Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1869-05-13
A Page from slavery's History.

A Page from slavery's History.
THE BONDAGE, ESCAPE, AND SUBSEQUENT
HISTORY OF A DELAWARE SLAVE.
The romantic side of the history of Ameri-
can slavery, so far as it relates to the hopes,
aspirations and adventures Of the slave race,
yet remains unwritten, and is likely to SO
remain until some cultured scion of the
dusky race filings his soul into story or
song. Yet there sometimes incidentally
comes to us knowledge of some incidents
or personal history in connection with the
subject which shows how much of romantic
interest clusters about it. AS illustrative of
this, we propose to briefly tell the simple
story of the life of one who was born in
bondage in our very midst--in our own
State and county.
Sometime during the year 1880 colored
woman, the slave of Alexander Crawford,
residing in the pretty village of Newark, in
this county, twelve miles from this city,
gave birth to boy, a child who under the
then existing laws of our State, was ushered
into life with perpetual bondage as his sole
heritage. When the boy, who has been
named Charley, was about year old, he
and his mother were sold to Lewis Vande-
grift, who resided between Port Penn and
the village now called McDonougn Here
he passed seven or eight years in the enjoy
ment of childhood's pleasures, but when
between and . years old he was summon
ed to work, and from that time on to early
manhood was hired out by his master to
farmers wanting his services He passed
these years in that life of labor without
care, which was the common heritage of the
enslaved, and which was of all things least
calculated to fit them for the life of self-de-
pendent industry to which it was their des-
tiny soon to be called.
Manhood reached, however, other ideas
began to enter Charles mind Though black
and slave, he was human, and he took in
creasing delight in the company of the other
sex.
"Fleecy locks and black complexion
Cannot forfeit natures claim
Skins may differ, but affection
Dwells in white and black the same"
the poet thus expressed by falling in love
with colored maiden in the neighborhood.
Fortunately for him his love was reciprocal
ed, but the girl being free herself declined to
marry slave. Here was dilemma, and
Charles was sorcly grieved. The girl said
however that if Charles would run away she
would go with him. He Immediately en-
braced the suggestion, and the suggcstor
also, for aught we know-and the two I'M
mediately commenced concocting plan
for his escape. The girl having larger
degree of liberty than her lover made all the
necessary arrangement.
Shortly after this Charles was Musings.
He got to Philadelphia in safety, where
he was joined by the girl, and the two were
Immediately married by Rev. Mr.. Byres, u
colored minister. This was in 1858, and
Charles was 23 years old. The newly mar
ried couple immediate left for Canada via
the Underground Railway" that old and
once much travelled thoroughfare, which was
the path of SO many from slavery to free
dom.
They lived in Canada for four or five
years, and then, thinking it safe move,
they went to Syracuse. N. Y, where they
still live. Here Charles wife commenced
teaching him to read and write, and the key
to knowledge thus being given him by his
faithful wife, he made rapid progress, and
in time qualified himself for the ministry,
and became pastor of Zion M. E. Church,
at Saratoga, where he has been preaching
for six or seven years. He continues to live
in Syracuse, where he works for a living,
as he receives no salary for his clerical SER
vices. In 1866, for the first time since he
left it fugitive, he returned to his native
State. He returned again In 1868, and took
his sister, the widow of Union soldier, to
his new home to live, and again, last spring,
he paid our city more extended visit, with
high recommendations from earnest clergy.
men of his adopted State, soliciting aid in
rebuilding his Church at Saratoga. He was
introduced in several of our largest city
churches, and presented his claims to theil
congregations. Those of our readers who
on any of these occasions, were introduced
to the Rev Charles H. Green, have met the
subject OF our brief sketch, and doubtless
few of them saw in the manner or appear
ance of the tall, well dressed and very cler
ical looking gentleman, who was then pre-
sented to them, anything to suggest that bu
sixteen years ago he was slave, and al
ignorant field hand on one of the farms Of
this very county.
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