Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1883-06-08

fact that the Southern peoples
how much Of truth it contained 1t
subsequently dramatized and placed upo
the American and European stage meetin
with great success, and later still it WI
translated into French and German lar
guages. The work found favor at some
the royal courts and at many of the Englis
homesteads-not because of any intrinsi
merit 1t possessed, but upon the assumptio
that the facts, as therein set forth, were true
From an article published several year
since in Ha,pers Magazine it would appea
that the true name of "Uncle Tom," Mr..
Stoves hero, was Josiah Henson, and tina
during his life time was addressed as Uncl
Si-that he was born in Charles county
Maryland, in June, 1887, at a tender ag
was sold to the late Adam Robb, of thi
county, and when but nine years old wa
again sold to the late Isaac Riley, with
whom he lived until he grew to manhood
IN the meanwhile assuming the profession
of preacher In a later interview hat
with this historic character in 1878, and
which is now for the second time going the
rounds oi the press IRON the fact of his
death, which occurred at his late residence
at Dresden, Ontario-we clip the following
ain the slave days" said he, "the negroes
had Il horror of being sold by the sheriff
Well, Massa Riley had big lawsuit al
Annapolis, and one night he came to my
cabin-we lived some miles below Mont
gomery Court-house-ands said Isl, it's gone
agin' me; am ruined, and you will all have
TO be sold by the sheriff. and then he told
me that he wanted me to run away clear to
Kentucky. So took my wife and children
and eighteen good slaves and went to Ken
lucky to MIR. Amos Riley, brother of my
master"
kiley's plantation was Il small one, and
the fresh importation of slaves WAS more than
he needed They were consequently hired
out To neighborng planters. II was his
good luck " work for Mr.. st. Clair most of
the time, and he told the reporter he was
just such n man and died just such IL death
rs Mrs. Stoves book represents.
And was there really an Eva st. Cairy"
asked the interviewer.
"Oh, yes, but her name wasn't Eva; il
was Susan; Susan st. Clair, and she used
to read for me then | would sing for her.
She was an innocent, affectonate, God-fear-
ing child said the old man.
The hideous Simon Legree OF the novel
was Bruce Lytton, overseer for Isaac Rileys
plantation in Maryland. He it Was who
pounded 81 So that he could not, To the day
of his death, lit his hands 10 his head 10
wash his face or dress himself He could
use his hands and arms upon any object
that was in front Of him, could shave his
master and do Il great deal OF hard work,
but never "teel oh de wool dat grew on de
top Of his head"
George Shelby, Uncle Toms great friend,
was in reality Amos Riley, Jr, and he IL
was that took 81 TO New Orleans to sell
him, and while there was stricken with
yellow fever, taken back to Kentucky and
nursed back TO life by Mr.. Henson, who
shortly afterwards took his wife and four
children and made his successful break for
the freedom of which he had really paid for
thousand times by his faithlulness to his
different masters.
81 Henson, with his little family, settled
in Colchester, Ont, but a few miles from
Detroit, and, with $50 colored men, of whom
he was captain, served her Majesty during
the Canadian rebellion by holding Fort
Maiden until Col. Erie took possession of
it in 1888. At the close of the trouble he
went up Big Bear creek, now Sydenham
river, and took up large amount of land
near where is now the fiourishing little
town of Dresden. Here he lived and be-
came regarded by all US exceedingly well
off being always pastor of church. Here
at the age of SO he learned to read and
write In 1850 he went to England, and in
the winter OF 1S50-51, he ectured in Lon
don. Previous TO this, on several occasions,
he had met Mrs. Harriet Beecher Stowe,
and had told her the story Of his life. He
had also written an autobiography, which
was published in Massachusetts. In 1859
he went to England again, and while there
he first learned that Mrs. Stowe was writing
II novel, which lie was the hero.
Since II has been ascertaned that this no.
table character, Josiah Henson, or old Gun
Gle 81" as he was familiarity called by many
who still remember him here, we have made
careful inquiries into some of the statements
he is reported 10 have made
"Uncle SIP remained with Mr.. Riley from
the time Of his purchase from Mr. Robb
until he was some twenty-three years old.
In the meantime Mr.. Riley became surety
on bond in the famous Arnold +. Wind
sor suit, and adverse decision having been
rendered in the Court Of Chancery, at An
napolis, Mr.. Riley became alarmed, and after
with his counsel, the late John A.
r. Kilgour, he sent "Uncle ST." with his
family and some other slaves, under the care
of his nephew, Thomas Middleton, to his
brother, Amos Riley, then residing in Ken
lucky. In or about 1928, "Uncle Si'
visited Mr. Isaac Riley and negotiated
purchase Of himself for $500, for which he (
gave his note, which note was never paid,
and which Mrs. Matilda Riley, the widow
of Isaac Riley, and now in the SD year Of
her age, still holds. "Uncle ST. was not
satisfied with purchasing himself, but en-
tered into further negotiations for the pur-
chase OF his family. Holding the conf
dence Of Mr.. Riley he got an order upon
Amos Riley TO "let 81 have his wife and
his object being 10 return with 1
them 10 Montgomery to conclude the pur.
chase and remain.
Armed with this paper "Uncle Si' re-
turned 10 Kentucky, obtained possession Of |
his family, and when he reached Cincinnati /
made for Canada
So far as his ever having been treated bad
ly, it would appear Just the reverse. In
1879 when he visited his old mistress, Mrs. |
Riley, he took occasion 10 speak Of 1.-THE
good old times" and in the most affection
ate terms of Mr.. Riley "UDcle 81" was re-
garded as pet servant with Mr.. Riley, and
had many privileges which were never cx-
tended to the balance Of his slaves. Mr. X. I
often had complaints that "Uncle Sir had
Struck hen.roost or jumped q sheep-fold,"
but the confidence Of Mr. r. in his honesty |
mistaken until he had deceived
him in obtaining the order for his family.
Brice Letton, also late Of this county, the |
A I..a,