Slaveholders in the United States frequently claimed that Blacks were 'happy' to be slaves and could, in no way, function as free people as they would find freedom 'burdensome' – a claim fully articulated by slavery apologist T. R. Dew's A Review of the Debate in the Virginia Legislature of 1831 and 1832. The records of the Underground Railroad, as well as other sources, contradict that claim.
Among the many accounts of enslaved persons going to extreme lengths to gain their freedom are the examples of Clarissa Davis (1854) and the unnamed Woman Escaping in a Box (1857) as set down in The Underground Railroad Records (1872) by William Still (1819-1902), the "Father of the Underground Railroad", who kept extensive records of the freedom seekers delivered from bondage to liberty.
Clarissa Davis (later known as Mary D. Armstead) dressed as a man to evade slave-catchers and others, and traveled in a chest aboard a ship from Virginia to Pennsylvania to win her freedom, while the unnamed Woman In A Box had herself shipped from Baltimore, Maryland, to freedom in Philadelphia in a box – just like Henry Box Brown (circa 1815 to 1897) and Lear Green (circa 1839 to 1860) – but, in her case, she was pregnant and so had a much more difficult time in her journey. Clarissa Davis' escape disguised as a man is often referenced in comparison to the better-known case of Anna Maria Weems (circa 1840 to circa 1863), who did the same thing.
In the case of the unnamed Woman In A Box, the very fact that a pregnant woman would have herself confined in a small chest, risking serious injury to herself and her unborn child to escape slavery, should have been proof enough that there were no "happy slaves", and yet the myth of "grateful slaves" who were provided with "life skills" by their masters persisted and, in some quarters, is still repeated today.
The narratives given below are only two of many that not only contradict the "happy slave" claim but exemplify enslaved people's desire for freedom in the United States in the 19th century prior to the American Civil War and the abolition of slavery by the Thirteenth Amendment in 1865.
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The following is taken from The Underground Railroad Records (1872) by William Still.
Clarissa Davis: Arrived in Male Attire:
Clarissa fled from Portsmouth, Va., in May 1854, with two of her brothers. Two months and a half before she succeeded in getting off, Clarissa had made a desperate effort, but failed. The brothers succeeded, but she was left. She had not given up all hope of escape, however, and therefore sought "a safe hiding-place until an opportunity might offer," by which she could follow her brothers on the U.G.R.R. Clarissa was owned by Mrs. Brown and Mrs. Burkley, of Portsmouth, under whom she had always served.
Of them she spoke favorably, saying that she "had not been used as hard as many others were." At this period, Clarissa was about twenty-two years of age, of a bright brown complexion, with handsome features, exceedingly respectful and modest, and possessed all the characteristics of a well-bred young lady. For one so little acquainted with books as she was, the correctness of her speech was perfectly astonishing.
For Clarissa and her two brothers a "reward of one thousand dollars" was kept standing in the papers for a length of time, as these (articles) were considered very rare and valuable; the best that could be produced in Virginia.
In the meanwhile, the brothers had passed safely on to New Bedford, but Clarissa remained secluded, "waiting for the storm to subside." Keeping up courage day by day, for seventy-five days, with the fear of being detected and severely punished, and then sold, after all her hopes and struggles, required the faith of a martyr.
Time after time, when she hoped to succeed in making her escape, ill luck seemed to disappoint her, and nothing but intense suffering appeared to be in store. Like many others, under the crushing weight of oppression, she thought she "should have to die" ere she tasted liberty. In this state of mind, one day, word was conveyed to her that the steamship, City of Richmond, had arrived from Philadelphia, and that the steward on board (with whom she was acquainted), had consented to secrete her this trip, if she could manage to reach the ship safely, which was to start the next day.
This news to Clarissa was both cheering and painful. She had been "praying all the time while waiting," but now she felt "that if it would only rain right hard the next morning about three o'clock, to drive the police officers off the street, then she could safely make her way to the boat."
Therefore, she prayed anxiously all that day that it would rain, "but no sign of rain appeared till towards midnight." The prospect looked horribly discouraging; but she prayed on, and at the appointed hour (three o'clock—before day), the rain descended in torrents. Dressed in male attire, Clarissa left the miserable coop where she had been almost without light or air for two and a half months, and unmolested, reached the boat safely, and was secreted in a box by Wm. Bagnal, a clever young man who sincerely sympathized with the slave, having a wife in slavery himself; and by him she was safely delivered into the hands of the Vigilance Committee.
Clarissa Davis here, by advice of the Committee, dropped her old name, and was straightway christened "Mary D. Armstead." Desiring to join her brothers and sister in New Bedford, she was duly furnished with her U.G.R.R. passport and directed thitherward. Her father, who was left behind when she got off, soon after made his way on North, and joined his children. He was too old and infirm probably to be worth anything, and had been allowed to go free, or to purchase himself for a mere nominal sum.
Slaveholders would, on some such occasions, show wonderful liberality in letting their old slaves go free, when they could work no more. After reaching New Bedford, Clarissa manifested her gratitude in writing to her friends in Philadelphia repeatedly, and evinced a very lively interest in the U.G.R.R. The appended letter indicates her sincere feelings of gratitude and deep interest in the cause—
NEW BEDFORD, August 26, 1855.
MR. STILL:—I avail myself to write you these few lines hoping they may find you and your family well as they leaves me very well and all the family well except my father he seems to be improving with his shoulder he has been able to work a little I received the papers I was highly delighted to receive them I was very glad to hear from you in the wheeler case I was very glad to hear that the persons ware safe. I was very sorry to hear that Mr. Williamson was put in prison, but I know if the praying part of the people will pray for him, and if he will put his trust in the lord, he will bring him out more than conquer.
