"The John King Farm at Ceres, New York, was “a great rendezvous for the runaway as long as slavery existed." John King was not only a station master on
the railroad, his kitchen was a school room where quite a few blacks were taught to read and write, and for those who, before 1850 wanted to stay in the area, he furnished land and
cabins and provided work. After 1850 and the passage of the Fugitive Slave Act, however, they were assisted in going north to Canada.
In the winter of 1847-48 it is said, one ex-slave from New Orleans spent the winter in the King kitchen "not being able to bear the cold to work outdoors!"
Another family from Maryland settled on lands nearby in 1842 but in 1850 fled to Canada, not being sure how long their freedom would last.
In Sandpumpings we are told that ". . . the dip in the field near King's Run, originally held the home of Elizabeth Ann King. Elizabeth married John Morse. Later, their
home known as the Morse Place hid runaway slaves in the flight to freedom and Canada."
Elizabeth King Morse was the great grandaughter of Francis King, the Quaker settler of the Ceres area who also is associated with being the land agent and surveyor of the
French settlement at Azilum, and in that connection, Azilum (Asylum) Peter, was taken under the wing of his associate, William Ayers."
