I Can't Wait to Call You My Wife by Rita Roberts

Author:Rita Roberts
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Chronicle Books LLC

Maryland fugitive Grandison Briscoe escaped with his pregnant wife, infant child, and mother to Washington, D.C., a few days before the enactment of the District of Columbia Compensated Emancipation Act of April 16, 1862. Within days, a slave catcher recaptured Briscoe’s family and returned them to slavery in Maryland. Almost two years later, Briscoe, now a private in the Union army, describes his family’s fate in an affidavit to federal officials.

[Washington, D.C.] 6th day of February 1864

Grandison Briskoe being duly sworn says he is about 25 years of age was born in Maryland & has been married to his wife since 1861 Came to reside with his wife in this City in April—4th day of April 1862 & has resided in said City Since that period of time except a part of the time he has been in the Service of the United States all the time & now in Said Service in Virginia— That his wife & his mother were taken away from Washington in April (on the 7th day) 1862 & as fugitive Slaves & taken to Piscatawa to Broad Creek to their master’s [farm?] whose name is John Hunter & My mothers masters name was & is Robert Hunter—They were both taken to the barn & severely whipped Their clothes were raised & tied over their heads to keep their screams from disturbing the neighborhood & then were tied up & whipped very severely whipped and then taken to Upper Marlborough to jail My wife had a Child about nine month’s old which was taken from her & died soon after. Some six of eight months after my wife was imprisoned she had a Child but the inhuman master & mistress though the[y] knew she was soon to be Confined or give birth to a Child made no arrangements provided no Clothing nor anything for the Child or mother I have sent them Clothing & other articles frequently until the first or near the first of January 1864 Since which the new jailor has refused to allow them to receive any thing from me

They have been in prison for the Crime of Coming to Washington to reside, ever since about the fourth of April 1862 now a year & ten months. They are confined in Jail at Upper Marlborough Prince George’s County Maryland

Grandison Briscoe184

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