ABSTRACT
Levin Smith was a slave in Maryland. He had a wife and several children. In the year 1802, his master sold him to one of those speculators in human beings, who were in the practice of buying slaves for the Southern market. His purchaser lived in the State of Delaware, near to Smyrna, and had a small farm. He took Levin home with him, and set him to work until he could meet with an opportunity of selling him for a good price. Levin’s wife and children were free, and remained a short time in Maryland, after he was removed to Delaware, when they went to Philadelphia. Levin became apprised of his master’s intention of selling him, and made his case known to William Corbet, who lived in that neighborhood. He advised him to go to Philadelphia, and gave him a few lines to me, describing his case. In a few days, Levin called upon me, and handed me the letter from William Corbit, by which I learned that Levin’s new master was a desperate fellow; and I was given to understand, that he might be expected to make a violent effort to regain possession of the fugitive. Levin went to live with his wife and children in the district of Southwark, and commenced the business of sawing wood to support his family. His wife took in washing. I instructed him to inform me if he should hear of his master being in the city. He had not been in Philadelphia more than a month, when his master, having discovered his place of residence, went there in pursuit of him. A small sloop that traded between Philadelphia and Smyrna, then called Appoquiniminque, lay at Gurling’s wharf, in the lower part of Southwark, and Levin’s master agreed with the captain to transport him home. It was high water about day-light in the morning, and they had planned to seize Levin in his bed, take him on board the vessel, and immediately start down the river. All this was to be done before Levin’s family could have time to inform his 160friends: and if it had not been for an accident, occasioned by the captain’s drinking rather too freely the previous evening, it is probable they would have succeeded. In the afternoon of the day before that on which the vessel was to sail, some goods were deposited in a store near where she lay, that were to be taken in her to Smyrna, but the captain neglected to take them on board.
