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

Record Detail

Record #75 from Abstracts from William Still's Underground Railroad

Traveler's Names Anna Scott
Age
Description
Alias
Origin- Town/City Cecil Cross-Roads
Origin- County Cecil Co
Origin- State Maryland
Destination Canada
Birthplace
Slaveowner's Name Mrs. Ann Elizabeth Lushy
Chapter Title Sundry Arrivals--Latter part of December, 1855 and Beginning of January, 1856
Page Number 336
Other Travelers Joseph Cornish, Lewis Francis, Alexander Munson, Samuel and Ann Scott, Wm Henry Laminson, Henry and Eliza Washington, Henry Chambers, John Chambers, Samuel Fall, Thomas Anderson
Other Conductors
Additional Names
Method of Travel
Additional Resources
Items in Possession
Full Narrative ANNA SCOTT and husband, Samuel Scott. This couple escaped from Cecil Cross-Roads, Md. The wife, in this instance, evidently took the lead, and acted the more manly part in striking for freedom ; therefore, our notice of this arrival will chiefly relate to her. Anna was owned by a widow, named Mrs. Ann Elizabeth Lushy, who resided on a farm of her own. Fifteen slaves, with other stock, were kept on the place. She was accustomed to rule with severity, being governed by a "high temper," and in nowise disposed to allow her slaves to enjoy even ordinary privileges, and besides, would occasionally sell to the Southern market. She was calculated to render slave life very unhappy. Anna portrayed her mistress's treatment of the slaves with much earnestness, espe- cially when referring to the sale of her own brother and sister. Upon the whole, the mistress was so hateful to Anna, that she -resolved not to live in the house with her. During several years prior to her escape, Anna had been hired out, where she had been treated a little more decently than her mistress was wont to do; on this account she was less willing to put up with any subsequent abuse from her mistress. To escape was the only remedy, so she made up her mind, that she would leave at all hazards. She gave her husband to understand, that she had resolved to seek a home in Canada. Fortunately, he was free, but slavery had many ways of putting the yoke on the colored man, even though he might be free; it was bound to keep him in ignorance, and at the same time miserably abject, so that he would scarcely dare to look up in the presence of white people.

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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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