OntheRoad
IwenttoLouisianatotrytotracethesisters’journey.TheywereturnedovertoamannamedWilson.ThecitydirectorylistedaslavetradernamedJonathan Wilson.
InNewOrleans,however,therewasanoutbreakofyellowfeverin1848.MaryandEmilywerevaluable“property.”Slavetradersdidn’twantthemtogetsick.So,theysentthegirlsbacktojailinWashington, D.C.
AbolitionistsheldapartyinNewYorkCitytoraisefundsforthesisters.Supportersgatheredenoughmoneytopurchasethegirls’freedom.Withgreatjoy,MaryandEmilysteppedoutoftheslavejail.Theywere free!
DiscoveringTheirPath
Nowfree,thegirls’educationcamefirst.HarrietBeecherStowehelpedtofinancetheirstudies.TheyattendedaschoolinNewYork.Theylearnedtoreadand write.
Itraveledtheretoreadtheschoolrecords.Sadly,Marydiedoftuberculosisyearslaterin college.
FollowingTheirJourney
EmilyreturnedtoWashington,D.C.,tobewithherfamily.Shetaughtataschoolforyoungblack women.
ThreeoftheEdmonsonbrothersendedupfree.AwealthymanfromNewYorkdonated$900forRichard’sfreedom.Emilyraisedmoneytofreeherbrother Ephraim.
SamuelescapedonashipleavingNewOrleans.PayntersaidthathetraveledtoAustraliaandEngland.SamuelreturnedtoWashington,D.C.,aftertheCivilWar.Hebroughthiswifeand childrenwith him.
JohnEdmonsonwastheonlybrotherwhonevermadeithome.Acensusin1870showedaJohnEdmonsoninLouisiana.Hisnamethen disappeared.
TellingTheirStory
Eventually,Ihadenoughinformationtowriteabook.Youcanreadit.It’scalledEscapeonthePearl.ThePearl escapechangedAmericanhistory.Twoyearslater,slavetradingwasoutlawedinthenation’scapital.IttookaCivilWar,however,toabolishslaverythroughouttheUnited States.
WhatbecameofthepeopleonthePearl?IfoundthedescendantsoftheEdmonsonfamilyandmanyoftheotherpassengers.Theywereteachers,doctors,andsomanyother things.
TherearemoreAmericanstorieswaitingtobediscovered.Whoknowswhatstorywewilldiscover next?
authorMaryKay Ricks
