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+*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 10075 ***
+
+E-text produced by Martin Schub
+
+
+
+A NARRATIVE OF THE LIFE AND ADVENTURES
+
+OF VENTURE, A NATIVE OF AFRICA,
+
+But resident above sixty years in the United States of America.
+
+RELATED BY HIMSELF.
+
+VENTURE SMITH
+
+New London, 1798
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+PREFACE
+
+The following account of  the life of VENTURE, is a relation of simple
+facts, in which nothing is in substance to what he relates himself.
+Many other interesting and curious passages of his life might have
+been inserted, but on account of the bulk to which they must
+necessarily have swelled this narrative, they were omitted.  If any
+should suspect the truth of what is here related, they are referred to
+people now living who are acquainted with most of the facts mentioned
+in this narrative.
+
+The reader is here presented with an account, not of a renowned
+politician or warrior, but of an untutored African slave, brought into
+this Christian country at eight years of age, wholly destitute of all
+education but what he received in common with other domesticated
+animals, enjoying no advantages that could lead him to suppose himself
+superior to the beasts, his fellow servants.  And if he shall enjoy no
+other advantage from perusing this narrative, he may experience those
+sensations of shame and indignation, that will prove him to be not
+wholly destitute of every noble and generous feeling.
+
+The subject of the following pages, had he received only a common
+education, might have been a man of high respectability and
+usefulness; and had his education been suited to his genius, he might
+have been an ornament and an honor to human nature.  It may perhaps,
+not be unpleasing to see the efforts of a great mind wholly
+uncultivated, enfeebled and depressed by slavery, and struggling under
+every disadvantage.  The reader may here see a Franklin and a
+Washington, in a state of nature, or rather, in a state of slavery.
+Destitute as he is of all education, he still exhibits striking traces
+of native ingenuity and good sense.
+
+This narrative exhibits a pattern of honesty, prudence, and industry,
+to people of his own colour; and perhaps some white people would not
+find themselves degraded by imitating such an example.
+
+The following account is published in compliance with the earnest
+desire of the subject of it, and likewise a number of respectable
+persons who are acquainted with him.
+
+
+CHAPTER I.
+
+_Containing an account of his life, from his birth to the time of his
+                  leaving his native country._
+
+I was born at Dukandarra, in Guinea, about the year 1729.  My father's
+name was Saungm Furro, Prince of the Tribe of Dukandarra.  My father
+had three wives.  Polygamy was not uncommon in that country,
+especially among the rich, as every man was allowed to keep as many
+wives as he could maintain.  By his first wife he had three children.
+The eldest of them was myself, named by my father Broteer.  The other
+two were named Cundazo and Soozaduka.  My father had two children by
+his second wife, and one by his third.  I descended from a very large,
+tall and stout race of beings, much larger than the generality of
+people in other parts of the globe, being commonly considerably above
+six feet in height, and in every way well proportioned.
+
+The first thing worthy of notice which I remember was, a contention
+between my father and mother, on account of my father's marrying his
+third wife without the consent of his first and eldest, which was
+contrary to the custom generally observed among my countrymen.  In
+consequence of this rupture, my mother left her husband and country,
+and travelled away with her three children to the eastward.  I was
+then five years old.  She took not the least sustenance along with
+her, to support either herself or children.  I was able to travel
+along by her side; the other two of her offspring she carried one on
+her back, and the other being a sucking child, in her arms.  When we
+became hungry, my mother used to set us down on the ground, and gather
+some of the fruits which grew spontaneously in that climate.  These
+served us for food on the way.  At night we all lay down together in
+the most secure place we could find, and reposed ourselves until
+morning.  Though there were many noxious animals there; yet so kind
+was our Almighty protector, that none of them were ever permitted to
+hurt or molest us.  Thus we went on our journey until the second day
+after our departure from Dukandarra, when we came to the entrance of a
+great desert.  During our travel in that we were often affrighted with
+the doleful howlings and yellings of wolves, lions, and other animals.
+After five days travel we came to the end of this desert, and
+immediately entered into a beautiful and extensive interval country.
+Here my mother was pleased to stop and seek a refuge for me.  She left
+me at the house of a very rich farmer.  I was then, I should judge,
+not less than one hundred forty miles from my native place, separated
+from all my relations and acquaintance.  At this place my mother took
+her farewell of me, and set out for her own country.  My new guardian,
+as I shall call the man with whom I was left, put me into the business
+of tending sheep, immediately after I was left with him.  The flock
+which I kept with the assistance of a boy, consisted of about forty.
+We drove them every morning between two and three miles to pasture,
+into the wide and delightful plains.  When night drew on, we drove
+them home and secured them in the cote.  In this round I continued
+during my stay there.  One incident that befel me when I was driving
+my flock from pasture, was so dreadful to me at that age, and is to
+this time fresh in my memory, that I cannot help noticing it in this
+place.  Two large dogs sallied out of a certain house and set upon me.
+One of them took me by the arm, and the other by the thigh, and before
+their master could come and relieve me, they lacerated my flesh to
+such a degree, that the scars are very visible to the present day.  My
+master was immediately sent for.  He came and carried me home, as I
+was unable to go myself on account of my wounds.  Nothing remarkable
+happened afterwards until my father sent for me to return home.
