FootNote
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While we know our northern friends may not feel it, in the South, Spring is
here. So we thought we'd share a few of our gardening sites appropriate
for this time of the year. Along with gardening, there's grilling, and getting
ready to diet so that you can fit back into that bathing suit this summer!
After I had returned to my
family, to their inexpressible joy, as they
had become greatly alarmed for my safety,
some of the persons who had participated in
this outrage, came in (probably influenced
by a curiosity to see how the tar and
feathers would be got off) and expressed
great sympathy for me. They said they
regretted that the affair had happened—that
they had no objections to my living in
Raleigh—I might feel perfectly safe to go
out and transact my business preparatory to
leaving—I should not be molested.
Meanwhile, my friends understanding that I
had been discharged from prison, and
perceiving I did not come to them, had
commenced a regular search for me, on foot
and on horseback, every where; and Mr. Smith
called upon the Governor to obtain his
official interference; and after my return,
a guard came to protect me; but I chose not
to risk myself at my own house, and so went
to Mr. Smith's, where this guard kept me
safely until morning. They seemed friendly
indeed, and were regaled with a supper
during the night by Mr. Smith. My friend,
Mr. Battle, (late private secretary to the
Governor,) was with them; and he made a
speech to them setting forth the good
qualities I had exhibited in my past life,
particularly in my connection with the
Governor's office.
In the morning Mr. Boylan, true as ever, and
unflinching in his friendship, assisted me
in arranging my business, Eso that I should start with my family
that day for the north. He furnished us with
provisions more than sufficient to sustain
the family to Philadelphia, where we
intended to make a halt; and sent his own
baggage wagon to convey our baggage to the
depot, offering also to send his carriage
for my family. But my friend, Mr. Malone,
had been before him in this kind offer,
which I had agreed to accept.
Brief and sorrowful was the parting from my
kind friends; but the worst was the thought
of leaving my mother. The cars were to start
at ten o'clock in the morning. I called upon
my old mistress, Mrs. Haywood, who was
affected to weeping by the considerations
that naturally came to her mind. She had
been kind to me; the day before she and her
daughter, Mrs. Hogg, now present, had
jointly transmitted a communication to the
court representing that in consequence of my
good conduct from my youth, I could not be
supposed to be guilty of any offence. And
now, "with tears that ceased not flowing,"
they gave me their parting blessing. My
mother was still Mrs. Haywood's slave, and I
her only child. Our old mistress could not
witness the sorrow that would attend the
parting with my mother. She told her to go
with me; and said that if I ever became able
to pay two hundred dollars for her, I might;
otherwise it should be her loss. She gave
her the following paper, which is in the
ordinary form of a pass:
Raleigh, N.C. April 26, 1842.
Know all persons by these presents, that the
bearer of this, Clarissa, a slave, belonging
to me, hath my permission to visit the city
of New York with her relations, who are in
company with her; and it is my desire that
she may be protected and permitted to pass
without molestation or hindrance, on good
behavior. Witness my hand this 26th April,
1842.
ELEANOR HAYWOOD.
Witness—J.A. Campbell.
On leaving Mrs. Haywood's, I called upon
Mrs. Badger, another daughter, and wife of
Judge Badger, previously mentioned. She
seemed equally affected; she wept as she
gave me her parting counsel. She and Mrs.
Hogg and I had been children together,
playing in the same yard, while yet none of
us had learned that they were of a superior
and I of a subject race. And in those infant
years there were penciling made upon the
heart, which time and opposite fortunes
could not all efface.—May these friends
never be slaves as I have been; nor their
bosom companions and their little ones be
slaves like mine.
When the cars were about to start, the whole
city seemed to be gathered at the depot; and
among the rest the mobocratic portion, who
appeared to be determined still that I
should not go peaceably away. Apprehending
this, it had been arranged with my friends
and the conductor, that my family should be
put in the cars and that I should go a
distance from the city on foot, and be taken
up as they passed. The mob, therefore,
supposing that I was left behind, allowed
the cars to start.
Mr. Whiting, known as the agent of the rail
road company, was going as far as
Petersburg, Va.; and he kindly assisted in
purchasing our tickets, and enabling us to
pass on unmolested. After he left, Capt.
