.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\nAny headings and italicized text in the excerpt below were added by the website editor. The rest is nearly verbatim from the book. There are some changes to the punctuation<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>Excerpt \u2013 Arrival No. 11. Anthony and Albert Brown (brothers), Jones Anderson and Isaiah<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\nThis party escaped from Tanner’s Creek, Norfolk, Virginia, where they had been owned by John and Henry Holland, oystermen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As slaves they alleged that they had been subjected to very brutal treatment from their profane and ill-natured owners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not relishing this treatment, Albert and Anthony came to the conclusion that they understood boating well enough to escape by water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They accordingly selected one of their master’s small oyster-boats, which was pretty-well rigged with sails, and off they started for a Northern Shore.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They proceeded on a part of their voyage merely by guess work, but landed safely, however, about twenty-five miles north of Baltimore, though, by no means, on free soil.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They had no knowledge of the danger that they were then in, but they were persevering, and still determined to make their way North, and thus, at last, success attended their efforts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The elder brother was twenty-nine, the younger twenty-seven. Both were mentally above the average run of slaves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They left wives in Norfolk, named Alexenia and Ellen. While Anthony and Albert, in seeking their freedom, were forced to sever their connections with their companions, they did not forget them in Canada.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How great was their delight in freedom, and tender their regard for their wives, and the deep interest they felt for their brethren and friends generally, may be seen from a perusal of the following letters from them:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>First Letter From Anthony Brown To William Still<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n[I have extensively edited the spelling of the letter below for clarity, but not the words].<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\nHAMILTON, March 7th 1856. <\/p>
MR. WM. STILL\u2014Sir<\/em>\u2014<\/p>I now take the opportunity of writing you a few lines hoping to find yourself and family well as these lines leaves me at present, myself and brother, Anthony & Albert Brown’s respects. <\/p>
We have spent quite agreeable winter, we were employed in the new hotel, name Anglo American, where we wintered and done very well. <\/p>
We also met with our two friends who came from home with us, Jonas Anderson and Isaiah. <\/p>
Now we are all safe in Hamilton, I wish to call you to your promise, if convenient to write to Norfolk, Va, for me, and let my wife Mary Ellen Brown know where I am, and my brother\u2019s wife Elickzener Brown, as we have never heard a word from them since we left. <\/p>
Tell them that we found our homes and situation in Canada much better than we expected. <\/p>
Tell them not to think hard of us, we were bound to flee from the wrath to come. <\/p>
Tell them we live in the hopes of meeting them once more this side of the grave.<\/p>
Tell them if we never more see them, we hope to meet them in the Kingdom of Heaven in peace. <\/p>
Tell them to remember my love to my church and brethren. <\/p>
Tell them I find there is the same prayer-hearing God hear as there is in old Va. <\/p>
Tell them to remember our love to all the inquiring friends. <\/p>
I have written several times but have never received no answer. I find a great many of my old acquaintances from Va, here, we are no ways lonesome. <\/p>
Mr. Still, I have written to you once before, but receive no answer. Please let us hear from you by any means. <\/p>
Nothing more at present, but remain your friends,<\/p>ANTHONY & ALBERT BROWN.<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n