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A woman, who was born too early to derive benefit from the gradual emancipation law of
Pennsylvania, escaped from bondage in
Lancaster County to
Philadelphia.
There she married a free colored man by the name of
Abraham Morris.
They lived together very comfortably for several years, and seemed to enjoy life as much as many of their more wealthy neighbors.
But in the year 1810, it unfortunately happened that Mary's master ascertained where she lived, and sent a man to arrest her, with directions either to sell her, or bring her back to him.
Abraham Morris was a very intelligent, industrious man, and had laid up some money.
He offered one hundred and fifty dollars of his earnings to purchase the freedom of his wife.
The sum was accepted, and the parties applied to
Daniel Bussier, a magistrate in the
District of
Southwark, to draw up a deed of manumission.
The money was paid, and the deed given; but the agent employed to sell the woman absconded with the money.
The master, after waiting several months and not hearing from him, sent to
Philadelphia and caused
Mary Morris to be arrested again.
She was taken to the
office of
Daniel Bussier, and notwithstanding he had witnessed her deed of manumission a few months before, he committed her to prison as a fugitive slave.
When her