Life and Adventures of James Williams, a Fugitive Slave: With a Full Description of the Underground Railroad

By James B. Williams

"Life and Adventures of James Williams, a Fugitive Slave" is a 1873 account by American slave James Williams, describing his early life, abuse, and eventual escape to New York City. The first slave narrative published by the American Anti-Slavery Society, today the story is commonly remembered as fraudulent due to contemporary Southern newspaper columnists' attacks on the narrative's veracity. The book was ghostwritten by John Greenleaf Whittier, a Quaker poet and abolitionist. Contents include: "An Introductory Excerpt by W. Mckinstry", "Preface", "When and Where Born", "Why I Ran Away", "First Contact with the Underground Railroad", "In the Riot Against the Killers", "Escape from Pursuers", "Raffling for Geese, and What Came of it", "Making Coffee out of Salt Water", etc. A powerful account of life as an African-American slave that will appeal to those interested in black history and literature. Read & Co. History is proudly republishing this classic slave narrative now in a brand new edition, complete with an introductory excerpt by W. Mckinstry.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Read & Co. History
• Release date: Feb 8, 2022
• ISBN: 9781528793056

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AN INTRODUCTORY EXCERPT

By W. McKinstry

Slavery in the United States after the Fugitive Slave law was enacted,assumed its most hideous aspect. When in colonial times it pervaded more or less all the colonies, it was not regarded as a special source of profit, and the value was but little more than nominal. After the adoption of the Constitution, State after State provided for its abolition till it was finally limited to the States south of Mason & Dixon’s line and the Ohio river. The invention of the cotton gin and the profitableness of the culture of cane and cotton enhanced the value of slave property, and so far increased the demand for this kind of labor that the raising of slaves for the Southern market became a large source of income to the northern Slave States. In process of time they were held as mere chattels, without legal rights, and could not make bargains, marriage contracts, or perform any act whatever in which the law granted them any protection. In the eye of the law they were as much property as horses and cattle. This legal ownership enabled the masters to supply the slave auctions with human chattels, and caused great anguish to the poor wretches who were subject to sale and separation of kindred with no legal redress against any cruelty which might be inflicted.

In the District of Columbia was a large slave mart, but it was so repugnant to Northern sentiments that finally the traffic was abolished there, but was continued at Alexandria, which was receded to Virginia.

At an early date the moral sense of many of the people of the North was aroused to the enormity of the crime of slavery and measures were taken for its abolition. The first slaves brought to this country were sold from a Dutch vessel at Jamestown, Va., in 1619. There were twenty of them. From that time up to 1776 three hundred thousand were imported. In the Continental Congress it was resolved that no more slaves should be brought to this country, but on the adoption of the Constitution, Congress was prohibited from abolishing the slave trade till 1808. In the meantime Anti-Slavery Societies were formed in several States, and Benj. Franklin was President of such an organization. The Quakers persistently protested against human bondage, and petitioned the Convention to provide in the Constitution for its abolition. It was supposed at that time that human bondage would cease in a few years. In this philanthropists were disappointed, as its rapid growth will show. In 1790 as seen by the census the slaves numbered 697,897, which was more than double the number at the commencement of the Revolutionary war.

In 1861 the war commenced between the Northern and Southern States, which resulted in the abrogation of all property title to more than four millions of human beings in the United States and territories.

As one after another the Northern States abolished slavery, they became an asylum for fugitives from the institution in the Southern States. On the 4th of July, 1827, all slaves held in the State of New York were set at liberty by an act passed in 1817. Thereafter all the States bordering on the lakes and rivers between the United States and Canada were free States. In all these States were found friends of the oppressed race, who desired their emancipation, and the fugitives from slavery found assistance and protection among these philanthropists, a large number of whom were Quakers who had always earnestly protested against human bondage. Still the refugees from slavery were not safe in the free States. The Constitution provided for their surrender, and the U. S. laws designated the manner of proceedure. Rewards were offered for their return, and many people were found who for the pecuniary inducements were willing to participate in this business. The fugitives were not secure till they reached the soil of Canada. An effort was made for a treaty with Great Britain to secure their return from Canada, but without success.

After the passage of the fugitive slave law, the danger of capture was enhanced and many left the free States for greater safety who had long been residents in them.

Notwithstanding the rewards and penalties of the law, fugitives still continued to escape, and endured untold suffering in pursuing their trackless course, often through an unbroken wilderness, guided by the north star to the land of freedom beyond the dominion of the stars and stripes.

For some forty years these pilgrims to the land of liberty made their way through the Northern States and across the border. Scattered through the country were humanitarian people who believed in the higher law, and that the complexion of the individual should not exclude him from the enjoyment of his inalienable rights. These people protected the fleeing fugitive, secreted him from his pursuers, and conducted him from station to station till he was landed in Canada. The secrecy with which they managed the matter and the certainty of the delivery of the passengers on their line, gave by common consent the name of the Underground Railroad. The number of those who escaped is a wonder, in view of the difficulties encountered. It is estimated by a prominent refugee from Kentucky, who made his escape in 1836, that fully thirty-five thousand fugitives have reached Canada from the Slave States. As would be expected, only the shrewdest, able bodied and most enterprising would succeed. They secured land in the home of their adoption, became successful farmers and mechanics, and an important acquisition to the Queen’s dominions.

