Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1853-01-31
[PRICE ONE CENT.
tOorrester DoiIp 9pp.
The LENNON sIaves.-A Famt1 MS s,....,

The Lennon Slaves, or rather Freemep. are
now safe in Canada. We say safe, whatever de-
cision the Supreme Court may arrive at upon the
appeal from the judgment delivered by judge
Paine, in their case; and though in the event Of
its being adverse to their freedom, Lennon and
his wife should refuse to carry into effect their
promise to manumit them. Some interesting facts
IN regard to this family, and illustrative Of the
peculiar institutions of the South" have come
to our knowledge, which we now propose briefly
to narrate.
About IA years ago there lived in Bath County
a. planter who was commonly called Chilly
Douglass He had six children to each of whom
he gave slave about their own age when thew
were quite young. These slaves grew up with his
children, and BECAME in due time their attend
ants. When Douglass died he possessed about
~ slaves which were divided among his family
and by that means became separated from each
other, the Douglass family then residing in differ
ent parts Of Virginia. Among the slaves given
away was a boy named Levi; he fell to the lot of
Mary Douglass, by whom, until her marriage, ne
was well treated. When he about 10 years
OF age, bis mistress married man of no very re-
putable character, of the name of Simmons. AS
soon as he became master of the slaves of his wife,
their situation was materially changed for the
worse. Levi, and another slave of the name of
James Wright, had ventured to ask their mistress
not to marry this Simmons, for they feared his
cruel treatment. This fact came to his knowl-
edge and to punish their audacity he determined
to sell them to the far South. Having learned
that negro trader of the name of Witheroe was
at town twelve miles off, on his way to Ala
bama, with a coile of 80 slaves, he brought him
to his house, where he saw Levi and Wright, and
privately struck bargain for them.
The manner in which they were inspected by
Witheroe, though intended to disarm suspicion
nevertheless aroused it, and became the subject
ofserious consideration between Levi and Wright
They felt persuaded that they had been sold BY
their master for the southern market but they re-
solved that they would not go thither, and made
their arrangements accordingly.
The morning after their sale had been effected
Witheroe made his appearance, accompanied by
several men, and announced to Levi and Wright
the fact that they were his slaves and must pro-
coed Immediately to join the collie, then waiting
Tor them at the neg hboring town. Handouts
were produced, and were about being placed on
their wrists, when they stated that it was I'M
necessary that they should be should be so fast
ened, as they were quite willing and ready to 20
with hun anywhere, for they were tired of living
with Simmons. Wltheroe thereupon consented
to let them go with him unfettered Knowing
the country well, Levi and Wright planned their
escape so most eifectually to battle the pursuit
of Witheroe and his party. Having taken a
hasty leave of such fellow slaves as were near,
they set out with apparent cheerlulness, with the
negro trader, but they had not been more than
halt an hour on the road, when, as they had pre-
concerted, they suddenly eaped over fence, and
OCtiiS aCttNo young HlCDs were SOON DuTleu IN the
depths OF the adjacent wood, whittier their pur-
suers in vain strove to follow them. They felt
the importance of Fastening their steps, and trav-
eued as last as they we're able, assistance of six
ty miles. At the end Of their journey, they OBJ
tanned shelter and releshment among some slaves
whom they had formerly known in their own
neighbOrhood. As soon as they had sufficiently
rested, they started for Ohio, but, by some mis-
nap were seen and pursued by party of TWEEN.
| ty-6ve men.
| They exerted themselves TO the utmost to es-
cape, but Wright only was able to effect it. Lee
vi was taken and put in Jail, where he was duly
| advertised as runaway. There he was confined
five weeks, waiting the arrival of his owner. In
the meantime, being excellent dancer, he
managed TO get into the good graces of his TAILOR,
who invited white people to come and see his
feats. They often gave him pieces ofmonev. and
finding that his keeper was fond of whiskey, he
Literally supplied him with it out of the proceeds
Having made arrangements for his escape from
this prson-honse, he seized his opportunity, when
his keeper was in state of complete intoxcation,
and he had no one TO oppose his progress but the
keepers wife. Having easily overcome her re-
sistance, he fled a second time for Ohio, where,
after incredible fatigue, and almost famished for
want Of food, he safely arrived
There he Tell IN with the managers of the 'tUn-
derground Railroad" and was soon placed by
them in a condition of comparative safety. At
ter aboring some time in the country, he Iemov-
ed to Cleveland, and there he became a waiter in
one otlhe hotels, where for a time we must leave
him, and return to his fellow fugitive, James
Wright. He succeeded after great exeriion, in
reaching Ohio, and by the aid cheerfully render.
ed by the friends of flying slaves, was safely for
warded to Canada, where he now follows the. &C.
cupation of farmer, and SIT under the shell
ter of his own roof, "none daring to make him
afraid
Lew having engaged with Wright, that in case
they should be separated in their flight and af-
forwards be fortunate enough to reach Canada.
they would meet at Malden-he, in August last
year, went thither TO make inquiries. AT that
time he knew not whether Wright was dead or
alive, freeman or slave, and scarcely ventured
to hope that he should meet him again. How
ever, on his arrival at Maiden, he found that
Wright was cutivaling small farm on shares, a
few miles off, and was doing well. He soon had
the satisfaction of meeting him, and their Joy was
unbounded when they grasped each others hand
in a land Of freedom. Levi had the additional
qualification Of meeting two of his cousins in Nal.
den,who had previously escaped from ''the house
of bondage" Finding some Of his relations and
friends in this town and neighborhood, and not
Judging himself quite secure from the operatonof
the Fugitive Slave Law in Cleveland, he pur-
ShoeSus Vut VI HIS euIHlnSS, u small lOL OF lana,
determined TO settle in Maiden as soon as he con-
veniently could. With this prospect in view, he
returned to Cleveland, and there resumed his oc-
cupation a waiter.
One morning, while the case of the Lennon
slaves under adjudication al New York, he
heard read the particulars, aud at once discover
ed in them near and dear relations He imme-
dately put himself in communication with
friend in Cleveland, who telegraphed the fact to
one Of the Committees in New York, when, after
due caution, it was determined that he should
proceed thther, without delay; this he did, and
we had the satisfaction Of knowiDg that in Nancy
he found sister, in Emene an aunt IN their
Youths who were with them, brothers. But this
was not all he announced James Wright to be
the husband of Nancy, and the father Of her chill
dren.
Thus, by a wonderful interpositon Of Provi-
dence, have these poor people been brought to-
geher again under happy circumstances, instead
Of having 10 wear out a miserable existence on
II a. H.. 4 A me