_Containing an account of his life, from the time of his leaving
Africa, to that of his becoming free._
After all the business was ended on the coast of Africa, the ship
sailed from thence to Barbadoes. After an ordinary passage, except
great mortality from small pox, which broke out on board, we arrived
at the island of Barbadoes: but when we reached it, there were found
out of the two hundred and sixty that sailed from Africa, not more
than two hundred alive. These were all sold, except for myself and
three more, to the planters there.
The vessel then sailed for Rhode Island, and arrived there after a
comfortable passage. Here my master sent me to live with one of his
sisters, until he could carry me to Fisher's Island, the place of his
residence. I had then competed my eighth year. After staying with
his sister some time I was taken to my master's place to live.
When we arrived at Narragansett, my master went ashore in order to
return a part of the way by land, and gave me the charge of the keys
of his trunks on board the vessel, and charged me not to deliver them
up to any body, not even to his father without his orders. To his
directions I promised faithfully to conform. When I arrived with my
master's articles at his house, my master's father asked me for his
son's keys, as he wanted to see what his trunks contained. I told him
that my master intrusted me with the care of them until he should
return, and that I had given him my word to be faithful to the trust,
and could not therefore give him or any other person the keys without
my master's directions. He insisted that I should deliver him the
keys, threatening to punish me if I did not. But I let him know that
he should not have them say what he would. He then laid aside trying
to get them. But notwithstanding he appeared to give up trying to
obtain them from me, yet I mistrusted that he would take some time
when I was off my guard, either in the day time or at night to get
them, therefore I slung them around my neck, and in the day concealed
them in my bosom, and at night I always lay with them under me, that
no person might take them from me without being apprized of it. Thus
I kept the keys from every body until my master came home. When he
returned he asked where VENTURE was. As I was then within hearing, I
came, said, here sir, at your service. He asked me for his keys, and
I immediately took them off my neck and reached them out to him. He
took them, stroked my hair, and commended me, saying in presence of
his father that his young VENTURE was so faithful that he would never
have been able to have taken the keys from him but by violence; that
he should not fear to trust him with his whole fortune, for that he
had been in his native place so habituated to keeping his word, that
he would sacrifice even his life to maintain it.
The first of the time of living at my master's own place, I was pretty
much employed in the house at carding wool and other household
business. In this situation I continued for some years, after which
my master put me to work out of doors. After many proofs of my
faithfulness and honesty, my master began to put great confidence in
me. My behavior to him had as yet been submissive and obedient. I
then began to have hard tasks imposed on me. Some of these were to
pound four bushels of ears of corn every night in a barrel for the
poultry, or be rigorously punished. At other seasons of the year I
had to card wool until a very late hour. These tasks I had to perform
when I was about nine years old. Some time after I had another
difficulty and oppression which was greater than any I had ever
experienced since I came into this country. This was to serve two
masters. James Mumford, my master's son, when his father had gone
from home in the morning, and given me a stint to perform that day,
would order me to do _this_ and _that_ business different from what my
master directed me. One day in particular, the authority which my
master's son had set up, had like to have produce melancholy effects.
For my master having set me off my business to perform that day and
then left me to perform it, his son came up to me in the course of the
day, big with authority, and and commanded me very arrogantly to quit
my present business and go directly about what he should order me. I
replied to him that my master had given me so much to perform that
day, and that I must therefore faithfully complete it in that time.
He then broke out in a great rage, snatched a pitchfork and went to
lay me over the head therewith; but I as soon got another and defended
myself with it, or otherwise he might have murdered me in his outrage.
He immediately called some people who were hearing at work for him,
and ordered them to take his hair rope and and come and bind me with
it. They all tried to bind me but in vain, tho' there were three
assistants in number. My upstart master than desisted, put his pocket
handkerchief before his eyes and went home with a design to tell his
mother of the struggle with young VENTURE. He told her that their
young VENTURE had become so stubborn that he could not controul him,
and asked her what he should do with him. In the mean time I
recovered my temper, voluntarily caused myself to be bound by the same
men who tried in vain before, and carried before my young master, that
he might do what he pleased with me. He took me to a gallows made for
the purpose of hanging cattle on, and suspended me on it. Afterwards
he ordered one of his hands to go to the peach orchard and cut him
three dozens of whips to punish me with. These were brought to him,
and that was all that was done with them, as I was released and went
to work after hanging on the gallows about an hour.
