The Journal of Negro History Volume I Part 40

Their arrival at Washington was signalized by a demonstration vastly different but little short of that which had taken place a few days before.

The wharves were alive with an eager and excited throng all intent upon a view of the miserable folks who had been guilty of so ungrateful an effort.

So disorderly was the mob that the debarkation was for some time delayed.

This was finally accomplished through the strenuous efforts of the entire constabulary of the city.

The utmost watchfulness and care was, however, unavailing to prevent a.s.saults. The most serious instance of this kind was the act of an Irish ruffian, who so far forgot the traditions and sufferings of his own people as to cast himself upon Drayton with a huge dirk and cut off a piece of his ear.[6] For a few moments all the horrors incident to riot and bloodshed were in evidence. The air was filled with the screams of terrorized women and children and the curses and threats of vengeful men. The whole was a struggling, swaying ma.s.s, which for a season had been swept beyond itself by brutish pa.s.sion.

Numerous arrests were made and in due course the march to the jail was begun with the accompanying crowd hurling taunts and jeers at every step.

While they were proceeding thus, an onlooker said to Emily, "Aren't you ashamed to run away and make all this trouble for everybody?" To this she replied, "No sir, we are not and if we had to go through it again, we'd do the same thing."

The controversy that was precipitated through the attempted escape, between the advance guard of abolition and the defenders of slavery, was most bitter and violent. The storm broke furiously about the offices of _The National Era_. In Congress, Mr. Giddings of Ohio moved an "inquiry into the cause of the detention at the District jail of persons merely for attempting to vindicate their inalienable rights." Senator Hale of New Hampshire moved a resolution of "inquiry into the necessity for additional laws for the protection of property in the District."[7] A committee consisting of such notable characters as the Channings, Samuel May, Samuel Howe, Richard Hildreth, Samuel Sewell and Robert Morris, Jr., was formed at Boston to furnish aid and defense for Drayton. These men were empowered to employ counsel and collect money. Horace Mann, William H. Seward, Salmon P.

Chase and Fessenden of Maine volunteered to serve gratuitously.[8]

Other philanthropists directed their attention to the liberation of these slaves. The Edmondsons were owned by an estate. The administrator, who was approached by John Brent,[9] the husband of the oldest sister of the children, agreed to give their friends an opportunity to effect their purchase, as he was unwilling to run any further risk by keeping them. He failed to keep this promise and when Mr. Brent went to see them the next day he was informed that they had been sold to Bruin and Hill, the slave-dealers of Alexandria and Baltimore, and had been sent to the former city. A cash sum of $4,500 had been accepted for the six children and when taxed with the failure to keep his promise, he simply said he was unwilling to take any further risk with them. Bruin also refused to listen to any proposals, saying he had long had his eyes on the family and could get twice what he paid for them in the New Orleans market.

They were first taken to the slave pens at Alexandria, where they remained nearly a month. Here the girls were required to do the washing for a dozen or more men with the a.s.sistance of their brothers and were at length put aboard a steamboat and taken to Baltimore where they remained three weeks.

Through the exertions of friends at Washington, $900 was given towards their freedom by a grandson of John Jacob Astor, and this was appropriated towards the ransom of Richard, as his wife and children were said to be ill and suffering at Washington. The money arrived on the morning they were to sail for New Orleans but they had all been put aboard the brig _Union_, which was ready to sail, and the trader refused to allow Richard to be taken off. The voyage to New Orleans covered a period of seven days, during which much discomfort and suffering were experienced. There were eleven women in the party, all of whom were forced to live in one small apartment, and the men numbering thirty-five or forty, in another not much larger.

Most of them being unaccustomed to travel by water were afflicted with all the horrors of sea-sickness. Emily's suffering from this cause was most pitiable and so serious was her condition at one time that the boys feared she would die. The brothers, however, as in all circ.u.mstances, were very kind and would tenderly carry her out on deck whenever the heat in their close quarters became too oppressive and would buy little comforts that were in their reach and minister in all possible ways to her relief.

