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Henry Brown, a young slave, was seperated from his family—all of them split amongst several sons upon the death of their prior master. Later, Henry married a slave named Nancy, and upon their marriage both master’s owning the two slaves agreed not the sell the other. Consequently, no more than twelve months later the master reneged on his word, selling Henry’s beloved Nancy to a cruel man named Joseph Colquitt. Nancy was repeatedly abused by the wife of Joseph Colquitt, who, unbelievably, was crueler than her husband. Having that of a cold, harsh, icy manner holding great displeasure in Nancy due to personal dislikes that made little to no sense. With such contempt for Nancy, Mrs. Colquitt sought out for her husband to sell the unfortunate slave . . . and it was so. Yet, shortly after the brutal Mrs. Colquitt could do little without the slave and had her husband re-purchase her for fifty dollars more than he had sold her for.
Though, sometime later after Mr. Colquitt had taken ill and he had recovered, Nancy was up for purchase once again and a man named Samuel Cottrell wished to purchase her. The going price being $650 and Samuel only had $600. He took it upon himself to seek the rest of the money from Henry, explaining that he would never sell Nancy if Henry would agree upon lending him the money. With a suspicious heart Henry asked for a guarantee that Mr. Cottrell would not sell Nancy if he were to lend the money to the saddler. Samuel claimed he would never have the heart to do such a thing, being a Christian fellow. Henry not quite believing the man’s claim gave him the money nonetheless, knowing his wife could be bought by the man regardless. If Samuel had not borrowed the money from him, then he would have possibly been borrowed from someone else. Henry gave him the money hoping that it would hold Samuel under obligation, giving him somewhat of an advantage. So, with the fifty dollars Mr. Cottrell purchased Henry’s wife and children. Returning later that day, Mr. Cottrell, who earlier displayed such godly intention to Henry and Nancy, quickly became a blackmailing adversary, threatening to sell Henry’s wife and children if Henry didn’t purchase and furnish a house for them, and pay him fifty dollars a year. Then, time went on and it was not long before Henry was demanded to pay another large amount of money. This amount he was unable to meet which eventually led to his wife and children being auctioned off and sold. Henry seeing them one last time before they boarded upon the wagons, bidded them a painful farewell, knowing the next time they would meet would be in Heaven.
This ordeal led him to the awful realization of his agonizing life in bondage, coming to a conclusion he would rather die than to never be a free man. Thus, ascended Henry’s plot to escape. His discontentment toward injustice, pro-slavery, and indignant viewpoints led him to speak of his escape to a kind storekeeper in Richmond whom he had known and from time to time bought supplies from. He offered to pay him eighty dollars to assist him in his escape.
It was one evening as Henry was praying to the Lord that he was given the idea to ship himself to free state in a box. Many, if not all people believing him to be dry goods. So, the plan was in affect and to stray others away from suspension, it was necessary for Henry to relieve himself from work. After dropping vitriol upon his finger, having it eaten up clear to the bone, he approached the overseer, making it clear he would not be able to work until it healed, and obtained the necessary permission to take a leave of absence.
Meanwhile, the storekeeper awaited a response from a friend whom he had written, awaiting confirmation of an address in which the box could be shipped to. Finally receiving an answer the box had been made previously by a carpenter friend, and was to be shipped the next day at four o’clock. From description, the box was three feet one inch wide, two feet six inches high, and two feet wide.
It was March 29, 1849 that Henry entered the box. Written upon the box were the words “this side up” so that Henry would not find himself in any direction but right side up. With him inside the box was a gimlet in which to drill more holes through the box if at any point there was not enough air. As well, with him was what he called “a bladder of water” for drinking purposes, and to wash his face. Despite the words marked upon the box, nonetheless Henry found himself mishandled, landing upside down on one occasion for an hour and half, near death, but God quickly aided to his prayers. Henry was rescued when a man who had been standing two hours along the way used the box to sit on, so that he may rest his legs. The box being handled and put in the right position once again, relieved Henry of his agony. Finally upon his arrival, Henry waited in the box at the station until seven o’clock in which he was finally picked by the storekeeper’s friend, put on a wagon, and taken to a house. People gathered around the box, waiting in anticipation. Henry had began his journey on the 29th day of March and found freedom twenty-seven hours later.
As Henry explains, “a voice said, tremblingly, ‘Is all right within?’
He replied ‘all right.’”
Everyone rejoicing, they soon after managed to break open the box and Henry who had went in the box a slave, rose out a free man.
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