Hi Steve,
Mr. Nagle is correct stating that slaves began escaping upon their earliest arrival on the North American coast. They often ran into neighboring woods and swamps to avoid human bondage. Between 1730-1790 over 7,000 newspaper reports appeared in Southern papers of runaway slaves.Probably only a small fraction of those who actually ranaway. Historians have been attempting to research the early methods of an "organized" effort to assist such runaways, to little avail. The Quakers have been credited as the first religious group to ban or forbid ownership of slaves. However, one must remember that the Quakers were persecuted by other Puritan groups in early Pennsylvania history as well. Many Quakers fled southward into the North Carolina region. (A large anti-slavery population in that region including the noted Coffin family who later emigrated North to "avoid" the slave culture of the region) The Quakers did not formally forbid slave ownership until after 1760, and many Quakers did own slaves (I guess economics trumped one's religious convictions). Of course, historians do focus a vast amount of research in the Pennsylvania region as the first real organized effort to free slaves during this time period. Many joined the cause, particularly devout religious persons, and gained a wider audience after the Revolutionary War, by citing the hypocrisy of the "freedoms" being fought for and "all men are created equal".By the later 18th century, it appears that indeed "assistance" was being provided, albeit, sueing slave owners in courts or assisting runaways. And although one may be anti-slavery, it did not mean one would break laws and "steal" property (ie slaves) from others or assist in escape. There is a whole spectrum of anti-slavery, abolition feelings...from colonization, gradual emancipation to outright "equal" rights and immediate emancipation. Societies began forming, seeking the "abolition of persons of color" in the Pennsylvania/New Jersey regions, as well. One must remember during this time frame, where were slaves to go?? Canada did not emancipate slaves until the 1830's. Hence, the growing influence of colonization" societies in early 1800s american society. The colonizationists wanted to send them away, back to Africa. Although an organized effort probably did not exist in 1702, when your novel takes place....slaves were definately running away. Why, even the Father of our Country", Washington sold "Uncle Tom" a runaway slave in 1790!! If you'd like more information on a specific region or specific examples, e-mail me back. Thanks and Hope I was able to help. Mike