Marvin, Julia E.R., letter, October 11, 1854, to Dr. Jno. [John] C. Lord, [Buffalo, N.Y.]
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Dr. [John] C. Lord,
My Dear Pastor,
The bearer of this is Peter Still, a freeman, seeking aid, to obtain possession of his wife & children, slaves in Alabama. He himself was kidnapped when six years of age, taken from N.J. to Kentucky & there sold as a slave. From Ky. he was taken to Ala. There, after having worked faithfully 44 years, he, by the aid of a Jew, found means to buy himself. The hope of once more finding his home & friends had ever been most warmly, though secretly, cherished. By a series of most wonderful Providences, he found them, his mother & many brothers & sisters. He, then returned to Ala. on a pass from his Jew master (he being, in the South, supposed to be a slave) told his wife & children of his success & that he should now work for them.
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He went again to N.J. & there for more than a year worked sometimes at the rate of $10 pr. month, some of the time at $15 with the hope of earning enough to free his family. Some friends advised him to try to raise it by contributions. (The sum demanded is $5000) He did try & has succeeded in raising the entire sum. Now he needs $200 to bear their expenses here.
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touched with the sorrows of the afflicted & of the lowly, that your ear is ever open to a tale of suffering. For this reason I commend him to you, hoping that you may be able to assist him. From a recent accident, the dislocation of my ankle, I am closely confined at present but were it not so, my acquaintance in Buffalo is too limited to enable me to do him all the good I would.
Most truly Yours,
Julia E. R. Marvin.
Wed. Morn. Oct. 11th 1854
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