Image: Rescue of Jane Johnson

Description: Jane Johnson emancipates herself and her children by walking away from her former "master", John Hill Wheeler, into the free city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 18 July 1855. From William Still's 1872 book The Underground Railroad. Still recounts his statement to Johnson: "You are entitled to your freedom according to the laws of Pennsylvania, having been brought into the State by your owner. If you prefer freedom to slavery, as we suppose everybody does, you have the chance to accept it now. Act calmly—don't be frightened by your master—you are as much entitled to your freedom as we are, or as he is—be determined and you need have no fears but that you will be protected by the law. Judges have time and again decided cases in this city and State similar to yours in favor of freedom! Of course, if you want to remain a slave with your master, we cannot force you to leave; we only want to make you sensible of your rights. Remember, if you lose this chance you may never get such another ..." (pp. 88–89).
Title: Rescue of Jane Johnson
Credit: The underground rail road. A record of facts, authentic narratives, letters, &c., narrating the hardships, hair-breadth escapes, and death struggles of the slaves in their efforts for freedom, as related by themselves and others, or witnessed by the author; together with sketches of some of the largest stockholders, and most liberal aiders and advisers, of the road. William Still, 1872. (Available from archive.org.)
Author: William Still / "Engravings by Bensell, Schell, and others."
Usage Terms: Public domain
License: Public domain
Attribution Required?: No