After I lived with my master thirteen years, being then about twenty
two years old, I married Meg, a slave of his who was about my age. My
master owned a certain Irishman, named Heddy, who about that time
formed a plan of secretly leaving his master. After he had long had
this plan in meditation he suggested it to me. At first I cast a deaf
ear on it, and rebuked Heddy for harboring in his mind such a rash
undertaking. But after he had persuaded and much enchanted me with
the prospect of gaining my freedom with such a method, I at length
agreed to accompany him. Heddy next inveigled two of his fellow
servants to accompany us. The place to which we designed to go was
the Mississippi. Our next business was to lay in a sufficient store
of provisions for our voyage. We privately collected out of our
master's store, six great old cheeses, two firkins of butter, and one
whole batch of new bread. When we had gathered all our own clothes
and some more, we took them all about midnight, and went to the water
side. We stole our master's boat, embarked, then directed our course
for the Mississippi river.
We mutually confederated not to betray or desert one another on pain
of death. We first steered our course for Montauk point, the east end
of Long-Island. After our arrival there we landed, and Heddy and I
made an incursion into the island after fresh water, while our two
comrades were left at a little distance from the boat, employed at
cooking. When Heddy and I had sought some time for water, he returned
to our companions, and I continued on looking for my object. When
Heddy had performed his business with our companions, who were engaged
in cooking, he went directly to the boat, stole all the clothes in it,
and then travelled away for East-Hampton, as I was informed. I
returned to my fellows not long after. They informed me that our
clothes were stolen, but could not determine who was the thief, yet
they suspected Heddy as he was missing. After reproving my two
comrades for not taking care of our things which were in the boat, I
advertised Heddy and sent two men in search of him. They pursued and
overtook him at Southampton and returned him to the boat. I then
thought it might afford some chance for my freedom, or at least a
palliation for my running away, to return Heddy immediately to his
master, and inform him that I was induced to go away by Heddy's
address. Accordingly I set off with him and the rest of my companions
for our master's, and arrived there without any difficulty. I
informed my master that Heddy was the ringleader of our revolt, and
that he had used us ill. He immediately put Heddy into custody, and
myself and companions were well received and went to work as usual.
Not a long time passed after that, before Heddy was sent by my master
to New-London gaol. At the close of that year I was sold to a Thomas
Stanton, and had to be separated from my wife and one daughter, who
was about one month old. He resided at Stonington-point. To this
place I brought with me from my last master's, two johannes, three old
Spanish dollars, and two thousand of coppers, besides five pounds of
my wife's money. This money I got by cleaning gentlemen's shoes and
drawing boots, by catching musk-rats and minks, raising potatoes and
carrots, &c. and by fishing in the night, and at odd spells.
All this money amounting to near twenty-one pounds York currency, my
master's brother, Robert Stanton, hired of me, for which he gave me
his note. About one year and a half after that time, my master
purchased my wife and and her child, for severn hundred pounds old
tenor. One time my master sent me two miles after a barrel of
molasses, and ordered me to carry it on my shoulders. I made out to
carry it all the way to my master's house. When I lived with Captain
George Mumford, only to try my strength, I took up on my knees a
tierce of salt containing seven bushels, and carried it two or three
rods. Of this fact there are several eye witnesses now living.
Towards the close of the time that I resided with this master, I had a
falling out with my mistress. This happened one time when my master
was gone to Long-Island a gunning. At first the quarrel began between
my wife and her mistress. I was then at work in the barn, and hearing
a racket in the house, induced me to run there and see what had broken
out. When I entered the house, I found my mistress in a violent
passion with my wife, for what she informed me was a mere trifle; such
a small affair that I forbear to put my mistress to the shame of
having it known. I earnestly requested my wife to beg pardon of her
mistress for the sake of peace even if she had given no just occasion
for offence. But whilst I was thus saying my mistress turned the
blows which she was repeating on my wife to me. She took down her
horse-whip, and while she was glutting her fury with it, I reached out
my great black hand, raised it up and received the blows of the whip
on it which were designed for my head. Then I immediately committed
the whip to the devouring fire.
