October 25, 1857.

    Levi D. Traverse.

To fully understand the Rev. Mr. Traverse’s authority for taking the liberty he did with Aaron’s good name, it may not be amiss to give briefly a paragraph of private information from Aaron, relative to his master.  The Rev. Mr. Traverse belonged to the Methodist Church, and was described by Aaron as a “bad young man; rattle-brained; with the appearance of not having good sense,—­not enough to manage the great amount of property (he had been left wealthy) in his possession.”  Aaron’s servitude commenced under this spiritual protector in May prior to the escape, immediately after the death of his old master.  His deceased master, William D. Traverse, by the way, was the father-in-law, and at the same time own uncle of Aaron’s reverend owner.  Though the young master, for marrying his own cousin and uncle’s daughter, had been for years the subject of the old gentleman’s wrath, and was not allowed to come near his house, or to entertain any reasonable hope of getting any of his father-in-law’s estate, nevertheless, scarcely had the old man breathed his last, ere the young preacher seized upon the inheritance, slaves and all; at least he claimed two-thirds, allowing for the widow one-third.  Unhesitatingly he had taken possession of all the slaves (some thirty head), and was making them feel his power to the fullest extent.  To Aaron this increased oppression was exceedingly crushing, as he had been hoping at the death of his old master to be free.  Indeed, it was understood that the old man had his will made, and freedom provided for the slaves.  But, strangely enough, at his death no will could be found.  Aaron was firmly of the conviction that the Rev. Mr. Traverse knew what became of it.  Between the widow and the son-in-law, in consequence of his aggressive steps, existed much hostility, which strongly indicated the approach of a law-suit; therefore, except by escaping, Aaron could not see the faintest hope of freedom.  Under his old master, the favor of hiring his time had been granted him.  He had also been allowed by his wife’s mistress (Miss Jane Carter, of Baltimore), to have his wife and children home with him—­that is, until his children would grow to the age of eight and ten years, then they would be taken away and hired out at twelve or fifteen dollars a year at first.  Her oldest boy, sixteen, hired the year he left for forty dollars.  They had had ten children; two had died, two they were compelled to leave in chains; the rest they brought away.  Not one dollar’s expense had they been to their mistress.  The industrious Aaron not only had to pay his own hire, but was obliged to do enough over-work to support his large family.