the secrets of underground medicine pdf free download

William's other siblings included Levin, Jr. James's son, James Thomas Still, completed his dream, graduating from Harvard Medical School in 1871.

He became known as the 'Black Doctor of the Pines', as he lived and practiced in the Pine Barrens. Born in New Jersey in 1812, James wanted to become a doctor but said he 'was not the right color to enter where such knowledge was dispensed.' James studied herbs and plants and apprenticed himself to a white doctor to learn medicine. After learning that his older brother Levin was whipped to death for visiting his wife without permission, William shouted, 'What if I told you I was your brother!' Later Peter and his mother were reunited after having been separated for 42 years.Īnother of William's brothers was James Still. As William listened to Peter's story, he recognized the history his mother had told him many times. He met William Still there, but initially had no idea they were related. Later Peter Still sought help at the Pennsylvania Anti-Slavery Society, seeking to find his parents or other members of his birth family.

They were the subject of a book published in 1856. Peter, his wife 'Vina', and most of his family escaped from slavery when he was about age 50, with the help of two brothers named Friedman, who operated mercantile establishments in Florence, Alabama, and Cincinnati, Ohio. Levin, Jr., died from a whipping while enslaved. Later they were resold to planters in Alabama in the Deep South. Levin, Jr., and Peter Still were sold from Maryland to slave owners in Lexington, Kentucky. Neither Charity nor Levin could free their two older boys, who remained enslaved in Maryland. According to New Jersey law, however, they were free. Though these children were born in the free state of New Jersey, under Maryland and federal slave law, they were still legally slaves, as their mother was an escaped slave.

Following her escape, Charity and Levin had 14 more children, of whom William was the youngest. A few months later, Charity escaped again, taking only her two younger daughters with her, and reached her husband in New Jersey. The first time, she and four children were all recaptured and returned to slavery. His mother, Charity, escaped twice from Maryland. First, his father bought his freedom in 1798 from his master in Caroline County, Maryland on the Eastern Shore and moved north to New Jersey. His parents had migrated separately to New Jersey. He was the youngest of eighteen children. William Still was born in Shamong Township, Burlington County, New Jersey, to Sidney (later renamed Charity) and Levin Still, both former slaves.

4.2 National Underground Railroad Network.

The secrets of underground medicine pdf free download