Jacob Hall, alias Henry Thomas, wife Henrietta, and child, were also among the December passengers.  On the subject of freedom they were thoroughly converted.  Although Jacob was only about twenty years of age, he had seen enough of Slavery under his master, “Major William Hutchins,” whom he described as a “farmer, commissioner, drunkard, and hard master,” to know that no hope could be expected from him, but if he remained, he would daily have to be under the “harrow.”  The desire to work for himself was so strong, that he could not reconcile his mind to the demands of Slavery.  While meditating upon freedom, he concluded to make an effort with his wife and child to go to Canada.

His wife, Henrietta, who was then owned by a woman named Sarah Ann McGough, was as unhappily situated as himself.  Indeed Henrietta had come to the conclusion, that it was out of the question for a servant to please her mistress, it mattered not how hard she might try; she also said, that her mistress drank, and that made her “wus.”

Besides, she had sold Henrietta’s brother and sister, and was then taking steps to sell her,—­had just had her appraised with this view.  It was quite easy, therefore, looking at their condition in the light of these plain facts, for both husband and wife to agree, that they could not make their condition any worse, even if they should be captured in attempting to escape.  Henrietta also remembered, that years before her mother had escaped, and got off to Canada, which was an additional encouragement.  Thus, as her own faith was strengthened, she could strengthen that of her husband.

Their little child they resolved to cling to through thick and thin; so, in order that they might not have so far to carry him, father and mother each bridled a horse and “took out” in the direction of the first Underground Rail Road station.  Their faithful animals proved of incalculable service, but they were obliged to turn them loose on the road without even having the opportunity or pleasure of rewarding them with a bountiful feed of oats.

Although they had strange roads, woods and night scenes to pass through, yet they faltered not.  They found friends and advisers on the road, however, and reached the Committee in safety, who was made to rejoice that such promising-looking “property” could come out of Ladies’ Manor, Maryland.  The Committee felt that they had acted wisely in taking the horses to assist them the first night.

The next arrival is recorded thus:  “Dec. 10, 1855, Arrived, two men from near Chestertown, Md.  They came to Wilmington in a one horse wagon, and through aid of T.G. they were sent on.” (Further account at the time, written on a loose piece of paper, is among the missing).

Fenton Jones escaped from Frederick, Md.  After arriving in the neighborhood of Ereildoun, Pa., he was induced to tarry awhile for the purpose of earning means to carry him still farther.  But he was soon led to apprehend danger, and was advised and directed to apply to the Vigilance Committee of Philadelphia for the needed aid, which he did, and was dispatched forthwith to Canada.