“The seed of anti-slavery fell in Plymouth on sandy soil, but watered by heavenly dew, it soon took root and broke through the conservation crust which under the influence of the commercial and financial interests of the town, for a time obstructed its growth.”[33] Wm. Davis relates a vivid account of Jonathan Walker, a fellow townsman, and his anti-slavery experience.[34] “I suppose that few of my readers know that Johnathan Walker, the man with the branded hand, ever lived in Plymouth. About fifty years ago, or perhaps a little earlier, he lived in the house now standing in what is called the Nook at the head of the waters of Hobb’s Hole brook. I do not remember to have ever seen him, but I recall the time when he was complained of for shingling his house on the Sabbath. He was born in Harvard, Mass., March 22, 1799, and at the age of seventeen went to sea. When quite young he assisted Benjamin Lundy in colonizing slaves in Mexico, and for a time lived with his family in Florida. In 1844 he assisted four slaves to escape by water, but was overtaken and captured with his companions by a Revenue Cutter which was sent in pursuit. He was carried to Pensacola, and after a trial for his offense was sentenced to stand one hour in the pillory, to pay a fine of one hundred and fifty dollars, and be branded on the hand with the letters S.S., signifying slave stealer. It is creditable to Southern humanity that a blacksmith refused to heat the instrument of torture. He remained in prison eleven months in default of payment of the fine, and then by the aid of Northern friends released. After his release he delivered lectures in various Northern towns and then settled down in Plymouth.... He left behind in Plymouth a son John, whom I knew very well, and whom it fell to me once to aid during a pecuniary embarrassment. His father had neglected his education, but he was a noble fellow in whose presence I always felt that I was in the presence of a man. “I think he was one of not more than twenty men whose personality during my long life has impressed me. He always would call me William and I always called him John. I would have entrusted to him my life in any emergency, for I knew that he would have risked his own to save the life of a fellow man.” Among the Plymouth men killed during the Civil War was Nathaniel Burgess, wounded at Fort Steadman, March 25, 1865, died of wounds in July, 1865.[35]