The Road That Led to Somewhere

The Road That Led to Somewhere

August 1, 1980

by Bryan E. Walls (Author)

The story of John Walls, a Black man that was enslaved on a North Carolina Plantation who self emancipated himself.

Dr. Bryan E. Walls is descended from Jane Walls's first-born son Henry. Dr. Walls has promoted Essex's multicultural heritage for many years. He also wrote a novel called The Road that Led to Somewhere which describes his ancestors' journey to freedom through the Underground Railroad.

In addition, he founded the John Freeman Walls Historic Site and Underground Railroad Museum on the same land where John and Jane Walls settled. Walls is a primary partner in the Network to Freedom program: Pen or Pencil: Writing A New History.

John Walls was born on the same day as his enslaver’s son Daniel, in 1813. The enslaver’s wife died in childbirth, so John’s mother, Jubil, nursed and raised both children as brothers.

John grew up to be a valued carpenter and married Sarah who lived on another plantation and with whom he had several children.

Daniel and his wife, Jane, tried unsuccessfully to help John recover his wife and children when her enslaver sold them. Later in life, when Daniel became seriously ill, he asked John to watch after Jane and their four children. Daniel freed John before his death.

John and Jane fell in love after Daniel's death. Because they were an interracial couple living in the south, they feared for their future and in 1845 decided to escape to Canada, utilizing the support of abolitionists and Underground Railroad operatives, including Quaker Abolitionists Ephraim and Mary Stout in Westfield, Indiana.

Once in Canada, the couple purchased 20 acres of land and built a log cabin. The cabin is now part of the John Freeman Walls Historic Site and Underground Railroad Museum.

Miles to freedom: Over 600 miles

------------

The Road That Led To Somewhere

Personal Reflections On How A Family Chapter In Underground Railroad History Can Be Used To Celebrate And Forge Freedom 200 Years After The

Abolition Of The Transatlantic Slave Trade

by Dr. Bryan E. Walls C.M.O.Ont.

The Quest For Justice For All of Humankind

ALL ABOARD!

The last stop on the Underground Railroad was Canada, and terminals like the John

Freeman Walls Historic Site and Underground Railroad Museum.

There is a saying about democracy. Democracy might not be the best form of

government, but show me a better one. Canada may still have problems in terms of race relations and diversity, but according to a United Nations study, Canada is considered one of the best countries in the world in which to live.

As individuals, we must work to keep our country in the lead, we must remain

committed to celebrating diversity and promoting mutual respect and reconciliation.

And collectively we must obtain guarantees from our institutions – law enforcement, economic, educational, faith communities and government leaders to make certain that there is justice for all and that the foul ideology of racial hatred is not part of any institution’s psychological profile.

As founder of the John Freeman Walls Historic Site and Underground Railroad Museum and as Chair of the Proverbs Heritage Organization, I thank you for this opportunity to share with you

my passion to use history and personal family struggles to seek justice and empower our minds to help change our world.

Proverbs Heritage Organization is a federally registered charitable not-for-profit organization founded in 1985 and is able to issue tax receipts for donations. Its mission is to celebrate diversity

and promote mutual respect and reconciliation in innovative and creative ways.

In brief, Proverbs does this by creating and providing educational resource materials and units of study to teachers, schools and libraries. A primary focus is the development of the John Freeman Walls Historic Site and Underground Railroad Museum as a world

class tourist attraction and educational field studies destination. Proverbs also publishes books, videos, T-shirts, music CDs, screenplays and librettos. Through key partnerships,

Proverbs Heritage Organization is able to fulfill its mission statement on a national and international level.

For nearly twenty years we have been in partnership with the Rosa and Raymond Parks Institute for Self Development. Mrs. Rosa Parks, the legendary mother of the Civil Rights

---

Read More Of Dr. Bryan E. Walls Family History Here: https://ontariohistoricalsociety.ca/.../road_that_led_to...