the old gentleman's wrath, and was not allowed
to come near his house, or to entertain any reasonable hope of getting
any of his father-in-law's estate, nevertheless, scarcely had the old
man breathed his last, ere the young preacher seized upon the
inheritance, slaves and all; at least he claimed two-thirds, allowing
for the widow one-third. Unhesitatingly he had taken possession of all
the slaves (some thirty head), and was making them feel his power to the
fullest extent. To Aaron this increased oppression was exceedingly
crushing, as he had been hoping at the death of his old master to be
free. Indeed, it was understood that the old man had his will made, and
freedom provided for the slaves. But, strangely enough, at his death no
will could be found. Aaron was firmly of the conviction that the Rev.
Mr. Traverse knew what became of it. Between the widow and the
son-in-law, in consequence of his aggressive steps, existed much
hostility, which strongly indicated the approach of a law-suit;
therefore, except by escaping, Aaron could not see the faintest hope of
freedom. Under his old master, the favor of hiring his time had been
granted him. He had also been allowed by his wife's mistress (Miss Jane
Carter, of Baltimore), to have his wife and children home with him--that
is, until his children would grow to the age of eight and ten years,
then they would be taken away and hired out at twelve or fifteen dollars
a year at first. Her oldest boy, sixteen, hired the year he left for
forty dollars. They had had ten children; two had died, two they were
compelled to leave in chains; the rest they brought away. Not one
dollar's expense had they been to their mistress. The industrious Aaron
not only had to pay his own hire, but was obliged to do enough over-work
to support his large family.

Though he said he had no special complaint to make against his old
master, through whom he, with the rest of the slaves, hoped to obtain
freedom, Aaron, nevertheless, spoke of him as a man of violent temper,
severe on his slaves, drinking hard, etc., though he was a man of wealth
and stood high in the community. One of Aaron's brothers, and others,
had been sold South by him. It was on account of his inveterate hatred
of his son-in-law, who, he declared, should never have his property
(having no other heir but his niece, except his widow), that the slaves
relied on his promise to free them. Thus, in view of the facts referred
to, Aaron was