Wood, in the meanwhile, hired a mulatto woman to nurse the child; but she
was such a fine lady she wanted to be mistress over me. I thought it very
hard for a coloured woman to have rule over me because I was a slave and
she was free. Her name was Martha Wilcox; she was a saucy woman, very
saucy; and she went and complained of me, without cause, to my mistress,
and made her angry with me. Mrs. Wood told me that if I did not mind what
I was about, she would get my master to strip me and give me fifty lashes:
"You have been used to the whip," she said, "and you shall have it here."
This was the first time she threatened to have me flogged; and she gave me
the threatening so strong of what she would have done to me, that I
thought I should have fallen down at her feet, I was so vexed and hurt by
her words. The mulatto woman was rejoiced to have power to keep me down.
She was constantly making mischief; there was no living for the slaves--no
peace after she came.
I was also sent by Mrs. Wood to be put in the Cage one night, and was next
morning flogged, by the magistrate's order, at her desire; and this all
for a quarrel I had about a pig with another slave woman. I was flogged on
my naked back on this occasion: although I was in no fault after all; for
old Justice Dyett, when we came before him, said that I was in the right,
and ordered the pig to be given to me. This was about two or three years
after I came to Antigua.
When we moved from the middle of the town to the Point, I used to be in
the house and do all the work and mind the children, though still very ill
with the rheumatism. Every week I had to wash two large bundles of
clothes, as much as a boy could help me to lift; but I could give no
satisfaction. My mistress was always abusing and fretting after me. It is
not possible to tell all her ill language.--One day she followed me foot
after foot scolding and rating me. I bore in silence a great deal of ill
words: at last my heart was quite full, and I told her that she ought not
to use me so;--that when I was ill I might have lain and died for what she
cared; and no one would then come near me to nurse me, because they were
afraid of my mistress. This was a great affront. She called her husband
and told him what I had said. He flew into a passion: but did not beat me
then; he only abused and swore at me; and then gave me a note and bade me
go and look for an owner. Not that he meant to sell me; but he did this to
please his wife and to frighten me. I went to Adam White, a cooper, a free
black, who had money, and asked him to buy me. He went directly to Mr.
Wood, but was informed that I was not to be sold. The next day my master
whipped me.
Another time (about five years ago) my mistress got vexed with me, because
I fell sick and I could not keep on with my work. She complained to her
husband, and he sent me off again to look for an owner. I went to a Mr.
Burchell, showed him the note, and asked him to buy me for my own benefit;
for I had saved about 100 dollars, and hoped, with a little help, to
purchase my freedom. He accordingly went to my master:--"Mr. Wood," he
said, "Molly has brought me a note that she wants an owner. If you intend
to sell her, I may as well buy her as another." My master put him off and
said that he did not mean to sell me. I was very sorry at this, for I had
no comfort with Mrs. Wood, and I wished greatly to get my freedom.
The way in which I made my money was this.--When my master and mistress
went from home, as they sometimes did, and left me to take care of the
house and premises, I had a good deal of time to myself, and made the most
of it. I took in washing, and sold coffee and yams and other provisions
to the captains of ships. I did not sit still idling during the absence of
my owners; for I wanted, by all honest means, to earn money to buy my
freedom. Sometimes I bought a hog cheap on board ship, and sold it for
double the money on shore; and I also earned a good deal by selling
coffee. By this means I by degrees acquired a little cash. A gentleman
also lent me some to help to buy my freedom--but when I could not get free
he got it back again. His name was Captain Abbot.
My master and mistress went on one occasion into the country, to Date
Hill, for change of air, and carried me with them to take charge of the
children, and to do the work of the house. While I was in the country, I
saw how the field negroes are worked in Antigua. They are worked very hard
and fed but scantily. They are called out to work before daybreak, and
come home after dark; and then each has to heave his bundle of grass for
the cattle in the pen. Then, on Sunday morning, each slave has to go out
and gather a large bundle of grass; and, when they bring it home, they
have all to sit at the manager's door and wait till he come out: often
have they to wait there till past eleven o'clock, without any breakfast.
After that, those that have yams or potatoes, or fire-wood to sell, hasten
to market to buy a dog's worth[10] of salt fish, or pork, which is a great
treat for them. Some of them buy a little pickle out of the shad barrels,
which they call sauce, to season their yams and Indian corn. It is very
wrong, I know, to work on Sunday or go to market; but will not God call
the Buckra men to answer for this on the great day of judgment--since they
will give the slaves no other day?