Guyan, of Raleigh, performed the same kind
office as far as Alexandria, D.C., and then
he placed us in the care of a citizen of
Philadelphia, whose name I regret to have
forgotten, who protected us quite out of the
land of slavery. But for this we should have
been liable to be detained at several places
on our way, much to our embarrassment, at
least, if nothing had occurred of a more
serious nature.
One accident only had happened: we lost at
Washington a trunk containing most of our
valuable clothing. This we have, not
recovered; but our lives have been spared to
bless the day that conferred freedom upon
us. I felt when my feet struck the pavements
in Philadelphia, as though I had passed into
another world. I could draw in a full long
breath, with no one to say to the ribs, "why
do ye so?"
On reaching Philadelphia we found that our
money had all been expended, but kind
friends furnished us with the means of
proceeding as far as New-York; and thence we
were with equal kindness aided on to Boston.
In Boston and in the vicinity, are persons
almost without number, who have done me
favors more than I can express. The thought
that I was now in my new, though recently
acquired home—that my family were with me
where the stern, cruel, hated hand of
slavery could never reach us more—the
greetings of friends—the interchange of
feeling and sympathy—the kindness bestowed
upon us, more grateful than rain to the
thirsty earth,—the reflections of the past
that would rush into my mind,—these and more
almost overwhelmed me with emotion, and I
had deep and strange communion with my own
soul. Next to God from whom every good gift
proceeds, I feel under the greatest
obligations to my kind friends in
Massachusetts. To be rocked in their cradle
of Liberty,—Oh, how unlike being stretched
on the pillory of slavery! May that cradle
rock forever; may many a poor care-worn
child of sorrow, many a spirit-bruised
(worse than lash-mangled) victim of
oppression, there sweetly sleep to the
lullaby of Freedom, sung by Massachusetts
sons and daughters.
A number of meetings have been held at which
friends have contributed to our temporal
wants, and individuals have sent us various
articles of provision and furniture and
apparel, so that our souls have been truly
made glad. There are now ten of us in the
family, my wife, my mother, and myself, with
seven children, and we expect soon to be
joined by my father, who several years ago
received his freedom by legacy. The wine
fresh from the clustering grapes never
filled so sweet a cup as mine. May I and my
family be permitted to drink it, remembering
whence it came!
I suppose such of my readers as are not
accustomed to trade in human beings, may be
curious to see the Bills of Sale, by which I
have obtained the right to my wife and
children. They are both in the hand writing
of Mr. Smith. The first—that for Laura is as
follows:
State of North Carolina, Wake County.
Know all men by these presents, that for and
in consideration of the sum of two hundred
and fifty dollars, to me in hand paid, I
have this day bargained and sold; and do
hereby bargain, sell and deliver unto
Lunsford Lane, a free man of color, a
certain negro girl by the name of Laura,
aged about seven years, and hereby warrant
and defend the right and title of the said
girl to the said Lunsford and his heirs
forever, free from the claims of all persons
whatsoever.
In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my
hand and seal at Raleigh, this 17th May,
1841.
B.B. SMITH, [seal.]
Witness—Robt. W. Haywood.
Below is the Bill of Sale
for my wife and other six children, to which
the papers that follow are attached.
State of North Carolina, Wake County.
Know all men by these presents, that for and
in consideration of the sum of eighteen
hundred and eighty dollars to me in hand
paid, the receipt of which is hereby
acknowledged, I have this day bargained,
sold and delivered unto Lunsford Lane, a
free man of color, one dark mulatto woman
named Patsy, one boy named Edward, one boy
also named William, one boy also named
Lunsford, one girl named Maria, one boy also
named Ellick, and one girl named Lucy, to
have and to hold the said negroes free from
the claims of all persons whatsoever.
In witness whereof, I have hereunto affixed
my hand and seal this 25th day of April,
1842.
B.B. SMITH, [seal.]
Witness—TH. L. WEST.
E Of course
I was obliged to sacrifice much on my
property, leaving in this hurried manner.
And while I was in the North, a kind friend
had removed from the wood-lot, wood that I
had cut and corded, for which I expected to
receive over one hundred dollars; thus
saving me the trouble of making sale of it,
or of being burdened with the money it would
bring. I suppose I have no redress. I might
add other things as bad.
The Narrative of Lunsford Lane, Formerly
of Raleigh, N.C., 1842
