h Star.
Many were assisted by friends more or less secretly. These refugees
joined settlements with other people of color freeborn or freed in
the western part of the Peninsula, in the counties of Essex and Kent
and elsewhere.[5] Some of them settled in other parts of the province,
either together or more usually sporadically. Toronto received many.
These were superior to most of their race, for none but those with
more than ordinary qualities could reach Canada.[6]

The masters of runaway slaves did not always remain quiet when their
slaves reached this province. Sometimes they followed them in an
attempt to take them back. There are said to have been a few instances
of actual kidnapping. There were some of attempted kidnapping.
Most of these are merely traditional but at least one is well
authenticated.[7]

In May, 1830, a young man with finely chiselled features, bright hazel
eyes, apparently a quadroon or octoroon applied for service at the
house of Charles Baby, "the old Baby mansion in the ... historical
town of Sandwich" in Upper Canada on the Detroit River. He said he had
escaped from slavery in Kentucky, had arrived on the previous evening
at Detroit and had crossed the river to Canada as quickly as possible.
He had been a mason but understood gardening and attending to horses
and had other accomplishments. He was engaged and proved a
satisfactory servant "respectful, cleanly, capable, lithe and active
as a panther." His former master came from Kentucky and reclaimed him
after the lapse of six months. The recognition was mutual and
immediate. The Kentuckian, offered $2000 to Baby for the return of
Andrew his former slave, but the offer was indignantly refused. It
turned out that Andrew had taken his master's favorite horse to assist
him in his flight but had turned it loose after riding it some
twenty-five miles. Whether for this reason or for some other, the
Kentuckian did not appeal for the extradition of Andrew[8] but
determined to use violence.

A short time afterwards five desperadoes from Detroit attempted to
kidnap Andrew while the family were at Church, but they were
successfully resisted by Andrew and Charles Baby until the service was
over and the people were seen hastening home. The would-be kidnappers
made their escape across the river. Finding it dangerous to keep
Andrew so near the border, the neighbors took up a subscription and he
was sent by stage to York (Toronto). This place he reached in