Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1855-08-10

The Wheeler Slave Caso-Thcir own

inc wheeler Slave CusC-Thcir Own
story.
The late slaves Of Mr. WHEELER, who es-
capped from him ut Philadelphia, are in New
York. Mrs. johnson, the mother Of the
family, went before Judge Culver, and made
the following affidavit. Several gentle
men oil character were present, and bore wit
ness to the voluntary character Of the de-
position
STATE Of Ne,c- Yoyk, C,ty amt county oj
NcU lork.--Janc johnson being sworn
makes oath and says My name is Jane
johnson was the slave of Mr. Wheeler
OF Washington he bought inc and my two
children, about two years ago, OF Mr., Cor
nclius Grow, Of Richmond, Va, my youngest
child is between six and seven years DID, tho
other between ten and eleven | have one
other child only, and he is in Richmond
have not seen lin for two years never OK
poet to see him again.
Mr. Wheeler brought me aud my two
children to Philadelphia, on the way to
Nicaragua, to wait on his wife | didn t
want to go without my two children, and he
consented to take them we came to Phil
adclphia by the cars stopped at Mr.. Sullys
Mr.. Whcclcr's i;tthcr-in-law, a few moments:
then went to the steamboat for New York at
o'clock, but were too late we went into
Bloodgood's Hotel , Mr.. Wheeler went to
dinner VI. Wheeler had told mo in WASH
lnSton to have nothing to say to coorcd per-
sons, and II any of them spoke to me to say
J was free woman travelling with n min
lister we stad at BloodgoOd's till 3 O'clD ok
Mr.. hcelcr kept his eye upon all the time
except when he was at dinner he left his
IN nd | (, : La,
went back again.
While he was at dinner, saw colorcd
woman and told her was II slave woman
that my master had told me not to speak to
colorcd people, and that if any Of them
spoke to me to say that was free but |
am not free but want to be free; she said,
poor thing, pity you - after that saw
acclored man and said the same thing to him;
he SAID lac would telegraph to New York
and two men would meet me at . o'clock
and take me with them a; after that we
went on board the boat Mr. Wheeler sat
beside me on deck; | saw culorcd gentle
man come on board lie bcckoncd to me .
| nodded my head and could not 70 MIR.
Wheeler was beside me and | was afraid.
white gentleman then came and said to
Mr.. W heclcr, " want to speak to your ser
want, and tell her of herrights :" Mr.. " hcclcr
rose and said, "li you have anything to say,
say it to me she knows her rights - the
white gentleman asked me if wanted to BE-
free; said " | do, but belong to this gen
tlcinan, and | cant have it = he replied
YES, you can-come with us, you are as
free as your master-lf you want your free.
dom, come now lfyou go back to Washing
ton you may never get it - | rose to 60
Mr. Wheeler spoke, and said, {" will give
you your freedom - but he had never pro-
missed 1t before, and knew he never would
give 1t to Inc the white gentleman held out
his hand and | went toward him | was ready
for the word before it was given me.
took the children by the hands, who both
cried for they were frightened; but both stop
ped when they got on shore colored man
carried the little one, | led the other by the
hand we walked down the street till we got
to hack nobody forced me away nobody
pulled me, and nobody led me ; went away
of my own free will always wished to be
free and meant to be free when | came North:
hardly expected it in Philadelphia, but |
thought should get free in New York
have been comfortable and happy since
left Mr. Wheeler, and 50 are the children
don't want to 90 back | could have gone, in
Philadelphia, if had wanted to | could 90
now but had rather die than 20 back |
wish to make this statement before II magis-
tratc, because understand that Mr. William
son is in prison ON my account, and hope
that the truth may be Of benefit to him
JANE 4 JOHNSON.
mark
sworn before me, this 3lst day July, ls5j.
L. ID. CULVER, City Judge