In due course they arrived at New Orleans and were immediately initiated into the horrors of a Georgia pen. The girls were required to spend much time in the show room, where purchasers came to examine them carefully with a view to buying them. On one occasion a youthful dandy had applied for a young person whom he wished to install as housekeeper and the trader decided that Emily would just about meet the requirements, but when he called her she was found to be indulging in a fit of weeping. The youth, therefore, refused to consider her, saying that he had no room for the snuffles in his house. The loss of this transaction so incensed the trader, who said he had been offered $1,500 for the proper person, that he slapped Emily's face and threatened to send her to the calaboose, if he found her crying again.

Here also the boys had their hair closely cropped and their clothes, which were of good material, exchanged for suits of blue-jeans. Appearing thus, they were daily exhibited on the porch for sale. Richard, who was in reality free, as his purchase money was on deposit in Baltimore, was allowed to come and go at will and early bent his energies toward the discovery of their elder brother Hamilton,[10] who was living somewhere in the city. His quest was soon rewarded with success and one day to the delight of his sisters and brothers he brought him to see them. Hamilton had never seen Emily, as he had been sold away from his parents before her birth, but his joy, though mingled with sorrow, could not be suppressed. He was soon busy with plans for the increase of their meager comforts. Finding upon inquiry that Hamilton was thoroughly responsible, the trader consented to the girls' spending their nights at their brother's home. He was also at pains to secure good homes for the unfortunate group and was successful in inducing a wealthy Englishman to purchase his brother Samuel.

In consequence of an epidemic of yellow fever, which increased in virulence from day to day, the traders decided to bring the slaves North without further delay and so a few days later they were reembarked on the brig _Union_ with Baltimore as their destination. Samuel was the only one of the brothers and sisters left behind. As he was pleasently situated with humane and kindly owners, the parting from him was not so sad as otherwise it might have been. Sixteen days were required for the trip and upon their arrival they were again placed in the same old prison. Richard was almost immediately freed and, in company with a Mr. Bigelow, of Washington, was enabled to rejoin his wife and children.

Paul Edmondson visited his children at the Baltimore jail in company with their sister.[11] He had been encouraged to hope that in some way a fund might be raised for their ransom, but it was not until some weeks later, after they had been returned through Washington and again placed in their old slave quarters at Alexandria, that an understanding as to terms could be had with Bruin and Hill. They finally agreed to accept $2,250 if the amount was raised within a certain time and gave Paul a signed statement of the terms, which might be used as his credentials in the matter of soliciting a.s.sistance. Armed with this doc.u.ment, he arrived at New York and found his way to the Anti-Slavery office, where the price demanded was considered so exorbitant that but little encouragement was given him. From here he went to the home of Rev. Henry Ward Beecher, where he arrived foot-sore and weary. After ringing the bell, he sat upon the doorstep weeping. Here Mr. Beecher found him and, taking him into his library, inquired his story.

As a result there followed a public meeting in Mr. Beecher's Brooklyn church, at which he pleaded pa.s.sionately as if for his own children, while other clergymen spoke with equal interest and feeling. The money was raised, an agent appointed to consummate the ransom of the children, and Paul, with a sense of happiness and relief to which he had long been a stranger, started with the good news on his way homeward.

Meanwhile the girls were torn with doubt and anxiety as to the success of their father's mission. Several weeks had elapsed and the traders were again getting together a coffle of slaves for shipment to the slave market, this time to that in South Carolina. The girls, too, had been ordered to be in readiness and the evening before had broken down in tears when Bruin's young daughter, who was a favorite with the girls, sought them out and pleaded with them not to go. Emily told her to persuade her father not to send them and so she did, while clinging around his neck until he had not the heart to refuse.

A day or two later, while looking from their window, they caught sight of their father and ran into his arms shouting and crying. So great was their joy that they did not notice their father's companion, a Mr. Chaplin, the agent appointed at the New York meeting to take charge of the details of their ransom. These were soon completed, their free papers signed and the money paid over. Bruin, too, it is said, was pleased with the joy and happiness in evidence on every hand and upon bidding the girls good-bye gave each a five dollar gold piece.

