Sep. 22/56
(2) Arrived. Isaiah Bauer Brown and his Bro. Robert arrived from Harna Manor Cecil Co. Md where they were owned by Joel Bryan from whom they had rec’d bad treatment_ Left parents &c.
Sep. 24/56
(2) Robt. Gordon, new Saml Wilson, and Joseph Harris, new name Henry Jones both arrived from Queen Ann, Md where they had been owned by John Gordon farmer, Store Keeper &c. “did not like the treatment they were getting” was the cause of their leaving Robt was a fiddler.
Sep. 25/56
(3) Green Modock Perry Disney Isaac Doddson, all arrived from Carroll Co. Md, where they had been owned as follows: Green by Wm Dorsey, Perry by Robt Dade, and Isaac by Thos Bowings, all Farmers and all cra[?] and had disposed men_
They left because of bad treatment. They are all young & remarkably fine looking.
Left parents & Brothers & sisters in bondage.
Sep. 29/56
(5) Five at one arrival, as follows; Cyrus Mitchell[1], new John Steel, Joshua Handy[2], new name Hambleton Hamby, Chas. Dutton[3] new name Wm Robinson, Ephrame Hudson[4], new John Spry, Frances Molock[5], new Thos. Jackson.
Cyrus is about 26 yr’s of age, tall, stout and quite dark and was owned by James K. Lewis Storekeeper_ hard master_ hired out his servants the man who would pay the most however mean and bad he might be.
He had contemplated the idea of moving to Va. soon, this was what moved Cyrus to move_
He left his Father Cyrus and also his mother, Elizabeth_ both slaves.
Joshua is about is 27_ quite stout, Brown skin, intelligent &c. His owner was named Isaac Harris, Farmer, drunkard and so forth.
He left because he had resently sold his last and only brother_ He left Farther & mother, owned by said Harris_
Chas. is 22, stout and well made_ and was owned by Mrs. Mary Hurley_ has been used ruff_ been sold for $1200_ during the present year. This was what moved him to escape.
Ephram is 22_ stout_ used bad_ owned by John Campbell Henry, Farmer, was moved to leave because of bad treatment_ The man to whom he was hired was a very hard_ He Left his mMother and 6 Brothers & Sister.
Francis is 21, dark, well made, and was owned by James H. Waddell, who was a hard man,
All came from the Eastern Shore of Md. All but Joshua, came from the neighborhood of Cambridge.
Sep. 30/56
(2) Arrived_ “Sam” Sims[6], now Wesley Powell, and Chas. Fowler[7] now Allen Dorsey_ both came from Carroll Co. Md., and had been owned as follows: sam. by Thos. B. Owings, and Chas. by Robt. Dade_ Farmers. and both “tuff” and “pretty mean”.
Sam. left because his owner had threatened to sell him to Georgia, had also threatened to shoot him. Brothers & Sisters had been sold to Georgia.
Chas. left to keep from being sold_ a threat to that effect having been made so he thought he would not stay there.
Left his mother, Free, and 4 Sisters in slavery.
[1] Cyrus Mitchell determined that his flight would have a higher likelihood of success if he traveled with others, so he recruited the other members of the party. They were forwarded to Philadelphia on the railroad from Wilmington, Delaware, after assistance from the Thomas Garrett, the Quaker conductor. Cyrus had hoped to reach Canada after departing Philadelphia. Cyrus was from Cambridge, Maryland, on the Eastern Shore. Still, Underground Rail Road, 286-87.
[2] Joshua Handy’s life in slavery is recounted in Still, Underground Rail Road, 287.
[3] Charles Dutton’s life in slavery is recounted in Still, Underground Rail Road, 287.
[4] Further details of Ephraim Hudson’s life in slavery are contained in Still, Underground Rail Road, 287.
[5] Francis Molock is briefly mentioned in Still, Underground Rail Road, 287.
[6] A runaway advertisement for Sam Sims is contained in Still, Underground Rail Road, 208. Other references to him appear on pp. 209-10.
[7] A runaway advertisement for Charles is contained in Still, Underground Rail Road, 210. Other references to him appear on pp. 208-09.