HIM TO STOP THREE TIMES, ACCORDING TO THE 
 1AW. 
 
24 roper's escape 
 
 before they could get their horse loose from their chaise ; one 
 then rode the horse, and the other ran as fast as he could 
 after me. When I caught sight of them, I turned off the inaiu 
 road into the woods, hoping to escape their sight ; their horse, 
 however, being much swifter than mine, they soon got within 
 a short distance of me. I then came to a rail fence, which 
 I found it very difficult to get over, but breaking several rails 
 away, I effected my object. They then called me upon to 
 stop more than three times ; and I not doing so, they fired 
 after me, but the pistol only snapped. 
 
 This is according to law ; after three calls they may shoot 
 a runaway slave. Soon after the one on the horse came up 
 with me, and catching hold of the bridle of my horse, pushed 
 the pistol to my side ; the other soon came up, and breaking 
 off several stout branches from the trees, they gave me about 
 one hundred blows. This they did very near to a planter's 
 house. The gentleuran was not at home, but his wife came 
 out and begged them not to kill me so near the house ; they 
 took no notice of this, but kept on beating me. They then 
 fastened me to the axle tree of their chaise. One of them 
 got into the chaise, the other took my horse, and they ran me 
 all the eight miles as fast as they could ; the one on my horse 
 going behind to guard me. 
 
 CHAPTER IV 
 
 The Author is Flogged and Punished in various ways, but still per- 
 severes in his attempts to Escape, till he was sold to Mr. Wilson. 
 
 In this way we came to my old master, Mr. Gr.nch. The 
 first person I saw was himself; he unchained me fiom the 
 chaise, and at first seemed to treat me very gently, asking 
 
FROM SLAVERY. "AQ 
 
 me where I had been, &c. The first thing the sons did was 
 to show the rasp which I had got- to cut my chain. My mas- 
 ter gave me a hearty dinner, the best he ever did give lue ; 
 but it was to keep me from dying before he had given me all 
 the flogging he intended. After dinner he took me to a 
 lof-house, stripped me quite naked, fastened a rail up very 
 high, tied my hands to the rail, fastened my feet together, 
 put a rail between my feet, and stood on one. end of it to hold 
 me down ; the two sons theu gave me fifty lashes eaeh, the 
 son-in-law another fifty, and Mr. Gooch himself fifty more. 
 
 MR. GOOCH STRIPPING THE AUTHER TO FLOG HIM, HIS TWO 
 SONS AND SON-IN-LAW PRESENT. THEY AT THIS TIME GIVE 
 HIM FIFTY LASHES EACH. 
 
 While doing this his wife came out, and begged him not to 
 kill me, the first act of sympathy I ever noticed in her. 
 When I called for water, they brought a pail-full and threw 
 it over my back ploughed up by the lashes. After this, they 
 took me to the blacksmith's shop, got two large bars of iron, 
 which they bent round my feet, eaeh bar vmghuig iwmty 
 pounds, and put a heavy log-chain on my neck. This was oa 
 Saturday. On the Monday, he chained me to the same 
 
 B 
 
26 roper's escape 
 
 female slave as before. As he had to go out that day, he did 
 not give me the punishment which he intended to give me 
 every day, but at night when he came home, he made us 
 walk round his estate, and by all the houses of the slaves, for 
 them to taunt us ; when we came home he told us we must 
 be up very early in the morning^ and go to the field before 
 the other slaves. We were up at day-break, but we could 
 not get on fast, on account of the heavy irons on my feet. 
 It may be necessary to state here, that these irons were first 
 made red hot and bent in a circle, so as just to allow of my 
 feet going through ; it having been cooled, and my leg with 
 the iron on lifted up to an anvil, it was made secure round 
 my ancles. When I walked with these irons on, I used to 
 hold them up with my hands by means of a cord. We walked 
 about a mile in tioo hours, but knowing the punishment he 
 was going to inflict on us, we made up our minds to escape 
 into the woods, and secrete ourselves. This we did, and he 
 not being able to find us, which they could not do ; and about 
 twelve o'clock, when we thought they would give up looking 
 for us at that time, we went on, and came to the banks of the 
 Catarba. Here I got a stone, and opened the ring of the 
 chain en her neck, and got it off; and the chain round my 
 neck was only passed through a ring ; as soon as I got hers 
 off, I slipped the chain through my ring, and got it off my 
 own neck.* We then went on by the banks of the river for 
 some distance, and found a little canoe about two feet wide. 
 I managed to get in, although the irons on my feet made it 
 very dangerous, for if I had upset the canoe, I could not 
 swim. The female got in after me, and gave me the paddles, 
 by which we got some distance down the river. The current 
 being very strong, it drove us against a small island ; we pad- 
 dled round the island to the other side, and then made towards 
 the opposite bank. Here again we were stopped by the current, 
 and made up to a large rock in the river, between the island 
 -ind the opposite shore. As the weather was very rough we 
 landed on the rock, and secured the canoe, as it was not pos- 
 sible to get back to the island. It was a very dark night and 
 rained tremendously ; and, as the water was rising rapidly 
 towards the top of the rock, we gave all up for lost, and 
 
 * It may be well to state here, that the ring which fastened the 
 bg-chain together round the female's neck, was an open ring, similar 
 to those used at the end of a watch chain. 
 
FROM SLAVERY. 27 
 
 sometimes hoped, and sometimes feared to hope, that we 
 should never see the morning. But Providence was moved 
 in our favour ; the rain ceased, the water reached the edge 
 of the rock, then receded, and we were out of- danger from 
 this cause. We remained all night upon the rock, and in the 
 morning reached the opposite shore, and then made our way 
 through the woods till we came to a field of Indian com, 
 where we plucked some of the green ears and ate them, hav- 
 ing had nothing for two days and nights. We came to the 
 
 estate of . where we met with a coloured man who 
 
 knew me, and having run away himself from a bad master, 
 he gave us some food, and told us we might sleep in the barn 
 that night. Being very fatigued, we overslept ourselves ; the 
 proprietor came to the barn, but as I was in one corner under 
 some Indian corn tops, and she in another, he did not perceive 
 us, and we did not leave the barn before night, (Wednesday.) 
 We then went out, got something to eat, and strayed about 
 the estate till Sunday. On that day, I met with some men, 
 one of whom had irons on the same as me ; he told me that 
 his master was going out to see his friends, and that he would 
 try and get my feet loose ; for this purpose I parted with this 
 female, fearing, that if she were caught with me, she would 
 be forced to tell who took my irons off. The man tried some 
 time without effect, he then gave me a file and I tried myself, 
 but was disappointed on account of their thickness. 
 
 On the Monday I went on towards Lancaster, and got within 
 three miles of it that night ; and went towards the plantation 
 of Mr. Crockett, as I knew some of his slaves, and hoped to 
 get some food given me. When I got there, however, the 
 dogs smelt me out and barked ; upon which, Mr. Crockett 
 came out, followed me with his rifle, and came up with me, 
 He put me on a horse 1 s back, which put me to extreme pain, 
 from the great weight hanging at my feet. We reached Lan- 
 caster gaol that night, and he lodged me there. I was placed 
 in the next dungeon to a* man who was going to be hung. I 
 shall never forget his cries and groans, as he prayed all night 
 for the mercy of God. Mr. Gooch did not hear of me for se- 
 veral weeks ; when he did, he sent his son-in-law, Mr. Ander- 
 son, after me. Mr. Gooch himself came within a mile of Lan- 
 caster, and waited until Mr Anderson brought me. At this 
 time 1 had but one of the irons on my feet. Laving got so thin 
 round my ancles that I had slipped one off while in gaol. 
 His son-in-law tied my hands, and made me walk along tiL 
 
28 ROPER 8 ESCAPE 
 
 we came to Mr. Gooch. As soon as we arrived at M'Daniei's 
 Foid, two miles above the ferry, on the Catarba river, they 
 made me wade across, themselves going on horseback. The 
 water was very deep, and having irons on one foot and round 
 my neck, I could not keep a footing. They dragged me along 
 by my chain on the top of the water. It was as much as they 
 could do to hold me by the chain, the current being very 
 strong. They then took me home, flogged me, put extra irons 
 on my neck and feet, and put me under the driver, with more 
 work than ever I had before. He did not flog me so severely 
 as before, but continued it everyday. Among the instru- 
 ments of torture employed, I here describe one : — This is a 
 machine used for packing and pressing cotton . By it he hung 
 me up by the hands at letter a, a horse, and at times, a man 
 moving round the screw e, and carrying it up and down, and 
 pressing the block c into a box d, into which the cotton is put. 
 At this time he hung me up for a quarter of an hour. I was 
 carried up ten feet from the ground, when Mr. Gooch asked 
 me if I was tired ? He then let me rest for five minutes, then 
 carried me round again, after which, he let me down and put 
 me into the box d, and shut me down in it for about ten 
 minutes. After this torture, I stayed with him several 
 months, and did my work very well. It was about the be- 
 ginning of 1832, when he took off my irons, and being in 
 dread of him, he having threatened me with more punish- 
 ment, I attempted again to escape from him. At this time I 
 got into North Carolina : but a reward having been offered 
 for me, a Mr. Robinson caught me, and chained me to a chair, 
 upon which he sat up with me all night, and next day pro- 
 ceeded home with me. This was Saturday. Mr. Gooch had 
 gone to church, several miles from his house. When he came 
 back, the first thing he did was to pour some tar upon my 
 head, then rubbed it all over my face, took a torch with pitch 
 on, and set it on fire ; he put it out before it did me very 
 great injury, but the pain which I endured was most excru- 
 ciating, nearly all my hair having been burnt off. On Mon- 
 day, lie put irons on me again, weighing nearly fifty pounds. 
 He thicatened me again on the Sunday with another flogging ; 
 and on the Monday morning, before daybreak, I got away 
 again, with my irons on, and was about three hours going a 
 distance of two miles.* I had gone a good distance, when I 
 
 * It must be recollected, that when a person is two miles from a 
 house, h: that part of the country, he can hide himself in the woods 
 for weeks, and I knew a slave who was hid for six months without 
 discovery, the trees being so thick. 
 
FROM SLAVERY, 
 
 29 
 
 THE AUTHOR HANGING BY HIS HANDS TIED TO A COTTON 
 SCREW.* 
 
 met with a coloured man, who got some wedges, and took my 
 irons off'. However, I was caught again, and put into prison 
 in Charlotte, where Mr. Gooch came, and took me back to 
 Chester. He asked me how I got my irons off. They having 
 been got off by a slave, I would not answer his question, for 
 fear of getting the man punished. Upon this he put the fin- 
 
 * This screw is sometimes moved round by hand, when there is a 
 person hanging on it. The screw is made with wood, a large tree 
 cut down, and carved the shape of a screw. 
 
30 roper's escape 
 
 gers of my hands into a vice, and squeezed all my nails off. 
 He then had my feet put on an anvil, and ordered a man to 
 beat my toes, till he smashed some of my nails off. The marks 
 of this treatment still remain upon me, some of my nails 
 never having grown perfect since. He inflicted this punish- 
 ment, in order to get out of me how I got my irons off, but 
 never succeeded. After this, he hardly knew what to do with 
 me ; the whole stock of his cruelties seemed to be exhausted. 
 He chained me down in the log-house. Soon after this, he 
 sent a female slave to see if I was safe. Mr. Gooch had not 
 secured me as he thought : but had only run my chain through 
 the ring, without locking it. This I observed ; and while the 
 slave was coming, I was employed iu loosening the chain with 
 the hand that was not wounded. As soon a3 I observed her 
 coming, I drew the chain up tight, and she observing that I 
 seemed fast, went away and told her master, who was in the 
 field ordering the slaves. vVhen she was gone, I drew the 
 chain through the ring, escaped under the flooring of the log- 
 house, and went on under it, till I came out at the other side 
 and ran on ; but, being sore and weak, I had not got a mile 
 before I was caught, and again carried back. He tied me up 
 to a tree in the woods at night, and made his slaves flog me. 
 I cannot say how many lashes I received ; but it was the worst 
 flogging I ever had, and the last which Mr. Gooch ever gave 
 me. 
 
 There are several circumstances which occurred on this 
 estate while I was there, relative to other slaves, which it 
 may be interesting to mention. Hardly a day ever passed 
 without some one being flogged. To one of his female slaves 
 he had given a doze of castor oil and salts together, as much 
 as she could take ;* he then got a box, about six feet by two 
 and a half, and one and a half feet deep ; he put this slave 
 under the box, and made the men fetch as many logs as they 
 could get ; and put them on the top of it ; under this she was 
 made to stay all night. I believe, that if he had given this 
 slave one, he had given her three thousand lashes. Mr. Gooch 
 was a member of a Baptist church. His slaves thinking him 
 a very bad sample of what a professing Christian ought to be, 
 would not join the connection he belonged to, thinking they 
 must be a very bad set of people ; there were many of them 
 
 * The female whom Mr. Gooch chained to me. 
 
FROM SLAVERY. 31 
 
 members of the Methodist Church.* On Sunday, the slaves 
 can only go to church at the will of their master, when he 
 gives them a pass for the time they are to be out. If they 
 are found by the patrole after the time to which their pass 
 extends, they are severely flogged. 
 
 On Sunday nights a slave, named Allen, used to come to 
 Mr. Gooch's estate for the purpose of exhorting and praying 
 with his brother slaves, by whose instrumentality many of 
 them had been converted. One evening, Mr. Gooch caught 
 them all in a room, turned Allen out, and threatened his 
 slaves with one hundred lashes each, if they ever brought 
 him there again. At one time Mr. Gooch was ill and con- 
 fined to his room ; if any of the slaves had done anything 
 which he thought deserved a flogging, he would have them 
 brought into his bed-room and flogged before his eyes. 
 
