In the narrative of his own life, Solomon Bayley says: "The Lord tried
to teach me His fear when I was a little boy; but I delighted in vanity
and foolishness, and went astray; but He found out a way to overcome
me, and to cause me to desire His favor and His great help; and
although I thought no one could be more unworthy of His favor, yet He
did look on me, and pity me in my great distress.
"I was born a slave in the State of Delaware, and was one of those that
were carried out of Delaware into the State of Virginia; the laws of
Delaware did say, that slaves carried out of that State should be free;
and I asserted my right to freedom, for which I was put on board of a
vessel and sent to Richmond, where I was put in jail, and in irons, and
thence sent in a wagon back into the country.
"On the third day after we left Richmond, in the bitterness of my
heart, I was induced to say, 'I am past all hope;' but it pleased the
Father of mercy to look upon me, and He sent a strengthening thought
into my heart--that He that made the heavens and the earth was able
to deliver me. I looked up to the sky, and then on the trees and the
ground, and I believed, in a moment, that if He could make all these,
He was able to deliver me.
"Then did that Scripture come into my mind, 'They that trust in the
Lord shall never be confounded.' I believed it, and got out of the
wagon unperceived, and went into the bushes. There were three wagons
in company: when they missed me, they looked round some time for me,
but not finding me, they went on; and that night I travelled through
thunder, lightning, and rain, a considerable distance."
His trials and difficulties in getting along were many and various;
but at Petersburg he met a man from his neighborhood, circumstanced
like himself: they got a small boat, went down James River, and landed
on the eastern shore of Chesapeake Bay, and travelled to Hunting
Creek, where their wives were. "But," says he, "we found little or no
satisfaction, for we were hunted like partridges on the mountains."
His poor companion, being threatened again with slavery, in attempting
to escape, was pursued and killed; on which Solomon makes the following
remarks: "Now, reader, you have heard of the end of my fellow-sufferer,
but I remain as yet a monument of mercy, thrown up and down on life's
tempestuous sea; sometimes feeling an earnest desire to go away and be
at rest; but I travail on, in hopes of overcoming at my last combat.
"It being thought best for me to leave Virginia, I went to Dover,
in Delaware, the distance of about one hundred and twenty miles." By
travelling in the night, and laying by in the day-time, he at length
reached that place, but not without great difficulty, from being hunted
and pursued.
In concluding this part of his narrative, he says, "Oh, what pains God
takes to help His otherwise helpless creatures! Oh, that His kindness
and care were more considered and laid to heart! and then there would
not be that cause to complain that 'the ox knoweth his owner, and the
ass his master's crib, but Israel doth not know, my people doth not
consider;' but they would see that they are of more value than many
sparrows; and that they are not their own, but bought with a price.
Now, unto the King immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be glory and
honor, dominion and power, now and forever. Amen."
In the second part of his narrative, he proceeds by remarking, "Seventh
month, 24th, 1799, I got to Camden, where my master soon came from
Virginia and found me, though he had not seen me since he put me on
board the back-country wagon, nearly three or four hundred miles from
Camden. Upon first sight, he asked me what I was going to do. I said,
'Now, master, I have suffered a great deal, and seen a great deal of
trouble; I think you might let me go for little or nothing.' He said,
'I won't do that; but if you will give me forty pounds bond and good
security, you may be free.'"
After much conversation between them on the subject of his right to
freedom, he continues: "Finally, he sold my time for eighty dollars,
and I went to work, and worked it out in a shorter time than he gave
me, and then I was a free man. And when I came to think that the _yoke
was off my neck_, and _how_ it was _taken_ off, I was made to wonder
and admire, and to adore the order of kind Providence, which assisted
me in all my way."
Here he very feelingly recites the trials and exercises of mind that
attended him for not adhering to that wisdom and goodness of his
Creator, which had been so marvellously manifested for his deliverance,
and then proceeds to relate the circumstances respecting his wife
and children. "My wife was born a slave, and remained one until she
was thirty-two years of age; when her master, falling out with her,
proposed sending her, with my eldest daughter, about three months old,
into the back country.