[Footnote 10: A dog is the 72nd part of a dollar.]
While we were at Date Hill Christmas came; and the slave woman who had the
care of the place (which then belonged to Mr. Roberts the marshal), asked
me to go with her to her husband's house, to a Methodist meeting for
prayer, at a plantation called Winthorps. I went; and they were the first
prayers I ever understood. One woman prayed; and then they all sung a
hymn; then there was another prayer and another hymn; and then they all
spoke by turns of their own griefs as sinners. The husband of the woman I
went with was a black driver. His name was Henry. He confessed that he had
treated the slaves very cruelly; but said that he was compelled to obey
the orders of his master. He prayed them all to forgive him, and he prayed
that God would forgive him. He said it was a horrid thing for a ranger[11]
to have sometimes to beat his own wife or sister; but he must do so if
ordered by his master.
[Footnote 11: The head negro of an estate--a person who has the chief
superintendence under the manager.]
I felt sorry for my sins also. I cried the whole night, but I was too much
ashamed to speak. I prayed God to forgive me. This meeting had a great
impression on my mind, and led my spirit to the Moravian church; so that
when I got back to town, I went and prayed to have my name put down in the
Missionaries' book; and I followed the church earnestly every opportunity.
I did not then tell my mistress about it; for I knew that she would not
give me leave to go. But I felt I _must_ go. Whenever I carried the
children their lunch at school, I ran round and went to hear the teachers.
The Moravian ladies (Mrs. Richter, Mrs. Olufsen, and Mrs. Sauter) taught
me to read in the class; and I got on very fast. In this class there were
all sorts of people, old and young, grey headed folks and children; but
most of them were free people. After we had done spelling, we tried to
read in the Bible. After the reading was over, the missionary gave out a
hymn for us to sing. I dearly loved to go to the church, it was so solemn.
I never knew rightly that I had much sin till I went there. When I found
out that I was a great sinner, I was very sorely grieved, and very much
frightened. I used to pray God to pardon my sins for Christ's sake, and
forgive me for every thing I had done amiss; and when I went home to my
work, I always thought about what I had heard from the missionaries, and
wished to be good that I might go to heaven. After a while I was admitted
a candidate for the holy Communion.--I had been baptized long before this,
in August 1817, by the Rev. Mr. Curtin, of the English Church, after I had
been taught to repeat the Creed and the Lord's Prayer. I wished at that
time to attend a Sunday School taught by Mr. Curtin, but he would not
receive me without a written note from my master, granting his permission.
I did not ask my owner's permission, from the belief that it would be
refused; so that I got no farther instruction at that time from the
English Church.[12]
[Footnote 12: She possesses a copy of Mrs. Trimmer's "Charity School
Spelling Book," presented to her by the Rev. Mr. Curtin, and dated August
30, 1817. In this book her name is written "Mary, Princess of Wales"--an
appellation which, she says, was given her by her owners. It is a common
practice with the colonists to give ridiculous names of this description
to their slaves; being, in fact, one of the numberless modes of expressing
the habitual contempt with which they regard the negro race.--In printing
this narrative we have retained Mary's paternal name of Prince.--_Ed._]
Some time after I began to attend the Moravian Church, I met with Daniel
James, afterwards my dear husband. He was a carpenter and cooper to his
trade; an honest, hard-working, decent black man, and a widower. He had
purchased his freedom of his mistress, old Mrs. Baker, with money he had
earned whilst a slave. When he asked me to marry him, I took time to
consider the matter over with myself, and would not say yes till he went
to church with me and joined the Moravians. He was very industrious after
he bought his freedom; and he had hired a comfortable house, and had
convenient things about him. We were joined in marriage, about Christmas
1826, in the Moravian Chapel at Spring Gardens, by the Rev. Mr. Olufsen.
We could not be married in the English Church. English marriage is not
allowed to slaves; and no free man can marry a slave woman.
When Mr. Wood heard of my marriage, he flew into a great rage, and sent
for Daniel, who was helping to build a house for his old mistress. Mr.
