Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1880-06-09
NEW SERIES--V0l. 81, NO, %.
A WHITE SLA VE.

A w l1IIE MIA y ~.
In the early days of our country it
was customary to sell white peple into
slavery as well or as i'll as negroes. To
be sure, the condition Of their slavery
was not precisely the same, as the term
of servitude was limited, and we believe
that the masters were not empowered
with right to transfer their servants ;
still, while il lasted, il was virtually
slavery, and under the old laws OF
Maryland and Virginia the master,
while he held them, held them body
and soul.
They were not designated as slaves,
but as servants, and were supplied by
England, being people who were crimi-
mails, and though not having committed
crimes punishable by death, were still
sufficiently dangerous TO be sent out
of the country. They were shipped to
the colonies and sold for a specified
number of yeaIs, the average being
seven. Such advertisements as that
which we have before us from the
Pennsylvania Gazette Of date as late
as July, 1884, were common then and
much more frequent twenty years
earlier, II runs In this way Gust
arrived From Londonderry, in the
brig Peggy, Captain Stewart com.
mander, a number OF fine, healthy men
and women, servants and small boys,
whose times arc TO be disposed of to
the best bidders by the Captain on
board, or by Campbell d Kingston, on
the wharf"
1t was the Spring of l77l that a
very remarkable case occurred in con-
nection with this system OF white
slavery an occurrence which really
was the original of all first-class cases
OF female swindling in America 1t
was the remarkable experience OF one
Sarah Wilson, female convict who
for a time in those old days was Ma
tional character OF wonderment,
1t was in the Summer OF ll7O that
a woman-a stranger to all about the
palace-suddenly entered, by means Of
the private stairway, the boudoir OF
Queen Charlotte The Duchess OF
Ancestor was in conversation with the
Queen at the time, and both were
astounded and atirighted by the com.
posed manner in which the intruder
without a word-took in the situation
and looked over the apartment. She
was elected not without some little
difieuity by A Page. Nothing was
further done in respeet to the matter.
bnt shortly afterward the Palace was
entered and Queens cabinet robbed
of valuable ieweIry and her own minia.
ture portrait. The THEFT was traced
TO Sarah Wilson. the maid of Hon.
Miss Vernon. and being apprebended
was convicted and sentenced to death.
Through the influence of her mistress
and her sister, Lady Grosvenor. the
sentence was commuted to transporta.
tion TO America and bondage for seven
wears. This caused great Indignation
among the common classes of England
the most lowly, bru tai beasts in the
world. by the way-who were clamor-
GUS for her execution, and claimed, in
violent terms, that the gallows had
been cheated.
In III Sarah Wilson was sold in
MARYLAND to William Duvall Of Bush
Greek Frederick county, and fora time
appeared to be satisfied with her fate.
She was shrewd, however, ana soon
made her escape, neeing 10 virginia
To put all the distance possible De-
tween herself ana her master she pur'
sued her way 10 oouth oaroilha:
There she boldly assumed the style Oh d
an adventures, and passed herseii OH
as the Princess Susanna caroline Ma
tilda, and the sister OF the queen
Her magnificent Jewelry, which she
had by some means succeeded IN ma,
ing, and the miniature portrait oil
Queen Charlotte, bore her out IN her
bogus business, and she was the hon
ored guest OF all the finest families IN
IN that section oil the colonies Ihere
was no finish to her swell oil soclal
eminence until the news OF her career
extended northward, and then the fol.
lowing advertisement appeared, and
was sown broadcast
"Bush Greek, Frederick county, Md,
October IL, III. Ran away from
the subscriber, convict servant, named
Sarah Wilson, but has changed her
name to Lady Susanna Caroline Ma
tilda, which mode the public believe
that she was her Majesty's sister. She
has blemlsh in her right eye, black
rolled hair, stoops in the shoulders and
makes common practice of writing
and marking her clothes with crown
and II Whnpver gepurpg tho said