When my master returned from the island, his wife told him of the
affair, but for the present he seemed to take no notice of it, and
mentioned not a word of it to me. Some days after his return, in the
morning as I was putting on a log in the fire-place, not suspecting
harm from any one, I received a most violent stroke on the crown of my
head with a club two feet long and and as large around as a chair-
post. This blow very badly wounded my head, and the scar of it
remains to this day. The first blow made me have my wits about me as
you may suppose, for as soon as he went to renew it, I snatched the
club out of his hands and dragged him out of the door. He then sent
for his brother to come and assist him, but I presently left my
master, took the club he wounded me with, carried it to a neighboring
Justice of the Peace, and complained of my master. He finally advised
me to return to my master, and live contented with him until he abused
me again, and then complain. I consented to do accordingly. But
before I set out for my master's, up he come and his brother Robert
after me. The Justice improved this convenient opportunity to caution
my master. He asked him for what he treated his slave thus hastily
and unjustly, and told him what would be the consequence if he
continued the same treatment towards me. After the Justice had ended
his discourse with my master, he and his brother set out with me for
home, one before and the other behind me. When they had come to a bye
place, they both dismounted their respective horses, and fell to
beating me with great violence. I became enraged at this and
immediately turned them both under me, laid one of them across the
other, and stamped both with my feet what I would.
This occasioned my master's brother to advise him to put me off. A
short time after this I was taken by a constable and two men. They
carried me to a black-smith's shop and had me hand-cuffed. When I
returned home my mistress enquired much of her waiters, whether
VENTURE was hand-cuffed. When she was informed that I was, she
appeared to be very contented and was much transported with the news.
In the midst of all this content and joy, I presented myself before my
mistress, shewed her my hand-cuffs, and gave her thanks for my gold
rings. For this my master commanded a negro of his to fetch him a
large ox chain. This my master locked on my legs with two padlocks.
I continued to wear the chain peaceably for two or three days, when my
master asked me with contemptuous hard names whether I had not better
be freed from my chains and go to work. I answered him, No. Well
then, said he, I will send you to the West-Indies or banish you, for I
am resolved not to keep you. I answered him I crossed the waters to
come here, and I am willing to cross them to return.
For a day or two after this not any one said much to me, until one
Hempsted Miner, of Stonington, asked me if I would live with him. I
answered him that I would. He then requested me to make myself
discontented and to appear as unreconciled to my master as I could
before that he bargained with him for me; and that in return he would
give me a good chance to gain my freedom when I came to live with him.
I did as he requested me. Not long after Hempsted Miner purchased me
of my master for fifty-six pounds lawful. He took the chain and
padlocks off me immediately after.
It may here be remembered, that I related a few pages back, that I
hired out a sum of money to Mr. Robert Stanton, and took his note for
it. In the fray between my master Stanton and myself, he broke open
my chest containing his brother's note to me, and destroyed it.
Immediately after my present master bought me, he determined to sell
me at Hartford. As soon as I became apprized of it, I bethought
myself that I would secure a certain sum of money which lay by me,
safer than to hire it out to Stanton. Accordingly I buried it in the
earth, a little distance from Thomas Stanton's, in the road over which
he passed daily. A short time after my master carried me to Hartford,
and first proposed to sell me to one William Hooker of that place.
Hooker asked whether I would go to the German Flats with him. I
answered, No. He said I should, if not by fair means I should by
foul. If you will go by no other measures, I will tie you down in my
sleigh. I replied to him, that if he carried me in that manner, no
person would purchase me, for it would be thought that he had a
murderer for sale. After this he tried no more, and said he would not
have me as a gift.
