About the year 1738, a man and his wife, named Tom and Caty, who were
in bondage to Thomas Bowne, on Long Island, had a little son whom they
called Billy. This little boy, when old enough to work, was sold to
a farmer in the neighborhood; who, according to the custom of those
days, went with his servants into the field, and allotted to each one
his portion of labor. By this means, Billy became acquainted with the
different branches of husbandry, and was inured to industry.
With this farmer, he was pretty comfortably cared for, and kept to his
daily labor until the thirty-first year of his age. About the year
1744, the master of one of those ships employed in bringing the poor
Africans from their native land, among others brought away a little
girl--too young, alas! to tell even by what means, or in what way she
was taken.
This little girl, after suffering all the hardships attendant on her
situation, and a long confinement on shipboard, was landed in New York,
and sold according to the custom of that time. She was bought by Samuel
Underhill, and taken to Long Island to wait on his wife and children
and they called her Jenny. As she advanced in age, she became more and
more useful in her master's family, and satisfied with her situation.
Her mistress being a woman of an uncommonly amiable disposition,
having known the subjugation of her own will, by the operation of
that principle which brings into harmony all the discordant passions,
and one of that description also, that "looked well to the ways of
her household, and ate not the bread of idleness," she was qualified
to govern her family with mildness and discretion, and to set them an
example of economy, sobriety, cheerfulness, and industry.
Jenny, being placed under the tuition of such a mistress, in due time
became qualified to fill the station allotted her with propriety,
as an honest, sober, industrious, and useful servant. When she had
arrived at about the twentieth year of her age, she was visited by the
before-mentioned Billy, in the character of a suitor. After mature
deliberation, and their affections becoming more strongly fixed, with
the approbation of those concerned, the marriage ceremony was performed.
Thus were they united, not only in the bonds of wedlock, but those of
sincere affection, which abundantly manifested itself in their conduct
toward and respect for each other, during a long and laborious life,
and in their care of their numerous offspring, which consisted of nine
sons and one daughter.
Time passing on with them, they partook of such a share of happiness
as their situation in life would permit, until the year 1769, when the
master of Jenny, having purchased a farm in Westchester county, was
preparing to remove his family thither. This circumstance became a very
close trial to this affectionate pair, who by this time had several
children.
The thoughtfulness and anxiety felt by them on this occasion being
reciprocated by their masters, a proposition was made for an exchange.
The wife of one of Billy's fellow-servants being in the family with
Jenny, accommodations were soon made, and Billy was admitted a resident
in the family with his beloved partner: when they all proceeded to
their new settlement, where they lived in harmony and concord for many
years, and until their master's children were all married and settled.
During this period, Billy and Jenny, with all their children, were
liberated by their master, and such of them as were old enough, were
placed where they might be brought up to habits of industry, and be
prepared to provide for themselves a comfortable subsistence; but Billy
and Jenny remained with him.
Age and infirmity at length put a period to their kind master's life.
And his family, being thus deprived of his care and exertions, were
induced to leave their abode. The mistress, who had long exercised an
affectionate care over her household, finding herself lonely, retired
to live with her children. And with her youngest son, she remained to
an advanced age, and was then gathered into rest, as a shock of corn in
its season.
Billy and Jenny having a house provided for them, remained under the
care of their former master's descendants, and with their own industry,
and the generosity of their friends, they were comfortably situated.
But when Billy was so disabled by infirmity, that he could not work as
a day-laborer, he cultivated a little garden, and did some light jobs
for his neighbors.
Their children being out, while Jenny's health and strength remained,
she went out to washing and housecleaning. Billy generally waited on
her to the place of destination, and then, returning to his habitation,
nursed his garden and poultry until toward evening, when he would go to
accompany her home. More genuine politeness and unremitting attention,
between a man and his wife, are rarely to be found, in city or country,
than were manifested by this sable pair.
Thus they lived several years; but Jenny at length became enfeebled
by age, and her sight failed, so that she was no longer capable of
laboring abroad, or using her spinning-wheel at home, as heretofore,
which made it necessary for them to be placed in a different situation.
One winter, while they remained at housekeeping, there came a very
severe snow-storm, with high wind, so that passing from one place to
another was rendered very difficult for several days.
As soon as practicable, their friend, who had the care of them, and
supplied their wants, went to see how they fared; when Jenny, meeting
him at the door, and being asked how they were, etc., said, "Oh, Master
Richard, I am wonderful glad to see thee--if the storm had lasted much
longer, I believe we should have froze to death; our wood was 'most
gone, and Billy is one of the honestest niggers in the world; for he
had rather freeze to death than steal a rail from the fence." This
circumstance is recorded as one specimen of their honest simplicity.
In the spring of 1815, they were removed to the habitation of one of
their sons, where they were boarded; and there they remained, until
death, the destroyer of all earthly comforts, put a period to Jenny's
life, after a few days' severe illness, about the seventy-eighth year
of her age.
The same affectionate attachment that pervaded her mind in youth and in
health, remained unshaken to the last. Her sight, as before remarked,
being almost gone, when lying on her bed, she frequently inquired for
Billy; but when she was told he was lying behind her, or sitting by
her, she was satisfied.
Thus she closed a long and laborious life, beloved and respected for
her many good qualities, and her consistent conduct. Billy died at
Scarsdale, Westchester county, New York, on the 4th of Third month,
1826, after a few days' illness, aged about eighty-seven years, and was
decently interred by the side of Jenny, on the 6th of the same month.