 With respect to food, he used to allow us one peck of In- 
 dian meal per week, which, after being sifted and the bran 
 taken from it, would not be much more than half a peck. 
 Meat we did not get for sometimes several weeks together ; 
 however, he was proverbial for giving his slaves more food 
 than any other slave-holder. I stayed with Mr. Gooch a year 
 and a half ; during that time the scenes of cruelty I witnessed 
 and experienced, are not at all fitted for these pages. There 
 is much to excite disgust in what has been narrated, but 
 hundreds of other cases might be mentioned. 
 
 * In fact, in some of the States, nearly all of the slaves are Metho- 
 dists ; and when in the field at work they may be often heard sing- 
 ing these words, " I am happy, I am happy, Lord pity poor me. — Me 
 never know what happiness was, until I joined de Methodists. I am 
 happy, Lord pity poor me." 
 
32 roper's escape 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 h I was not long with Mr. Wilson, who was a Negro trader, before he 
 exchanged me to Mr. Rowland, who was also a trader, for another 
 slave, and after being with him about a year, was sold to Mr. 
 Goodly, who exchanged me again to Mr. Louis. 
 
 After this, Mr. Gooch seeing that I was determined to 
 get away from him, chained me, and sent me with another 
 female slave, whom he had treated very cruelly, to Mr. Brit- 
 ton, son of the before-mentioned slave dealer. We were to 
 have gone to Georgia to be sold, but a bargain was struck 
 before we arrived there. Mr. Britton had put chains on me to 
 please Mr. Gooch. but having gone some little distance we 
 came up with a white man, who begged Mr. Britton to un- 
 chain me ; he then took off my handcuffs. We then went on 
 to Union Courc House, where we met a drove of slaves be- 
 longing to Mr. Wilson, who ultimately bought me and sent 
 me to his drove : the girl was sold to a planter in the neigh- 
 bourhood as bad as Mr. Gooch* In court week the negro 
 traders and slaves encamp a little way out of the town. The 
 traders here will often sleep with the best-looking female 
 slaves among them, and they will often have many children 
 in the year, which are said to be slaveholder's children, by 
 which means, through his villainy, he will make an immense 
 profit of this intercourse, by selling the babe with its mother. 
 They often keep an immense stock of slaves on hand ; many 
 of them will be with the trader a year or more before 
 they are sold. Mr. Marcus Rowland, the drover, who brought 
 me, then returned with his slaves to his brother's house (Mr. 
 John Rowland), where he kept his drove on his way to Vir- 
 ginia. He kept me as a kind of servant. I had to grease 
 the faces of the blacks every morning with sweet oil, to make 
 
 * As I am often asked " what became of the female I was chained 
 to ?*' the above is the girl, whom I have seen once since she was 
 last sold, and from what I saw of her then, I do not think she is alive 
 now. 
 
FROM SLAVERY. 33 
 
 them shine, before they are put up to sell. After he had been 
 round several weeks, and sold many slaves, he left me at his 
 brother's house, while he went on to Washington, about 600 
 miles, to buy some more slaves, the drove having got very 
 small. We were treated very well while there, having plenty 
 to eat and little work to do, in order to make us fat. I was 
 brought up as a domestic slave, as they generally prefer slaves 
 of my colour for that purpose. When Mr. Rowland came 
 back, having been absent about five months, he found all the 
 slaves well except one female, who had been grieving very 
 much at being parted from her parents, and at last died of 
 grief. He dressed us very nicely and went on again. I tra- 
 velled with him for a year, and had to look over the slaves 
 and see that they were dressed well, had plenty of food, and 
 to oil their faces. During this time we stopped once at 
 White House Church, a Baptist Association ; a protracted 
 camp meeting was holding there, on the plan of the revival 
 meetings in this country. We got there at the time of the 
 meeting, and sold two female slaves on the Sunday morning, 
 at the time the meeting broke up, to a gentleman who had 
 been attending the meeting the whole of the week. While 
 I was with Mr. Rowland, we were at many such meetings ; 
 and the members of the churches are by this means so well 
 influenced towards their fellow-creatures at these meetings 
 for the worship of God, that it becomes a fruitful season for 
 the drover, who carries on an immense traffic with the atten- 
 dants at these places. This is common to Baptists and Me- 
 thodists. At the end of the year, he exchanged me to a far- 
 mer, Mr. David Goodly, for a female slave in Greenville, about 
 14 miles from Greenville Court House. This gentleman was 
 going to Missouri to settle, and on his way had to pass through 
 Ohio, a free State. But having learnt after he bought me, that 
 I had 1 before tried to get away to the free States, he was afraid 
 to take me with him, and I was exchanged to a Mr. Louis. 
 
34 roper's escape 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 Travel with Mr. Louis to Pendleton Indian Springs, from thence to 
 Columbus, where I was sold at auction to Mr. Beveridge. Travels 
 and history with Mr. Beveridge. 
 
 Mr. Marvel Louis was in the habit of travelling a great 
 deal, and took tne as a domestic slave to wait on him. Mr. 
 Louis boarded at the house of a Mr. Glevelin, a rich planter, 
 at Greenville, South Carolina. Mr. L. was paying his addresses 
 to the daughter of this gentleman, but was surprised and 
 routed in his approaches, by a Colonel Dorkins, of Union Court 
 House, who ultimately carried her off in triumph. After this, 
 Mr. Louis took to drinking, to drown his recollection of disap- 
 pointed love. 
 
 One day he went to Pendleton Races, and 1 waited on the 
 road for him : returning intoxicated he was thrown from his 
 horse into a brook, and was picked up by a gentleman, and 
 taken to an inn, and I went there to take care of him. Next 
 day he went on to Punkintown with Mr. Warren R. Davis, a 
 member of Congress ; I went with him. This was at the 
 time of the agitation of the Union and Nullifying party, 
 which was expected to end in a general war. The Nullifying 
 party had a grand dinner on the occasion, after which, they 
 gave their slaves all their refuse, for the purpose of bribing 
 them to fight on the side of their party. The scene on this 
 occasion was humorous, all the slaves scrambling after, bare 
 bones and crumbs, as if they had had nothing for weeks. 
 When Mr. Louis had got over this fit of drunkenness, we re- 
 turned to Greenville, where I had little to do except in the 
 warehouse. There was preaching in the Court-house on the 
 Sunday ; but scarcely had the sweet savour of the worship of 
 God passed away, when, on Monday, a public auction was 
 held for the sale of slaves, cattle, sugar, iron, &c, by Z. Davis, 
 the high constable and others. 
 
 On these days I was generally very busy in handing out 
 the different articles for inspection, and was employed in this 
 
FBOM SLAVERY. 35 
 
 way for several months. After which, Mr. Louis left his 
 place for Pendleton ; but his health getting worse, and fast 
 approaching consumption, he determined to travel. I went 
 with him over Georgia to the Indian Springs, and from there 
 to Columbus ; here he left me with Lawyer Kemp, a member 
 of the State Assembly, to take care of his horse and carriage 
 till he came back from Cuba, where he went for the benefit 
 of his health. I travelled round with Mr. Kemp, waiting 
 until my master came back. I soon after heard, that Mr. 
 Louis had died in Appalachicola, and had been buried at 
 Tenessee Bluff. I was very much attached to the neighbour- 
 hood of Pendleton and Greenville, and feared, from Mr. Louis's 
 death, I should not get back there. 
 
 As soon as this information arrived, Mr. Kemp put me, the 
 carriage and horses, a gold watch, and cigars, up to auction, 
 on which I was much frightened, knowing there would be 
 some very cruel masters at the sale ; and fearing I should 
 again be disappointed in my attempt to escape from bondage. 
 A Mr. Beveridge, at Scotchman, from Appalachicola, bought 
 me, the horses, and cigars.* He was not a cruel master ; he 
 he had been in America eighteen years, and I believe I was 
 the first slave he ever bought. Mr. Kemp had no right to 
 sell me, which he did, before he had written to Mr. Louis's 
 brother. 
 
 Shortly after this, Mr. Kemp having had some altercation 
 with General Woodford, it ended in a duel, in which Mr. W. 
 was killed. A few weeks after, as Mr. Kemp was passing 
 down a street, he was suddenly shot dead by Mr. Milton, a 
 rival lawyer. When I heard this, I considered it a visitation 
 of God on Mr. Kemp for having sold me unjustly, as I did 
 not belong to him. This was soon discovered by me, Mr. 
 Louis's brother having called at Macintosh Hotel, Columbus, 
 to claim me, but which he could not effect. After this, I 
 travelled with Mr. Beveridge through Georgia, to the warm 
 springs, and then back to Columbus, going on to Marianna, 
 his summer house in Florida. 
 
 * How Mr. Beveridge ever became a slave-holder, I cannot account 
 for ; for I believe him to be the only kind slave-holder in America : 
 and not only that, I have been in England many years and have never 
 met with a kinder man than Mr. Beveridge ; and have often prayed 
 that God would deliver him from that one sin — a sin which he was 
 kept from eighteen years. 
 
36 super's escape 
 
 Here I met with better treatment than I had ever experi- 
 enced before : we travelled on the whole summer ; at the fall, 
 Mr. Beveridge went to Appalachicola on business. Mr. Bevfe- 
 ridge was contractor for the mail from Columbus to Appala- 
 chicola, and owner of three steam-boats, the Versailles, An- 
 drew Jackson, and Van Buren. He made me steward on board 
 of the Versailles, the whole winter. The river then got so 
 low that the boats could not run. At this time Mr. Beveridge 
 went to Mount Vernon. On our way we had to pass through 
 the Indian nation. We arrived at Columbus, where I was 
 taken dangerously ill of a fever. After I got well, Mr. Beve- 
 ridge returned to Marianna, through the Indian nation. 
 Having gone about twelve miles, he was taken very ill. 
 
 I took him out of the carriage to a brook, and washed his 
 hands and face until he got better, when I got him into the 
 carriage again, and drove off" till we came to General Irving's, 
 where he stopped several days on account of his health. 
 While there, I observed on the floor of the kitchen several 
 children, one about three months old, without any body to 
 take care of her ; I asked where her mother was, and was told 
 that Mrs. Irving had given her a very hard task to do at 
 washing, in a brook, about a quarter of a mile distant. We 
 heard after, that not being able to get it done, she got some 
 cords, tied them round her neck, climbed up a tree, swung 
 off, and hung herself. Being missed, persons were sent after 
 her, who observed several buzzards flying about a particular 
 spot, to which they directed their steps, and found the poor 
 woman nearly eaten up. 
 
 After this we travelled several months without anything 
 remarkable taking place. 
 
FROM SLAVERY. 37 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 The Author's last Attempt and final Escape from Marianna to Sa- 
 vannah ; from thence to New York ; Quarantined at Staten Island. 
 
 . In the year 1834, Mr. Beveridge, who was now residing in 
 Appalachicola, a town in West Florida, became a bankrupt, 
 when all his pi'operty was sold, and 1 fell into the hands of a 
 very cruel master, Mr. Register, a planter iu the same State ; 
 of whom, knowing his savage character, I always had a dread. 
 Previously to his purchasing me, he had frequently taunted 
 me, by saying, " You have been a gentleman long enough, 
 and, whatever may be the consequences, I intend to buy 
 you." To which I remarked, that I would on no account 
 live with him if I could help it. Nevertheless, intent upon 
 his purpose, in the month of July, 1834, he bought me ; after 
 which I was so exasperated, that I cared not whether I lived 
 or died ; in fact, whilst I was on my passage from Appalachi- 
 cola, I procured a quart bottle of whisky, for the purpose of 
 so intoxicating myself, that I might be able either to plunge 
 myself into the river, or so enrage my master that he should 
 despatch me forthwith. I was, however, by a kind Providence, 
 prevented from committing this horrid deed by an old slave 
 on board, who, knowing my intention, secretly took the 
 bottle from me ; after which, my hands were tied, and I was 
 led into the town of Ochesa, to a warehouse, where my mas- 
 ter was asked by the proprietor of the place the reason of his 
 confining my hands ; iu answer to which, Mr. Register said 
 that he had purchased me. The proprietor, however, persua- 
 ded him to untie me ; after which, my master being excessive- 
 ly drunk asked for a cow-hide, iutendingtoflog me, from which 
 the proprietor dissuaded him, saying that he had known me 
 for some time, and he was sure that I did not require to be 
 Hogged. From this place we proceeded about mid-day on our 
 way. He placed me on the bare back of a half-starved old 
 horse, which lie had purchased, and upon which sharp surface. 
 he kindly intended I should ride about eighty miles, the dis- 
 tance we were then from his home. In this unpleasant si- 
 
38 kOPEK^S ESCAPE 
 
 tuatiou I could not help reflecting upon the prospects before 
 me, not forgetting that I had heard my new master had been 
 in the habit of stealing cattle and other property, and among 
 other things a slave woman, and that I had said, as it after- 
 wards turned out, in the hearing of some one who cons«iUt_. 
 nicated the saying to my master, that I had been accustom- 
 ed to live with a gentleman and not with a rogue ; and, find- 
 ing that he had been informed of this, I had the additional 
 dread of a few hundred lashes for it on my arrival at my des- 
 tination. 
 