My master next offered me to Daniel Edwards, Esq. of Hartford, for
sale. But not purchasing me, my master pawned me to him for ten
pounds, and returned to Stonington. After some trial of my honesty,
Mr. Edwards placed considerable trust and confidence in me. He put me
to serve as his cup-bearer and waiter. When there was company at his
house, he would send me into his cellar and other parts of his house
to fetch wine and other articles occasionally for them. When I had
been with him for some time, he asked me why my master wished to part
with such an honest negro, and why he did not keep me himself. I
replied that I could not give him the reason, unless it was to convert
me into cash, and speculate with me as with other commodities. I hope
he can never justly say it was on account of my ill conduct that he
did no keep me himself. Mr Edwards told me that he should be very
willing to keep me himself, and that he would never let me go from him
to live, if it was not unreasonable and inconvenient for me to be
parted from my wife and children; therefore he would furnish me with a
horse to return to Stonington, if I had a mind for it. As Miner did
not appear to redeem me I went, at called at my old master Stanton's
first to see my wife, who was then owned by him. As my old master
appeared much ruffled at my being there, I left my wife before I had
spent considerable time with her, and went to Colonel O. Smith's.
Miner had not as yet wholly settled with Stanton for me, and had
before my return from Hartford given Col. Smith a bill of sale for me.
These men once met to determine which of them should hold me, and upon
my expressing a desire to be owned by Col. Smith, and upon my master's
settling the remainder of the money which was due Stanton for me, it
was agreed that I should live with Col. Smith. This was the third
time of my being sold, and I was then thirty-one years old. As I
never had an opportunity of redeeming myself whilst I was owned by
Miner, though he promised to give me a chance, I was then very
ambitious of obtaining it. I asked my master one time if he would
consent to have me purchase my freedom. He replied that he would. I
was then very happy, knowing that I was at that time able to pay part
of the purchase money, by means of the money which I some time since
buried. This I took out of the earth and tendered to my master,
having previously engaged a free negro man to take take his security
for it, as I was the property of my master, and therefore could not
safely take his obligation myself. What was wanted in redeeming
myself, my master agreed to wait on me for, until I could procure it
for him. I still continued to work for Col. Smith. Ther was
continually some interest accruing on my master's note to my friend
the free negro man above named, which I received, and with some
besides which I got by fishing, I laid out in land adjoining my old
master Stanton's. By cultivating this land with the greatest
diligence and economy, at times when my master did not require my
labor, in two years I laid up ten pounds. This my friend tendered to
my master for myself, and received his note for it.
Being encouraged by the success which I had met in redeeming myself, I
again solicited my master for a further chance of completing it. The
chance for which I solicited him was that of going out to work the
ensuing winter. He agreed to this on condition that I would give him
one quarter of my earnings. On these terms I worked the following
winter, and earned four pounds sixteen shillings, one quarter of which
went to my master for the privilege, and the rest was paid him on my
own account. This added to the other payments made up forty four
pounds, eight shillings, which I had paid on my own account. I was
then about thirty five years old.
The next summer I again desired he would give me a chance of going out
to work. But he refused and answered that he must have my labor this
summer, as he did not have it the past winter. I replied that I
considered it as hard that I could not have a chance to work out when
the season became advantageous, and that I must only be permitted to
hire myself out in the poorest season of the year. He asked me after
this what I would give for the privilege per month. I replied that I
would leave it wholly with his own generosity to determine what I
should return him a month. Well then, said he, if so two pounds a
month. I answered him that if that was the least he would take I
would be contented.
Accordingly, I hired myself out at Fisher's Island, and earned twenty
pounds; thirteen pounds six shillings of which my master drew for the
privilege, and the remainder I paid him for my freedom. This made
fifty-one pounds two shillings which I paid him. In October following
I went and wrought six months at Long Island. In that six months'
time I cut and corded four hundred cords of wood, besides threshing
out seventy-five bushels of grain, and received of my wages down only
twenty pounds, which left remaining a larger sum. Whilst I was out
that time, I took upon my wages only one pair of shoes. At night I
lay upon the hearth, with one coverlet over and another under me. I
returned to my master and gave him what I received on my six months
labor. This left only thirteen pounds eighteen shillings to make up
the full sum for my redemption. My master liberated me, saying I
might pay what was behind if I could ever make it convenient,
otherwise it would be well. The amount of the money which I had paid
my master towards redeeming my time, was seventy-one pounds two
shillings. The reason of my master for asking such an unreasonable
price, was he said, to secure himself in case I should ever come to
want. Being thirty-six years old, I left Col. Smith once for all. I
had already been sold three different times, made considerable money
with seemingly nothing to derive it from, been cheated out of a large
sum of money, lost much by misfortunes, and paid an enormous sum for
my freedom.