uite so ignorant as the
interests of the system required. His physical make and mental capacity
were good. He was decidedly averse to the peculiar institution in every
particular. He stated, that a man named Samuel Laws had held him in
bondage--that this "Laws was a man of no business--just sat about the
house and went about from store to store and sat; that he was an old
man, pretty grey, very long hair. He was a member of a church in the
neighborhood, which was called Radical." Of this church and its members
he could give but little account, either of their peculiarities or
creed; he said, however, that they worshipped a good deal like the
Methodists, and allowed their members to swear heartily for slavery.

"Something told" George that he had worked long enough as a slave, and
that he should be man enough to take the Underground Rail Road and go
off to a free country. Accordingly George set out. When he arrived at
the station he was so highly delighted with his success and the prospect
before him, that he felt very sorry that he hadn't started ten years
sooner. He said that he would have done so, but he was afraid, as
slave-holders were always making the slaves believe that if they should
ever escape they would catch them and bring them back and sell them down
South, certain; that they always did catch every one who ran off, but
never brought them home, but sold them right off where they could never
run away any more, or get to see their relatives again. This threat,
George said, was continually rung in the ears of the slaves, and with
the more timid it was very effective.

Jacob Blockson, after reaching Canada, true to the pledge that he made
to his bosom companion, wrote back as follows:

SAINT CATHARINES. Cannda West, Dec. 26th, 1858.

DEAR WIFE:--I now infom you I am in Canada and am well and hope
you are the same, and would wish you to be here next august, you
come to suspension bridge and from there to St. Catharines,
write and let me know. I am doing well working for a Butcher
this winter, and will get good wages in the spring I now get
$2,50 a week.

I Jacob Blockson, George Lewis, George Alligood and James
Alligood are all in St. Catharines, and met George Ross from
Lewis Wright's, Jim Blockson is in Canada West, and Jim Delany,
Plunnoth Connon. I expect you my wife Lea Ann Blockson, my son
Alexander & Lewis and Ames will all be here and Isabella also,