PASSION BEARER MARGARET WARD AND HER INFANT SON, SAMUEL RINGGOLD WARD (C. 1855)

On American soil, nothing comes close to the early Christians' noble suffering and pain of heart endured in the pursuit of God, except the African-American martyrs and passion bearers. Despite the masters' attempts to either suppress their slaves' lively faith, or to twist Christianity to their own economic advantage, the African-American slaves were able to penetrate the veneer and discern the essence of the Christian Faith. One such heroic soul was Margaret Ward of Maryland.

Born on a slave ship en route to Baltimore from Africa in the early 1800's, she and her mother were bought by a religious family. Margaret was a woman of remarkable character: "Of a proud, indomitable spirit, yet having acute moral sense, a disposition naturally amiable, of cheerful temperament, and crushed with a sense of her degraded condition." She was quiet, noble, and was very capable.

Her young married master, however, looked upon her beautiful exterior with lust. He wanted to whip her into submission in order to fulfill his evil intention. She was caught in a double bind, afraid that if he attempted this she might do him bodily harm or worse. He took his revenge in another way, selling her husband, bound in chains, to merchants in New Orleans. She was lorded over by a brutal overseer, and worked in the tobacco fields until the day of the birth of her and her husband's little child. Yet after only one week she was forced back out into the field with her nursing infant! She had to leave him in the shade of a bush, and could only come to him twice a day.

One day she came and found him unconscious, with a large snake on top of him. She did every thing she could to revive her little one with caresses and prayers and care, and she succeeded. Then she knew she had to flee. But where? And how?

Her narrative relates: "As soon as she heard its feeble, wailing cry, she made a vow to deliver her boy from the cruel power of slavery or die in the attempt, and falling prostrate, she prayed for strength to perform her vow, and for grace and patience to sustain her in her suffering, toil, and hunger; then pressing her child to her bosom, she fled with all the speed of which she was capable toward the North Star."

Providentially, Margaret was not to travel alone. An old hound named Watch loved her, and came running after her. Although she was afraid that he might give her away, when her attempts to send him back were futile, she let him follow them. After securing a little food from an elderly slave woman, Margaret, her son Samuel, and Watch set out towards the North Star.

The second day, the overseer dispatched a slave-hunter and dogs to find her. At first they could find no trace of her, but after the third day they picked up the scent. At about noon, a blood-hound caught up with them and came racing at Margaret, but old Watch sprang to the rescue. Though he was old and feeble, his jaws were still strong, and in the ensuing fight both dogs lost their lives.

Providence had sent them Watch, a faithful friend who laid down his life for Margaret and the baby. A few hours after this escape, she came into the hands of friends who sheltered them and had them secretly escorted to a free state. Later they made their way to New York State.

Her son, Samuel, grew up to be a servant of Christ and a preacher, and a great abolitionist leader, very active in the Underground Railroad. Thus, a child was saved and through him many others, all because of a mother's love, a daring trust in God, and a refusal to yield her body to unrighteousness.