Feb. 26/54
Arrived per Ste.Pa [1], James Mercer[2] John Clayton [3] & W^m H. Gilliam [4] from Rich^d  James was owned by a widow woman by the name Mrs L. E White  He is about 32 Yrs of age_ of dark complexion, well made & good looking and intelligent_ reads & writes.  Fortunately he had been treated well for one in his condition.  He had been hired out from a boy_ the last place at which he was hired was with Williams & Bro. Wholesale Com. Merch’s.  For his services in their Store his Mrs. Had re’d $125. per year clear of all expen.  He was prompted to leave through the fear of being Sold being one of the only two then left owned by his mistress, who had had at one time been in the possession of some 30 + odd, which had been sold one by one and himself being under Morgage at the time for $750-  He left a wife named Verena, but no child_ he also left an aged mother who was a slave_   His wife was owned by Henry W Quarles
       Wm H. Gilliam was owned by the widow L.E. White, and hired to White and Bro. in whose employ he drove a bread wagon.  For his Services his mistress rec’d $135- per year.  He is 25 yrs of age_ well made_ light complexion, and intelligent, and reads & writes well.
       He had made several unsuccessfull attempts before to escape.  Of slavery & its horors he was well conversant though he had succeeded in escaping its worst features.
       John Clayton was owned by the widow Clayton.  He is 35 yr’s of age, molato, of fine appear. Intelligent, &c.  Several yrs ago he had made an attempt to esape but was unsuccessfull.  He left a wife (free) and one child.  He had been employed in a Tobacco Factory, at $150_ per annum.  Total Expences on three above named as follows:
       2 Days boad                                                                                  $3.00
       Cash to each $2.50                                                                          7.50
       Carriage                                                                                            .75
       Letters from & to Fugitives                                                                   .33
                                                                                                           ----------
                                                                                                          $11.58

[1] The steamer Pennsylvania. 

[2] James Mercer and his two companions endured frightful torment when they were secreted in a dark space very near the ship’s boiler and coal bin.  The heat and dust nearly suffocated them on several occasions and they survived by taking turns breathing fresh air through a little hole in a nearby wall.  When they arrived in Philadelphia, “all traces of natural appearance were obliterated.”  James eventually settled in Toronto, Canada West.  His previous mistress, Mrs. Louisa White, was very distressed at his departure and attempted to encourage James and William Gilliam to return.  Still, Underground Rail Road, 54-59.

[3] John Clayton suffered the same tribulations as James Mercer when he fled Richmond on the steamer Pennsylvania.  After recovering in Philadelphia from the frightful journey, John went to Canada where he settled in Toronto.  He wrote a letter to William Still seeking assistance in freeing his wife.  Still, Underground Rail Road, 54-59.

[4] William Henry Gilliam also endured the extreme conditions on the steamer.  He soon found his way to St. Catherines, Canada West, from where he often corresponded with William Still.  His mistress, Mrs. Louisa White, was distraught at his departure and wrote a letter complaining of his dishonorable action and promising to “do a very good part by you” if he were to return.  Henry, however, had no intention of returning to slavery and felt little sympathy for the elderly widow who had kept him “in the poor house for twenty-five years.”  Still, Underground Rail Road, 54-59.

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