I was next hired out to Mr. Hughes, who was, comparatively, a poor
man, having but one working slave of his own; the rest on his farm
being all hired. His accommodations for his workmen were good; we all
ate at the kitchen table.
I had not been long at this place, before it became known that I
could read and write, upon which I was forbidden to visit the slaves
on any of the neighboring plantations. One man, who had several
pretty girls upon his farm, that I was fond of visiting, as soon as
he learned that I was sometimes there, tried to catch me to whip me.
But I always managed to elude him, and yet to have him know that I
had been there, after I had gone away.
This provoked him most desperately, and determined him to catch me at
any rate. So he employed the patrollers to watch for me, catch me if
possible, and by all means bring me to him before flogging me, that
he might enjoy the pleasure by sharing in it. For a long time their
efforts proved unavailing. I was often in his house, in the room
adjoining that in which he then was, and while the patrollers were
searching the quarters.
At last, however, fortune seemed to favor him. One night, at an
unusually early hour for the patrollers to be abroad, I was at one of
his slave quarters, while the patrollers were at the other. One of
the girls ran and told me of this, and said farther, that they would
be down there soon. This, you may well guess, was no very pleasant
news to me, especially as I was at the time cozily seated beside a
pretty young lady. And as ladies you know, love bravery, so I did not
like to hasten my usual steps, lest it should appear like cowardice;
still, I knew delays were dangerous.
I considered a moment, and finally started, thinking it my safest
course; but I had not proceeded more than five feet from the door,
before the enemy were upon me. There was another colored man in the
quarter at the same time, who, if caught, was as liable to be whipped
as myself; still, I was their special object of pursuit, as Mr.
Bowlding had promised them twenty-five dollars, if they caught me on
his place.
When we saw the patrollers, we both started at full speed, Ben, the
other colored man, being about fifty yards ahead, and they after us.
They continued the chase about a quarter of a mile, after which they
returned; but, still thinking them at my heels, I continued my flight
a mile, Ben still in advance. As soon as I discovered that we were
alone, I called to Ben to stop; but he, thinking it was the voice
of one of his pursuers, only put on more steam, until, finally, he
ran against a rail fence, (the night being very dark,) knocked down
two lengths of it, and fell upon it himself, which stopped his career
until I came up, explained all, and banished his fears.
We stopped awhile to rest ourselves, and consult upon our farther
course. I concluded best for me to go home, but he decided upon
returning to the quarters, thinking the patrollers would now be
gone, and he did not like to forego a pleasant chat with the ladies,
especially as he had come so far for that express purpose. He thought
this step would efface from the ladies’ minds this appearance of
his cowardice, and restore his reputation for heroism, because no
person is allowed to possess gentlemanly bravery and valor at the
South, who will run from the face of any man, or will not even
courageously look death in the face, with all its terrors. I did not
for a moment doubt that the company of ladies was pleasant, and that
a display of heroism was a pretty sure pathway to their favor; still,
I thought the preservation of a sound back, was not a thing to be
overlooked, or treated lightly, so I determined to proceed homeward,
which determination, as the sequel will show, proved a wise one. Ben
returned to the quarters, and while standing in the yard, rehearsing
the particulars of his flight, the patrollers suddenly came upon him,
and seized him behind by the collar of his jacket. This garment being
loose, he threw his arms back and ran out of it. And now followed
another chase, in which, as before, Ben was victorious, and reached
home in safety.
The affair passed off, and I supposed was ended, until about two
weeks afterwards, when one day, being at work near the house, I saw
two horsemen ride up to the stile, dismount and enter the house.
Very soon Mr. Hughes came to the door, and requested me to come to
the house. I did so, when, to my surprise, I found the horsemen were
constables.
Mr. Hughes, turning to me, said, “John, these gentlemen have come to
take you before a magistrate, to testify to what you know concerning
the wheat that was found at Mr. Bowlding’s, on the night that you ran
from there.” I replied, “I know nothing of the wheat, as I saw and
heard of none.” “Well,” he said, “you will only be required to tell
of what you know. Do you know the consequence of taking a false oath?”
“Yes, sir,” I replied. “Well, what is it?” he asked. “I shall go to
hell,” I answered. “Yes, and that is not all,” he said, “you will
also have your ears cropped.”
Turning to the constable, he said, “Mr. Waters, please send him home
as soon as you are through with him, for I am very busy and need
him.” He added, to me, “hurry home as soon as they get done with you;
do you hear?” “Yes sir,” I answered. Upon this we started.
We had to go about a mile, mostly through the woods, and they,
fearing I would seize this opportunity, so good a one, to try to
escape, began to cut jokes to amuse me. But I had no idea of trying
to escape, as I did not expect a whipping, knowing that, although
a constable may seize and flog a slave, if caught from home after
nightfall without a pass; still, according to law, they have no
right to take him before a justice and whip him for being from home
at any time, that being exclusively the master’s or overseer’s
privilege. So I went on cheerfully.
