Robert Bell escaped from Charles Wright, who I believe also enslaved James Blockson, who ran away in May 1854, stopping at William Still's office on the 26th. James Blockson, I think, is Charles Blockson's gr-gr-grandfather (Charles is the author of numerous books on the URR as well as the director of the Blockson Collection at Temple University.) The Wright family was a large family, whose ties spanned the border between Sussex County, Delaware and Dorchester County, Maryland (Harriet Tubman's childhood home.) The Wrights owned farms and fishing operations in both areas, transferring their enslaved labor back and forth as the work requirements demanded throughout the year. Interestingly, Charles Wright's brother, Turpin Wright, enslaved Peter Pennington, who ran away with Tubman and three others (Joe and Bill Bailey, and Eliza Manokey)in Novermber, 1856. These people's stories speak to the amazing and often far-reaching familial and social networks within which enslaved and free black people managed to maintain close ties and communication. You can read about Pennington, the Baileys and Manokey in my book, Bound For the Promised Land: Harriet Tubman, Portrait of an American Hero.

Have a great day. Kate