Upon their arrival at Washington they were taken in a carriage to their sister's home, whence the news of their deliverance seemed to have penetrated to every corner of the neighborhood with the result that it was far into the night before the last greetings and congratulations had been received and they were permitted, in the seclusion of the family circle, to kneel with their parents in prayer and thanksgiving.[12]

In the meantime what had become of Samuel? When Hamilton Edmondson was seeking to locate his sisters and brothers in desirable homes in New Orleans, he first saw Mr. Horace Cammack, a prosperous cotton merchant, whose friendship and respect he had long since won and who, upon the further representation of Samuel's proficiency as a butler, agreed to purchase him. In this wise, it came to pa.s.s that Samuel was duly installed as upper houseman in the Cammack home. Although situated more happily than most slaves he was fully determined, as ever, that the world should one day know and respect him as a free man, and patiently waited and watched for the opportunity to accomplish his purpose.

Meanwhile another element had thrust itself into the equation and must be reckoned with in the solution of the problem of his after life. It happened that Mrs. Cammack, a lady of much beauty and refinement of manner, had in her employ as maid, a young girl of not more than eighteen years named Delia Taylor. She was tall, graceful and winsome, of the clear mulatto type, and through long service in close contact with her mistress, had acquired that refinement and culture, which elicit the admiration and delight of those in like station and inspire a feeling much akin to reverence in those more lowly placed. With some difficulty Samuel approached her with a proposal and, although at first refused, finally won her as his bride.

Matters now moved along on pleasant lines for Samuel and Delia during several months, but with the advent of Master Tom, Cammack's son who had been away to college, there was encountered an element of discord, which was for a while to destroy their happiness. This young gentleman took a violent dislike to Samuel from the very first meal the latter served him.

They finally clashed and Samuel had to run away. His master, however, sent his would-be-oppressor with the rest of the family to the country and ordered Samuel to return home. This he did and immediately entered upon his duties.

The year following, Mr. Cammack went to Europe on cotton business and not long after his arrival was killed in a violent storm while yachting with friends off the coast of Norway. After this event, affairs in the life of Samuel gradually approached a crisis, while in the meantime an additional responsibility had been added to himself and Delia in the person of a little boy, whom they named David.

Master Tom, being now the head of the house, left little room for doubt as to the authority he had inherited and proceeded to evince the same in no uncertain way, especially towards those against whom he held a grievance.

To get rid of Samuel was first in order. This was the easiest possible matter, for there was not a wealthy family on the visiting list of the Cammacks who would not, even at some sacrifice, make a place for him in their service. Through the close intimacy of Mrs. Cammack and Mrs. Slidell, the latter was given the refusal and Samuel told to go around and see his future Mistress. To her he expressed a desire to serve in her employ but he was now determined more than ever that his next master should be himself.

Accordingly he proceeded directly to a friend from whom he purchased a set of free-papers, which had been made out and sold him by a white man. These required that he should start immediately up the river but upon a full consideration of the matter he decided that the risks were too great in that direction. The problem was a serious one. An error of judgment, a step in the wrong direction, would not only be a serious, if not fatal blow to his hopes, but might lead to untold hardships to others most dear to him.

Somewhat irresolutely he turned his steps towards the river front, gazing with longing eyes at the stretch of water, the many ships in harbor, some entering, others steaming away or being towed out to open water. The thought that in this direction, beyond the wide seas, lay his refuge and ultimate hope came to him with so much force as to cause him to reel like one on whom a severe blow had been dealt. He stood for some time, seemingly bewildered, in the din and noise of the wharf, noting abstractedly the many bales of cotton, as truck after truck-load was rushed aboard an outward bound steamer. The bales seemed to fascinate him completely. A stevedore yelled at him to move out of the way and aroused him into action, but in that interval an idea which seemed to offer a possible means of escape had been evolved. He would impersonate a merchant from the West Indies in search of a missing bale of goods and endeavor to get pa.s.sage to the Islands, where he well knew the flag of free England was abundant guarantee for his protection. The main thought seemed a happy one, for he soon found a merchantman that was to clear that night for Jamaica. It was not a pa.s.senger vessel, but the captain, a good-natured Briton, said that he had an extra bunk in the cabin and if the gentleman did not mind roughing it, he would be glad to have his company. The first step towards his freedom was successfully taken, the money paid down for the pa.s.sage and with the injunction from the captain to be aboard by nine o'clock he returned ash.o.r.e.