 About two hours after we started it began to rain very 
 heavily, and continued to do so until we arrived at Marianna, 
 about twelve at night, when we were to rest till morning. 
 My master here questioned me as to whether I intended to 
 run away or not ; and I not then knowing the sin of lying, 
 at once told him that I would not. He then gave me his 
 clothes to dry. I took them to the kitchen for that purpose, 
 and he retired to bed, taking a bag of clothes belonging to 
 me with him, as a kind of security, I presume, for my safety. 
 In an hour or two afterwards I took his clothes to him dried, 
 and found him fast asleep. I placed them by his side, and 
 said that I would then take my own to dry too, taking care 
 to speak loud enough to ascertain whether he was asleep or 
 not, knowing that he had a dirk and pistol by his side, which 
 he would not have hesitated using against me, if I had at- 
 tempted secretly to have procured them. I was glad to find 
 that the effects of his drinking the day before had caused 
 his sleeping very soundly, and I immediately resolved on 
 making my escape ; and without loss of time started with 
 my few clothes into the wouds, which were in the immediate 
 neighbourhood ; and after running many miles, I came up to 
 the river Chapoli, which is very deep, and so beset with alli- 
 gators that I dared not attempt to swim across. 
 
 I paced up and down this river, with the hope of finding 
 a conveyance across, for a whole day, the succeeding night, 
 and till noon on the following day, which was Saturday. 
 About twelve o'clock on that day I discovered an Indian 
 canoe, which had not from all appearance been used for some 
 time ; this of course, I used to convey myself across, and 
 after being obliged to go a little way down the river, by - 
 means of a piece of wood I providentially found in the boat, 
 I landed on the opposite side. Here I found myself sur- 
 rounded by planters looking for me, in consequence of which, 
 
FROM SLAVERY. 39 
 
 I hid myself in the bushes until night, when I again travelled 
 several miles to the farm of a Mr. Robinson, a large sugar 
 and cotton planter, where I rested till morning in a field. 
 Afterwards I set out, working my way through the woods, 
 about twenty miles towards the east ; this I knew by my 
 knowledge of the position of the sun at its rising. Having 
 reached the Chattahoochee river, which divides Florida from 
 Georgia, I was again puzzled to know how to cross ; it was 
 about three o'clock in the day, when a number of persons 
 were fishing ; having walked for some hours along the banks, 
 I at last, after dark, procured a ferry-boat, which not being 
 able, from the swiftness of the river, to steer direct across, I 
 was carried many miles down the river, landing on the 
 Geoigian side, from whence I proceeded on through the 
 woods two or three miles, and came to a little farm-house 
 about twelve o'clock at night ; at a short distance from the 
 house I found an old slave hut, into which I went, and in- 
 formed the old man, who appeared seventy or eighty years 
 old, that I had had a very bad master from whom I run 
 away ; and asked him if he could give me something to eat, 
 having had no suitable food for three or four days ; he told 
 me he had nothing but a piece of dry Indian bread, which he 
 cheerfully gave me ; having eaten it, I went on a short dis- 
 tance from the hut, and laid down in the wood to rest for an 
 hour or two. All the following day (Monday) I continued 
 tiavelling through the woods, and was greatly distressed for 
 want of water to quench my thirst, it being a very dry 
 country, till I came to Spring Creek, which is a wide, deep 
 stream, and with some of which I gladly quenched my thirst. 
 I then proceeded to cross the same, by a bridge close by, and 
 continued my way until dusk. I came to a gentleman's 
 house in the woods, where I inquired how far it was to the 
 next house, taking care to watch an opportunity to ask some 
 individual whom I could master, and get away from, if any 
 interruption to my progress was attempted. I went on for 
 some time, it being a very fine moonlight night, and was 
 presently alaimed by the howling of a wolf near me ; which, 
 I concluded, was calling others to join him in attacking me, 
 having understood that they always assemble in numbers for 
 such a purpose : the howling increased, and I was still pur- 
 sued, and the numbers were evidently increasing fast ; but I 
 was happily rescued from my dreadful fr ; .ght, by coming to 
 some eattle, which attracted, as I supposeu, the wolves, and 
 
40 kopek's escape 
 
 saved ray life ; for I could not get up the trees for safety, 
 they being very tall pines, the lowest branches of which 
 were, at least, forty or fifty feet from the ground, and the 
 trunks very large and smooth. 
 
 About two o'clock I came to the house of a Mr. Cherry, on 
 the borders of the Flint River ; I went up to the house, and 
 called them up to beg something to eat ; but having nothing 
 cooked, they kindly allowed me to lie down in the porch, 
 where they made me a bed. In conversation with this Mr. 
 Cherry, I discovered that I had known him before, having been 
 in a steam -boat, the Versailles, some months previous, which 
 sunk very near the house, but which I did not at first dis- 
 cern to be the same. I then thought it would not be pru- 
 dent for me to slop there, and, theiefore, told them. I was in 
 a hurry to get on, and must start very early agaiu, he having 
 no idea who I was ; and I gave his son six cents to take me 
 across the river, which he did when the sun was about half 
 an hour bign, and unfortuuately landed me where there was 
 a man building a boat, who knew me very well, and my 
 former master too, — he calling me by name, asked me where 
 I was going. 
 
 I was very much frightened at being discovered, but sum- 
 moned up courage, and said, that my master had gone to 
 Tally hassa by the coach, and that there was not room for 
 me, and I had to walk round to meet him. I then asked the 
 man to put me in the best road to get there, which, however, 
 I knew as well as he did, having travelled there before ; he 
 directed me the best way ; but I, of course, took the coutrary 
 direction, wanting to get on to Savannah. By this hasty 
 and wicked deception, I saved myself from going to Bain- 
 bridge prison, which was close by, and to which I should cer- 
 tainly have been taken had it been known that I was making 
 my escape. 
 
 Leaving Baiubridge, I proceeded about forty miles, travell- 
 ing all day under a scorching sun, through the woods, in 
 which I saw many deer and serpents, until I reached Thomas 
 Town, in the evcniug. I there inquired the way to Augusta, 
 of a man whom I met, and also asked wnere I could obtain 
 lodgings, and was told there was a poor minister about a mile 
 from the place who would give me lodgings. 1 accordingly 
 went, and found them in a little log-house, where, having 
 awakened the family, I found them all lying <<n thu bars 
 boards, where I joined them, for the remainder of cue night. 
 
FBOM SLAVERY. 41 
 
 In the morning the old gentleman prayed for me, that I 
 might be preserved on my journey ; he had previously asked 
 me where I was going, and knowing, that if I told him the 
 right place, any that inquired of him for me would be able 
 to find me, asked the way to Augusta, instead of Savannah, 
 my real destination. I also told hiin, that I was partly Indian 
 and partly white, but I am also partly African, but this I 
 omitted to tell Lirn, knowing if I did I should be apprehend- 
 ed. After I had left this hut, I again inquired for Augusta, 
 for the purpose of misleading my pursuers, but I afterwards 
 took my course through the woods, and came into a road, 
 called the Coffee Road, which General Jackson cut down for 
 his troops at the time of the war between the Americans and 
 Spaniards, in Florida ; in which road there are but few houses, 
 and which I preferred for the purpose of avoiding detection . 
 
 After several days I left this road and took a more direct 
 way to Savannah, where I had to wade through two rivers 
 before I came to the Alataraah, which I crossed in a ferry-boat, 
 about a mile below the place where the rivers Oconee and 
 Ocmulgee run together into one river, called the Alatamah. 
 I here met with some cattle drovers, who were collecting 
 cattle to drive to Savannah. On walking on before them, I 
 began to consider in what way I could obtain a passport for 
 Savannah, and determined on the following plan : — 
 
 I called at a cottage, and after I had talked some time 
 with the wife, who began to feel greatly for me, in conse- 
 quence of my telling her a little of my history (her husband 
 being out hunting), I pretended to show her my passport, feel- 
 ing for it everywhere about my coat and hat, and not finding 
 it, I went back a little way, pretending to look for it, but 
 came back, saying, I was very sorry, but I did not know 
 where it was. At last, the man came home, carrying 'a deer 
 upon his shoulders, which he brought into the yard, and 
 began to dress it. The wife then went out to tell him my 
 situation, and after long persuasion, he said he could not 
 •write, but that if I could tell his son what was in my pass- 
 port he would write me one ; knowing that I should not be 
 able to pass through Savannah without one, and having heard 
 several free coloured men read theirs, I thought I could tell 
 the boy what to write. The lad sat down and wrote what I 
 told him, nearly filling a large sheet of paper for the passport, 
 and another with recommendations. These being completed, 
 I was invited to partake of the fresh venison, which the 
 
 c 
 
42 roper's escape 
 
 ■woman of the house had prepared for dinner, and having 
 done so, and feeling grateful for their kindness, I proceeded 
 on my way. Going along, I took my papers out of my pocket, 
 and looking at them, although I could not read a word, I 
 perceived that the boy's writing was very unlike other writ- 
 ing that I had seen, and was greatly blotted besides, conse- 
 quently I was afraid that these documents would not answer 
 my purpose, and began to consider what other plan I could 
 pursue to obtain another pass. 
 
 I had now to wade through another liver to which I came, 
 and which I had great difficulty in crossing, in consequence 
 of the water overflowing the banks of several rivers to the 
 extent of upwards of twenty miles. In the midst of the 
 water, I passed one night upon a small island, and the next 
 day I weut through the remainder of the water. On many 
 occasions, I was obliged to walk upon my toes, and conse- 
 quently found the advantage of being six feet two inches 
 high, (I have grown three inches since,) and at other times 
 was obliged to swim. In the middle of this extremity, I felt 
 it would be imprudent for me to return ; for if my master 
 was in pursuit of me, my safest place from him was in the 
 water, if I could keep my head above the surface.. I was, 
 however, dreadfully frightened at the crocodiles, and most 
 earnestly prayed that I might be kept from a watery grave, 
 and resolved, that if again I landed, I would spend my life 
 in the service of God. 
 
 Having, through mercy, again started on my journey, I 
 met with the drovers; and having, whilst in the waters, 
 taken the pass out of my hat, and so dipped it in the water 
 as to spoil it, I showed it to the men, and asked them where 
 I could get another. They told me that in the neighbour- 
 hood, there lived a rich cotton merchant, who would write 
 me one. They took me to him, and gave their word that 
 they saw the passport before it was wet, (for I had previously 
 showed it to them,) upon which, the cotton-planter wrote a 
 free pass and a recommendation, to which the cow-drovers 
 affixed their marks. 
 
 The recommendation was as follows : — 
 
 " John Roper, a very interesting young lad, whom I have 
 seen and travelled with for eighty or ninety miles on his 
 road from Florida, is a free man, descended from Indian and 
 white. I trust he will be allowed to pass on without inter- 
 ruption, being convinced, from what I have seen, that he is 
 
FROM SLAVERY. 43 
 
 free, and though dark, is not an African. I had seen bis 
 papers before they were wetted." 
 
 These cow-drovers, who procured me the passport and re- 
 commendation from the cotton-planter, could not read ; and 
 they were intoxicated when they went with me to him. I 
 am part African, as weli as Indian and white, my father 
 being a white man, Henry Roper, Esq. Caswell County, North 
 Carolina, U.S. a very wealthy slave- holder, who sold me when 
 quite a child, for the strong resemblance I bore him. My 
 mother is part Indian, part African ; but I dared not 
 disclose that, or I should have been taken up. I then had 
 eleven miles to go to Savannah, one of the greatest slave- 
 holding cities in America, and where they are always looking 
 out for run-away slaves. When at this city, I had travelled 
 about five hundred miles* It required great courage to pass 
 through this place. I went through the main street with 
 apparent confidence, though much alarmed ; did not stop at 
 any house in the city, but went down immediately to the 
 docks, and inquired for a berth as a steward to a vessel to 
 New York. I had been in this capacity before on the Ap- 
 palachicola River. The person whom I asked to procure me 
 a berth, was steward of one of the New York Packets ; he 
 knew Captain Deckay, of the schooner Fox, and got me a 
 situation on board that vessel in five minutes after I had 
 been at the docks. The schooner Fox was a very old vessel, 
 twenty-seven years old, laden with lumber and cattle for 
 New York ; she was rotten, and could not be insured. The 
 sailor3 were afraid of her ; but I ventured on board, and five 
 minutes after, we dropped from the docks into the river. 
 My spirits then began to revive, and I thought I should get 
 to a free country directly. We cast anchor in the stream, 
 to keep the sailors on, as they were so dissatisfied with the 
 vessel, and lay there four days ; during which time, I had to 
 go into the city several times, which exposed me to great 
 danger, as my master was after me, and I dreaded meeting 
 him in the city. 
 
 Fearing the Fox would not sail before I should be seized, 
 I deserted her, and went on board a brig sailing to Provi- 
 
 * The distance between these two places is much less than five 
 hundred miles : but I was obliged to travel round about, in order to 
 avoid being caught. 
 
44 ROPElt's ESCAPE 
 
 dence, that was towed out by a steam-boat,* and got thirty 
 miles from Savannah. During this time I endeavoured to 
 persuade the steward to take me as an assistant, and hoped 
 to have accomplished my purpose ; but the captain had exa- 
 mined me attentively, and thought I was a slave ; he there- 
 fore ordered me, when the steam-boat was sent back, to go 
 on board her to Savannah, as the fine for taking a slave from 
 that city to any of the Free States, is five hundred dollars. 
 I reluctantly went back to Savannah, among slave-holders 
 and slaves. My mind was in a sad state ; and I was under 
 strong temptation to throw myself into the river. I had de- 
 serted the schooner Fox, and knew that the captain might 
 put me into prison till the vessel was ready to sail ; if this hap- 
 pened, and my master had come to jail in search of me, I 
 must have gone back to slavery. But when I reached the 
 docks at Savannah, the first person I met was the captain of 
 the Fox, looking for another steward in my place. He was 
 a very kind man, belonging to the Free States, and inquired 
 if I would go back to his vessel. This usage was very different 
 to what I expected, and I gladly accepted his offer. This 
 captain did not know that I was a slave. In about two days 
 we sailed from Savannah to New York. 
 
