mself were never
favorable; sometimes of "nights" he would manage to earn a "trifle." He
was prompted to escape because he "wanted to live by the sweat of his
own brow," believing that all men ought so to live. This was the only
reason he gave for fleeing.

Mary Elizabeth had been owned by Townsend McVee (likewise a farmer), and
in Mary's judgment, he was "severe," but she added, "his wife made him
so." McVee owned about twenty-five slaves; "he hardly allowed them to
talk--would not allow them to raise chickens," and "only allowed Mary
three dresses a year;" the rest she had to get as she could. Sometimes
McVee would sell slaves--last year he sold two. Mary said that she could
not say anything good of her mistress. On the contrary, she declared
that her mistress "knew no mercy nor showed any favor."

It was on account of this "domineering spirit," that Mary was induced to
escape.

Frank was owned by Luther Sullivan, "the meanest man in Virginia," he
said; he treated his people just as bad as he could in every respect.
"Sullivan," added Frank, "would 'lowance the slaves and stint them to
save food and get rich," and "would sell and whip," etc. To Frank's
knowledge, he had sold some twenty-five head. "He sold my mother and her
two children to Georgia some four years previous." But the motive which
hurried Frank to make his flight was his laboring under the apprehension
that his master had some "pretty heavy creditors who might come on him
at any time." Frank, therefore, wanted to be from home in Canada when
these gentry should make their visit. My poor mother has been often
flogged by master, said Frank. As to his mistress, he said she was
"tolerably good."

Ann Wood was owned by McVee also, and was own sister to Elizabeth. Ann
very fully sustained her sister Elizabeth's statement respecting the
character of her master.

The above-mentioned four, were all young and likely. Barnaby was
twenty-six years of age, mulatto, medium size, and intelligent--his wife
was about twenty-four years of age, quite dark, good-looking, and of
pleasant appearance. Frank was twenty-five years of age, mulatto, and
very smart; Ann was twenty-two, good-looking, and smart. After their
pressing wants had been met by the Vigilance Committee, and after
partial recuperation from their hard travel, etc., they were forwarded
on to the Vigilance Committee in New York. In Syracuse, Frank (the
leader), who was engaged to Emily, concluded that the kn