{"id":562,"date":"2022-09-18T22:53:17","date_gmt":"2022-09-18T22:53:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/exploreblackheritage.com\/?p=562"},"modified":"2022-09-18T22:53:18","modified_gmt":"2022-09-18T22:53:18","slug":"escape-from-governor-of-north-carolina-underground-railroad","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/exploreblackheritage.com\/escape-from-governor-of-north-carolina-underground-railroad\/","title":{"rendered":"Escape From The Governor Of North Carolina On The Underground Railroad"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>This excerpt from \u201cThe Underground Railroad\u201d by William Still documents the escape of a fugitive from the clutches of the Governor of North Carolina.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This fugitive was William Jordan, who took the alias of William Price. Before he could find help on the Underground Railroad, he hid for ten months in a cave in the woods.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Eventually, he reached Philadelphia and the Underground Station ran by the local committee. They were most interested to hear William&#8217;s account of how the Governor went about his business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>[<em>Any headings and italicized text in the excerpt below were added by the website editor. The rest is verbatim from the book apart from some changes to the punctuation<\/em>]<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image is-style-rounded\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"536\" src=\"https:\/\/exploreblackheritage.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/underground-railroad-william-still-1024x536.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-140\" srcset=\"https:\/\/exploreblackheritage.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/underground-railroad-william-still-1024x536.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/exploreblackheritage.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/underground-railroad-william-still-300x157.jpg 300w, https:\/\/exploreblackheritage.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/underground-railroad-william-still-768x402.jpg 768w, https:\/\/exploreblackheritage.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/underground-railroad-william-still.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_65 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title \" >Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 eztoc-toggle-hide-by-default' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/exploreblackheritage.com\/escape-from-governor-of-north-carolina-underground-railroad\/#Owned_By_The_Governor_Of_North_Carolina\" title=\"Owned By The Governor Of North Carolina\">Owned By The Governor Of North Carolina<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/exploreblackheritage.com\/escape-from-governor-of-north-carolina-underground-railroad\/#The_Committee_Gathers_Intelligence\" title=\"The Committee Gathers Intelligence\">The Committee Gathers Intelligence<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/exploreblackheritage.com\/escape-from-governor-of-north-carolina-underground-railroad\/#Separation_And_A_Broken_Promise\" title=\"Separation And A Broken Promise\">Separation And A Broken Promise<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/exploreblackheritage.com\/escape-from-governor-of-north-carolina-underground-railroad\/#Deciding_To_Flee\" title=\"Deciding To Flee\">Deciding To Flee<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/exploreblackheritage.com\/escape-from-governor-of-north-carolina-underground-railroad\/#Ten_Months_In_The_Woods\" title=\"Ten Months In The Woods\">Ten Months In The Woods<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/exploreblackheritage.com\/escape-from-governor-of-north-carolina-underground-railroad\/#At_Last_A_Conductor_Found\" title=\"At Last, A Conductor Found\">At Last, A Conductor Found<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/exploreblackheritage.com\/escape-from-governor-of-north-carolina-underground-railroad\/#About_The_Book\" title=\"About The Book\">About The Book<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Owned_By_The_Governor_Of_North_Carolina\"><\/span>Owned By The Governor Of North Carolina<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Under Governor Badger, of North Carolina, William had experienced Slavery in its most hateful form.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>True, he had only been twelve months under the yoke of this high functionary. But William&#8217;s experience in this short space of time, was of a nature very painful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Previous to coming into the governor&#8217;s hands, William was held as the property of Mrs. Mary Jordon, who owned large numbers of slaves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Whether the governor was moved by this consideration, or by the fascinating charms of Mrs. Jordon, or both, William was not able to decide. But the governor offered her his hand, and they became united in wedlock.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>By this circumstance, William was brought into his unhappy relations with the Chief Magistrate of the State of North Carolina.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This was the third time&nbsp;the governor had been married. Thus it may be seen, that the governor was a firm believer in wives as well as slaves. Commonly he was regarded as a man of wealth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Committee_Gathers_Intelligence\"><\/span>The Committee Gathers Intelligence<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>William being an intelligent piece of property, his knowledge of the governor&#8217;s rules and customs was quite complete, as he readily answered such questions as were propounded to him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In this way a great amount of interesting information was learned from William respecting the governor, slaves, on the plantation, in the swamps, etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The governor owned large plantations, and was interested in raising cotton, corn, and peas, and was also a practical planter. He was willing to trust neither overseers nor slaves any further than he could help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The governor and his wife were both equally severe towards them; would stint them shamefully in clothing and food, though they did not get flogged quite as often as some others on neighboring plantations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Frequently, the governor would be out on the plantation from early in the morning till noon, inspecting the operations of the overseers and slaves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Separation_And_A_Broken_Promise\"><\/span>Separation And A Broken Promise<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In order to serve the governor, William had been separated from his wife by sale, which was the cause of his escape. He parted not with his companion willingly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At the time, however, he was promised that he should have some favors shown him; &#8211; could make over-work, and earn a little money, and once or twice in the year, have the opportunity of making visits to her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Two hundred miles was the distance between them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He had not been long on the governor&#8217;s plantation before his honor gave him distinctly to understand that the idea of his going two hundred miles to see his wife was all nonsense, and entirely out of the question.