 I am (August 1834,) unable to express the joy I now felt. 
 I never was at sea before, and after I had been out about an 
 hour, was taken with sea-sickness, which continued five days. 
 I was scarcely able to stand up, and one of the sailors was 
 obliged to take my place. The captain was very kind to me 
 all this time ; but even after I recovered, I was not sufficiently 
 well to do my duty properly, and could not give satisfaction 
 to the sailors, who swore at me, and asked me why I shipped 
 as I was not used to the sea 1 We had a very quick passage ; 
 and in six days, after leaving Savannah, we were in the har- 
 bour at Staten Island, where the vessel was quarantined for 
 two days, six miles from New York. The captain went to 
 the city, but left me aboard with the sailors, who had most 
 of them been brought up in the slave-holding States, and 
 were very cruel men. One of the sailors was particularly angry 
 with me, because he had to perform the duties of my place ; 
 and while the captain was in the city, the sailors called me 
 to the fore-hatch, where they said they would treat me. I 
 
 * An iron boat, the first that was ever built in America, belonging 
 to Mr. Lemayor, and this was also the first time she sailed. 
 
FROM SLAVERY. 46 
 
 went, and while I was talking, they threw a rope round my 
 neck and nearly choked me. The blood streamed from my 
 nose profusely. They also took up ropes with large knots, 
 and knocked me over the head. They said I was a negro ; 
 they despsed me ; and I expected they would have thrown 
 me into the water. When we arrived at the city, these men, 
 who had so ill-treated me, ran away that they might escape 
 the punishment which would otherwise have been inflicted 
 on them. 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 Arrived in New York, went on to Poughkeepsie, Albany, Vermont, 
 Boston, and return to New York — Embarked for England. 
 
 ^ When I arrived in the city of New York, I thought I was 
 free ; but learned I was not, and could be taken there. I 
 went out into the country several miles, and tried to get em- 
 ployment ; but failed, as I had no recommendation. I then 
 returned to New York ; but finding the same difficulty there 
 to get work as in the country, I went back to the vessel, 
 which was to sail eighty miles up the Hudson river, to 
 Poughkeepsie. When I arrived, I obtained employment at 
 an inn, and after I had been there about two days, was seized 
 with the cholera, which was at that place. The complaint 
 was, without doubt, brought on by having subsisted on fruit 
 only, for several days, while I was in the slave States. The 
 landlord of the inn came to me when I was in bed, suffering 
 violently from cholera, and told me he knew I had that com- 
 plaint, and as it had never been in his house, I could not 
 stop there any longer. No one would enter my room, except 
 a young lady, who appeared very pious, and amiable, and 
 had visited persons with the cholera. She immediately pro- 
 
46 EOPEU'S ESCAPE 
 
 cured me some medicine at her own expense, and adminis- 
 tered it herself ; and whilst I was groaning with agony, the 
 landlord came up and ordered me out of the house directly. 
 Most of the persons in Poughkeepsie had retired for the 
 night, and I lay under a shed on some cotton bales. The 
 medicine relieved me, having been given so promptly ; and 
 next morning I went from the shed, and laid on the banks of 
 the river below the city. Towards evening, I felt much 
 better, and went on in a steam-boat, to the city of Albany, 
 about eighty miles. When I reached there, I went into the 
 country, and tried for three or four days to procure employ- 
 ment, but failed. 
 
 At that time I had scarcely any money, and lived upon 
 fruit •, so I returned to Albany, where I could get no work, as 
 I could not show the recommendations I possessed, which were 
 only from slave States ; and I did not wish any one to know 
 I came from them. After a time I went up the western canal 
 as steward in one of the boats. When I had gone about 350 miles 
 up the canal, I found I was going too much towards the slave 
 States, in consequence of which, I returned to Albany, and 
 went up the northern canal, into one of the New England 
 States — Yermont. The distance I had travelled, including 
 the 350 miles I had to return from the west, and the 100 to 
 Vermont, was 2300 miles. When I reached Vermont, I found 
 the people very hospitable and kind ; they seemed opposed to 
 slavery, so I told them I was a runaway slave. 1 hired myself 
 to a firm in Sudbury.* After I had been in Sudbury some 
 time, the neighbouring farmers told me, that I had hired 
 myself for much less money than I ought. I mentioned it to 
 my employers, who were very angry about it ; I was advised 
 to leave by some of the people around, who thought the gen- 
 tleman I was with would write to my former master, inform- 
 ing him where I was, and obtain the reward fixed upon me. 
 Fearing I should be taken I immediately left, and went into 
 
 * During my stay in this town, I thought of the vow I made in the 
 water, (page 42), and I became more thoughtful about the salvation 
 of my soul. I attended the Methodist Chapel, where a Mr. Benton 
 preached, and there I began to feel that I was a great sinner. Dur- 
 ing the latter part of my stay here, I became more anxious about sal- 
 vation, and I entertained the absurd notion that religion would come 
 to me in some extraordinary way. With this impression, I used to 
 go into the woods two hours before daylight to pray, and expected 
 something would take place, and I should become religious. 
 
FROM SLAVERY. 4T 
 
 the town of Ludlow, where I met with a kind friend, 
 
 Mr. ,* who sent me to school for several weeks. At this 
 
 time I was advertised in the papers, and was obliged to leave. 
 I went a little way out of Ludlow,t to a retired place, and lived 
 
 two weeks with a Mr, , deacon of a Baptist Church at 
 
 Ludlow ; at this place I could have obtained education, had 
 it been safe to have remained. From there I went to New 
 Hampshire, where I was not safe, so went to Boston, Massa- 
 chusetts, with the hope of returning to Ludlow, a place to 
 which I was much attached. At Boston, I met with a friend, 
 who kept a shop, and took me to assist him for several weeks. 
 Here I did not consider myself safe, as persons from all parts 
 of the country were continually coming to the shop, and I 
 feared some might come who knew me. I now had my head 
 shaved, and bought a wig, and engaged myself to a Mr. Per- 
 kins, of Brookline, three miles from Boston, where I remained 
 about a month. Some of the family discovered that I wore 
 a wig, and said that I was a runaway slave ; but the neigh- 
 bours all around thought I was a white, to prove which I 
 have a document in my possession to call me to military duty. 
 The law is. that no slave or coloured person pei forms this, but 
 every other person in America, of the age of twenty-one, is 
 called upon to perform military duty once or twice in the 
 year, or pay a fine. 
 
 COPY Or THE DOCUMENT. 
 
 " Mr. Moses Roper, 
 
 " You being duly enrolled as a soldier in the company, 
 under the command of Captain Benjamin Bradley, are hereby 
 
 * It would not be proper to mention any names, as a person in any 
 of the States in America, found harbouring a slave, would have to 
 pay a heavy fine. 
 
 T Whilst in this neighbourhood, I attended the Baptist Meeting, 
 and trust the preaching of the gospel was much blessed to my soul. 
 As this was the first time I was ever favoured with any education, I 
 was*very intent upon learning to read the Bible, and in a fevf weeks 
 I was able, from my own reading, to repeat by heart the whole of the 
 last chapter of Matthew. I also attended the prayer and inquiry 
 meetings, where the attendants used to relate their experience, and I 
 was requested to do the same. I found these meetings a great bless- 
 jjijig, and they were the means, under God, of communicating to my 
 raind a more clear and distinct knowledge of the way of salvation by 
 Jesus Christ. 
 
48 roper's escape 
 
 notified and ordered to appear at the Town House, in Brook- 
 line, on Friday, 28th instant, at three o'clock, p.m., for the 
 purpose of filling the vacancy in the said company, occa- 
 sioned by the promotion of Lieut. Nathaniel M. Weeks, and 
 of filling any other vacancy which may then and there occur 
 in the said company, and then wait further orders. 
 " By order of the Captain, 
 
 " F. P. Wektworth, Clerk. 
 "BrooHine, August 14th, 1835."* 
 
 I then returned to the city of Boston, to the shop where I 
 was before. Several weeks after I had returned to my situa- 
 tion, two coloured men informed me, that a gentleman had 
 been inquiring for a person, whom, from the description, I 
 knew to be myself, and offered them a considerable sum if 
 they would disclose my place of abode ; but they, being much 
 opposed to slavery, came and told me ; upon whieh informa- 
 tion, I secreted myself till I could get off. I went into the 
 Green Mountains for several weeks, from thence to the city 
 of New York, and remained in secret several days, till I heard 
 of a ship, the Napoleon, sailing to England, and on the 11th 
 of November, 1835, I sailed, taking my letters of recommen- 
 dation, to the Drs. Morrison and Raffles, and the Rev. Alex- 
 ander Fletcher. The time 1 first started from slavery, was in 
 July, 1834, so that I was nearly sixteen months in making 
 my escape. 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 The Author arrives at Liverpool, November 29, 1835i — Manchester. — 
 London. 
 
 On the 29th of November, 1835, I reached Liverpool ; and 
 my feelings when I first touched the shores of Britain were 
 
 * Being very tall, I was taken to be twenty-one ; but my correct 
 age, as far a s I can tell, is stated in page 9. 
 
PROM SLAVERY. 49 
 
 indescribable, and can only be properly understood by those 
 who have escaped from the cruel bondage of slavery. 
 
 " 'Tis liberty alone that gives the flower of fleeting life its lustre and 
 perfume ; 
 And we are weeds without it." 
 
 " Slaves cannot breathe in England ; 
 If their lungs receive our air, that moment they are free ; 
 They touch our country, and their shackles fall."-- Cowper. 
 
 "When I reached Liverpool, I proceeded to Dr. Raffles, and 
 handed my letters of recommendation to him. He received 
 me very kindly, and introduced me to a member of his church, 
 with whom I stayed the night. — Here I met with the greatest 
 attention and kindness. The next day I went to Manchester, 
 where I met with many kind friends ; among others, Mr. Ads- 
 head, of that town, to whom I desire, through this medium, to 
 return my most sincere thanks for the many great services 
 which he rendered me, adding both to my spiritual and tem- 
 poral comfort. I would not, however, forget to remember 
 here Mr. Leese, Mr. Giles, Mr. Crewdson, and Mr. Clare, the 
 latter of whom gave me a letter to Mr. Scoble, the secretary 
 of the Anti-slavery Society. I remained here several days', 
 and then proceeded to London, December 12th, 1835, and im- 
 mediately called on Mr. Scoble, to whom I delivered my let- 
 ter. This gentleman procured me a lodging. I then lost no 
 time in delivering my letters to Dr. Morrison and the Rev. 
 Alexander Fletcher, who received me with the greatest kind- 
 ness ; and shortly after this, Dr. Morrison sent my letter 
 from New York, with another from himself, to the Patriot 
 newspaper, in which he kindly implored the sympathy of the 
 public in my behalf. The appeal was read by Mr. Christo- 
 pherson, a member of Dr. Morrison's church, of which gentle- 
 man I express but little of my feelings and gratitude, when 
 I say, that throughout he has been towards me a parent, for 
 whose tenderness and sympathy I desire ever to feel that at- 
 tachment which I do not know how to express. 
 
 I stayed at his house several weeks, being treated as one of 
 the family. The appeal in the Patriot referred to getting a 
 suitable academy for me, which the Rev. Dr. Cox recommen- 
 ded, at Hackney, where I remained half a year, going through 
 the rudiments of an English education. At this time, I at- 
 tended the ministry of Dr. Cox, which I enjoyed very much, 
 
50 roper's escape 
 
 ai)d to which I ascribe the attainment of clearer views of di* 
 vine grace than I had before. 1 had attended here several 
 months, when I expressed my wish to Dr. Cox to become a 
 member of his church. I was proposed ; and after stating 
 my experience, was admitted, March 31, 1846. 
 
 Here it is necessary that I should draw this narrative to a 
 close, r.ot that my materials are exhausted, but that I am un- 
 willing to extend it to a size which might preclude many well- 
 wishers from the possession of it. 
 
 But I must remark, that my feelings of happiness at having 
 escaped from cruel bondage, are not uumixed with sorrow of 
 a very touching kind. " The Land of the Free" still contains 
 the mother,* the brothers, and the sister of Moses Roper, not 
 enjoying liberty, not the possessors of like feelings with me, 
 not having even a distant glimpse of advancing towards free- 
 dom, but still slaves ! This is a weight which hangs heavy 
 on me. As circumstances at present stand, there is not much 
 prospect of ever again seeing those dear ones, from whom, on 
 the Sunday night, I was torn away by armed slaveholders 
 and carried into cruel bondage.t And nothing would contri- 
 bute so much to my entire happiness, if the kindness of gra- 
 cious Providence should ever place me in such favourable 
 circumstances as to be able to purchase their freedom. But 
 I desire to express my entire resignation to the will of God. 
 Should that Divine Being who made of one flesh all the kin- 
 dreds of the earth, see fit that I should again clasp them 
 to my breast, and see in them the reality of free men and 
 free women, how shall I, a poor mortal, be enabled to sing a 
 strain of praise sufficiently appropriate to such a boon from 
 heaven. 
 
