Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1848-11-17
The Case of The EdmOndSOn Sisters.

tors and ministers Of the Methods st Episco-
PAL Church Of New-York, Brooklyn, and
Wullamsburgh, held October Ia, 1913
whereunon II was, on notion
" RsSoiued, That Rev. Dr.. Peck, Rev. f..
II. Grswold, and Rev. ID. Curry, he a com
mlltee TO take measures 10 call a meeting for
me purpose OF laying the matter Of the Ed
mondson girls before The public"
In pursuance Of the design Of their ap-
polniment. the committee have resolved 10
publish the statement and correspondence, in
the form Of an appeal to their fellow-citizens,
for aid in accomplishing an object which
must commend itself to all who will be at
The pains 10 p"ruse the following pages.
The committee have also decided TO get
up a public meeting in the Broadway Taber-
nacle, on Monday evening, October %, where
an opportunity will ha afforded for those who
may desire 10 contribute to the fund intended
10 be raised.
STATEMENT.
A few weeks since, a coloured man, seven
iy years OF age, came from Washington city
10 New York, for the purpose Of making an
appeal for aid in purchasing two of his daugh-
tiers from Slavery. About the time Of his ar
rival, a statement Of facts appeared in one Of
our daily papers, written by a gentleman who
has resided for some time al Washington, and
who had become acquainted with the history
and present circumstances of the old man
and his family. A few extracts from his mar.
raiive will exhibit The principal features of
this Interesting case =
"Pdul Edmondson was horn into Slavery
in Montgomery county, Maryland. eighteen
miles from Washington. He still lives in
the same neighhorhood. At the age Of forty
two he obtained his freedom by the gif Of
his master. BY industry, economy, and
thrift, he has acquired a comfortable little
homestead Of forty acres, on which he now
lives at The age Of seventy years. He has
reared family of fifteen children. Fourteen
are still alive one a daughter, having died
at the age of sixteen. His wife, MiIly, was
also born TO the sad inheritance Of bondage,
and is still a slave. AT an early period, in
The distribution of an estate, she fell 10 The
lot of one Rebecca Culver. The w had
grown up together from childhood. The
mistress has always had a guardian Of her
person and trustee Of her property. The per-
son now her guardian and trustee is Francis
Valdenur, whose wife is a niece Of his ward,
and an heir apparent Of her estate. Mr.. VAL
denuT is a man Of some standing in the neigh
borhood, and is a State tobacco inspector al
Baltimore. These Edmondsons are not an
ordinary family, as you will perceive in the
sequal. They have the impulse Of manhood
and freedom gushing through their VEINS
Five of the sisters now reside in Washing
ton. They are married and are all Of them
in comfortable circumstances fine in their
personal appearance-modest, wel.behaved,
estimable women. One OF them paid $500
only for herself; she was an invalid. The
doctor told her she would soon die, and she
had better not make the attempt. Her reply
was, IN do it, and be free, il | die the next
hour!' Another paid $325 for her freedom,
whose constitution was delicate. The Oldest
a nOble-looking and undetermined woman,
purchased her rights at $3.50, some years ago,
before prices were as high as at present.
The two younger Of these five married sis
tiers paid $500 a piece for themselves. Four
brothers and two younger sisters. Mary and
Emily, were on the Pearl" They were
brought back with the rest, and sold 10 the
spectators. for the New-Orleans market, for
$3.50 a piece all round. One brother, Rich
ard, has been Bought, brought back. and
made free. The sisters have also been brought
back, and are now in The traders pen in AL.
esandria, in whose behalf an appeal will soon
he made. The other three brothers have
DbNU sOlu III tN-OIlcdI
In evidence Of the genuine eharactey ef his
claim on the sympathies of our citizens, the
father had been furnished with the following
testimonials. The peculiar phraseology OF
the first certificate may well attract the spe-
cial attention OF those who shall peruse such
a document for the first time.
ALEXANDRIA, VA, Sept. =, 1918.
The bearer, Paul Edmondson, is the faith
er of two girls, Mary Jane, and Emily Ca
tharine Edmondson. These girls have been
purchased by us, and once sent to the South;
and upon the positive assurance that the mo-
new for them would be raised if they were
brought back, they were returned. Nothing,
it appears, has as yet been done in this res
pect by those who promised, and we are on
the very eve of sending them South the see
ond time; and we are candid in saying that
if tbev 90 again, we will not regard any pro-
misses made in relation 10 them. The father
wishes 10 raise money TO pay for them; and
intends TO appeal to the liberalIiy OF the hu-
mane and the good to aid him, and has re-
quested MS to state in writing Tee conditions
ttD0n ,chich te viH sell his daughters.
We expect TO start our servants TO the
South in a few days; il the sum OF Twelve
hundred ($l200) dollars be raised and PAID
to us in 6fteen days, or we be assured OF
tbs, sum, then we will retain them for TWEEN
ty-fve DAYS more TO give an opportunity lor
the raising Of the other thousand and htly
dollars, Otherwise we shall be COM
10 send Them along with our other SER
wants. 49,,