SAMUEL SLATER, alias PATTERSON SMITH, came from a place called Power Bridge, Md.  He gave a satisfactory account of himself, and was commended for having wisely left his master, William Martin, to earn his bread by the sweat of his own brow.  Martin had held up the vision of the auction-block before Sam; this was enough.  Sam saw that it was time for him to be getting out of danger’s way without delay, so he presumed, if others could manage to escape, he could too.  And he succeeded.  He was a stout man, about twenty-nine years of age, of dark complexion.  No particular mention of ill treatment is found on the Records.

After arriving in Canada, his heart turned with deep interest and affection to those left in the prison-house, as the following letter indicates.

    ST. CATHRINES Oct 29th.

MY DEAR FRIEND:—­yours of the 15th came to hand and I was glad to hea from you and your dear family were well and the reason that I did not write sooner I expected get a letter from my brother in pennsylvania but I have not received any as yet when I wrote last I directed my letter to philip scott minister of the asbury church baltimore and that was the reason that I thought it strange I did not get an answer but I did not put my brother name to it I made arrangements before I left home with a family of smiths that I was to write to and the letter that I enclose in this I want you to direct it to D Philip scott in his care for mrs cassey Jackson Duke Jacksons wife and she will give to Priana smith or Sarah Jane Smith those are the persons I wish to write to I wish you to write on as quick as you can and let them know that there is a lady coming on by the name of mrs Holonsworth and she will call and see you and you will find her a very interesting and inteligent person one worthy of respect and esteem and a high reputation I must now bring my letter to a close no more at present but remain your humble servant

    PATTERSON SMITH

    In my letters I did not write to my friends how they shall write
    to me but in the letter that you write you will please to tell
    them how they shall write to me.

HARRISON BELL AND DAUGHTER HARRIET ANN.  Father and daughter were fortunate enough to escape together from Norfolk, Va.

Harrison was just in the prime of life, forty years of age, stout made, good features, but in height was rather below medium, was a man of more than ordinary shrewdness, by trade he was a chandler.  He alleged that he had been used hard.

Harriet Ann was a well-grown girl of pleasant appearance, fourteen years of age.  Father and daughter had each different owners, one belonged to James Snyder, the other to John G. Hodgson.

Harrison had been informed that his children were to be sold; to prevent this shocking fate, he was prompted to escape.  Several months previous to finding a chance to make a safe flight, he secreted himself with his children in Norfolk, and so remained up to the day he left, a passage having been secured for them on one of the boats coming to Philadelphia.  While the records contain no definite account of other children, it is evident that there were others, but what became of them is not known.