(1)                         June 23/55
Mrs. Maria Joiner[1], arrived per Capt. F., is 33 yr’s of age, molato, a fine hearty looking, and intelligent woman_ Left__ her husband, and one Sister.  The name of her husband was Peter Joiner_ the Sister, Ann_ Had not been badly treated until lately, after the death of the old master_ when she fell into the hands of his daughter who drank and was very abuseful_ using great violence_  For this she was induced to leave_  For 8 mos she was kept in private quarters where she suffered severely from cold &c.  Owner, Catherine Gordon  Value $800_

              June 29^th 1855
Arrived_(2) Rich^d Green new name W^m Smith & his Bro. Geo.[2] arrived from Baltimore where they had been owned by Geo. Chambers.  Rich^d is about 25_ his Bro. Geo. 23_ both are well made, rather tall, dark chesnut color, & intelligente  They were caused to escape because they had been denied the priviledge of going to visit their Parents any more.
              The master, about 30 yrs ago, when living in Cabot Co. released Dina (the mother of those boys_) of all claim, and gave her writings signed, & witnessed by his wifes mother, Mary Ann Meed.  The masters motives in releasing her however was merely to get out of [m?] her; Dina being in misrable health with no signs of recovery was a fit subject in the master’s opinion to Set free.  He was particular to give the paper of release So in case the law should require him to look after her he would be prepared for his defence.
       Dinna was then the wife of a slave by the name of Jacob Green_ then owned by Nathan Childs for a term of years only_ after the Farther’s times expired, he moved with his wife, Dinna, to Baltimore_ where her health, in the course of a few yrs improved, and she became the mother of another child, boy.  The boy grew finely in the hands of his parents, unmolested, until a little over a year ago when her old master got wind of the existence of the child_ (having himself moved to Baltimore with his slaves_) and very slyly to approach the house taking Geo. with him.  He was no sooner in before he wished to know of Dinna whose child was this, pointing to the little boy_ ask Jacob was the reply of the mother, the question was then put to the Father, to which he replied: I did not think that you would request any thing like that of him_ he had the priviledge of Any one he pleased in his house_ “where is he from” inquired the master_ “I have a right to have who I please in my house.  I am my own man &c: “W replied the slave hunter, I found out whose it is presently I am going to take it home with me seizing the little fellow, at the same time ordering Dinna to put his clothes on,  The father by this time had also seized his son, and told the slave holder to take not in that he was not in the country pulling an hauling people about &c.  “I will have him or leave my heart blood in the house, was the savage answer of the monster_  He also threatened to shoot the Father_  In the mids of the excitement Geo. called in two officers to settle the difficulty_  He officers inquired of the slaveholder to know what he was doing there_  “I am after my rights, this boy” ans’^d the master_  Have you ever seen it inquired the officers_  No, said the the master_  How do you know he belongs to you then”?  I believe he is mine” said the savage.  All were then taken before an alderman, The Father owned the child but the mother did not_  The child was then given to its Father_  The master then thought he would gain some satisfaction at least, then claimed the mother; proceedings being thrown in Court nearly 1 year transpired before the trial was concluded.  Happily, however, by the mothers having carefully preserved the release given her, the Court pronounced her free, about two mos. since

[1] Maria Joiner was carried to Philadelphia on the steamship of Captain Fountain where she was stowed away very uncomfortably.  For fear of being discovered, she alerted neither her husband nor her sister about her plans.  Still, Underground Rail Road, 265-66.

[2] Further details of the life of Richard and George Green and the travails of their mother to protect them from her former owner are recounted in Still, Underground Rail Road, 266-68.

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