Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1828-09-11
From the Winchester Rep bhican.

ne. we have collected the following au
aentic history of toe transaction, aud
l,7 it before orr readers. IN the pre-
,omntion bat il viii not be deemed un
Interesting.
Mr.. Presley Saunders, of Loudoun
county, died a year or two since. and by
his will. directed that all his slaves should
be freed when they should attain the age
|of 50 years. Among the number was
Rabecca. the subject of this article, then
about % years old She lived in the ia.
mily of james Dewar. a connexioD OF
Mr.. Saunders, WOO had directed that she
shoaid remain n Dewar's possession
until the period above referred TO, when
,he was 10 be freed. John and Thomas
Saunders, Of Leesburg, were the execu-
tors ma Ded ia the viii Shortly after the
tsath of SIR. Saunders. Dewar removed
10 Winchester, with bis family, among
Ehon was 2ebecca He seems to have
bpen an obscure man. in moderate cir
Gu nsiances, although sufficiently emav
nd tram poverty Ia prevent his aecessi
hes from beng urged as a plea for tae
iced which be afterwards omtoitted.
After residing about three months. he
made a covert sale of Rabecca 10 Fran.
cis MCann. a negro trader, aud direct
ed ner TO repair AT the house Of his bro
Their Thomas j Dawar, also in this
town; whlch having done, the latter at.
tempted 10 force her into the stage,
which drove up shortly afterwards. to
convey her away. She escaped from
him, however, returned to her mistress,
related her fears, ipp!ored her protec-
ton, and succeeded in interesting her in
her favor. Dewar beng taus ioiIed IN
his attic mpt, seemed TO have abandoned
his desisn, and Rsbeeca began 10 enjoy
a feeling of security. when SIC was un-
ex7ectedly sold TO a Mr.. Collier, another
frazier, and conveyed AS far as Charles
town, his head quarters, aud aheTe MS
gang was collecting Fhls BiII of Sale
was given by Jas. Deyar. and Witnessed
4 BY Thomas JDewar The sum paid foe
her was S225 There is no evidenre
that Mr. Collier IS apprised Of any fraud
in the sale, on the contrary, il is presum-
able that he considered II made in good
faith, and that bona GJe title was vest,
ed IN the seller.
1t was at this juncture, that the Hat
Slavery Society Of Winchester, became
apprIsed of the transaction, and institu-
ted an inquiry. which led to the develop
mens we have givea. The Dawars we're
informed that the public were aware Of
wSathad been done; and they were adj
NSed to cancel the bargain with Collier.
aad TAKE the girl home again. Collier
was also informed, that she was not a
slave, aud he readily gave her up, the
money paid fot her having been refund
ed, or made secure. Rebecca returned
TOD Dewsr's, and continued to live with
him.
We now approach the finale of the
WanSactlon the consummatinn of the
Deed of hlacknass ard villainy, Enough
having tfanspirtd to prove that the girls
situation was a very hazardous one. and
Wa' her master would sell herif he could
"a family. near his residence, was re-
quesied to keep a look out, and give i'm.
mediate information to the Anti Slavery.
society, should she at any time be found
missing, On the 18th ult. information
was gwen that she had that day, been
conveyed away in the following manner:
a man named Duling arrived at JAS,
iDewar's from Loudoun, as he said, with
Instructions to take Rebecca to MIR.
saunders, at the same time handing her
an order frem Mr.. s. to that effect,
sSn'rh being read by one Of the neigh
O'fsto Rebecca, was ia the following
words: .
Mr.. Thomas Dewar will please to de-
nVer Rebecca 10 Francis Duling. as
mere has been a great stir about her,
aad We wish TO get her back.
(Signed) JOHN SAUNDERS.
Not suspecting any treachery, Rebec-
instantly complied with the order,
soo with her child. Sc, off WITH her con-
eucior for Loudoun This intelligence
sssS'ng been communicated TO the Anti
9i''sry Society, it was thought ONE
war strange, for certain reasons that
w. Saunders should have given such an
4uer' and a messenger was despatched
~ heesburg to ascertain the fact II
'1'hed out, as they suspected, that the
''uer was a forgery, ardimmediate steps