 * About five months ago the Author wrote to Dr. Gallon, his 
 mother's master, to know what sum would be sufficient to purchase 
 her freedom, and he has received the following painful answer : — 
 
 "Milton, North Carolina, Aug. 28, 1839. 
 
 " Your mother and her family were transferred from this place, 
 two or three years ago, to Grunsburgh, in the State of Alabama, and 
 1 regret to inform you that your mother is since dead." 
 
 $W The Author has since ascertained that the above is untrue, and 
 Bent merely to annoy him. 
 
 April, 1843. 
 
 t See page 20. 
 
FROM SLAVERY. 51 
 
 But if the All-wise Disposer of all things should see fit to 
 keep them still in suffering and bondage, it is a mercy to know 
 that he orders all things well, that he is still the judge of all 
 the earth, and that under such dispensations of his providence, 
 he is working out that which shall be most for the advantage 
 of his creatures. 
 
 Whatever I may have experienced in America at the hands 
 of cruel taskmasters, yet I am unwilling to speak in any but 
 respectful terms of the land of my birth. It is far from my 
 wish to attempt to degrade America in the eyes of Britons. 
 I love her institutions in the Free States, her zeal for Christ ; 
 I bear no enmity to the slave-holders, but regret their delu- 
 sions ; many, I am aware, are deeply sensible of the fault, but 
 some I regret to say are not, and I could wish to open their 
 eyes to their sin ; may the period come, when God shall wipe 
 off this deep stain from her constitution, and may America 
 soon be indeed the land of the free. 
 
 In conclusion, I thank my dear friends in England for their 
 affectionate attentions, and may God help me to show by my 
 future walk in life, that I am not wanting in my acknowledg- 
 ments of their kindness. But above all, to the God of all 
 grace, I desire here before his people, that all the way in which 
 he has led me has been the right way, and as in his mercy 
 and wisdom, he has led me to this country, where I am allow- 
 ed to go free, may all my actions tend to lead me on, through 
 the mercy of God in Christ, in the right way, to a city of ha- 
 bitation. 
 
52 APPENDIX. 
 
 APPENDIX 
 
 Berwick, March, 1846. 
 Soon after my arrival in England, I went to a boarding-i 
 school at Hackney, near London, and afterwards to another 
 boarding-school at Wallingford, and after learning to read 
 and write and some other branches, I entered as student at 
 University College, London, which place, I very much regret, 
 however, I was obliged to leave, in consequence of bad health ; 
 and during the time I was at school I lectured in different 
 towns and sold my Narrative or book to pay for my education. 
 On the 29th of December, 1839, I was married to a lady of 
 Bristol, and, after travelling tens of thousands of miles, and 
 lecturing in nearly every town and hundreds of villages in 
 England, at the commencement of 1844, I left England with 
 my family for British North America, and have taken up my 
 future residence in Canada West, it being as near as I can 
 get to my relations (who are still in bondage) without being 
 again taken. Having some matters of a private nature to 
 settle in this country, I left Canada in December, 1845, for 
 England, and arrived at Liverpool, on the 25th of January, 
 1846, in the ship Orphan. I intend now, before I return to 
 Canada, to visit Scotland and Ireland, and deliver lectures, as 
 I have not been in many towns in those countries. I shall 
 then bid farewell once more to dear and happy Old England, 
 not expecting again ever to return, but hoping to meet many 
 thousands of her inhabitants (whom I have seen and address- 
 ed) in Heaven. My dear and kind friends, throughout Great 
 Britain and Ireland, farewell ! 
 
APPENDIX. 53 
 
 LETTERS BY A GENTLEMAN IN MANCHESTER, WHO 
 SAYS MR. ROPER DID WRONG IN RUNNING AWA5T 
 FROM HIS MASTER. 
 
 Monday Morning, Sept. 18, 1837. 
 I have read the accompanying Narrative with much interest, and I 
 may say it has increased my deep abhorrence of the horrid evils of 
 slavery ; but, I must confess, it is impossible for me to approve the 
 conduct, past or present, of the poor fugitive. In perusing his ac- 
 count of himself, I have been much struck with the fact, that all the 
 cruel usage he complains of he brought wilfully upon himself by re- 
 peatedly running away ; indeed, his entire history is a series of fugi- 
 tive conduct, which cannot be approved upon Christian principles, as 
 it is evident from the whole tenor of Scripture (see 1st Epistle to the 
 Corinthians, c. vii. v. 20-24, and 1st Epistle to Peter, c. ii. v. 18-21) ; 
 and from St, Paul to Philemon, I should learn that professing him- 
 self now a Christian, it is either his incumbent duty to return to his 
 master, acknowledge his past unprofitable conduct, and for what he 
 has wronged him make restitution, or if not, I think the money 
 raised by the sale of his book should, first of all, be applied to the 
 purchase of his freedom and paying compensation, which done he 
 may, with a quiet conscience, go forward with the expense of his 
 education, and expect God's blessing to crown the excellent work to 
 which he purposes dedicating himself. If this course is pursued, or 
 any other that I can comfortably sanction, I shall be glad to aid him 
 as far as I can by promoting the circulation of his Narrative. 
 
 Edward Lingard. 
 
 Saturday Night, Sept. 23, 1837. 
 As my poor hasty note which I wrote in the hurry of business the 
 other day, relative to the object of your kind compassion — Moses 
 Roper — has excited some interest in your mind, I am told that you 
 wish to submit it to the consideration of some few friends. Perhaps, 
 if I had thought it would have attracted so much of your attention, 
 I might have studied and weighed my sentiments more closely : but 
 as I only briefly expressed the honest sentiments of my mind, I can 
 have no objection at all to your making what use you think propel of 
 my- note, especially as the more I reflect upon all the circumstances 
 of poor Roper's Narrative, the more I am convinced that my view of 
 the subject is correct and Scriptural. I hope, my dear Sir, that I am 
 not misunderstood ; I do as heartily deprecate the system and evils of 
 slavery as the most zealous member of the Anti-slavery Society ; but 
 there is a legitimate as well as illegitimate method to pursue for its 
 abolition ; and if it had been compatible with the gentle submissive 
 spirit of Christianity violently to break its bonds asunder, we should 
 not find Christ and his apostles so earnestly exhorting their converts 
 to endure the yoke patiently, while yet to desire freedom, if they 
 could obtain it legally and justly ; and horrid as is the present sys- 
 tem of slavery, it is mild and tolerable now compared to the severity 
 and wretchedness of it under Roman laws and customs in the primi- 
 
54 APPENDIX. 
 
 tive ages of the Gospel ; therefore, I cannot approve of Moses Roper 
 violently breaking loose from servitude, for if it is justifiable in him 
 it would be equally so in the whole Nec/ro race, and instead of being 
 anxious to purchase the freedom of his' mother, he ought to recom- 
 mend her to make her escape, and follow him to Briton's fair isle of 
 peace and liberty. 
 
 Edward Lingard. 
 
 A REPLY TO TIIE PRECEDING LETTERS. 
 
 The above writer grants the evils of slavery, but does not appear 
 to understand that liberty is the unalienable right of every man, and 
 that all laws which tend to deprive him of that liberty, being incon- 
 sistent with moral obligations, so far from being binding, are to be re-, 
 •isted. 2d. Without Moses Roper was a party to the law which made 
 him a slave, that law must, in his case, be considered wholly nugatory. 
 3d, If slavery be iniquitous, Moses Roper acted right by breaking 
 from his bonds ; and so far from being blameable, is to all intents 
 praiseworthy. There is a mistake in the proposition that he brought 
 his ill-treatment wilfully upon himself by his fugitive method of 
 freeing himself from slavery, because, if he had escaped, as was his 
 obvious intention, he would have been out of the reach of ill-treat- 
 ment. The writer is evidently unhappy in the Christian part of the 
 argument, and especially in his qviotations from Scripture, which go 
 to prove the opposite view of the question : instance the case of One- 
 simus, whom the Apostle requests Philemon to receive not as a ser- 
 vant, but as a beloved brother. With respect to a restitution being 
 made, the Tight in the master to Moses Roper is not warranted by 
 Christianity ; if not, it is contrary thereto ; and by making restitution, 
 he would acknowledge and support that which is contrary to the sys- 
 tem of revealed truth. 
 
 ANSWER TO MR. LINGARD'S LETTER. 
 
 Manchester, 10th Mo. 18th, 1837. 
 I have read thy two notes on the subject of Moses Roper's case, in 
 which I wished to have called thy charitable feelings and to have 
 had thy sympathy on his behalf; but as thou hast taken a view agree- 
 ably to the contract of man to man, and not as the law of God, which 
 must be superior to every other law, and must also be fully acknow- 
 ledged by every professing Christian ; the consequence is, we must 
 admit the law of God is superior and anterior to the law of man. A3 
 to thy allusions to the Scriptures (1 Cor. 7 c. 20 to 24 v. and 1 Peter, 
 2 c. 18 to 21 v.), I can only consider them in a spiritual light, and as 
 to Onesimus, that of an individual who had bound himself as a ser- 
 vant by his own consent, as we would consider an apprentice ; but be 
 it remembered, the master has no right ever to inflict corporeal 
 
APPENDIX. 55 
 
 puuishment ; the law is open to both parties, and if either do wrong 
 they are only answerable to the infliction of the violation of the laws, 
 which no man can dispute,— but not so, says the slave, nor can he 
 conscientiously acquiesce therein, because he is torn from his happy 
 home— his dearest relations and friends, that land so beautifully de- 
 scribed by Montgomery : — 
 
 " There is a land of every land the pride, 
 Beloved by Heaven, o'er all the world beside; 
 Where brighter scenes dispense serener light, 
 And milder moons imparadise the night." 
 
 And is not that land equally as much the birthright of the slave, as 
 the roaming mariner, or the inhabitants of the happy shores and 
 internal residents of Great Britain 1 Yes ; I consider the slave as free 
 to enjoy our native climes as ourselves. God never made him a slave 
 to man : mark that ! Although I deprecate slavery in its highest 
 terms, I still more deprecate the merciless disposition of man over 
 man. Every one has a right to entertain his own opinion ; but I 
 cannot see how a minister of the gospel can preach otherwise than 
 " peace and goodwill toward men," and " to do as they would be done 
 unto." 
 
 Where a contract has been made between a man and his master, 
 that ought to be binding, but when thy beloved wife and daughters 
 are taken from thee to a land of slavery, oppression, and cruelty, 
 does it not harrow up thy better feelings to consider its horrible in- 
 consistency] And dost thou in this case suppose for a moment, that 
 thy family is more sacred than the poor African's or any other being 
 similarly situated ] No, God forbid, it cannot be, and my full belief 
 is, the vengeance of the Lord will be upon all those who advocate the 
 cause to the contrary. Thou hast an idea that the miserable afflicted 
 slave has had by his apprenticeship an amelioration of his sufferings, 
 but ample testimonies can be brought forward to prove the contrary. 
 The slave master knows he has only a short period to possess the 
 powers of his inhuman cruelties, and it is his pride and his boast that 
 they shall not be worth much when he has done with the objects of 
 his constant reproaches and punishments. I have not replied to thy 
 two notes hastily, but have patiently waited the time, when I could 
 enter feelingly upon the subject, after giving them due consideration, 
 and in the honest conviction of my mind. I believe I have sincerely 
 stated the matter of fact in as few words as I could, as respected the 
 condition of man to man, and man to his Great Creator. I am certain 
 no example can be drawn forth from our Lord and Saviour Jesua 
 Christ, (who is above all the apostles, or saints, or prophets, that have 
 ever written), that he ever encouraged the inhuman traffic of slavery 
 or holding men in bondage, whether in the cares of this itwld, or the 
 spirit. His language was, " Come unto me all ye that labour, and 
 are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." There is one subject, 
 although too delicate to be named, must not escape thine and my 
 notice— remember — Moses Roper 's father was a free white man. Now, 
 I ask, then, what right, by the laws of religion, had he to become 
 so intimate with his slave, and produce an offspring therefrom, and 
 at the age of six years, to banish that object because it was hi» 
 
66 APPENDIX. 
 
 very portrait ; which said act was done to the satisfying the caprice 
 of a newly married wife. Can this act justify the law of slavery? 
 No ! it cannot. Therefore taking slavery on thy plea, and by the 
 arguments I have advanced, I do consider Moses Roper, and every 
 other slave, is fully justified, and conscientiously bound to effect his 
 liberty in the best way he can, sc as not to do it with violence, 
 
 With the best feelings towards the alleviation of the sufferings and 
 miseries of those that are in bondage, 
 
 Allow me to subscribe myself, &c, 
 Joseph Eveleigh.* 
 
 * Mr. E. is a member of the Society of Friends. 
 
 LINES 
 
 Written by a Lady in Taunton, on hearing of the 
 Arrival or Moses Roper in England. 
 
 All hail to thee, land of the brave, 
 Thou beautiful isle of the sea ! 
 
 take to thy bosom the heart-stricken slave ; 
 And bid him henceforward be free. 
 
 A poor friendless exile, from home 
 
 I have fled, and am seeking for rest ; 
 From the high boasted country of freedom I come, 
 
 One of thousands by freemen oppressed ! 
 
 Oh, America, boast not again 
 
 That thou art the " Land of the free," 
 
 Whilst thou forgest for Africa's children the chain, 
 Can liberty flourish in thee ? 
 
 You ask me what soul-wasting sin 
 
 Has doomed me an outcast to rove ] 
 My crime % 'twas the African tint of skin, 
 
 Which Americans dare not to love. 
 