"To go with her, I knew not where, or to buy her at his price, brought
me to a stand; but, by the pleading of his wife and little daughter, he
agreed to let me have her for one hundred and thirty-three dollars and
a third, which is thirty-one pounds Virginia money. I paid what money I
had saved since paying for my own freedom, and the rest as I earned it,
and she was manumitted. But I had one child in bondage, my only son,
and having worked through the purchase of myself and wife, I thought I
would give up my son to the ordering of Divine Providence.
"So we worked and rented land, and got along twelve or thirteen years,
when my son's master died, and his property had to be sold, and my son
among the rest, at public sale. The backwoods-men having come over and
given such large prices for slaves, it occasioned a great concern to
come over my mind, and I told it to many of my friends, and they all
encouraged me to buy him, but I told them I could have no heart to do
it, because at his master's death he was appraised at four hundred
dollars; however, I went to the sale. When the crier said, 'A likely
young negro-fellow for sale,' and then asked for a bid, I said, 'Two
hundred dollars.'
"As soon as I made this bid, a man that I feared would sell him to the
backwoods-men, bid three hundred and thirty-three dollars, which beat
down all my courage, but a thought struck me--Don't give out so--and
I bid one shilling, but they continued to bid until they got him up
to three hundred and sixty dollars, and I thought I could do no more;
but those men who had engaged to be my securities, encouraged me, and
some young men who were present, and had their hearts touched with a
feeling for my distress, said, 'Solomon, if you will make one more bid,
we will give you five dollars apiece;' so I turned round and said,
'One shilling;' so he was knocked off to me at three hundred and sixty
dollars and a shilling: this was in the year 1813.
"Then I believed that God would work, and none could hinder Him, and
that a way would be made for me, though I knew not how; and I confess
the eyes of my mind appeared to be dazzled as I was let into a sight of
the great goodness of the Highest in undertaking for me; but I felt a
fear lest my behavior should not be suitable to the kindness and favor
shown toward me.
"Oh, that all men would study the end of their creation, and act
accordingly! Then they would walk in the light of His countenance
indeed, and 'in His name rejoice all the day, and in His righteousness
for ever be exalted.'
'Then should their sun in smiles decline,
And bring a peaceful night;'
which may all who read these lines, desire, and seek, and obtain,
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen."
In the account of his mother, he says, "She was born of a woman brought
from Guinea about the year 1690, then about eleven years old. She was
brought into one of the most barbarous families; and though treated
hard, she had many children, and lived to a great age. My mother had
thirteen sons and daughters, and served the same cruel family until
they died.
"Then great distress and dispersion took place. Our young mistress
married, and brought our family out of the State of Virginia into the
State of Delaware; but by their removing back to Virginia, we were
entitled to our freedom, and attempting to recover it by law, we were
sold and scattered wide. My father and two of his children were taken
unaware, and sent to the West Indies. My mother was in the house at
the time, but made her escape, leaving a child about eleven months
old, which some kind friend carrying to her, she took, and travelling
through Delaware, went into New Jersey.
"We were separated about eighteen years, except that I once visited
her, and carried her seventeen or eighteen dollars, which, in my
circumstances, was a sacrifice, but I was favored to find that
satisfaction which I esteemed more than time or money. Being thoughtful
about my mother, I sent for her to come to the State of Delaware, and
when we were brought together, it was very comfortable, and we could
sit and tell of the dangers and difficulties we had been brought
through. She lived to a great age, and departed without much complaint,
like one falling asleep.
"_An account of my eldest daughter Margaret, who died in the
twenty-fourth year of her age._
"She was a pleasant child in her manners and behavior, yet fond of gay
dress and new fashions; yet her mind was much inclined to her book, and
to read good lessons; and it pleased the Father of mercy to open her
understanding to see excellent things out of His law, and to convince
her that it was His will she should be holy here, and happy hereafter;
but custom, habit, and shame, seemed to chain her down, so that she
appeared like one halting between two opinions.
