Notes

• Excerpt from [3] (pp 55-56) 'The above representatives [George Solomon, Daniel Neall, Benjamin R. Fletcher and Maria Dorsey] of the unrequited laborers of the South fled directly from Washington, D.C....Benjamin was twenty-seven years of age, small of stature, dark complexion, of a pleasant countenance, and quite smart. He testified, that “ill-treatment from his master,” Henry Martin, who would give him “no chance at all,” was the cause of his leaving. He left a brother and sister, belonging to Martin, besides he left two other sisters in bondage, Louisa and Letty, but his father and mother were both dead. Therefore, the land of slave-whips and auction-blocks had no charms for him. He loved his sisters, but he knew if he could not protect himself, much less could he protect them. So he concluded to bid them adieu forever in this world. ... [in the 15 Sept 1856 letter from Hiram Wilson (St. Catharine, Canada West) to William Still] P.S.—Mr. Benjamin R. Fletcher wishes to have Mr. Dade call on his brother James, and communicate to him his affectionate regards, and make known to him that he is safe, and cheerful and happy. He desires his friends to know, through Dade, that he found Mrs. Starke here, his brother Alfred's wife's sister; that she is well, and living in St. Catharine, C.W., near Niagara Palls [sic].'
• For the 1861 census, census takers where asked to identify whether individuals are “colored persons, mulatto or indian” in column 13. Interestingly, Benjamin was listed as “1.i” suggesting that the census taker may have thought that he was indian (the same was true for his son Henry). Ben's wife was listed as “1.c” (presumably meaning “colored”) and their daughter Mary was “1.E”. Later census do identify Benjamin as African and so it is curious if the “indian” mistake spoke to a lighter complexion, despite William Still's description of him in [3].
• Benjamin's death registry says that he died of consumption (i.e., tuberculosis), having had it for 16 months. His death registry also indicates that he was 50 years old, placing his birth year ca. 1827 which is in line with the 1861 census (but not the 1871 census).