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Fugitive Slaves in Britain: The Odyssey of William and Ellen Craft

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 January 2009

R. J. M. Blackett
R. J. M. Blackett
Affiliation:
Black Studies at the University of Pittsburgh.
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Extract

Early on a December morning in 1848, long before anyone else stirred, two slaves, a man and woman, made their bid for freedom from a plantation, just outside Macon, Georgia. She, almost white, was dressed as a slave master, he as her valet. In four days they were in Philadelphia; three weeks later they moved to the safer city of Boston where they remained until the passing of the infamous Fugitive Slave Bill in September 1850 forced them to flee to England. Nineteen years were spent under the “ mane of the British lion ” free from the “ claws of the American eagle.” Finally, after the Civil War they returned as farmers to their native Georgia. Their bold odyssey in 1848 brought them fame and renown. It was a story of love, determination and resilience, the virtues of frontier America, conquering all odds. No other escape, with the possible exception of Frederick Douglass' and Josiah Henson's, created such a stir in ante-bellum America as did the Crafts'.

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of American Studies , Volume 12 , Issue 1 , April 1978 , pp. 41 - 62
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1978

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References

He wishes to thank Professors Robert Harris, Murdo McLeod and Betty Fladeland for their useful comments. Research for this paper was made possible by grants from the Research Development Fund of the University of Pittsburgh, the Department of Black Studies and the Center for International Studies.

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34 While it is impossible to say, beyond all doubt, that William was the sole author of the narrative, his style, as seen in some of his later letters and reports, suggests that he possessed all the literary tools to write Running. Chesson, who became a very close associate, always referred to William as the author.

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