The success of the Underground Railroad in transporting colored men to Canada presents a striking contrast with that of the African colonization scheme. The Colonization Society was organized in 1816—many years before the Underground Railroad was instituted.

From the time of that organization to 1857, a period of forty years, there were 9,502 emigrants sent to Africa, of whom 3,676 were born free, 326 purchased their own liberty and 5,500 were emancipated on condition of being sent to Africa. It will thus be seen that nearly four times as many emigrated to Canada as to Liberia, and in developing the soil, building churches, schoolhouses, manufacturing establishments, and the surroundings of comfortable homes, and the facilities for the enjoyment of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, the Wilberforce Colony will compare favorably with Liberia and Sierra Leone, though it is not doubted that African colonization has exerted a beneficial influence on the dark shores of the African continent.

The Underground Railroad, it will be seen, has done much the greatest work in behalf of human liberty.

The conductors on this route were some of the noblest, self sacrificing men the world ever saw. No civil penalties dismayed them. They boldly proclaimed by deeds of moral heroism and self-sacrifice their faith in the higher law, before which human statutes were impotent when human liberty was at stake.

The remarkable exodus now in progress, which threatens to deprive the cotton States of a considerable portion of their laboring population, notwithstanding the sufferings of the refugees, presents a striking contrast with that under the management of the Underground Railroad: in the present case the philanthropist can exercise his charity toward the suffering, and no law can interfere with its penalties, while then, as will be seen by the sketches herewith presented, all acts of kindness to the fleeing fugitive, exposed those who aided them to the penalties of the fugitive slave law . . .

. . . With others they [these works] are now presented to the public in a more enduring form, with the hope that the respect for the memory of those engaged in the self sacrificing work of befriending fugitives from slavery, may be more highly cherished. Surely when they shall rest from their labors, and their works shall follow them, they will be welcomed by Him who said, "In as much as ye have done it unto the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me."

W. McK.

Fredonia, May, 1879.

PREFACE

THE Author, thinking an account of his life and experience would be of service to persons into whose hands it might fall, has, by the advice of some of his friends, come to the conclusion to narrate, as correctly as possible, things that he encountered and that came under his notice during a period of some forty-five years. He hopes, after a perusal of his first attempt, the reader will pardon him for any errors which may have been committed; and if I can only think that any good may have grown out of my adventures, I shall then consider that I have commenced to answer the end I and all human beings were created for—having lived that the world may be bettered by me.

John Thomas Evans, (formerly),

(now) James Williams.

LIFE AND ADVENTURES

OF JAMES WILLIAMS

WHEN AND WHERE BORN

SAN FRANCISCO, — —

I, JOHN THOMAS, was born in Elkton, Cecil county, Maryland, April 1st, A. D. 1825, in the house of my master, William Hollingsworth, being born a slave. I remained with him until I was thirteen years of age, when I took one of his blooded mares and made my escape. Whilst riding, I met a number of men, one of whom said to me: Little boy, where are you going? I am going to Mr. Cuche's mill. Who do you belong to? I belong to Mr. William Hollingsworth. I, at the time, had on two pairs of pants, with leather suspenders over my coat. A man asked me, Why do you wear your suspenders over your coat? These are my overalls, to keep my pants clean. Ere I arrived at Mr. Cuche's mill, I met a little boy. I said to him, Little boy, what is the name of the next town beyond Mr. Cuche's mill? He told me, New London Cross Roads. Ere I arrived there I met a white man. He accosted me thus: Boy, who do you belong to? I told him that I belonged to Mr. William Hollingsworth. Where are you going to now? I am going to New London. At New London I met a school-boy. I asked him, Where is the line that divides Maryland from Pennsylvania? He said, New London is the line. I asked him, What is the name of the next town? He said, Eaton Town. On my way I met another man; he said to me, Where are you going? I answered, To Eaton Town. He said, Where are you from? I said, Cuche's Mill. He asked me if I belonged to Mr. Cuche? I said, Yes. On my way I met two more men. They asked the same questions. I answered as before. When I arrived at Eaton Town I asked a little boy what the name of the next town was. He said, Russelville. As I went I saw a colored man cutting wood in the woods. I asked him, What was the name of the next town? He said, Russelville. I asked him if any colored families lived there? He said, Yes; Uncle Sammy Glasgow. He advised me to stop there. He asked me where I belonged. I said, In New London Cross Roads. And for fear that he would ask to whom I belonged, I whipped up my house and went my way. I was then a few miles in Pennsylvania, and I felt that I was a free boy and in a free State. I met a man, and he asked me where I was going? I said Russelville, to Uncle Sammy Glasgow. He asked me if I was a free boy. I said, Yes. He said You look more like one of those little runaway niggers than anything else that I know of. I said, Well, if you think I am a runaway, you had better stop me, but I think you will soon let me go. I then went to Russelville, and asked for Sammy Glasgow, and a noble old gentleman came to the door, and I asked him if he could tell me the way to Somerset, and he pointed out the way. I asked him if he knew any colored families there. He said, Yes. He told me of one William Jourden, the first house that I came to, on my left hand. This Jourden was my stepfather; he married my mother, who had runaway years before, and the way that I knew where she lived was through