 Not to love — though the blood in our veins, 
 From the very same source may have flowed ; 
 
 'Twas a father who fettered my limbs with these chains, 
 Sold, — nor one parting blessing bestowed. 
 
 Vain, vain, was a mother's despair, 
 
 Unheeded the tears which she shed ; 
 His slave, — he but answered with curses her prayer, 
 
 And filled her torn bosom with dread. 
 
 1 left her, all childless, to weep ; 
 
 Ah, how oft 'tis the negress'e doom ! 
 
APPENDIX. 57 
 
 O'er the forms of lost dear ones sad vigils to keep, 
 Till her sorrows find rest in the tomb. 
 
 But 'tis past, and I will not relate 
 
 All the toils and the sufferings I bore, 
 For my proud spirit rose, I have conquered my fate, 
 
 And I come to this negro-loved shore. 
 
 All hail to thee, land of the brave ! 
 
 As I step on thy shore from the sea, 
 The fetters are snapt from the limbs of the slave, 
 And I feel that this moment I'm free. 
 
 S. D. 
 January 1st, 1836. 
 
 LINES 
 
 Written on occasion of the Escape to England of 
 
 MR. MOSES ROPER, 
 
 Late an American Slave, noio a Freeman of Great Britain. 
 
 Who is my brother 1 Ask the waves that come 
 From Afric's shores to greet our island home. 
 Who is my brother *? Ask the winds that stray 
 From Indian realms, to chase our clouds away. 
 Who is my brother ] Ask the suns that shine 
 On southern seas, then turn to smile on thine. 
 Who is my brother 1 Ask the stars that roll 
 Their nightly journey round from pole to pole. 
 These with one voice shall answer that they find 
 But one vast family in all mankind ; 
 Nor colour, clime, nor caste can e'er efface 
 The kindred likeness of the wide-spread race, 
 Or break the chain that at the first began 
 To bind in one the family of man. 
 
 Come then, awake thy sympathies to feel 
 A brother's interest in thy brother's weal. 
 God's wisdom and his goodness both decreed 
 That from one stock all nations should proceed ; 
 That wheresoever he cast his creatures' lot, 
 Kindness and love might consecrate the spot, 
 Behold thy brother ! On his form, confess'd, 
 Thy nature's dignity is seen imprest, 
 In every look — in every gesture — man ! 
 Wipe off the stamp of manhood, ye who can ! 
 Beats not his breast with warm affection's glow ! 
 Breathes not his mind with thoughts impassion'd flow I 
 
 J> 
 
58 APPENDIX. 
 
 Is there a joy— a grief man ever knew, 
 
 But in his bosom has a birth-place too? 
 
 What though a tyrant's hand might strive to bind, 
 
 With iron grasp, the energies of mind, 
 
 As well might chains and stripes control the wave, 
 
 The soul '.—the soul !— can never be a slave ! 
 
 Brother, by that Creative Power whose word 
 One common nature on our race conferred ; 
 Brother, still closer by the love that sent 
 The Son of God to bear sin's punishment ; 
 Brother, by grace divine which poured its light 
 On the dark horrors of our heathen night, 
 We give the hand of fellowship to thee, 
 We bid thee welcome, and we hail thee Free ! 
 Thou art a slave no longer ! On thy brow 
 The air of Freedom breathes in triumph now ! 
 Thine heart rejoices o'er thy broken chain, 
 Whose links are sever'd ne'er to meet again. 
 But sweeter still, that liberty to know 
 Which Christ, the Saviour, only can bestow, 
 And feel, whate'er thy future lot may be, 
 The truth ! The truth has made thy spirit free ! 
 Through all thy touching story, glad we trace 
 The ways of Providence, the power of grace ; 
 And see thy countless trials join to prove 
 The God of glory is the God of love. 
 
 Go, then, still guided by his mighty hand, 
 
 Where'er His will, his wisdom may command. 
 
 His love direct thy steps, as when of old 
 
 He led the shepherd of His chosen fold. 
 
 Thy tale, like his whose name is borne by thee, 
 
 Mark'd out for death in helpless infancy, 
 
 Like him, the child of servitude and shame. 
 
 Born of a race that bear the captive name ; 
 
 Daily indebted to a tyrant's nod, 
 
 For the free mercies of a bounteous God; 
 
 Holding the very life He gave, at will 
 
 Of those who, though they cannot save, can kill, 
 
 Like him, cast from the land that gave thee birth, 
 
 And driven a wanderer on the face of earth. 
 
 (Like him, in all thy wanderings may'st thou find 
 
 The stranger's kindness soothe and cheer thy mind,) 
 
 Like him, when come to years, by grace divine, 
 
 Led to embrace a Saviour's cross as thine. 
 
 Still be thy tale like his ; — to thee be given 
 
 To bear on earth the messages of heaven ; 
 
 To tell the Pharaohs who enslave thy race 
 
 That God will scatter plagues on every place 
 
 Where proud oppression dares His wrath defy, 
 
APPENDIX. . 5!) 
 
 And brave his arm, and scorn His searching eye. 
 
 Sound out his thunders till the dead in sin 
 
 Shall hear the voice of conscience speak within. 
 
 Believe, and tremble at the dread decreee, 
 
 Break every chain — bid every slave be free. 
 
 Then, when thy brethren forth from bondage come, 
 
 Be thine to lead them to their better home — 
 
 The Land of Promise, where their souls shall rest, 
 
 With peace and liberty for ever blest, 
 
 And through the wilderness that lies between 
 
 Their wearied spirits and the joys unseen, 
 
 Be God to thee and them a shade by day, 
 
 A light by night to mark their future way, 
 
 Till all the freemen of the Lord shall meet, 
 
 To cast their crowns at Jesu's sacred feet, 
 
 And own the link that shall for ever bind, 
 
 Even as one soul, all nations of mankind. 
 
 M. B. TUCKET. 
 Ferney, Cork, October 31, 1838. 
 
 TO Mn. MOSES ROPER. 
 Yerses Written Impromptu by a Man op Colour, on 
 
 MEETING ] 
 TONSHIRE. 
 
 meeting Mr. Roper in the Vale op Leven, Dumbar- 
 
 Sweet Leven ! sung in classic style of yore 
 By Smollett, in such warm impassioned strain, 
 I love upon thy flowing stream to pore, 
 And hail, fair Freedom, thy delightful reign. 
 
 Thank Heaven, I have lived to see begun, 
 And consummated nearly, I may say, 
 The glorious work of Liberty, — whose sun 
 Has usher'd in the smile of risen day. 
 
 And, Caledonia, much I love thy strand, 
 First in the list of freedom's friends thou art ; 
 My warmest praise thou ever wilt command, 
 And I shall, Scotia, bear thee near my heart. 
 
 But oh ! my country ! must thou still remain 
 To wear thy fetters — and degraded be ] 
 When shall be torn the galling cruel chain 1 
 Must thou be doom'd to endless slavery ? 
 
60 APPENDTX. 
 
 No ! thou art classed already among the free — 
 See thy warm advocate, young Roper, stand ! 
 In love's sweet embassy most powerfully 
 He breaks thy chain, with mighty giant hand. 
 
 His tyrant follows with his bloody hounds, 
 The track is lost — he plunges in the wave ; 
 And now with fleetest speed onward he bounds, 
 And from him throws the eursed brand of slave. 
 
 Heaven throws its shield around thee, gallant youth. 
 With open arms, lo ! Britain doth thee hail, 
 Long shall its ministers thy sorows soothe, 
 And hear with interest thy affecting tale. 
 August 30, 1838. 
 
 Written by a Young Person after Hearing 
 Mr. Roper Lecture in Sheffied. 
 
 To Mr. MOSES ROPER. 
 
 Welcome, my brother, to the land 
 Where Freedom's banner's waving : 
 
 Philanthropists, with heart and hand, 
 Rejoice to take the slave in. 
 
 " Slave !" no ! " slave" I dare not call thee>. 
 
 When thou wast created free ; 
 Lest God's thunderbolts appal me, 
 
 For my base impiety. 
 
 But I'll call thee friend and brother ; 
 
 Oh, those sweet endearing names ; 
 Though not the offspring of one mother, 
 
 Both to Heaven have equal claims. 
 
 God, our parent, condescendeth 
 
 To be the father, friend of all, 
 Whose desires heav'nward ascendethj 
 
 And for saving mercy call. 
 
 Of persons he is no respecter, 
 Black and white bis love may share ; 
 
 He himself is the inspector 
 
 Of the fruit which all men bear. 
 
APPENDIX. 61 
 
 Though oppression's sun is shining, 
 
 Ere long it shall cease to shine ; 
 Lo! already 'tis declining, 
 
 May the pleasure yet be thine, 
 
 To hear these words (in thunder spoken), 
 
 " Slavery hath ceased to he ; 
 And the galling chain is broken. 
 
 Every son of man is free !" 
 
 May the God of Heaven redress thee, 
 
 For thy sufferings here below ; 
 Cause Britannia's sons to bless thee, 
 
 Sweeten here thy cup of woe. 
 
 May the olive tree of peace soon, 
 
 Fruitful, wave o'er all the Earth ; 
 And that horrid traffic cease soon, 
 
 Which derived from Hell its birth. 
 
 May'st thou never know the want of 
 
 Friends to cheer thee, and to bless ; 
 May they be just like a plant of 
 
 Everlasting fruitfulness. 
 
 Written by a Gentleman after the Address on Ame- 
 rican Slavery, delivered in Exeter, by MOSES 
 ROPER, 21st January, 1839. 
 
 Son of God ! lend an ear, 
 These our supplications hear; 
 By the counsels of thy will, 
 By thy purpose to fulfil, 
 The Eternal God's decree — 
 Man, immortal, shall be free ; 
 O let our prayers aseend to heaven, 
 And freedom to all Slaves be given J 
 
 By thy purposes to save, 
 From the terrors of the grave ; 
 By thy Sceptre, Prince of peace, 
 Grant the suffering slaves release 1 
 By thy mighty Arm of power, 
 Save them in the trying hour ; 
 O hear us when we call on Thee — 
 Throughout the world let man be free 
 
62 APPENDIX. 
 
 By the pledge to Adam given, 
 
 Ere from Eden he was driven ; 
 
 By that dawn of hope to man, 
 
 In redemption's wond'rous plan ; 
 
 By the covenant of grace, 
 
 To restore our fallen race ; 
 
 O hear us when we call on Thee — 
 
 Throughout the world let man be free I 
 
 By thy truth from age to age 
 
 Written in the sacred page, 
 
 And revealed to holy Seers 
 
 'Midst their sorrows., hopes and fears. 
 
 By thy word to prophets sent, 
 
 By thy holy testament, 
 
 O hear us when we call on Thee — 
 
 Throughout the world let man be free ! 
 
 By thy mystery of grace, 
 Standing in the sinner's place; 
 By thine own incarnate love, 
 Send deliverance from above ; 
 By thy sorrows, pains and grief, 
 Grant the suffering Slaves relief; 
 hear us when we call on Thee — 
 Throughout the world let man be free i 
 
 By that dark and awful hour, 
 Of thy foes' permitted power; 
 By thine interceding prayer. 
 Lord, our supplications hear ; 
 By thy bloody sweat and tears, 
 Lord, remove the bondman's fears ; 
 hear us when we call on Thee — 
 Throughout the world let man be free ! 
 
 By thy love which took our guilt, 
 
 By thy blood for sinners spilt ; 
 
 By thy sufferings on the tree, 
 
 By thy dying agony ; 
 
 By thy last expiring breath, 
 
 By thy word pronounced in death, 
 
 hear us when we call on Thee — 
 
 Throughout the world let man be free } 
 
 By thy rising from the tomb, 
 Lord, avert the tyrant's doom ; 
 By thy victory o'er the grave, 
 Free the Master, free the Slave ; 
 All Creation groans for thee, 
 From the curse all creatures free ; 
 come, Thou Mighty Saviour, come, 
 And take thy ransom'd people home, 
 
 Clifton Place, Exeter.. N. H. 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 63 
 
 A LIST OF CHURCHES, 
 
 IN WHICH MR. ROPER LECTURED IN GREAT BRITAIN. 
 
 In the Places ivith the letter a prefixei, the Lecture vms delivered in 
 a Hall. 
 
 BAPTIST. 
 
 Bedfordshire, 
 a Bedford, 
 
 Biggleswade. 
 
 Blunham. 
 
 Cranfield. 
 
 Dunstable. 
 
 Leighton. 
 
 Luton,. 
 
 Maulden". 
 
 Itidgniount. 
 
 Risely. 
 
 Sharnbrook. 
 
 Shefford. 
 
 Steventon. 
 Buckinghamshire. 
 
 Askett. 
 
 Aston Clinton. 
 
 Buckingham. 
 
 Chenies. 
 
 Chesham and 
 Tring. 
 
 Chesham, 3d ch. 
 
 Colnbrook. 
 
 Cuddington. 
 
 Datchett. 
 
 GoldHill. 
 
 Great Brickhill. 
 
 Haddenham. 
 
 Hanslope. 
 
 Ickford. 
 
 lvinghoe. 
 
 Little Kingshill. 
 
 Long Crendon. 
 
 Marlow. 
 
 Missenden. 
 
 Mursley. 
 
 Olney. 
 
 Penn, Beacon 
 Hill. 
 
 Princes Risb- 
 rough. 
 
 Quainton. 
 
 Speen. 
 
 Stony Strat- 
 
 ford. 
 
 Waddesdon Hill. 
 
 Cambridgeshire. 
 
 Bottisham Lode. 
 
 Cambridge. 
 
 Chatteris. 
 