"But about a month before she was taken for death, she went to a
Meeting, under a concern about her future state; and the Meeting
appeared to be favored with the outpouring of the Spirit of love and of
power. Margaret came home under great concern of mind, and manifested
a wonderful change in her manners and behavior; I believe the whole
family were affected at the sight of the alteration, which indeed
appeared like that of the prodigal son coming home to his father. For
my own part, I felt fear and great joy--such was her delight to read
the Bible and ask the meaning of certain texts of Scripture, which
evidenced a concern to make sure work for eternity.
"In this frame of mind she was taken for death. She appeared very
desirous to live, for the first four weeks; but was very patient, and
of a sweet temper and disposition all the time. I recollect but one
instance when she was known to give way to peevish fretfulness; then
I, feeling the evil spirit striving to get the advantage of her, very
tenderly and earnestly admonished her not to regard trifles, but to
look to that Power which was able to save her; and from that time she
became passive and resigned.
"The following two weeks her pain was great, and baffled all the force
of medicine. A few days before her departure, she was urged with much
brokenness of heart to make confession, when she was let into a view
of the vanity of the world, with all its glittering snares, and said
she could not rest till her hair was cut off; for, she said, 'I was
persuaded to plait my hair against my father's advice, and I used to
tie up my head when father would come to see me, and hide ruffles and
gay dress from him, and now I cannot rest till my hair is cut off.' I
said, 'No, my daughter, let it be till thee gets well.' She answered,
'Oh, no, cut it now.' So I, to pacify her, took and cropped it.
"After this, she appeared filled with raptures of joy, and talked of
going, as if death had lost its sting. This was about three days before
her departure; and she seemed to have her senses as long as she could
speak. A little before her speech left her, she called us all, one by
one, held out her hand, bade us farewell, and looked as if she felt
that assurance and peace that destroy the fear of death; and while she
held out her hands, she earnestly charged us to meet her in heaven.
"I desire now to give the pious a brief account of the life and death
of my youngest daughter, Leah Bayley, who departed this life the 27th
of 7th month, 1821, aged twenty-one years and six months. She, from a
child, was more weakly and sickly than her sister Margaret, and the
thought of leaving her here in this ill-natured world, caused me many
serious moments; but the great Parent of all good, in the greatness of
His care, took her away, and relieved me of the care of her forever.
"Weakness of body and mind appeared in her as she grew up, and an
inclination to vanity and idleness; but being bound out under an
industrious mistress, to learn to work and to have schooling, her
mind soon became much inclined to her book and then to business. Her
school-mistress gave her a little book concerning some pious young
people that lived happily, and died happily, and were gone to heaven;
namely,--
"Young Samuel, that little child
Who served the Lord, lived undefiled.
Like young Abijah I must be,
That good things may be found in me.
Young Timothy, that blessed youth
Who sought the Lord and loved the truth.
I must not sin as others do,
Lest I lie down in sorrow too.
"These blessed examples won her heart so as to bury every other
enjoyment; she seemed to possess as great a deadness to the world as
any young woman I ever observed. She seemed not ashamed to read in
any company, white or colored; and she read to the sick with intense
desire, which appeared from her weeping and solid manner of behavior.
She seemed to desire to walk in the fear of the Lord all the day long;
and every body that observed her remarked her serious, steady behavior.
"She seemed as if she was trying to imitate those good children whom
she read about; and so continued until she was taken sick; and though
her sickness was long and sharp, yet she bore it like a lamb. A few
days before her decease, I was noticing how hard she drew her breath;
she looked very wistful at me, and said, 'Oh, father! how much I do
suffer!' I answered, 'Yes, my dear, I believe thee does.'
"Then, after a long pause, she said, 'But I think I never shall say I
suffer too much.' This, I apprehended, was extorted from a view of the
sufferings of Christ and her own imperfections. The day she died, she
called us all, one by one, and, like her sister Margaret, held out her
hand, and with much composure of mind bade us farewell, as if she was
only going a short walk, and to return."
The last accounts from Solomon Bayley say, that he was very diligent
and faithful in his calling--laboring not only for the souls of his
brethren, but for their bodies also--by setting them the best example
he was capable of, in cultivating his land to the best advantage, and
by improving his plans, to show the natives, as well as the emigrants,
the usefulness and comforts of civilized life.