Myth or fact who knows for sure. I think the value of these stories is that it makes one stop and think for a moment about how Godforsaken and frightening it must have felt to be running for your life (and freedom, whatever that meant) through the darkness headed North to whatever. Running stumbling in forests, fields, villages, homesteads in the cold darkness seeking refuge. Maybe the quilts weren't maps but perhaps they provided warmth and security along the way.