Wood asked him who gave him a right to marry a slave of his? My husband
said, "Sir, I am a free man, and thought I had a right to choose a wife;
but if I had known Molly was not allowed to have a husband, I should not
have asked her to marry me." Mrs. Wood was more vexed about my marriage
than her husband. She could not forgive me for getting married, but
stirred up Mr. Wood to flog me dreadfully with the horsewhip. I thought it
very hard to be whipped at my time of life for getting a husband--I told
her so. She said that she would not have nigger men about the yards and
premises, or allow a nigger man's clothes to be washed in the same tub
where hers were washed. She was fearful, I think, that I should lose her
time, in order to wash and do things for my husband: but I had then no
time to wash for myself; I was obliged to put out my own clothes, though I
was always at the wash-tub.
I had not much happiness in my marriage, owing to my being a slave. It
made my husband sad to see me so ill-treated. Mrs. Wood was always abusing
me about him. She did not lick me herself, but she got her husband to do
it for her, whilst she fretted the flesh off my bones. Yet for all this
she would not sell me. She sold five slaves whilst I was with her; but
though she was always finding fault with me, she would not part with me.
However, Mr. Wood afterwards allowed Daniel to have a place to live in our
yard, which we were very thankful for.
After this, I fell ill again with the rheumatism, and was sick a long
time; but whether sick or well, I had my work to do. About this time I
asked my master and mistress to let me buy my own freedom. With the help
of Mr. Burchell, I could have found the means to pay Mr. Wood; for it was
agreed that I should afterwards, serve Mr. Burchell a while, for the cash
he was to advance for me. I was earnest in the request to my owners; but
their hearts were hard--too hard to consent. Mrs. Wood was very angry--she
grew quite outrageous--she called me a black devil, and asked me who had
put freedom into my head. "To be free is very sweet," I said: but she took
good care to keep me a slave. I saw her change colour, and I left the
room.
About this time my master and mistress were going to England to put their
son to school, and bring their daughters home; and they took me with them
to take care of the child. I was willing to come to England: I thought
that by going there I should probably get cured of my rheumatism, and
should return with my master and mistress, quite well, to my husband. My
husband was willing for me to come away, for he had heard that my master
would free me,--and I also hoped this might prove true; but it was all a
false report.
The steward of the ship was very kind to me. He and my husband were in the
same class in the Moravian Church. I was thankful that he was so friendly,
for my mistress was not kind to me on the passage; and she told me, when
she was angry, that she did not intend to treat me any better in England
than in the West Indies--that I need not expect it. And she was as good as
her word.
When we drew near to England, the rheumatism seized all my limbs worse
than ever, and my body was dreadfully swelled. When we landed at the
Tower, I shewed my flesh to my mistress, but she took no great notice of
it. We were obliged to stop at the tavern till my master got a house; and
a day or two after, my mistress sent me down into the wash-house to learn
to wash in the English way. In the West Indies we wash with cold water--in
England with hot. I told my mistress I was afraid that putting my hands
first into the hot water and then into the cold, would increase the pain
in my limbs. The doctor had told my mistress long before I came from the
West Indies, that I was a sickly body and the washing did not agree with
me. But Mrs. Wood would not release me from the tub, so I was forced to do
as I could. I grew worse, and could not stand to wash. I was then forced
to sit down with the tub before me, and often through pain and weakness
was reduced to kneel or to sit down on the floor, to finish my task. When
I complained to my mistress of this, she only got into a passion as usual,
and said washing in hot water could not hurt any one;--that I was lazy and
insolent, and wanted to be free of my work; but that she would make me do
it. I thought her very hard on me, and my heart rose up within me. However
I kept still at that time, and went down again to wash the child's things;
but the English washerwomen who were at work there, when they saw that I
was so ill, had pity upon me and washed them for me.
After that, when we came up to live in Leigh Street, Mrs. Wood sorted out
five bags of clothes which we had used at sea, and also such as had been
worn since we came on shore, for me and the cook to wash. Elizabeth the
cook told her, that she did not think that I was able to stand to the tub,
and that she had better hire a woman. I also said myself, that I had come
over to nurse the child, and that I was sorry I had come from Antigua,
since mistress would work me so hard, without compassion for my
rheumatism. Mr. and Mrs. Wood, when they heard this, rose up in a passion
against me. They opened the door and bade me get out. But I was a
stranger, and did not know one door in the street from another, and was
unwilling to go away. They made a dreadful uproar, and from that day they
constantly kept cursing and abusing me. I was obliged to wash, though I
was very ill. Mrs. Wood, indeed once hired a washerwoman, but she was not
well treated, and would come no more.