 Cottenham. 
 
 Downham. 
 
 Gamlingay. 
 
 Haddenham. 
 
 Isleham. 
 
 March. 
 
 Soham. 
 
 Whittlesea. 
 
 Willingham. 
 
 Wisbech. 
 Derbyshire. 
 
 Duffield. 
 
 Loscoe. 
 
 Melbourne and 
 Ticknall. 
 
 Smalley. 
 
 Stoke-on-Trent. 
 Devonshire, 
 
 Asn water ( Muck- 
 worthy. ) 
 
 Bradninch. 
 
 Bray ford. 
 , Brixham. 
 
 Croyde. 
 
 Culiostock (Pres- 
 cott). 
 
 Dartmouth. 
 
 Exeter, Bartho- 
 lomew Yard. 
 
 Hemydck. 
 
 Tawstock. 
 Essex. 
 
 Saffron Walden. 
 
 Tillingham. 
 Gloucestershire. 
 
 Avening. 
 
 Blakeney. 
 
 Cambridge. 
 
 Coleford. 
 
 Lechlade. 
 
 Minchinhampton 
 
 Painswiok. 
 
 Slimbridge. 
 
 Stow on theWold 
 
 Herefordshire. 
 
 Ledbury. 
 
 Leominster. 
 
 Ross. 
 
 Tenbury. 
 
 Hertfordshire. 
 
 Berkhampstead. 
 
 Hemel Hamp- 
 
 stead. 
 Markyate Street. 
 Rickmansworth. 
 St. Albans. 
 Tring. 
 Tring. 
 Huntingdonshire, 
 a Bluntisham. 
 Bythome. 
 Great Gransden. 
 Huntingdon. 
 Kimbolton. 
 St. Ives. 
 St. Neots. 
 Somersham. 
 Spaldwick. 
 Kent. 
 Bessels Green. 
 Bethersden. 
 Bexley Heath. 
 Lancashire. 
 Bolton. 
 Burnley 
 Chowbe-t. 
 a Cloughfold. 
 Goodshaw. 
 Haslingden. 
 Liverpool : — 
 
 Myrtle Street. 
 
 a Pembroke 
 Place. 
 
 Pleasant Street 
 
 Sidney Place, 
 Oswaldtwistle. 
 Rochdale. 
 Rochdale. 
 
 Tottlebank. 
 
 Leicestershire. 
 
 Appleby. 
 
 Arnsby. 
 
 Ashby andPack- 
 
 ington. 
 Barton. 
 Billesdon. 
 Blaby. 
 Bosworth and 
 
 Walton. 
 Lincolnshire, 
 a Market Rasen. 
 a Spalding. 
 a SpaMing. 
 Northampton- 
 shire. 
 Hackleton. 
 Harpole. 
 Kettering, 
 Kettering. 
 Kislingbury. 
 Middle ton Che- 
 ney. 
 Northampton. 
 Oundle. 
 Raunds. 
 Ravensthorpe. 
 Rushden. 
 Stanwick. 
 Thrapstone. 
 West Haddon. 
 Weston by Wee- 
 don. 
 Notti)ighamshire. 
 Beeston. 
 
 Kirby Wood- 
 house. 
 Somersetshire. 
 Bath : — a York 
 Street. 
 a Bourton. 
 Bristol :— 
 a Broadmead. 
 a King Street, 
 Burro wbridge. 
 
64 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 Burton. 
 
 Chard. 
 
 Creech. 
 
 Crewkerne. 
 
 Frome. 
 
 Highbridge. 
 
 Isle Abbotts. 
 
 Montacute. 
 
 North Curry. 
 
 Wincanton. 
 
 Yeovil. 
 
 Staffordshire. 
 
 Brettell Lane. 
 
 Burton on Trent. 
 Suffolk. 
 
 Otley. 
 
 Eattlesden. 
 
 Sorcersham. 
 
 Stradbrook. 
 
 Stowmarket. 
 
 Southwold. 
 
 Sutton. 
 
 Tunstal. 
 
 Waldringfield. 
 
 Wattisbam. 
 
 Wetherden. 
 Sussex. 
 
 Battle. 
 
 Brighton. 
 
 Hailsham. 
 Wiltshire. 
 
 Downton. 
 
 Knoyle and Sena- 
 ley. 
 
 Ludgershall. 
 
 Malmsbury. 
 
 Melksham. 
 
 Netheravon, 
 
 North Bradley. 
 
 Sherston. 
 
 Shrewton, Beth- 
 esda. 
 
 Trowbridge : — 
 Back St. 
 
 Warminster. 
 
 Worcestershire. 
 
 Evesham, Cowl 
 Street. 
 
 Tenbury. 
 
 Yorkshire. 
 Salendine Nook. 
 Scarborough. 
 Shipley. 
 Sutton. 
 Wainsgate. 
 Angleseyshire. 
 Amlwich. 
 Bodedern. 
 Brinsiencin. 
 Capel Gwyn. 
 Capel Newydd. 
 Holyhead and 
 
 Bont. 
 Llanfachreth. 
 Llanfaethlu. 
 Llanfair. 
 Llangenfi. 
 Llannerchymedd. 
 Pencarnedu. 
 Brecknockshire. 
 Brecon, Welsh. 
 Brynmawr, Sion. 
 Builth. 
 Cerrickgadam, 
 
 Hephzibah. 
 Crickhowell. 
 Dyvynock. 
 Llanelly. 
 Carmarthenshire. 
 Ffynnon Henry. 
 Gwaunglyndaf. 
 Hebron, Llandys- 
 
 sil. 
 Llandilo. 
 Landyssil. 
 Llanelly.. Bethel. 
 Llandybie. 
 Llandgadock. 
 Llandyfaen. 
 Llanfynydd. 
 Llangendeirn. 
 Llangennerch. 
 Llanstephan. 
 Login. 
 Mydrim. 
 Newcastle Emlyn 
 
 a Penrhiwgoch. 
 Penybont Llan- 
 
 dyssil. 
 a Rehoboth. 
 
 Rhydargaen, 
 a Rhydwilym, 
 « Smyrna. 
 
 Talog, Bethania. 
 Carnarvonshire. 
 Bangor. 
 Capelbeirdd. 
 Cefnfaes. 
 Llanaelhairn. 
 Llanberis. 
 Llanduduo. 
 Llangian. 
 Llanllyfni. 
 Llanwydden. 
 Nevin. 
 Pontycim. 
 Pwllheli and 
 
 Tyddynsion. 
 Rhos. 
 
 Rosbirwaen. 
 Salem, Tyndo- 
 
 nem. 
 Glamorganshire. 
 Lantri'sssaint. 
 Merthyr. 
 Ditto Zion. 
 Newbridge. 
 Rhymney. 
 Swansea. 
 Ditto, Mount 
 
 Pleasant. 
 Trefforest. 
 Merionethshire. 
 Cwnwyd and 
 
 Llansantffraid. 
 Dolgelly. 
 M on tgomeryshire. 
 Llanidloes. 
 Llanwain, 
 Newtown. 
 Newtown, Sam. 
 Rhydfellen. 
 Welshpool. 
 
 Monmouthshire. 
 Bethlehem. 
 Bethesda. 
 Beulah. 
 Blaenavon. 
 Brynmawr. 
 Caerleon. 
 Chepstow. 
 Cwmbran. 
 Glasgoed. 
 Llanelly. 
 Llanhiddel. 
 LlanvihangelCru- 
 
 corny. 
 Llanwenarth. 
 Magor. 
 Nantyglo. 
 Nash. 
 
 Newport, Welsh. 
 Newport, Eng. 
 
 Commercial 
 Road. 
 Penuel. 
 Penrhos. 
 Penycae. 
 Penygarn. 
 Pisgah. 
 
 Pontrhydyryn. 
 Ragland. 
 Rymney, Eng. 
 Rymney, Welsh. 
 a Do. Jerusalem. 
 Risca. 
 St. Brides. 
 St, Melons. 
 Sion Chapel. 
 Sirhowy. 
 Taliwain. 
 Tredegar, Eng. 
 Tredegar.Welsh. 
 Trosnant, Eng. 
 Trosnant, Welsh. 
 Twyngwyn. 
 Usk. 
 Victoria. 
 Zoar, Henllys. 
 
 INDEPENDENT. 
 
 Bedfordshire. 
 a Bedford. 
 Harrold. 
 Luton. 
 Woburn. 
 Berkshire and Ox- 
 fordshire. 
 Beaconsfield, 
 
 Bucks. 
 
 Farringdon. 
 
 Hungerford, 
 
 Berks. 
 
 Maidenhead, 
 Berks. 
 a Newbury, Berks. 
 a Reading, Berks. 
 
 Staines. 
 
 Uxbridge. 
 a Wallingford. 
 Bristol and Glou- 
 cester. 
 
 Berkeley. 
 
 Cheltenham. 
 
 Cirencester. 
 
 Dursley. 
 Frampton-on-Se- 
 
 vern. 
 Frampton Cotte- 
 
 rell. 
 Kingswood. 
 Bucks. 
 Newport Pagnel, 
 
 Bucks. 
 Stony Stratford, 
 
 Bucks. 
 Towcester. 
 
 Winslow. 
 Cambridgeshire. 
 Fulbourn. 
 Royston. 
 Newmarket. 
 Soham. 
 
 Cheshire. 
 Chester. 
 Stockport. 
 Tintwistle. 
 Northwich. 
 Knutsford. 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 C6 
 
 Middlewich. 
 Nantwich. 
 Tattenhall. 
 Woodside. 
 
 Cornwall. 
 St. Agnes. 
 Bodmin. 
 St. Columb. 
 Grampound. 
 Launceston. 
 Cumberland. 
 a Penrith, 
 a Whitehaven. 
 
 Wigton. 
 a Workington. 
 Derbyshire. 
 Heanor. 
 Marple Bridge. 
 New Mills. 
 Repton and Bar- 
 row. 
 Wirksworth . 
 
 Devon. 
 Hartland. 
 South Molton. 
 Torrington. 
 Chivenor. 
 South Devon. 
 Dartmouth. 
 a Devonport. 
 East Devon. 
 Axminster. 
 Beer and Seaton. 
 Collumpton. 
 Crediton. 
 Sidbury. 
 Sidmouth. 
 Tiverton. 
 Dorsetshire. 
 Poole. 
 a Shaftesbury. 
 
 Sherborne . 
 a Stalbridge. 
 Sturminster. 
 Swanage. 
 Verwood, near 
 
 Cranborne. 
 Wareham. 
 Weymouth. 
 West Lulworth. 
 Wimborne. 
 Durham. 
 a Durham. 
 Easington-lane. 
 Felling. 
 Hartlepool. 
 Richmond (York- 
 shire. ) 
 Northumberland. 
 Alnwick. 
 Amble. 
 Embleton, 
 Haydon Bridge. 
 Morpeth. 
 
 Essex. 
 Abbots Roothing 
 Billericay. 
 Braintree. 
 Brentwood. 
 Brightlingsea. 
 Bumpstead, Stee- 
 ple. 
 Chelmsford, 
 Castle Heding- 
 
 ham. 
 Chishall. 
 Clavering. 
 Coggeshall. 
 Colchester. 
 Dunmow. 
 Epping. 
 Finchingfield. 
 Fordham. 
 Halstead 
 Harwich. 
 Wivenhoe. 
 
 Hampshire. 
 Stockbridge. 
 Tadley. 
 Whitchurch. 
 Emsworth. 
 Gosport. 
 a Petersfield. 
 x Portsmouth. 
 Tichfield. 
 
 Che- 
 
 Lancashire, 
 
 Liverpool. 
 
 Orrell. 
 a Prescot. 
 
 Rain ford. 
 a Southport. 
 
 Warrington. 
 
 Wigan. 
 
 Wigan. 
 
 Woodside, 
 
 shire. 
 
 a Lancaster. 
 
 Milnthorpe. 
 a Kendal. 
 
 Ulverston. 
 
 Harpurhey. 
 
 Heywood. 
 
 Hyde. 
 
 Horwich. 
 a Manchester. 
 
 Blackburn. 
 
 Clitheroe. 
 
 Leicestershire. 
 
 Kibworth. 
 
 Loughborough. 
 Lincolnshire. 
 
 Lincoln. 
 a Louth. 
 a Spilsby. 
 
 Long Sutton. 
 Pinchbeck. 
 
 Mar- 
 
 Rowland'sCastle. a Sleaford. 
 
 Alresfoid. 
 
 Botley. 
 
 Romsey. 
 
 Southampton, 
 Above Bar. 
 
 Winchester. 
 
 Christchurch. 
 
 Fordingbridge. 
 
 Lymington. 
 
 Ringwood. 
 
 Herefordshire. 
 a Ross. 
 
 Bucks. 
 
 Hemel Hempsted 
 
 Bushey. 
 
 Chesham. 
 
 Hertfordshire. 
 
 Hatfield. 
 
 Hertford. 
 
 Hitchin. 
 
 Ware. 
 Kent. 
 
 Bromley. 
 
 Dartford. 
 
 Chatham. 
 a Gravesend. 
 
 Maidstone. 
 
 Cranbrook. 
 
 Canterbury. 
 
 Deal. 
 
 Dover. 
 
 Faversham. 
 
 a Stamford. 
 Monmouthshire. 
 
 Pontypool. 
 Norfolk. 
 
 Burnham. 
 
 Creak and Wal- 
 singham. 
 
 Dereham. 
 
 Diss. 
 
 Heacham. 
 
 Lynn. 
 Northamptonshir. 
 
 Buckby, Long. 
 
