Mary
Emily
GettingStarted
Ibegantoresearchthestory.IstartedwithabookcalledFugitivesofthePearl.Itwaswrittenin1930byJohnH.Paynter.HewasarelativeoftheEdmonsons.Next,IfoundabookwrittenbythecaptainofthePearl. Thesebookshavebeenpreserved forustoread.Theytoldmewhathappened.Iwantedtoknow more.
Ilookedatrecordsandotherdocumentsfromthattime.Ilookedatshippassengerlistsandcourtcases.Ialsoreadabolitionist newspapers.Anabolitionistwasapersonwhobelievedthatslaveryshouldend.Thesematerialsarecalledprimary sources.
RecreatingthePast
ThesesourcestoldmethattheEdmonsonsownedafarminWashington,D.C.Theirfather,Paul,wasafreeman.Hewasnotaslave.Yet,thechildrenwereslaves.Thelawsaidtheyhadtobeslavesbecausetheirmother,Amelia,wasaslave.PaulandAmeliawantedabetterlifefortheir children.