ABSTRACT
In the summer of 1811, a man by the name of T.I. Moses came to Philadelphia, took lodgings in Cherry, near Eighth street, and hired a colored boy, by the name of Peter Reuben Francis Johnson, to wait upon him. After the boy had been with him a few days, he proposed going to Jersey to get cherries, and asked the lad to accompany him, to which he readily assented, and they proceeded together to Market street wharf, and went on board the New castle packet-boat. He directed the lad to go into the cabin, and remain there till he was ready to start for Jersey. The boy did so, and after the lapse of perhaps an hour, he became uneasy, and went on deck to see what had become of his master. To his astonishment, he found that the boat had sailed and was then several miles down the river; and before the evening of the next day, they reached the city of Baltimore! There Moses sold the boy to a man by the name of J. Roach. The landlord of the hotel where they put up, observing the child crying, and appearing in great distress, inquired of him the cause of his grief; and upon being informed immediately sent for Elisha Tyson, 2 whose character for benevolence was well known in Baltimore. E.T. lost no time, but promptly proceeded to the inn, and upon investigating the circumstances in relation to the lad, became satisfied that he had been kidnapped. He took measures to have him secured, and addressed the following letter to me at Philadelphia
Baltimore 6 Mo 27th, 1811
Isaac T. Hopper.
Esteemed Friend–I have taken the liberty to ask thy assistance in detecting a monster of a man, by the name 38of T.I. Moses, who, it appears, a few days past hired a mulatto boy, by the name of Peter Robin Francis Johnson, about nine years old, from his mother in your city. She formerly lived with Benjamin Chew as a cook. Her name was formerly Isabella Douglass, but is now Stephens, and at present lives with her mother in Middle Alley, Sixth street, and follows sewing for a livelihood.
Immediately on the fellow’s arrival here, he lost no time in selling the boy to one of the dealers in human flesh, for two hundred and fifty dollars. But, fortunately for the boy, he was accidentally secured from being made a slave for life, and is now here safe, of which I wish thee to inform his mother. The fellow has made his escape.
I wish some person or document to be sent on here, sufficient to identify the boy, so that he may return to his mother and friends again.
ELISHA TYSON
