Published on Historical Society of Pennsylvania (https://hsp.org)


Journal C of Station No. 2, William Still, 1854, 5

                             Mar. 3rd 1854
Rosanna Tonnell [1], left Isaac Tonnell of Georgetown, Del., on Tuesday in Christmas: (New name Maria Hide) in company with another young woman, and little boy which was her son.
       The young women were both young and stout in appearce_ the little boy was about 7 yr’s of age & healthy in appearance.               Over
The expences in behalf of the ab. named, for board 1 ½ day                         2.12 ½
       Carriage by Shorter                                                                           .50
       Crakers                                                                                           .09
       Cash                                                                                            5.00
                                                                                                          $7.71 ½
                             Postage                                                                      .23
                                                                                                         ------------ 
                                                                                                         $7.94 ½

                             Mar. 6th 1854
Sam’l Washington Johnson[2], age 26, dark complexion, stout built, and reads & writes well_ and is generally intelligent_ He was last owned by Jas. B. Foster of Richmond, He had been employed in the Dispatch office as a paper carrier, and seller of periodicals.  For his time he was compeled to pay his owner $175 per annum, in quarterly payments.  Besides paying this enormous sum, as stated above, he had to find himself altogether.  He discribed his owner as being a very hard man &c.  He owned three more besides himself  Sam’l had a wife who was owned by Christiana Bowden.  The reading of Uncle Toms Cabbin was the means by which Saml’s eyes were opened.
              Came in the C. of R. pd $25 for passage_ Suffered severely in coming.
              Cash                                                                                     3.50
              Carriage_ Shorter                                                                    1.00
              2 pairs of stockings                                                                   .27
              Board                                                                                       .06
                                                                                                          $4.77
              Washing & Board                                                                         .75
                                                                                                            ---------
                                                                                                            5.52


[1] Rose Anna Tonnell and her companions are mentioned in Still, Underground Rail Road, 207.

[2] Samuel W. Johnson settled in St. Catherines, Canada West, after leaving Philadelphia.  He wrote many letters to William Still, especially concerning his wife, who he missed terribly.  Two of these letters are reprinted in Still, Underground Rail Road, 158-60.

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