My master quarrelled with me another time, about one of our great
washings, his wife having stirred him up to do so. He said he would compel
me to do the whole of the washing given out to me, or if I again refused,
he would take a short course with me: he would either send me down to the
brig in the river, to carry me back to Antigua, or he would turn me at
once out of doors, and let me provide for myself. I said I would willingly
go back, if he would let me purchase my own freedom. But this enraged him
more than all the rest: he cursed and swore at me dreadfully, and said he
would never sell my freedom--if I wished to be free, I was free in
England, and I might go and try what freedom would do for me, and be
d----d. My heart was very sore with this treatment, but I had to go on. I
continued to do my work, and did all I could to give satisfaction, but all
would not do.
Shortly after, the cook left them, and then matters went on ten times
worse. I always washed the child's clothes without being commanded to do
it, and any thing else that was wanted in the family; though still I was
very sick--very sick indeed. When the great washing came round, which was
every two months, my mistress got together again a great many heavy
things, such as bed-ticks, bed-coverlets, &c. for me to wash. I told her I
was too ill to wash such heavy things that day. She said, she supposed I
thought myself a free woman, but I was not; and if I did not do it
directly I should be instantly turned out of doors. I stood a long time
before I could answer, for I did not know well what to do. I knew that I
was free in England, but I did not know where to go, or how to get my
living; and therefore, I did not like to leave the house. But Mr. Wood
said he would send for a constable to thrust me out; and at last I took
courage and resolved that I would not be longer thus treated, but would go
and trust to Providence. This was the fourth time they had threatened turn
me out, and, go where I might, I was determined now to take them at their
word; though I thought it very hard, after I had lived with them for
thirteen years, and worked for them like a horse, to be driven out in this
way, like a beggar. My only fault was being sick, and therefore unable to
please my mistress, who thought she never could get work enough out of her
slaves; and I told them so: but they only abused me and drove me out. This
took place from two to three months, I think, after we came to England.
When I came away, I went to the man (one Mash) who used to black the shoes
of the family, and asked his wife to get somebody to go with me to Hatton
Garden to the Moravian Missionaries: these were the only persons I knew in
England. The woman sent a young girl with me to the mission house, and I
saw there a gentleman called Mr. Moore. I told him my whole story, and how
my owners had treated me, and asked him to take in my trunk with what few
clothes I had. The missionaries were very kind to me--they were sorry for
my destitute situation, and gave me leave to bring my things to be placed
under their care. They were very good people, and they told me to come to
the church.
When I went back to Mr. Wood's to get my trunk, I saw a lady, Mrs. Pell,
who was on a visit to my mistress. When Mr. and Mrs. Wood heard me come
in, they set this lady to stop me, finding that they had gone too far with
me. Mrs. Pell came out to me, and said, "Are you really going to leave,
Molly? Don't leave, but come into the country with me." I believe she said
this because she thought Mrs. Wood would easily get me back again. I
replied to her, "Ma'am, this is the fourth time my master and mistress
have driven me out, or threatened to drive me--and I will give them no
more occasion to bid me go. I was not willing to leave them, for I am a
stranger in this country, but now I must go--I can stay no longer to be so
used." Mrs. Pell then went up stairs to my mistress, and told that I would
go, and that she could not stop me. Mrs. Wood was very much hurt and
frightened when she found I was determined to go out that day. She said,
"If she goes the people will rob her, and then turn her adrift." She did
not say this to me, but she spoke it loud enough for me to hear; that it
might induce me not to go, I suppose. Mr. Wood also asked me where I was
going to. I told him where I had been, and that I should never have gone
away had I not been driven out by my owners. He had given me a written
paper some time before, which said that I had come with them to England by
my own desire; and that was true. It said also that I left them of my own
free will, because I was a free woman in England; and that I was idle and
would not do my work--which was not true. I gave this paper afterwards to
a gentleman who inquired into my case.[13]
[Footnote 13: See page 24.]
