Journal C of Station No. 2, William Still, 1854, 12
May 6th 1854
Arrived_ Moses Wines[1] from Portsmouth. He is of dark complexion_ medium size, and intelligent_ and was owned by Abigal Wheele of Portsmouth.
Moses had been treated rather mildly_ had never been flogged_ had for the last 15 years hired his time at the rate of $12 per month which hire he was always compeled to pay punctually sick or well. He had seen much of the cruelties of the system of slavery in many forms_ and for fear of being sold, and feeling the need of the money he earned, was the cause of his making up his mind to leave_ Also the new law which now prevents slaves from hirering their time, and the rigidness of the police rules in general had been made of late more severe than previously_ thereby constraing slaves to leave if possible.
He came on the C. of R._ Left a wife Grace, and son Alophonso_ both free_ lives in Portsmouth
In coming Moses was very severely tried, and suffered terribly.
To boarding Moses Wines 1 ½ day .75
“ cash 2.50
“ clothing 1.87 ½
“ Shorter, carriage .75
“ Telegraph to Gibbs[2] 25
Bill paid Depee $6.12 ½
2.62
May 10/54
Arrived__ Sarah Smith[3] alias Mildreth Page, from Wilmington Del. where she was held by Rev. A. D. Pollock (Presbyterian) and from whom she fled about 3 months ago; bringing her child_ girl_ of 9 years old, with her. Sarah is about 30 years of age_ of a dark Brown complexion, healthy looking & of a pleasant & prepossessing address. She was born in Forquise Co. Va_ where she was owned by Elizabeth Lee_ with whom She lived untill Mrs Lee Moved to Wilmington about 9 mos. Before Sarah fled_
Her reasons for leaving are attibuted to the cruelty of her Mistress_
To Board 2 day $1.00
Ch Carriage hire .50
Telegraph .25
Letter to Canada .10
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$1.85
[1] Further details of Moses Wines’ life in slavery and his flight are contained in Still, Underground Rail Road, 230-31.
[2] Probably Jonathan Clarkson Gibbs (ca.1827-74), a Presbyterian minister then in upstate Troy, New York, and the brother of Philadelphia black abolitionist Mifflin Wistar Gibbs. While Gibbs had been born into the black elite in Philadelphia, he left the city to study for the ministry at Dartmouth College and Princeton Theological Seminary. From 1854 to 1859, he served the Liberty Street Presbyterian Church in Troy. While in New York, he was very active in the state’s colored suffrage campaign. In 1859, he returned to Philadelphia to shepherd its First African Presbyterian Church. During the Civil War, he remained active in the fight against racial discrimination. After the war, he relocated first to North Carolina and finally to Florida, where he mobilized for freedmen education. He also served as secretary of state for Florida from 1868 to 1873.
[3] Sarah Smith and her daughter escaped from slavery in Wilmington, Delaware with the assistance of the local underground railroad agent, Thomas Garrett. Still, Underground Rail Road, 231.