A Woman's Life-Work Labors and Experiences

ge proportion of slave-owners of the Southern States, who were

of this chapter, together with nineteen others (the reputed goods and chattels of John Bayliss, a Baptist deacon, near Jonesborough, Tennessee). Slaveholder though he was, John Bayliss evidently thought his black people had souls as well as those of white skins, for he allowed his

hinkin' a heap o' dat

' other

t, Aunt Lucy?"

ohn, 't would be mighty hard for you white folks to work great many years and get noffin'. Den, if

too bad; but Jones was in debt, a

rt o' sticks to me-I can't help it," said this faith

Bayliss entered the ro

ext do you think Aunt L

ex

, te

t into her

rule, and that it sort o' sticks to her. She spoke, of the excitement over Jones's black people who were s

unt Lucy's mighty religious, and has so many not

hey would ever be torn apart as Jones's were. I tell you, wife, I have witnessed such scen

John Baybss," angrily e

uss over Jone

her feeling grieved; they belonged to her

woman, refused to be quieted, and he made this the subject of earnest prayer until the path of duty became so clear before him that he could

amined their article of agreement and found it to be illegal. He told Willis that Dr. Chester could sell Elsie at any time, and he could establish no claim to her, even had he paid the $300, which, at the wages he was receiving, would take him nearly nine years to earn, with the interest, and advised him to leave Dr. Chester and work for wages, as he had done since his manumission. This advice was immediately acted upon, Willis being permitted to spend his nights with his wife. Every thing passed off pleasantly for a few weeks, until one of the house-servants told Elsie that she overheard Master John sell both her and Willis

y did, and soon returned, it having been arranged that he should bring Elsie there and secrete her in the attic until the excitement of the hunt was over. After this they assumed the names of Bill and

th a Quaker family named Shugart. But the slight protection afforded by the laws of Indiana did not tend to give them a feeling of security, and so they started again for the promised land with their infant daughter Louisa. On this journey they were assi

nd our house, and my husband, Charles Haviland, Jr., after learning their condition, leased Willis twenty acres of ground, mostly openings, for ten

inquiries after their two daughters, who were left behind in slavery. They received a prompt reply, purporting to come from Bayliss, informing them that their daughters were still living where they left them. He would see them, he said, by the time he received their next letter, which he hoped would be soon, that he might be the happy bearer of glad news to the children from their father and mother. He professed great joy at hearing from them, wished them to write all the particulars about themselves, but cautioned them to write t

ears, their plea was strong and persistent: but I remained immovable to all their entreaties, and told them of a slave family, who, after living twenty years in Indiana, had but recently been captured and returned to hopeless bondage. Upon this they yielded to me for the time being, but in a few weeks came again with pleadings made eloquent by suffering. As they had felt the vice-like grip of the peculiar system on their own hearts and lives, they realized too keenly the fate that might any time overtake their daughters. But I still resisted all their entreaties, and in a few days after they applied to J. F. Dolbeare, one of the trustees of Raisin Institute, who, thinking there was no danger, wrote all they desired, t

the best. A few days after a stranger appeared at our gate and inquired for a stray horse, whi

ass of water, and whil

does this road lead to

e replied, and frighten

uthern style, haste

deep perpendicular, near the fence to which their team was hitched, which the valiant and mysterious trio did not discover, and when they re-entered their carriage and attempted to turn around they tumbled into it, horses, carriage, and all. This little incident so disarranged their plans that they were until daylight returning to Adrian (only six miles dis

iness, and was on his way to visit them when he was suddenly taken very Ill, and was pronounced by the physicians in a critical condition-in fact, they gave him but l

or die, I am resigned,

have every train watch

ss

ly yours, J

sed that Mr. Dolbeare or some neighbor go with him That pleased him, but Mr. Dolbeare could not go. As my son Daniel and I were going to Adrian, I proposed to get either Mr. Backus or Mr. Peters, both strong anti-slavery friends in the city, to accompany him to Toledo. As we were about starting, Joseph Gibbons, a neighbor, came with the suggestion that Willis remain at home, and James Martin, who was about his color and size, go in his stead; as Gibbons agreed with me in believing there was a deep

for a guiding hand to direct our actions in case we should find ourselves in the camp of the enemy, face to face with traffickers in human souls a

s, addressed by a man with the question: "Is your name Willis Ham

r," sai

" said the questioner,

do h

wish to see?

