James
Purnell, a farmer of whom he did not speak very favorably. Yet James
admitted that his master was not as hard on his slaves as some others.

For the benefit of James' kinsfolk, who may still perchance be making
searches for him, not having yet learned whither he went or what became
of him, we copy the following paragraph as entered on our book April
11th, 1856:

James Henry is twenty years of age, dark, well-made, modest, and seems
fearful of apprehension; was moved to escape in order to obtain his
freedom. He had heard of others who had run away and thus secured their
freedom; he thought he could do the same. He left his father, mother,
three brothers and five sisters owned by Purnell. His father's name was
Ephraim, his mother's name Mahala. The names of his sisters and brothers
were as follows: Hetty, Betsy, Dinah, Catharine and Harriet; Homer,
William and James.

Zebulon Green was the next traveler. He arrived from Duck Creek, Md.
John Appleton, a farmer, was chargeable with having deprived Zeb of his
rights. But, as Zeb was only about eighteen years of age when he made
his exit, Mr. Appleton did not get much the start of him. In answer to
the question as to the cause of his escape, he replied "bad usage." He
was smart, and quite dark. In traveling, he changed his name to Samuel
Hill. The Committee endeavored to impress him thoroughly, with the idea
that he could do much good in the world for himself and fellow-men, by
using his best endeavors to acquire education, etc., and forwarded him
on to Canada.

Lewis Burrell and his brother Peter arrived safely from Alexandria,
Virginia, April 21, 1856. Lewis had been owned by Edward M. Clark, Peter
by Benjamin Johnson Hall. These passengers seemed to be well posted in
regard to Slavery, and understood full well their responsibilities in
fleeing from "kind-hearted" masters. All they feared was that they might
not reach Canada safely, although they were pretty hopeful and quite
resolute. Lewis left a wife, Winna Ann, and two children, Joseph and
Mary, who were owned by Pembroke Thomas, at Culpepper, Va., nearly a
hundred miles distant from him. Once or twice in the year, was the
privilege allowed him to visit his wife and little ones at this long
distance. This separation constituted his daily grief and was the cause
of his escape. Lewis and Peter left their father and mother in bondage,
also one brother (Reuben), and three sisters, two of whom had been sol