When I reached the place of trial, I saw a large collection of
people, it being the day for magistrates’ meetings, and among the
rest, the girl I was courting, brought there for the purpose of
humbling my pride, and mortifying me. For you must think, reader,
that it would be rather mortifying to be stripped and flogged in the
presence of a girl, especially, after cutting such a swell as I had.
Many of the crowd came expressly to see me whipped, for they thought
I assumed too much of the gentleman.
Ben’s case came on first, but neither of us were allowed to be
present, but were kept in the yard during the trial and giving the
sentence. Although, in the North it is customary to have a defendant
present, to hear his case stated, yet, we were denied this, and were
only informed of our sentence, after it had been passed.
Ben’s sentence was to receive ten stripes, five for his first, and
as many for his second offence. While being whipped, he dropped his
handkerchief, which the constable picked up and handed to him, upon
which he exclaimed, “D—n the handkerchief.” This being reported to
the justice, five stripes more were added to his first sentence,
thus, making fifteen in all.
I was next brought forward, to receive five stripes, when I saw
several smile, and heard them say to the constable, “Put it on well!”
I was stretched up and fastened to the limb of a tree, just so that
my toes could touch the ground. Every stroke buried the lash in my
flesh.
When I was released, instead of returning to Mr. Hughes’, I went to
see my mistress, she being then at her brother Richard’s. I arrived
there about eight o’clock in the evening, went into the kitchen, and
told the servant that I wanted to see mistress; who, upon hearing
of it, came directly out, and expressed much joy at seeing me,
saying: “How do you do, John?” I told her that I was almost dead.
“What is the matter?” she inquired. I answered, “I am whipped almost
to death.” “By whom?” she asked. “By the constable, before the
magistrate.” “For what?” said she. I then related to her the whole
story.
She rushed into the house, and told her brother of the affair, who
sent for me to come in and repeat the story again to him. I did so,
and also pulled off my jacket, and showed them my shirt, wet with
blood. This so affected my mistress, that she commenced walking the
floor, and weeping, saying meanwhile, that she was imposed upon,
because she was a lone girl, and had no one to take an interest in
her affairs; that if her father was alive, they would sooner thrust
their heads into the fire, than treat her so. She did not believe
this was for any fault of mine, but simply because they grudged her
her property.
This roused master Richard at once, for when she spoke of her father,
and her lonely condition, it touched him in a tender point. Now it
will be recollected, that this man was a lawyer, and he was feared
rather than respected by most who knew him. He bade me go home,
but told me not to go to work until he came. I went home and to
bed, pretending to be very sick, so that when Mr. Hughes called
next morning for me to go to work, I was unable to get up. About 10
o’clock master Richard, mounted upon a fine horse, rode up, and asked
to see Mr. Hughes. This gentleman immediately came out, and invited
him to alight and enter the house, which invitation was declined, as,
he said, all his business could be transacted there.
He inquired if Mr. Hughes knew how cruelly I had been beaten, and
received for answer that he did not. That he only knew that two
constables came there, bringing a warrant to take me before a
magistrate, in relation to some wheat that had been found at Mr.
Thomas Bowlding’s.
Master Richard inquired the names of the constables and magistrates,
and whatever else Mr. Hughes knew concerning the matter; after which
he asked for me. Upon being called, I went out, when master Richard
told me to go over to the magistrate’s, which I did, reaching there
before he did.
When he entered the office, he asked to see the justice’s docket or
books, which were shown him; but the magistrate seeing me, suspected
something wrong, and commenced explaining before being asked. Master
Richard said nothing, until he had finished examining the documents,
where, failing to find any charge, he inquired what was the complaint
alleged against me.
Oh! he said, there was no regular complaint; but Mr. Hughes said
I would not work and attend to my duty at home, and Mr. Bowlding
complained that I went to his plantation and kept the girls up all
night, so that they were unfit for service next day; so he thought he
would order me a few stripes, just to frighten and keep me in order.
“That, then, is all, sir?” inquired master Richard, contemptuously.
He then bade me take off my shirt, and exhibit my bruised back, after
which he added to the justice, “Now, sir, please look at his back! is
that merely to frighten him? You had no right to do this, and I will
make it cost you more than he is worth!”
In the meantime, the constable came up, upon seeing whom, master
Richard went towards him, asking, “Why did you whip my sister’s
negro in such a manner?” “Because it was my duty,” was the answer.
“Then, sir, it is my duty to give you just such an one,” said master
Richard, at the same time drawing his pistol, cocking and presenting
it to the affrighted constable. “And,” he continued, “I will blow out
your brains, if you move!” He then, with his horsewhip, lashed the
constable as much as he thought he needed, the fellow making not the
least resistance.
I went home to Mr. Hughes’ as well as ever, nor was I again troubled
by patrollers, while I remained in his employ. He one day said to
me, “John, now I hope you will stay at home. You have caused more
disturbance in the neighborhood, than any one before; have caused Mr.
Simpson to be turned out of office, and to be obliged to pay more
than you are worth. I would not have you another year as a gift, and
shall be glad when your time is up.” So at Christmas, I left Mr.
Hughes, and went to a new place.