is old friend John Bayliss, who is at the Toled

Mr. Bayliss fro

see, I

e is such a man her

ll take you to his ro

taken up a flight of stairs from the bar-room. Daniel was following, when the porter told him the bar-room for gentlemen was below. He said, "I am taking this man to see a friend of his who is very sick, and no strangers are allowed to enter the room." Of course, my son could do nothing but return, so no further observations could be taken by us

he porter, and we heard him say in an excited undertone: "There's trouble ahead unless that young black fellow comes down immediately; tell them to send him down at once." In a moment the porter, three gentlemen, and James made their appearance, evidently to the surprise of twenty half drunken Irishmen who had been chattering all the evening, but were now so still you could have heard a pin

ng-room and call for supper." This was to give the drunken rabble time to leave so that he could relate his adventures with the Southerners after supper. But by this time the porter came to me to inquire if I wished to see Mr. Bayliss, the sick man. I replied in the affirmative, upon which he said: "He is very low; no stranger has been allowed to enter hi

re taking care of him, and they are all greatly disappointed at not seeing Hamilton this evening

e feared a trap, as Willis's

that letter, as I understand they have written them before, and you should

veholder, as in a former letter he spoke of three aged slaves living with him, and wished Hamilton and wife to stay with him two weeks if he lived, which was

ent like his, affected by disease, often enfeebles the mind, as body and mind are in close relationship philosophically. Now, he is just childish enough to want to see those children p

view of the case, but inquired how

ys, madam," rep

be the nature o

ious fever, but for the last three days

nxious about their old friend, and wished me to see hi

e nervousness, but I dare not risk it. It seems hard to think the dying request of this p

tem of human bondage exists in this country which causes these horrible fears and suspicions

you spoke of, he told me during the first of his sickness that he emancipated all his slaves, twenty in number, but that his wife had three in her right, which she refused to free, and these have always remained in the family. He manumitted his slaves from purely conscientious scruples; and I beli

man, I do not believe I could transfer sufficient confidence to the family to

be conscious two days longer. A council of physicians was called this afternoon, and three out of the four gave it as their opinion that he could not surv

the letters from John Bayliss were all written by the same hand, the last one was equally well

forehead, but in a moment replied: "I will tell you how that was. Hi

d of Christ, who left the realms of glory to bring blessings to mankind, and a part of whose mission was to unloose the heavy burdens and let the oppressed go free. And in view of the golden rule given by the great Lawgiver, I would not for my right hand become instrumental in returning one escaped slave to bondage. I firmly, believe in our Declaration

otherwise happy country. But in this case there need be no fear of any conspiracy to injure your colored frien

th his son-in law on the propriety of allowing me to see him in his present exceedingly nervous state. He said if he was not spoken to perhaps I mig

angement be any sa

d, after a few minutes' consultation in the sick-room, he returned with the conclusion that I mi

cloths wet in vinegar to draw the fever out, and he

ook four men to hold him, and was eulogizing his wonderful fortitude and Christian patience, when the

k; father's got another spasm

pparently in great excitement. But at the door he halted to tell me that these spasms indica

