JOHN L. SEARS¹John L. Sears (c. 1823–85) was the son of Captain Edward Sears, a slave owner originally from Anne Arundel County, Maryland, who was living in Talbot County by 1810. In 1843, Sears married Arianna Amanda Auld. It is believed that Sears served as the witness to Douglass’s manumission papers, signed by his father-in-law, Thomas Auld, in 1846, although the name was misidentified as “John C. Lear,” in the . Sears was listed as a teacher, still living in Talbot County, in the 1850 census, but by the end of the decade he was a successful coal merchant living in Philadelphia. In 1860, he relocated his family to Baltimore, where he became involved in the windows and sashes business, both as an agent and attorney. Sears died at his home near Owings Mills, a suburb of Baltimore, in 1885. Douglass Papers, ser. 2, 2: 215–16, 348–50; Walter Lowrie to Ellis Gray Loring, 15 December 1846; Hugh Auld’s Receipt of Payment, 12 December 1846, Deed of Manumission for “Frederick Bailey, otherwise called Frederick Douglass,” 12 December 1846, both on reel 1, frames 637–43, FD Papers, DLC; 1860 U.S. Census, Maryland, Baltimore County, 42; 1870 U.S. Census, Maryland, Baltimore County, 381; 1880 U.S. Census, Maryland, Baltimore County, 143B; Baltimore Sun, 9 March 1885; Easton (Md.) Star-Democrat, 17 March 1885. TO FREDERICK DOUGLASS

Balt[imor]e[, Md.] 10 Jan[uar]y 1878.

MY DEAR SIR:

My dear wife²Born in Hillsborough, Maryland, Arianna Amanda Auld Sears (1826–78) was the only child of Thomas and Lucretia Anthony Auld. In 1843 she married John L. Sears, with whom she had seven children. In 1859, Douglass and Amanda Auld Sears met in Philadelphia, their first meeting since his escape from slavery in 1838. Douglass initiated the contact in hope of discovering the fate of family members about whom he had heard nothing since his flight to freedom. Sears was able to provide Douglass with at least some of the information he was seeking, and it sparked a friendship that survived until her death in 1878. Douglass Papers, ser. 3, 1: 307–09; Blight, Prophet of Freedom, 485; Find a Grave (online). is still living. During last night it seemed impossible for
her to last until this morning; but she still lives, clear in mind, and full
of hope.

She appreciated your visit³At her request, Douglass visited the terminally ill Amanda Auld Sears in her home on Fayette Street, in Baltimore, in either late December or early January 1878. Douglass left a poignant account of their final meeting in the Life and Times of Frederick Douglass. On 1 February 1878, her son Thomas E. Sears wrote Douglass to inform him of his mother’s death and to personally invite him to return to Baltimore and attend her funeral the following Sunday. Douglass Papers, ser. 3, 1: 307–09; Thomas E. Sears to Douglass, 1 February 1878, General Correspondence File, reel 3, frame 225, FD Papers, DLC. very much & has often spoken of it as one
of the most pleasant events of her illness. And I must add that, all my family so regard your kindness in coming to her so promptly, that our feelings
towards you now & hereafter are, & will be, very much more of affection
than mere friendship. God bless you for your kindness to her.

To all human appearances she cannot hold out much longer; when that
terrible call is made I want to communicate with you:—and as it might
seem on Sunday, I will be glad of you with me, upon receipt of this, when
I shall telegraph you on that day, if necessary to do so.

Sincerely thanking you for your regard for my wife, I am

True yr friend

JOHN L. SEARS

ALS: General Correspondence File, reel 3, frames 215–16, FD Papers, DLC.