Adams, Anne Brown (1843-1926) to Alexander M. Ross [Fragment]
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC03007.49 Author/Creator: Adams, Anne Brown (1843-1926) Place Written: s.l. Type: Autograph letter Date: no date Pagination: 4 p. ; 20.5 x 12.5 cm. Order a Copy
Discusses events at Kennedy Farm while preparing to raid Harpers Ferry. Anne Brown was there to help cook and clean. Author and recipient inferred from content. Only the last four pages remain.
Anne Brown Adams was the daughter of John Brown.
Alexander M. Ross was a famous Canadian naturalist, also a prominent abolitionist and a strong supporter of John Brown.
[excerpts]
We commenced housekeeping at Kennedy Farm sometime in July. I cannot now remember the date, although I remember the day well. Father and my brothers went to the Ferry to purchase a stove and necessary articles, Martha and I went to the house and tried to surprise them with a dinner which we tried to cook in an old fireplace... [2] Our family at that time consisted of six persons, Father, J. G. Anderson, Owen, Oliver, Martha and I...
The first addition to our family was my brother Watson, and William and Dauphin Thompson who came on a few weeks after, Oliver Martha and I did. [3] Then followed the res, one, two three and four at a time. These last arrivals all came secretly by way of Chambersburg, Father, and some of the rest going there with a light covered wagon, in which they rode or else walked a part of the way. They would hide in the woods and come in to the house before daylight [inserted: in the morning] or else after dark at night. They all lived upstairs over the dining room, coming down to their meals, and at any time that there was no strangers or visitors about. It was my special business to keep watch on the porch and signal to them with my hand, if any one appeared when they would disappear quietly up the stairway, closing the door after them, while I received and entertained the company directly under them, as if nothing [4] unusual had happened...
I attended to the dining room, waiting on the men. I used to call them my "invisibles." If any one appeared while they were at their meals I would let them know, when they would each take articles of food and dishes, clearing the table and disappear as usual, while I kept the person or persons on the porch as long as I could.
The men used to sing, play games and read to pass away the time...
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