? Father is vomiting again,

to a description of his treatment of Mr. Bayliss; how he had blistered him, and performed a surgical operation on him which had given him great pain; said he was attending him to the neglect of his other pati

ayliss, of two hundred pounds avoirdupois. Of course, a fit of sickness might reduce a man's flesh, but it did not appear to me as especially likely to increase his height. As his face was covered with wet cloths I could not see the round physiognomy of John Bayliss, but passing my hand over the face I found it long and thin featured. I whispered to the doctor that I would like to notice his pulse. He said I could do so on the jugular vein. I did so, and foun

rough my mind that I had always contended that deception was lying, and that no circumst

unge, roused himself and commenced rubbing his eyes, and looking a

usly give you any hope

night. If I had only known that they were near Tecumseh, where I lost my horse, I would have see

n who was inquiring for a horse in our neighborhood a few days ag

e a black woman brough

was Hamil

log house where there was a p

," I

re to help us. What trouble we have had. I reckon father will die, and

ping back, he brought me a white bowl two-thirds full of what might have been the contents of a coffee-pot, with a bottle of black ink thrown in, and a few spittles floating on top. This, he told me, indicated mortific

morning." The doctor went up stairs to see what word they wished to send, and soon returned with the request that I should write to Hamilton to come immediately, and the porter would go with the l

loor a few times, with sighs and groans and bemoaning his

her and the doctor wen

behind them for a con

ed to grope my way blindly. As the doctor and son-in-law went out my son came in. He had overheard something about the writing, and said, excitedl

hink I dream of any plot. It is now midnight, and it is not wise to le

of my employers before it was sent. At this hour, too, a messenger could not probably be secured, even for twenty dollars. But as I seated myself at the table and took my pen in the manner in which I could appear to serve the slaveholders, but in reality defeat them, it came to me like a flash, and I cheerfully wrote all they dictated, not omitting the fact (?) that a council of physicians had

ck alpaca dress in the south bed-room, and the two pink gingham aprons and striped flannel dresses in the bureau in the west room for the little girls. To come to Adrian, take the double team and farm wagon." I signed my name and handed the letter to the delighted stranger. He

to the sick room, and he was told to enter the first right hand door. On opening the door he found no one inside. "Oh," said his guide, "they have moved him to the next room, as was suggested by the council of physicians this afternoon; we will find him there; and opening the door the stranger assumed an attitude of command and told him t

her; but desiring to make all the discoveries possible, and thinking if violence was attempted he could r

his side, all indulging in an indiscriminate volley of oaths and threats. Said his grey-haired guide (who afterwards proved to be John P. Chester, Elsie's master, the same who had enacted to me the role of the sy

lton, but James Mart

hester, "I know you; y

nes

I ever in a slave state. I was born a

I've a great mind to shoot yo

is is why I am here, and I came here with no intention of harm to any one, I am entirely unarmed, I have not s

, and Chester exclaimed, "You shan't be hurt! you shan't b

e to search him and see wh

do it. I reckon

nd he is very sick; he is not expected to live. But I am Elsie's master; my name is John P. Chester, and I bought her out of pure benevolence to save her from going down the river with a drove. Willis was going from house to house begging for some one to buy his wife, crying and taking on like he was nearly crazy, and I felt sorry for him, and told him

go and get it t

"Hamilton wrote to me that he had put in ten acres of wheat this fall on shares on

James, "that

des any amount of money you please to name, if you will as

essly, "Well, I don't kno

Kentucky I'd be all right." In laying plans and making arrangements they consumed two hours' time, and, as the reade

n that their suspected burglars were the three Southerners, who had stopped at the Indiana House a few days, but not finding co-operation probable in their slave-hunting business, had changed their quarters to the Toledo Hotel. I recognized my doctor and the son-in-law; and the other, a tall, slender young man, of twenty-two, was my sick and suffering deacon, who an hour previous had been so near death's door. Their object, of course, in guarding the house, was to see that

did not reply, but looked inquiringly at me. I replied, "There is trouble," and taking him into a back room, gave him a brief sketch of James's experience. I told him I did not think it probable that violence would be offered in daylight, but as Mr. Cleveland and son were both ill, we would like to know w

until night, and there was no telling what they might do under cover of darkness. When we got to the cars the doctor and son-in-law jumped aboard, but the sick man was determined to take his seat with me, and followed my son and myse

