A short mention is made of the anti-slavery movement in a history of David and Esther Mosher Wood, written by their daughter Ruth Wood Pierce. It says, "The great anti-slavery movement began to make itself felt. Father, being a Whig fell into line. Our house on the hill became a station on the underground railroad. One hundred and sixty colored people, fleeing from slavery were in less than nine months fed at it's table." Of the Townsend's the history states "... for Abagail had met her fate when she met Eli Townsend; Joseph had thought Elizabeth, Eli's sister, was the pearl among women."