Edward H. Nabb Research Center for Delmarva History & Culture Enduring Connections: Exploring Delmarva's Black History

Record Detail

Record #49 from Abstracts from William Still's Underground Railroad

Traveler's Names William Bailey
Age
Description he is of a darker color, about 5 feet 8 inches in height, stammers a little when confused, well-made and older than Joe, well dressed, but may have pulled kearsey over their other clothes
Alias
Origin- Town/City Easton
Origin- County Talbot
Origin- State Maryland
Destination Canada
Birthplace
Slaveowner's Name John C. Henry
Chapter Title Heavy Reward
Page Number 273-274
Other Travelers Josiah and William Bailey, Peter Pennington
Other Conductors
Additional Names Eliza Nokey
Method of Travel
Additional Resources Runaway Ad
Items in Possession
Full Narrative Two THOUSAND Six HUNDRED DOLLARS REWARD.? Ran away from the subscriber, on Saturday night November 15th, 1856, Josiah and William Bailey, and Peter Pennington. Joe is about 5 feet 10 inches in height, of a chestnut color, bald head, with a remarkable scar on one ot his cheeks, not positive on which it is, but think it is on the left, under the eye, has intel- ligent countenance, active, and well-made. He is about 28 years old. Bill is of a darker color, about 5 feet 8 inches in height, stammers a little when confused, well-made, and older than Joe, well dressed, but may have pulled kearsey on over their other clothes. Peter is smaller than either the others, about 25 years of age, dark chestnut color, 5 feet 7 or 8 inches high. A reward of fifteen hundred dollars will be given to any person who will apprehend the said Joe Bailey, and lodge him safely in the jail at Easton, Talbot Co., Md., and $300 for Bill and $800 for Peter. W. R. HUGHLETT, JOHN C. HENRY, T. WEIGHT. WILLIAM BAILEY was owned by John C. Henry, a large slave-holder, and a very " hard " one, if what William alleged of him was true. His story certainly had every appearance of truthfulness. A recent brutal flogging had " stiffened his back-bone/' and furnished him with his excuse for not being willing to continue in Maryland, working his strength away to enrich his master, or the man who claimed to be such. The memorable flogging, however, which caused him to seek flight on the Underground Rail Road, was not administered by his master or on his master's plantation. He was hired out, and it was in this situation that he was so barbarously treated. Yet he considered his master more in fault than the man to whom he was hired, but redress there was none, save to escape.

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[Author (if known)], Abstracts from William Still's Underground Railroad, [Date (if known)], Enduring Connections: Exploring Delmarva’s Black History, Nabb Research Center, Salisbury University.

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