(1)
Boy_ Thanksgiving Day Nov. 22/55
Arrived_ Ann Maria Whims[1], now Ellen Capron, arrived this day from Washington, though the aid of D^r. H_y_   She is about 15 yrs of age, bright molato, well grown, smart and good looking_  For the last 3 yrs or about that length of time she had been owned by Chas. M. Price, Negro Trader, of RockvilleMd.  Mr. P. is given considerably to entemperance and great profanity._  Buys & sells many Slaves in the course of the year.  His wife is a cross, pevish & fretfull woman_  one little boy, slave, she used to take great pleasure in taurtureing_  He was the son of His master, and was owned by him_  this was the cause of the Mistress’ spite.
       Ann Maria had always desired her freedom from childhood, and though not 13, when she was first advised to escape, she receive the suggestion with approval and even after then wanted almost daily to hail the chance to flee_  Her fr’ds of course were to aid, and make arrangements_ For a long time, that she might have no chance to escape, she was kept sleeping in the chamber with her Master & Mistress_ indeed was so keep until about 3 weeks before She left.
She left her Parents living in Washington_ also 1 Bro. & two sisters. Three of her Bros. were sold from their Parents, South.  Her mother was purchased for $1000_, and one of her Sisters for $1700_ for freedom_  Before Anna Maria was 13 yr’s of age $700_ was offered for her, by a fr’d who desired to procure her freedom_ but the offer was promptly refused as were succeeding ones repeatedly
Consequently the only chance of procuring her freedom depended upon geting her away on the Underground R.R._ she was neatly attired in male habiliments, and in that way came all the way from Washington

                             Nov. 29/55
Mrs. Phillis Gault[2]_ Phillis came from Norfolk in Company with twenty others, arriving in this City about the 21 st. inst.,  she is about 30 yr’s of age; well made; quite intelligence; molato, good looking, & a good Semtress withal.  She was induced to Escape to save herself from being sold. The death of her husband with the Fever also left her lot more sad than even before, especially as he had encouraged her to believe that he would buy her soon.  She had been married about 11 yr’s, but had but one child in the maintime, and it did not live.  Once She had been sold, but not out of Norfolk.  She had also witnessed the painful sight of seeing 4 of her sister’s children sold on the auction Block, on the death of their mother.  This sight as Phills, says brought a “great horror over” her.  She left a her mother & 1 Bro. living in Norfolk_  The mother is Free but not the Brother.

[1] The narrative of Ann Maria Weems is recounted at length in Still’s Underground Rail Road.  A very precocious child, she had long impressed many adults in her community, some of whom opposed slavery. James Bigelow, an attorney in Washington, D.C., secured both funds to finance Ann Maria’s flight as well as the assistance of the redoubtable Dr. H___, who would transport her from Washington to Philadelphia.  Once all was in place, they exploited an opportunity for her to journey the brief distance to Washington and she was hidden in a pre-arranged location.  Dr. H___ then met with her and not only prepared Ann Maria to appear servile with him, but explained that he would have her travel as his slave boy, Joe.  She assented, tried on the clothes he had brought with him, and learned her lessons on boyish demeanor well.  The transformation was remarkable, and within a few days, Dr. H___ and “Joe” departed. She was immediately missed and a search undertaken for the young woman. The ruse worked flawlessly. They completely fooled the master of one household where they spent the night.  Once she arrived safely in Philadelphia at William Still’s house, numerous visitors came to the house to marvel at her ingenious transformation.  She quickly gained fame in abolitionist circles and Lewis Tappan forwarded the money for her journey to New York City, a passage she made as a boy.  In New York, she stayed in Brooklyn with the family of the Reverend Amos N. Freeman, a black Presbyterian minister.  From there, she was carefully forwarded to the Buxton Settlement in Canada.  Still, Underground Rail Road, 177-89.

[2] Phyllis Gault was an accomplished dressmaker in Norfolk who nevertheless lived in fear of being sold. She was all the more ready to flee when her husband died.  Aided by Captain Fountain, this “industrious, upright, and intelligent woman” escaped to Philadelphia, where the Vigilance Committee helped her re-locate to Boston.  By early 1858, she was well-settled there and lived on Beacon Hill.  Still, Underground Rail Road, 171-72.

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