"Here, mother, this is the car we took." "Yes," I said, "but I see a lady ahead that I wish, to sit with." At this the sick man jumped up and exclaimed, "I'll be d--d if I don't take that seat the

came, and I opened the door and told him to enter, as the train was about moving. When he was inside he says: "I am afraid we will have trouble." Just then the conductor passed, and I said to him: "I suppose we will be pe

g to my son, "You, too, young man." Then directing his volley of wrath to me, he roared out: "But that lady there-you nigger stealer-you that's got my property and the avails of it-I'll show you, you nigger thief;" and drawing a revolver from his pocket, his son doing the same, they pointed them towards my face, Ches

e-you are not in Tennessee. And as for your property, I have none of it about me or on my

a choked voice, exclaimed: "I'll-I'll-I won't say much more to you-you're a woman-but

have you arrested in five minutes." At this they fled precipitately to the woods, and the last we saw of th

uestions from the passengers; and from there on to Adrian, though already terri

t over forty men were at the depot with hand-spikes and iron bars, ready to tear up

stols at our heads and threatened our lives, he could hardly speak from astonishment. Harvey said my letter arrived before sunrise, but that no one believed I had any thing to do w

ver know the difference; and as for that letter, Mrs. Haviland never saw it. I believe the slave-holders wrote it themselves. They thought, as she was a widow, she'd have a black dress, and you know s

gs look queer. There's no

n dollars if he would go to Palmyra with him, but he refused. He

him nowhere but to Adri

y's r

drawing near, heard my explanation of the letter, and the threatening remarks of the people, who declared that if slave-holders should attempt to take the Hamilton family or any other escaped slave from our city or county they would see trouble. He s

at rest was a necessity, for never in my life was I so thoroughly exhausted from talking; but, as the next day wan-the Sabbath, I would in the evening meet

nd standing-room in the school-house, and report said the

anti-slavery lecturers, with a few spirited remarks. He suggested that a collection should be take

ick-room. After getting the Hamilton family in their clutches they intended to gag and bind-them, and, traveling nights, convey them from one point to another unti

was a free man. Other meetings were called to take measures for securing the safety of the hunted family from the iron grasp of the oppressor, whose arm is ever strong and powerful in the cause of evil; and so great was public excitement that the chi

tter at his office directed to John Bayliss, he suspected it to be from friends of his former slaves, and opened it. His suspicions being confirmed, he detained the letter, and both cor

m John P. Chester, to which I replied; and this was followed by a correspondence with his

nothing; and inasmuch as you have my property in your possession, and are so great a philanthropist, you Hill feel bound

December 20,

erty in my possession, as I have dealing with each family, precisely in the same manner that I have with Willis Hamilton and family, and I do as truly recognize property in my other neighbors as in the Hamilton family. Prove my position fallacious, and not pre

eady to meet whatever you may think proper to do in the case. Should you think best to make us another call, I could not vouch for your safety. The circumstances connected with this case h

examining your very sick patient. I found the disease truly alarming, far beyond the reach of human aid, much deeper than bilious fever, although it might have assumed a typho

bearing date, Jonesboro, Tennessee, February 7

e it is, by your cunning villainies you have deprived us of our just rights, of our own property.... Thanks be to an all wise and provident God that, my father has more of that sable kind of busy fellows, greasy, slick, and fat; and they are not chea

e glorious Constitution of our Union! Such a condescension would damn an honest man, would put modesty to the blush. What! to engage in a contest with you? a rogue, a damnable thief, a negro thief, an outbreaker, a criminal in the sight of all honest men; ... th

l Haviland after your pretty son. She has plenty to eat, and has shoes in the Winter, an article Willis's children had not when I was there, although it was co

rth. You must have been exercised with as great distress, as extreme pain, that was producing paroxysms and vomiting, that you had in your sick-room in the Toledo hotel, when your physician was

name's sake. May he

h his lot be cast in t

nstrumental in leading

ge than tha

elevating and soul-ennobling privilege of looking 'greasy, slick, and fat'-can have the privilege of being forbidden the laborious

gible, and gave advice which I deemed wholesome, although I yie

er nor give to the public eye. It was directed to "Laura S. Haviland, Esq., or Dan." As it arrived in my absence, my son

ntence of hi

r constituents as they come from the North.' 'All right; they are going South to teach yours,' was the quick reply. And I think one of those long-eared animals has strayed down

ouched in the same spirit throughout; "for," said he, "that rabid fire-eater has be