 Creaton. 
 
 Daventry. 
 
 Kilsby. 
 
 Market Harbo- 
 rough. 
 
 Byfield. 
 
 Brigstock. 
 
 Crick. 
 Nottinghamshire. 
 
 Nottingham- 
 Castle gate. 
 Salop 
 
 Oswestry. 
 
 Wellington. 
 
 Wem. 
 
 Whitchurch. 
 
 Somersetshire. 
 
 Petherton, North 
 
 Broadway. 
 
 Chard, 
 llminster. 
 Bruton. 
 
 Milbourne Port. 
 Castle Cary. 
 Staffordshire, 
 a Newcastle. 
 Oldbury. 
 Smethwick. 
 Stafford. 
 Stone. 
 Tean 
 Walsall. 
 West Bromwich. 
 
 Suffolk. 
 Lowestoft. 
 Nayland. 
 Sudbury. 
 Wickhain 
 
 ket. 
 Woodbridge 
 Surrey, 
 a Dorking. 
 Farnham. 
 a Godalming'. 
 a Guildford. 
 Ham. 
 Oxtead. 
 
 Sussex. 
 BillinghurBt. 
 a Brighton. 
 Petworth. 
 Rye. 
 
 Wivilsfield. 
 Worthing. 
 Warwickshire. 
 Henley-in-Arden 
 Kenilworth. 
 Leamington. 
 a Southam. 
 a Stratford-on- 
 Avon. 
 Tamworth. 
 Warwick. 
 Somersetshire, 
 a Marlborough. 
 Swindon. 
 Tisbufy. 
 Westbury. 
 Bulford. 
 Frome. 
 Hindon. 
 
 Worcestershire. 
 Broadway. 
 Dudley. 
 York WestRiding. 
 a Leeds, 
 Batley. 
 Cleckheaton, 
 Gomersal, 
 Heckmondwike, 
 Kipping. 
 Newton-in-Bow- 
 land, 
 
66 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 Otley, 
 Settle, 
 Skipton, 
 Wibsey, 
 Wilsden, 
 Addingham, 
 Northowram, 
 Parak Nook, 
 Stainland, 
 Todmorden, 
 Wike, 
 Hopton, 
 Kirkheaton, 
 Delph, 
 Cowick, 
 a Goole, 
 
 Knottingley, 
 a Selby, 
 Barnsley, 
 Tickhill, 
 Rotherham, 
 Sheffield. 
 Yorkshire East 
 
 Riding. 
 Barton, 
 a Beverley, 
 Driffield, 
 Gainsborough, L, 
 a Hull, 
 Frodlingham, 
 Beeford Long 
 Riston, Brans- 
 burton, and Le- 
 ven, 
 Yorkshire North 
 Riding. 
 
 Ayton, 
 
 Appleton Wisk, 
 
 Easingwold, 
 
 Egton, 
 
 Guisbro' 
 
 Leyburn, 
 
 Lofthouse, 
 
 Malton, 
 
 Middlesbro'. 
 Carnarvonshire. 
 
 Llanberis. 
 
 Denbighshire. 
 
 Llansanan, 
 
 Rhosllanaerchru- 
 gog, 
 
 Rhydlydan, Ncbo 
 
 Ruthin. 
 
 Sant George, 
 
 Wern, 
 
 Wrexham. 
 Flintshire. 
 
 Bagillt, 
 
 Flint. 
 
 Buckley Moun- 
 tain, 
 
 Foel, 
 
 Harwd. 
 
 Holywell, 
 
 Mold. 
 Merionethshire. 
 
 Bala, 
 
 Barmouth, 
 
 Brithdir, 
 
 Cynwyd, Lland- 
 rillo, 
 
 Corwen, 
 
 Dinas. 
 
 Dolgellau, 
 
 Ffestiniog, 
 Montgomeryshire. 
 
 Aberhosan.Pene- 
 gos, 
 
 Llanbrynmair, 
 
 Llanfair, 
 
 Llanfyllin, 
 
 Llanidloes, 
 
 Llansantfraid, 
 
 Breconshire. 
 
 Cwmcamlas, 
 
 Tynycoed, 
 
 Ystradgunlais, 
 
 Cwm taff-f echan, 
 
 Abergwesin, 
 
 Troed, 
 
 Beulah, 
 
 Builth, 
 
 Gwenddwr, 
 
 C#rrigcadarn, 
 
 Cardiganshire. 
 
 Neuadd-lwyd, 
 
 Aberaeron, 
 
 Capel-yr-Erw, 
 
 Pilbach, 
 
 Llaubadarn, 
 
 Talybont, 
 
 Troed-y-rhiw, 
 
 Aberystwith, 
 
 Pen-y-Cae, 
 
 Cardigan, 
 
 Carmarthen. 
 St. Clears, 
 Ffynon-bedr, 
 Gibeon, 
 Blaenyeoed, 
 Capel Even, 
 Castell Newydd, 
 Landovery, 
 Llandgadog, 
 Cross Inn, 
 Glamorganshire. 
 Libanus. 
 Caerphilly 
 Cardiff, 
 Dinas, 
 Llantrisaint, 
 Cymmar, 
 Llanharan, 
 Bridgend, 
 Blaenafon, 
 Abersychan, 
 Pontypool, 
 Cwmbran, 
 Penywaen, 
 Pembrokeshire. 
 Pen-y-groes, 
 Ty-rhos. 
 Brynberian. 
 Newport, 
 Rhos-y-caerau, 
 St. David, 
 Tref-garn. 
 Radnnrsh .^ 
 Rhaiadr 
 
 BIBLE CHRISTIANS. 
 
 St. Just, 
 Vennor, 
 Polminich, 
 Harleston, 
 Porthleaven, 
 Leedstown, 
 Marazion or Mar- 
 ket Jew, 
 Bethel, 
 Cambira, 
 
 Lanner, 
 
 Lurillion, 
 
 Camelford, 
 
 St. Teath, 
 
 Lemannich. 
 
 North Petheymin 
 
 Tinney, 
 
 Week St. Mary, 
 
 Shebbear, 
 
 Holmorthy, 
 
 Brid!<erne, 
 
 Chulmleigh, 
 
 Northlem.Od.DO 
 
 1847. 
 Winkleigh, 
 Kilhampton, 
 Chagford, 
 Crondall, 
 Isle of Wight. 
 Newport, 
 
 Newbridge, 
 
 Chale, 
 
 Rookley, 
 
 Littletown, 
 
 Ventnor, 
 
 Whit well, 
 
 Wroxall, 
 
 Shanklin, 
 
 Sandown, 
 
 FRIENDS OR QUAKERS. 
 
 WhiteHartCourt 
 
 London, 
 Darlington, 
 Norwich, 
 City of Bristol, 
 
 Bath, 
 
 Wales. 
 Bridgewater. 
 Wellington,' 
 Ayton, 
 
 North 
 
 Taunton, 
 Tewkesbury, 
 Worcester, 
 Stoke-on-Trent, 
 
 Ipswich, 
 
 Glocester, 
 
 Whitley, 
 
 Nottingham, 
 
 WESLEYAN METHODIST. 
 
 Sheffield, Chesterfield, WoUingham, 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 67 
 
 Launceston, 
 
 Hexham, 
 
 Stratton, 
 
 Lincoln, 
 Redruth, 
 
 Bodmin, 
 Wednesbury, 
 
 Haylc, 
 
 Stilton, 
 
 NEW CONNEXION. 
 
 St. Agnes, St. Days, Hinley, 
 
 Newcastle-on- 
 Tyne, 
 
 PRIMITIVE METHODIST. 
 
 Burslem, Patries, 
 
 St. Ivee, 
 
 REFORMED METHODIST. 
 
 Carlisle, Wade Bridge, 
 
 And in numbers of School-Rooms belonging to the Church of England, as als 
 in different T-own Halls. 
 
 I 
 
 SCOTLAND 
 
 .—UNITED S] 
 
 SCESSION, RELIEF, &c. 
 
 a Old Meldrum, 
 
 Dumfries, 
 
 Inverary, 
 
 Paisley, 
 
 Stonehaven, 
 
 Lochmaben, 
 
 Kirkintilloch, 
 
 Abernethy, 
 
 Annan, 
 
 Minniehive, 
 
 Ne.warthill, Holy- 
 
 Auchterarder, 
 
 Ecclefechan, 
 
 Moffat, 
 
 town, 
 
 Auchtergaven, 
 
 Lockerby, 
 
 Sanquhar, 
 
 Pollockshaws, 
 
 Balbiggie, 
 
 Wigton, 
 
 Thornhill, 
 
 Glasgow, 
 
 Coinrie, 
 
 a Forfar, a Dundee, 
 
 Strathaven, 
 
 Cupar-Angus, 
 
 Johnshaven, Ber- 
 
 Kirriemuir, 
 
 a Ayr. 
 
 Crieff, 
 
 vie, 
 
 Newtyle, Cupar- 
 
 Beith, 
 
 Dunning, 
 
 Montrose, 
 
 Angus, 
 
 Catrine, Mauch- 
 
 Errol, 
 
 Belford, Free 
 
 Dunfermline, In- 
 
 line, 
 
 Kinclaven, 
 
 Church, 
 
 dependent, 
 
 Cumnock, 
 
 Leslie, 
 
 Berwick, 
 
 Kinross, 
 
 Dairy, 
 
 Lethendy, Auch- 
 
 Chirnside, Ayton, 
 
 Limekilns, Dun- 
 
 Givvan, 
 
 terarder, 
 
 Coldstream, 
 
 fermline, 
 
 Irvine, 
 
 Logiealrnond, 
 
 Eyemouth, 
 
 Milnathort, Kin- 
 
 Kilmarnock, 
 
 Perth, 
 
 Greenlaw, 
 
 ross, 
 
 Maybole, 
 
 Methven, do., 
 
 Kelso, 
 
 Muckhart, Alloa, 
 
 Muirkirk, 
 
 Newburgh, 
 
 North* Sunder- 
 
 Dalkeith, 
 
 Newills, 
 
 Perth, Baptist, 
 
 land. 
 
 Dunbar, 
 
 Saltcoats, 
 
 Earlston, Melrosa 
 
 Stockbridge, 
 
 Edinburgh : — 
 
 Stewarton, 
 
 Galashiels, 
 
 Cockburnspath 
 
 Nicolson St. 
 
 Tarbolton, 
 
 Hawick, 
 
 Wooler, 
 
 Rose Street, 
 
 Troon, 
 
 Jedburgh, 
 
 Anstruther, 
 
 Haddington, Bap- 
 
 West Kilbride, 
 
 Lilliesleaf, 
 
 Auchtermuchty, 
 
 tist, 
 
 Largs, 
 
 Melrose, 
 
 Established 
 
 Leith, 
 
 Kirkaldy, 
 
 Selkirk, 
 
 Church, 
 
 North Berwick, 
 
 Leslie, 
 
 Aberchirder, 
 
 Ceres, Cupar- 
 
 Peebles, 
 
 Lochgelly, Kirk- 
 
 a Banff, 
 
 Fife, 
 
 Tranent. 
 
 aldy, 
 
 Craigdam, 
 
 Crail, 
 
 Elgin, 
 
 Biggar, 
 
 Ellon, 
 
 Cupar-Fife, 
 
 Forres, 
 
 Carnwath, La- 
 
 New Deer, Mint- 
 
 Dubbieside, Le- 
 
 Inverness, 
 
 nark, 
 
 law, 
 
 ven, 
 
 Keith, 
 
 Douglas, 
 
 Peterhead, 
 
 Fruechie, Kettle, 
 
 Airdrie, Indepen- 
 
 Bellingham,Hex 
 
 Airth, 
 
 « Pitlessie, 
 
 dent, 
 
 ham, 
 
 Alloa, 
 
 St. Andrews, 
 
 Drymen, 
 
 Greenock, 
 
 Alva, 
 
 Dairy, Castle 
 
 Dumbarton, 
 
 Johnstone, 
 
 Bathgate, 
 
 Douglas, 
 
 a Glasgow, 
 
 Largs, 
 
 
68 
 
 8 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 
 Bueklyrie, Stil- 
 
 Stranraer.Church 
 
 Berwick-on- 
 
 Cainpsie, 
 
 ling, 
 
 of Scotland, 
 
 Tweed, 
 
 Coatbridge, Air- 
 
 Falkirk, 
 
 Whithorn, Wig- 
 
 Biggar, 
 
 drie, 
 
 Holm of Balfron, 
 
 town, 
 
 Blairlogie, Stir- 
 
 Dumbarton, 
 
 Kincardine, 
 
 Gateside, Moffat, 
 
 ling, 
 
 Kilmarnock, 
 
 Linlithgow, 
 
 Ceres, Cupar- Fife 
 
 Dalkeith, 
 
 Kilsyth, 
 
 Stirling, 
 
 Colinsburgh, 
 
 Dunfermline, 
 
 Carluke, 
 
 Tillicoultry, 
 
 Dysart, 
 
 Earlston, 
 
 Kilbride, 
 
 Creetown, 
 
 Kettle, 
 
 Falkirk, 
 
 Lanark, 
 
 Gatehouse, 
 
 Largo, 
 
 Leith, 
 
 Koberton, Bigjpr, 
 
 Glenluce, 
 
 Leven, 
 
 Balfron, 
 
 And other Towns. 
 
 Kirk co wan, 
 
 Pittenweem, 
 
 Bonhill, Dumbar- 
 
 
 Newt.-ste.rart, 
 
 Bathgate, 
 
 ton, . 
 
 
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