Jarvis: Caroline Quarlls, part of Windsor's remarkable history

To the River co-author Kimberly Simmons brought the amazing story of freedom seeker Caroline Quarlls to the Sandwich First Baptist Church Monday. NICK BRANCACCIO / WINDSOR STAR

Caroline Quarlls was young and beautiful, with light skin, blue eyes and long hair.

She knew the fate of slaves who looked like her.

They were called fancy girls. They were a commodity in the southern United States in 1843, bought and sold for $2,000 apiece for breeding. Many ended up as concubines for rich plantation owners in New Orleans.

So on July 4, 1843, while her owner celebrated the country’s independence, Caroline, at 16, escaped and set off alone on a harrowing journey, bounty hunters at her heels, from St. Louis, Missouri to Sandwich via the Underground Railroad.

Her inspiring story is the subject of a new book, To the River: The Remarkable Journey of Caroline Quarlls, an Underground Railroad Freedom Seeker. It’s co-authored by her great-great-great granddaughter Kimberly Simmons.

The book was launched at Sandwich First Baptist Church on Monday, the event hosted by the Essex County Black Historical Research Society.

“She needed to see this place where everybody was free,” said Simmons….