Only a few hours now remained to him, before a long, perhaps a lasting separation from his dear wife and baby, and thinking to pa.s.s these with them he hurried thence by the most unfrequented route, but had hardly crossed the threshold when Delia, weeping bitterly, implored him to make good his escape, as Master Tom had already sent the officers to look for him. With a last, fond embrace and a tear, which, falling upon that cradled babe, meant present sorrow, but no less future hope, the husband and father made his way under the friendly shadows of the night, back to the waiting ship.

When the officer from the custom house came aboard to inspect the ship's papers Samuel was resting, apparently without concern, in the upper bunk of the little cabin.

The captain seated himself at the center table, opposite the officer, and spread the papers before him. "Heigho, I see you have a pa.s.senger this trip," and then read from the sheet: "Samuel Edmondson, Jamaica, W.I., thirty years old. General Merchant."

"Yes," said the captain as he concluded. "Mr. Edmondson asked for pa.s.sage at the last moment and as he was alone and we had a bunk not in service, I thought I'd take him along. He has a valuable bale of goods astray, probably at Jamaica, and is anxious to return and look it up."

"Well I hope he may find it. Where is he? let's have a look at him."

"Mr. Edmondson, will you come this way a moment?" called the captain.

As may be imagined the subject of this conversation had been listening intently and now when it was demanded that he present himself, he murmured a fervent "G.o.d help me" and jumped nimbly to the deck.

"This is my pa.s.senger," said the Captain, and to Samuel he said: "The customs officer simply wished to see you, Mr. Edmondson."

Samuel bowed and stood at ease, resting one hand upon the table and in this att.i.tude without the quiver of an eyelash or the flinching of a muscle, bore the searching look of the officer, which rested first upon his face and then upon his hand. The flush of excitement still mounting his cheek and brow, gave a bronzed swarthiness and decidedly un-American cast to his rich brown color, while his features, clean-cut and but slightly of the Negro type, with hands well shaped and nails quite clean, were a combination of conditions rarely met in the average slave. The first glance of suspicion was almost immediately lost to view in the smile of friendly greeting with which the officer's hand was extended. "I hope you may recover your goods," were the words he said and, rising, added: "I must be off." The captain had meanwhile placed his liquor chest on the table and, in a gla.s.s of good old Jamaica rum, a hearty "_Bon voyage_" and responsive "_Good wishes_" were exchanged.

The subsequent story of Samuel, interesting and adventurous as it is, scarcely comes within the scope of the purpose of this article. After a brief stay at Jamaica, Samuel sailed before the mast on an English schooner carrying a cargo of dye-wood to Liverpool. Two years were pa.s.sed here in the service of a wealthy merchant, whom he had served while a guest of his former master in New Orleans. During the third year he was joined by his wife and boy who had been liberated by their mistress. Subsequently the family took pa.s.sage for Australia under the protection of a relative of his Liverpool employer, who was returning to extensive mining and sheep-raising interests near the rapidly growing city of Melbourne.[13]

JOHN H. PAYNTER, A.M.

THE EDMONSONS ================================================================================ Descendants of Paul and Amelia Edmondson ------------|----------------|------------------|-----------------|------------- Children | Grandchildren |G. Grandchildren | G.G. | G.G.G.