Please remember my Dear old farther and sisters and brothers to your family kiss the children for me I hear that the yellow fever is very bad down south now if the underground railroad could have free course the emigrant would cross the river of Jordan rapidly. I hope it may continue to run and I hope the wheels of the car may be greased with more substantial grease so they may run over swiftly.
I would have wrote before but circumstances would not permit me. Miss Sanders and all the friends desired to be remembered to you and your family. I shall be pleased to hear from the underground railroad often.
Yours respectfully,
MARY D. ARMSTEAD.
Woman Escaping in a Box, 1857: She Was Speechless:
In the winter of 1857, a young woman, who had just turned her majority, was boxed up in Baltimore by one who stood to her in the relation of a companion, a young man, who had the box conveyed as freight to the depot in Baltimore, consigned to Philadelphia.
Nearly all one night it remained at the depot with the living agony in it, and after being turned upside down more than once, the next day about ten o'clock it reached Philadelphia. Her companion coming on in advance of the box, arranged with a hackman, George Custus, to attend to having it brought from the depot to a designated house, Mrs. Myers', 412 S. 7th street, where the resurrection was to take place.
Custus, without knowing exactly what the box contained, but suspecting from the apparent anxiety and instructions of the young man who engaged him to go after it, that it was of great importance, while the freight car still remained on the street, demanded it of the freight agent, not willing to wait the usual time for the delivery of freight.
At first the freight agent declined delivering under such circumstances. The hackman insisted by saying that he wished to dispatch it in great haste, said it is all right, you know me, I have been coming here for many years every day, and will be responsible for it.
The freight-master told him to "take it and go ahead with it." No sooner said than done. It was placed in a one-horse wagon at the instance of Custus and driven to Seventh and Minster streets.
The secret had been entrusted to Mrs. M. by the young companion of the woman. A feeling of horror came over the aged woman, who had been thus suddenly entrusted with such responsibility. A few doors from her lived an old friend of the same religious faith with herself, well known as a brave woman, and a friend of the slave, Mrs. Ash, the undertaker or shrouder, whom everybody knew among the colored people.
Mrs. Myers felt that it would not be wise to move in the matter of this resurrection without the presence of the undertaker. Accordingly, she called Mrs. Ash in. Even her own family was excluded from witnessing the scene. The two aged women chose to be alone in that fearful moment, shuddering at the thought that a corpse might meet their gaze instead of a living creature.
However, they mustered courage and pried off the lid. A woman was discovered in the straw, but no sign of life was perceptible. Their fears seemed fulfilled. "Surely she is dead," thought the witnesses.
"Get up, my child," spake one of the women. With scarcely life enough to move the straw covering, she, nevertheless, did now show signs of life, but to a very faint degree. She could not speak but being assisted arose. She was straightway aided upstairs, not yet uttering a word.
After a short while she said, "I feel so deadly weak." She was then asked if she would not have some water or nourishment, which she declined. Before a great while, however, she was prevailed upon to take a cup of tea. She then went to bed, and there remained all day, speaking but a very little during that time. The second day she gained strength and was able to talk much better, but not with ease. The third day she began to come to herself and talk quite freely.
She tried to describe her sufferings and fears while in the box, but in vain. In the midst of her severest agonies, her chief fear was, that she would be discovered and carried back to Slavery. She had a pair of scissors with her, and in order to procure fresh air, she had made a hole in the box, but it was very slight. How she ever managed to breathe and maintain her existence, being in the condition of becoming a mother, it was hard to comprehend.
In this instance, the utmost endurance was put to the test. She was obviously nearer death than Henry Box Brown, or any of the other box or chest cases that ever came under the notice of the Committee.
In Baltimore, she belonged to a wealthy and fashionable family, and had been a seamstress and ladies' servant generally. On one occasion, when sent of an errand for certain articles in order to complete arrangements for the Grand Opening Ball at the Academy of Music, she took occasion not to return, but was among the missing.
Great search was made, and a large reward offered, but all to no purpose. A free colored woman, who washed for the family, was suspected of knowing something of her going, but they failing to get aught out of her, she was discharged.
Soon after the arrival of this traveler at Mrs. Myers', the Committee was sent for and learned the facts as above stated. After spending some three or four days in Mrs. Myers' family, she remained in the writer's family about the same length of time and was then forwarded to Canada.
Mrs. Myers was originally from Baltimore and had frequently been in the habit of receiving Underground Railroad passengers; she had always found Thomas Shipley, the faithful philanthropist, a present help in time of need. The young man well knew Mrs. Myers would act with prudence in taking his companion to her house.
George Custus, the hackman, a colored man, was cool, sensible, and reliable in the discharge of his duty, as were the other parties, therefore everything was well managed.
With this interesting case our narratives end, except such facts of a like kind as may be connected with some of the sketches of stockholders. A large number on the record book must be omitted. This is partly owing to the fact that, during the first few years of our connection with the Underground Rail Road, so little was written out in the way of narratives, that would hardly be of sufficient interest to publish; and partly from the fact that, although there are exceptional cases even among those so omitted, that would be equally as interesting as many which have been inserted, time and space will not admit of further encroachment.
If in any way we have erred in the task of furnishing facts and important information touching the Underground Railroad, it has not been in overstating the sufferings, trials, perils, and marvelous escapes of those described, but on the contrary.
In many instances, after hearing the most painful narratives, we had neither time nor inclination to write them out, except in the briefest manner, simply sufficient to identify parties, which we did, not dreaming that the dark cloud of Slavery was so soon to give way to the bright sunlight of Freedom.