Laura S. Haviland, as you dictated and your daughter wrote it; for, as strange as it may appear, I have the handwriting of every one of your family, and also of Willis Hamilton. I distribute these hand-bi

f had the privilege of perusing it, as it was mailed before my return home. But

TO RETAKE THE

hunters, Thomas K. Chester, with renewed assurance, came to Lawyer Beacher's office, in Adrian, and solicited his

en within a stone's throw of this city. All I ask is legal authority

Mr. Beacher; "it would rui

00, besides your fe

State of Tennessee to induce me t

me to a lawyer

sist you. And I advise you to return to your home; for you will

d Laura Haviland interferes I'll put her in prison. I acknowledge she outwitted us before; but le

that will hold that woman. And I request you not to enter my office again on this business, for if i

Beacher, as a gentleman, to keep my name and business

ada within six months after the visit from the Chesters. Mr. Beacher also advised me to make my property safe without delay, but this had been done two years previously. On receiving this information my friend Beacher replied, "Had I known this I wou

m, as they had been away over eighteen years. The man was sent, and two weeks more were spent in reconnoitering. At length both were agreed to arrest David Gordon and wife, with their four children, as the Hamilton family, and applied for a warrant to take the family as escaped slaves. The United States Judge, Hon. Ross Wilkins, who issued the warrant, informed one of the most active underground railroad men, George De Baptist, of this claimant's business. He immediately telegraphed to a vigorous worker

nd your name is Willis Hamilt

r was in that State; neither is my name Hamilton,

rs? If they are good

ere they are; take that

s out in a moment if she did not say their name was Hamilton. "No, sir, our name is Gordon." Their little girl, standing by, cried out with fear. H

You'll be arrested before you know it, if you are not careful. Put up that pistol instantl

said, "These papers I

from David Gordon, a

ennessee companion retu

oit

ore was Willis Hamilton. Said the officer, "You know not

im with being allied with the "d--d abolitionist, old Laura Haviland,

our business, until you came into this

n keeping slave-holders out of their property, and can prove it." He th

ommitting him to prison for contempt of court; and with his

e judge, "of being allied with Mrs. Haviland, of the interior of the State of Michigan, a rabid abolitionist, in keeping slaveholders out of their slave property." A vigorous effort was made by Southern members to impeach him, w

Wilkins met, and I called on him. He told me of the pile of Southern papers he had received, with scurrilous articles, designed to prejudice Southern members of Congress against him. Said he, "Although they failed in the impeachment, they said they would come against me with double force next Congress, and should effect their object."

F THE C

troller. His son Thomas transacted business as a lawyer. I was shown his residence, and the office where John P. Chester was shot through the heart by a mulatto man, whose free papers he demanded, doubting their validity. Said the man, "I am as free as you are; and to live a slave I never shall." He then drew a six-shooter from its hiding-place and shot him through the heart. He fell, exclaiming, "O God, I'm a dead man." The man threw down the fatal weapon, saying to t

attack in terrible paroxysms and ravings, frequently requiring six men to hold him on his bed. He was ill the same length of time that they falsely represented a few years before in the Toledo hotel. Said the narrator

ooter. It was by this kind of deadly weapon the life of one was taken; and as nearly as words can describe the feigned sickness, the last week of the life of the other was spent. No wonder the blood seemed to curdle in my veins in contemplating the lives of these men, and th