| | | Grandchildren |Grandchildren ------------|----------------|------------------|-----------------|------------- 1. Hamilton | | | | Edmonson | | | | | | | | 2. Elizabeth|1. Catharine |1. John H. Paynter|1. Verden T. | Edmonson m.| Brent m. James | m. Minnie H. | Paynter | John Brent | H. Paynter '60 | Pillow |2. Brent Paynter | | d. 64 | |3. Cary Paynter | | | | | | |2. Minerva | | | | Paynter | | | | | | |2. Martha Brent |1. Claude DeWitt | | | m. Wm. H. Bell | Bell | | | | | | | |2. Adelbert Bell |1. Marie ---- | | | m. 1. ---- |2. Albertine Bell | | | 2.---- | | | | | | |3. Amelia Brent |1. James Wormley | | | m. Garrett | m. 1. Lena Champ| | | Smith Wormley | 2. Emma Davis | | | | | | | |2. Garrett |1. Amelia Wormley | | | Wormley m. 1. |2. Julian Wormley | | | Rebecca Webster,| | | | 2. Cora Nickens,| | | | 3. Emily ---- | | | | | | | |3. C. Sumner | | | | Wormley | | | | | | | |4.Edith Wormley | | | | m. Harry S. | | | | Minton | | | | | | | |5.Smith Wormley |1. Lowell Wormley | | | m. ---- Cheatham|2. Edith Wormley | | | | | | |6. Clem Wormley |1. Swan Leon | | | m. ---- ---- | Wormley | | | |2. Clementine | | | | Wormley | | | | | | |7. Roscoe Wormley|1. Sumner Wormley | | | m. ---- ---- |2. Roscoe Wormley | | | | | | |8. Leon Wormley |1. Elizabeth | | | m. ---- Anderson| Wormley | | | | | |4. Emily Brent |1. Corinne | | | m. Wm.L. | Freeman | | | Freeman | | | | |2. Olive Freeman | | | | | | | |3. Fred Dent |1. Reginald |1. ---- Freeman | | Freeman m. Lucy | Freeman | | | Standard | m. ---- ---- | | | | | |5. John S. Brent|1. Ellsworth | | | m. 1. Margaret | Brent m. | | | 2. Rebecca | Jennie Howard | | | | | | | |2. Marion | | | | | | | |3. Julia | | | | | | | |4. Edna | | | | | | |6. Rebecca Brent|1. Ella Wright m.| | | m. John Wright | James H. Payne | | | | | | | |2. Ira Wright m. | | | | Ruth Taylor | | | | | | | |3. Marie Wright |1. Francis Ennis | | | m. Robt. E. | Syphax | | | Syphax |2. Robt. E. | | | | Syphax | |7. Calvin Brent |1. Marguerite | | | m. 1. Albertine| Brent | | | Jones | | | | 2. ---- ---- |2. Ethel Brent | | | | | | | |3. Ralph Brent | | | | | | | |4.Alfred Brent |1. Janice Brent | | | m. ---- ---- | | | | | | | |5. Clarence Brent|1. ---- ---- | | | m. ---- ---- | | | | | | | |6. Ernestine | | | | Brent | | | | | | | |7. John Brent | | | | m. ---- Cook | | | | | | |8. Wm. Brent | | | | | | | 3. Ephraim |1. Narcissa | | | Edmondson | Edmondson m. | | | | George Tossett | | | | 2. ---- Ma.s.sey | | | | | | | |2. Oliver |1. ---- Edmondson| | | Edomondson | | | | m. ---- ---- | | | | | | | 4. Richard |1. Sophoenia | | | Edmondson | Edmondson | | | m. ------ | m. ---- Fairfax| | | | | | | |2. Sallie |1. Wm. Freeman | | | Edmondson m. | m. ---- ---- | | | Benj. Freeman | | | | |2.George Freeman | | | | | | 5. Martha |1. Edward Young |1. Walter Young |1. Dorothy | Edmondson | m. Josephine | m. Belle Steves | Maxwell Young | m. | Johnson | |2. Alex. Helene | 1. Edward | | | Young | Young, | | | | 2. Levi | | |3. Elizabeth | Penaington | | | Martha Young | | | |4. Edward Owen | | | | Young | | | |5. Isabel Young | | | | | | |2. Mollie Young | | | | m. ---- Thomas | | | | | | 6. Eveline |1. Julia Ingram |1. ---- ---- | | Edmondson | m. Joseph | | | m. Wm. B. | Becket | | | Ingram |2. Martha Ingram|1. Williamc.o.xton | | | m. Mason c.o.xton|2. Fred c.o.xton | | | |3. Mason c.o.xton | | | |4. Joseph c.o.xton | | | |5. Mary c.o.xton | | | |6. Julia c.o.xton | | | |7. Eva c.o.xton | | | | m. Carl Seward | | | | | | |3. Eveline |1. Marie Johnson | | | Ingram m. Wm. | m. ---- Mosely | | | Johnson | | | | | | | |4. William | | | | Ingram m. | | | | ---- ---- | | | | | | | |5.Joseph Ingram | | | | | | | 7. Saml. |1. David | | | Edmondson | Edmondson | | | | | | | |2. Amelia | | | | Edmondson | | | | | | | |3. Robt. |1. Albion | | | Wellington | Edmondson | | | Edmondson m. |2. Delia | | | | Edmondson | | | Evie Bastien |3. Hugh Edmondson| | | | | | 8. Emily |1. Ida Johnson |1. Irene Berry | | Edmondson | m. Jas. Berry |2. Annita Berry | | m. Larkin | |3. Wallace Berry | | Johnson | | | | |2. Fannie |1. ---- ---- | | | Johnson | | | | m. Rezin H. |2. ---- ---- | | | Shipley | | | | | | | |3. Emma Johnson |1. Bernard | | | m. Wallace | Chapman | | | Chapman |2. Garrett | | | | Chapman | | | | | | |4. Robt. Johnson|1. ---- Johnson | | | m. ---- ---- |2. ---- Johnson | | | | | | 9. Henrietta| | | | Edmondson | | | | | | | | 10. John | | | | Edmondson | | | | | | | | 11. Eliza | | | | Edmondson | | | | | | | | 12. Mary | | | | Edmondson | | | | | | | | 13. Joseph | | | | Edmondson | | | | m. Alice | | | | ---- | | | | | | | | 14. Louisa |1. Annita L. Joy| | | Rebecca | m. Wm. A. Clark| | | Edmondson | | | | m. Gilbert |2. Lula Joy m. | | | L. Joy | Arthur Brooks | | | | | | | |3. Gilbert L. |1. Corelli Dancy | | | Joy, Jr., m. | Joy | | | Margaret Jones | | | | | | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

