William was a slave in
Virginia.
When about twenty-five years old, he left his master and went to
Philadelphia with two of his fellow slaves; giving as a reason that he wanted to try whether he could n't do something for himself.
When they had been absent a few months, their master ‘sold them running’ to
Mr. Joseph Ennells, a speculator in slaves, who procured a warrant and constable and repaired to
Philadelphia in search of his newly acquired property.
They arrived on Saturday, a day when many people congregated at the horse-market.
Ennells
After spending some days in search of them,
Ennells called upon
Isaac T. Hopper and
Thomas Harrison, and offered to sell them very cheap if
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they would hunt them up. Friend
Hopper immedilately recognized him as the man who had threatened to blow out his brains, when he went to the rescue of old William Bachelor; and he thus addressed him: ‘I would advise thee to go home and obtain thy living in some more honorable way; for the trade in which thou art engaged is a most odious one.
On a former occasion
thou wert treated with leniency; and I recommend a similar course to thee with regard to these poor fugitives.’
The speculator finally agreed to sell the three men for two hundred and fifty dollars. The money was paid, and he returned home.
In the course of a few days
William Anderson called upon
Isaac T. Hopper for advice.
He informed him that
Thomas Harrison had bought him and his companions, and told him he had better find the other two, and go and make a bargain with Friend
Harrison concerning the payment.
He called accordingly, and offered to bind himself as a servant until he had earned enough to repay the money that had been advanced; but he said he had searched in vain for the two companions of his flight.
They had left the city abruptly, and he could not ascertain where they had gone.
Thomas Harrison said to him, ‘Perhaps thou art not aware that thou hast a legal claim to thy freedom already; for I am a citizen of
Pennsylvania, and the laws here do not allow any man to hold a slave.’
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William replied, ‘I am too grateful for the kindness you have shown me, to feel any disposition to take advantage of that circumstance.
If I live, you shall never lose a single cent on my account.’
He was soon after indentured to
Mr. Jacob Downing a respectable merchant of
Philadelphia, who agreed to pay one hundred and twenty-five dollars agreed to pay one half of the money adfor his services.
This was half of the money advanced for all of them.
William served the stipulated time faithfully.
His master said he never had a more honest and useful servant; and he on his part always spoke of the family with great respect and affection.
When the time of his indenture had expired, he called upon his old benefactor,
Thomas Harrison.
After renewing his grateful acknowledgments for the service rendered to him in extremity, he inquired whether anything had ever been heard from the two other fugitives.
Being answered in the negative, he replied, ‘Well,
Mr. Harrison, you paid two hundred and fifty dollars for us, and you have not been able to find my companions.
You have received only one hundred and twenty-five dollars. It is not right that you should lose by your kindness to us. I am willing you should bind me again to make up the balance.’
‘Honest fellow!
Honest fellow!’
exclaimed
Thomas Harrison.
‘Go about thy business.
Thou hast
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paid thy share, and I have no further claim upon thee.
Conduct as well as thou hast done since I have known thee, and thou wilt surely prosper.’
Friend
Hopper happened to be present at this interview; and he used to say, many years afterward, that he should never forget how it made his heart glow to witness such honorable and disinterested conduct.
The two other fugitives were never heard of, and Friend
Harrison of course lost one hundred and twenty-five dollars. William frequently called upon his benefactors, and always conducted in the most exemplary manner.
