Jack Barnes was the slave of a bachelor who became so greatly attached to his servant that he bequeathed to him not only his freedom but also a large share of his property.

Relatives instituted measures to break the will, and Jack in alarm took refuge among the Quakers at New Garden.

The suit went against the negro, and the newspapers contained advertisements offering a hundred dollars for information which should result in his recovery.

To prevent his return to bondage, it was decided that Jack should join a family of Coffins who were moving to Indiana.
At the same time a negro by the name of Sam had for several months been abiding in the Quaker neighborhood.

He belonged to a Mr.Osborne, a prototype of Simon Legree, who was so notoriously cruel that other slave-owners assisted in protecting his victims.