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;If I said so, I did not mean it,&#8221; said his honor, when the slave, on a certain occasion, alluded to the conditions on which he consented to leave home, etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Deciding_To_Flee\"><\/span>Deciding To Flee<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Against this cruel decision of the governor, William&#8217;s heart revolted, for he was warmly attached to his wife, and so he made up his mind, if he could not see her &#8220;once or twice a year even,&#8221; as he had been promised, he had rather &#8220;die,&#8221; or live in a &#8220;cave in the wood,&#8221; than to remain all his life under the governor&#8217;s yoke.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Obeying the dictates of his feelings, he went to the woods.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For ten months before he was successful in finding the Underground Road, this brave-hearted young fugitive abode in the swamps &#8211; three months in a cave &#8211; surrounded with bears, wild cats, rattle-snakes and the like.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While in the swamps and cave, he was not troubled, however, about ferocious animals and venomous reptiles. He feared only man!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>From his own story there was no escaping the conclusion, that if the choice had been left to him, he would have preferred at any time to have encountered at the mouth of his cave a ferocious bear than his master, the governor of North Carolina.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>How he managed to subsist, and ultimately effected his escape, was listened to with the deepest interest, though the recital of these incidents must here be very brief.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Ten_Months_In_The_Woods\"><\/span>Ten Months In The Woods<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>After night he would come out of his cave, and, in some instances, would&nbsp;succeed in making his way to a plantation, and if he could get nothing else, he would help himself to a &#8220;pig,&#8221; or anything else he could conveniently convert into food.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Also, as opportunity would offer, a friend of his would favor him with some meal, etc. With this mode of living he labored to content himself until he could do better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>During these ten months he suffered indescribable hardships, but he felt that his condition in the cave was far preferable to that on the plantation, under the control of his Excellency, the Governor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>All this time, however, William had a true friend, with whom he could communicate; one who was wide awake, and was on the alert to find a reliable captain from the North, who would consent to take this &#8220;property,&#8221; or &#8220;freight,&#8221; for a consideration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"At_Last_A_Conductor_Found\"><\/span>At Last, A Conductor Found<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>He heard at last of a certain Captain, who was then doing quite a successful business in an Underground way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>[<em>The book doesn\u2019t go into the details but I assume that this is a captain of a schooner who would transport concealed fugitives to Philadelphia.<\/em>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This good news was conveyed to William, and afforded him a ray of hope in the wilderness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As Providence would have it, his hope did not meet with disappointment; nor did his ten months&#8217; trial, warring against the barbarism of Slavery, seem too great to endure for Freedom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He was about to leave his cave and his animal and reptile neighbors, &#8211; his heart swelling with gladness, &#8211; but the thought of soon being beyond the reach of his mistress and master thrilled him with inexpressible delight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He was brought away by Captain F., and turned over to the Committee, who were made to rejoice with him over the signal victory he had gained in his martyr-like endeavors to throw off the yoke, and of course they took much pleasure in aiding him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"About_The_Book\"><\/span>About The Book<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><em>\u201cThe Underground Railroad\u201d was published in 1872. The book gives the testimonies of hundreds of slaves who escaped to freedom using the network of agents and safe houses.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>The author, William Still, was a black abolitionist and businessman who was a key member of the Philadelphia stop in the freedom network.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>The book is in the public domain. It can be found in the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.loc.gov\/item\/11008368\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Library of Congress<\/a><\/em><em>.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>This excerpt from \u201cThe Underground Railroad\u201d by William Still documents the escape of a fugitive from the clutches of the Governor of North Carolina. This fugitive was William Jordan, who took the alias of William Price. Before he could find help on the Underground Railroad, he hid for ten months in a cave in the &#8230; <a title=\"Escape From The Governor Of North Carolina On The Underground Railroad\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/exploreblackheritage.com\/escape-from-governor-of-north-carolina-underground-railroad\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about Escape From The Governor Of North Carolina On The Underground Railroad\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":140,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/exploreblackheritage.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/562"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/exploreblackheritage.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/exploreblackheritage.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/exploreblackheritage.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/exploreblackheritage.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=562"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/exploreblackheritage.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/562\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":566,"href":"https:\/\/exploreblackheritage.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/562\/revisions\/566"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/exploreblackheritage.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/140"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/exploreblackheritage.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=562"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/exploreblackheritage.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=562"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/exploreblackheritage.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=562"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}