OntheRoad
ItraveledtoLouisianatotrytotracethesisters’journey.Aftertheyarrived,theywereturnedovertoamannamedWilson.ThecitydirectorylistedaslavetradernamedJonathanWilson.Headvertisedhowpeoplecouldeasilyreachhisslavejailbystreetcar.Itturnedoutthatitwastwoblocksfrommy hotel.
In1848,however,therewasaterribleoutbreakofyellowfeverinNewOrleans.MaryandEmilywerevaluable“property.”Slavetradersdidn’twantthemtogetsick.TheysentthegirlsbacktothejailinWashington,D.C.Thisgavesupportersachancetofree them.
AbolitionistsheldapartyinNewYorkCitytoraisefundsforthesisters.Itwasexpensivetopaytofreehumanbeings.Supportersfinallygatheredeverypennytheyneededtopurchasethegirls’freedom.Withgreatjoy,MaryandEmilysteppedoutoftheslavejail.Finally,theywere free!
DiscoveringTheirPath
Nowfree,MaryandEmily’seducationcamefirst.HarrietBeecherStowehelpedtofinancetheirstudies.TheyattendedaschoolinNewYork.Theylearnedtoreadand write.
Itraveledtheretoreadtheschoolrecords.IfoundcopiesofEmily’sletterstoStoweandfamilymembers.Itwasverymovingtoreadherownwordsandseeherhandwriting.Sadly,Marydiedoftuberculosisyearslaterin college.
FollowingTheirJourney
Emilyreturnedto Washington,D.C.,tobewithherfamily.Shetaughtatateacher’sschoolforyoungblack women.
ThreeoftheEdmonsonbrothersendedupfree.AwealthymanfromNewYorkdonated$900forRichard’sfreedom.PaynterreportedthatEmilyraisedmoneytofreeherbrother, Ephraim.
SamuelescapedonashipleavingNewOrleans.PayntersaidthathetraveledtoAustraliaandEngland.TheU.S.censusfor1870showedthatSamuelhadreturnedtoWashingtonD.C.,aftertheCivilWar.Hebroughthiswifeandchildrenwith him.
JohnEdmonsonwastheonlybrotherwhonevermadeithome.TheU.S.censusfor1870describesablackfarmerinLouisiananamedJohnEdmonson.Hisnamethendisappearedfromthe records.
TellingTheirStory
Eventually,Ihadenoughinformationtowriteandpublishabook.Youcanreadit.It’scalledEscapeonthe Pearl.
ThePearl escapechangedAmericanhistory.Twoyearsafterithappened,slavetradingwasoutlawedinthenation’scapital.ItwouldtakeaCivilWar,however,toabolishslaverythroughouttheUnitedStates.Whatbecameofthepeopleonthe Pearl?
IfoundthedescendantsoftheEdmonsonfamilyandmanyoftheotherpassengers.Theywereteachers,doctors,andsomanyother things.
Forme,learningwhathappenedtothepeopleonthePearl wasoneofthemostrewardingpartsofmyresearch.TherearemoreAmericanstorieswaitingtobediscovered.Iwillcontinuetolook.Whoknowswhatstorywewilldiscover next?
authorMaryKay Ricks