FOOTNOTES:

[1] _The Washington Union_, April 14, 1848.

[2] Daniel Drayton was a native of New Jersey who had spent several years following the water. He had risen from cook to captain in the wood-carrying business from the Maurice River to Philadelphia.

Eventually he engaged in coast traffic from Philadelphia southward.

He seemed to have drifted quite naturally from strong humane impulses, intensified by an old-time spiritual conversion, into a settled conviction that the fatherhood of G.o.d and the brotherhood of man was a reality and that it was his duty to do what he could to a.s.sist those in bondage.

Latterly his voyages had carried him into the Chesapeake Bay and thence up the Potomac. His first successful effort to a.s.sist the slaves was made on an earlier trip when he agreed to take away a woman and five children. The husband was already a free man. The woman had under an agreement with her master more than paid for her liberty, but when she had asked for a settlement, he had only answered by threatening to sell her. The mother and five children were taken aboard at night and after ten days were safely delivered at Frenchtown, where the husband was in waiting for them. Memoir of Daniel Drayton, Congressional Library.

[3] The only punishment meted out to Judson Diggs for his act of betrayal, so far as is known, was that by a party of young men who, shortly after the occurrence, took him from his cart and after considerable rough handling, threw him into the little stream that in those days and indeed for many years thereafter, took its way along the north side of the old John Wesley Church, then located at a spot directly opposite the north corner of the Convent of the Sacred Heart on Connecticut Avenue, between L and M Streets.

A number of old citizens now living distinctly remember Judson Diggs, who lived, despised and avoided, until late in the sixties. One of these is Mr. Jerome A. Johnson of the Treasury Department.

[4] Memoir of Daniel Drayton, Congressional Library.

[5] The case against Drayton and Sayres was prosecuted by Philip Barton Key, the District Attorney, before Judge Crawford, and on appeal the prisoners were sentenced to pay a fine of $10,000 and to remain in jail until the same should be paid.

English was absolved from all criminal responsibility and given his liberty.

After an imprisonment of more than four years they were pardoned by President Fillmore, to whom such application had been presented by Charles Sumner.--Memoir of Daniel Drayton.

The fare at the jail was insufficient and of poor quality and a more wholesome and generous diet was frequently surrept.i.tiously furnished by Susannah Ford, a colored woman, who sold lunches in the lobby of the Court House.