I went into the kitchen and got my clothes out. The nurse and the servant
girl were there, and I said to the man who was going to take out my trunk,
"Stop, before you take up this trunk, and hear what I have to say before
these people. I am going out of this house, as I was ordered; but I have
done no wrong at all to my owners, neither here nor in the West Indies. I
always worked very hard to please them, both by night and day; but there
was no giving satisfaction, for my mistress could never be satisfied with
reasonable service. I told my mistress I was sick, and yet she has ordered
me out of doors. This is the fourth time; and now I am going out."
And so I came out, and went and carried my trunk to the Moravians. I then
returned back to Mash the shoe-black's house, and begged his wife to take
me in. I had a little West Indian money in my trunk; and they got it
changed for me. This helped to support me for a little while. The man's
wife was very kind to me. I was very sick, and she boiled nourishing
things up for me. She also sent for a doctor to see me, and he sent me
medicine, which did me good, though I was ill for a long time with the
rheumatic pains. I lived a good many months with these poor people, and
they nursed me, and did all that lay in their power to serve me. The man
was well acquainted with my situation, as he used to go to and fro to Mr.
Wood's house to clean shoes and knives; and he and his wife were sorry for
me.
About this time, a woman of the name of Hill told me of the Anti-Slavery
Society, and went with me to their office, to inquire if they could do any
thing to get me my freedom, and send me back to the West Indies. The
gentlemen of the Society took me to a lawyer, who examined very strictly
into my case; but told me that the laws of England could do nothing to
make me free in Antigua[14]. However they did all they could for me: they
gave me a little money from time to time to keep me from want; and some of
them went to Mr. Wood to try to persuade him to let me return a free woman
to my husband; but though they offered him, as I have heard, a large sum
for my freedom, he was sulky and obstinate, and would not consent to let
me go free.
[Footnote 14: She came first to the Anti-Slavery Office in Aldermanbury,
about the latter end of November 1828; and her case was referred to Mr.
George Stephen to be investigated. More of this hereafter.--ED.]
This was the first winter I spent in England, and I suffered much from the
severe cold, and from the rheumatic pains, which still at times torment
me. However, Providence was very good to me, and I got many
friends--especially some Quaker ladies, who hearing of my case, came and
sought me out, and gave me good warm clothing and money. Thus I had great
cause to bless God in my affliction.
When I got better I was anxious to get some work to do, as I was unwilling
to eat the bread of idleness. Mrs. Mash, who was a laundress, recommended
me to a lady for a charwoman. She paid me very handsomely for what work I
did, and I divided the money with Mrs. Mash; for though very poor, they
gave me food when my own money was done, and never suffered me to want.
In the spring, I got into service with a lady, who saw me at the house
where I sometimes worked as a charwoman. This lady's name was Mrs.
Forsyth. She had been in the West Indies, and was accustomed to Blacks,
and liked them. I was with her six months, and went with her to Margate.
She treated me well, and gave me a good character when she left London.[15]
[Footnote 15: She refers to a written certificate which will be inserted
afterwards.]
After Mrs. Forsyth went away, I was again out of place, and went to
lodgings, for which I paid two shillings a week, and found coals and
candle. After eleven weeks, the money I had saved in service was all gone,
and I was forced to go back to the Anti-Slavery office to ask a supply,
till I could get another situation. I did not like to go back--I did not
like to be idle. I would rather work for my living than get it for
nothing. They were very good to give me a supply, but I felt shame at
being obliged to apply for relief whilst I had strength to work.
At last I went into the service of Mr. and Mrs. Pringle, where I have been
ever since, and am as comfortable as I can be while separated from my dear
husband, and away from my own country and all old friends and connections.
My dear mistress teaches me daily to read the word of God, and takes great
pains to make me understand it. I enjoy the great privilege of being
enabled to attend church three times on the Sunday; and I have met with
many kind friends since I have been here, both clergymen and others. The
Rev. Mr. Young, who lives in the next house, has shown me much kindness,
and taken much pains to instruct me, particularly while my master and
mistress were absent in Scotland. Nor must I forget, among my friends, the
Rev. Mr. Mortimer, the good clergyman of the parish, under whose ministry
I have now sat for upwards of twelve months. I trust in God I have
profited by what I have heard from him. He never keeps back the truth, and
I think he has been the means of opening my eyes and ears much better to
understand the word of God. Mr. Mortimer tells me that he cannot open the
eyes of my heart, but that I must pray to God to change my heart, and make
me to know the truth, and the truth will make me free.