+
+Before I dismiss this country, I must just inform my reader what I
+remember concerning this place.  A large river runs through this
+country in a westerly course.  The land for a great way on each side
+is flat and level, hedged in by a considerable rise of the country at
+a great distance from it.  It scarce ever rains there, yet the land is
+fertile; great dews fall in the night which refresh the soil.  About
+the latter end of June or first of July, the river begins to rise, and
+gradually increases until it has inundated the country for a great
+distance, to a height of seven or eight feet.  This brings on a slime
+which enriches the land surprisingly.  When the river has subsided,
+the natives begin to sow and plant, and the vegetation is exceedingly
+rapid.  Near this rich river my guardian's land lay.  He possessed, I
+cannot tell exactly how much, yet this I am certain of respecting it,
+that he owned an immense tract.  He possessed likewise a great many
+cattle and goats.  During my stay with him I was kindly used, and with
+as much tenderness, for what I saw, as his only son, although I was an
+entire stranger to him, remote from friends and relations.  The
+principal occupation of the inhabitants there, were the cultivation of
+the soil and the care of their flocks.  They were a people pretty
+similar in every respect to that of mine,  except in their persons,
+which were not so tall and stout.  They appeared to be very kind and
+friendly.  I will now return to my departure from that place.
+
+My father sent a man and horse after me.  After settling with my
+guardian for keeping me, he took me away and went for home.  It was
+then about one year since my mother brought me here.  Nothing
+remarkable occured to us on our journey until we arrived safe home.
+
+I found then that the difference between my parents had been made up
+previous to their sending for me.  On my return, I was received both
+by my father and mother with great joy and affection, and was once
+more restored to my paternal dwelling in peace and happiness.  I was
+then about six years old.
+
+Not more than six weeks had passed after my return, before a message
+was brought by an inhabitant of the place where I lived the preceding
+year to my father, that that place had been invaded by a numerous
+army, from a nation not far distant, furnished with musical
+instruments, and all kinds of arms then in use; that they were
+instigated by some white nation who equipped and sent them to subdue
+and possess the country, that his nation had made no preparation for
+war, having been for a long time in profound peace that they could not
+defend themselves against such a formidable train of invaders, and
+must therefore necessarily evacuate their lands to the fierce enemy,
+and fly to the protection of some chief; and that if he would permit
+them they should come under his rule and protection when they had to
+retreat from their own possessions.  He was a kind and merciful
+prince, and therefore consented to these proposals.
+
+He had scarcely returned to his nation with the message, before the
+whole of his people were obliged to retreat from their country, and
+come to my fathers dominions.
+
+He gave them every privilege and all the protection his government
+could afford.  But they had not been there longer than four days
+before news came to them that the invaders had laid waste their
+country, and were coming speedily to destroy them in my father's
+territories. This affrighted them, and therefore they immediately
+pushed off to the southward, into the unknown countries there, and
+were never more heard of.
+
+Two days after their retreat, the report turned out to be but too
+true.  A detachment of the enemy came to my father and informed him,
+that the whole army was encamped not far out of his dominions, and
+would invade the territory and deprive his people of their liberties
+and rights, if he did not comply with the following terms.  These were
+to pay them a large sum of money, three hundred fat cattle, and a
+great number of goats, sheep, asses, &c.
+
+My father told the messenger that he would comply rather than that his
+subjects should be deprived of their rights and privileges, which he
+was not then in circumstances to defend from so sudden an invasion.
+Upon turning out those articles, the enemy pledged their faith and
+honor that they would not attack him.  On these he relied and
+therefore thought it unnecessary to be on his guard against the enemy.
+But their pledges of faith and honor proved no better than those of
+other unprincipled hostile nations; for a few days after a certain
+relation of the king came and informed him, that the enemy who sent
+terms of accommodation to him, and received tribute to their
+satisfaction, yet meditated an attack on his subjects by surprise, and
+that probably they would commence their attack in less than one day,
+and concluded with advising him, as he was not prepared for war, to
+order a speedy retreat of his family and subjects.  He complied with
+this advice.
+
+The same night which was fixed upon to retreat, my father and his
+family set off about break of day.  The king and his two younger wives
+went in one company, and my mother and her children in another.  We
+left our dwellings in succession, and my father's company went on
+first.  We directed our course for a large shrub plain, some distance
+off, where we intended to conceal ourselves from the approaching
+enemy, until we could refresh and rest ourselves a little.  But we
+presently found that our retreat was not secure.  For having struck up
+a little fire for purposes of cooking victuals, the enemy who happened
+to be encamped a little distance off, had sent out a scouting party
+which discovered us by the smoke of the fire, just as we were
+extinguishing it and about to eat.  As soon as we had finished eating,
+my father discovered the party, and immediately began to discharge
+arrows at them.  This was what I first saw, and it alarmed both me and
+the women, who being unable to make any resistance, immediately betook
+ourselves to the tall thick reeds not far off, and left the old king
+to fight alone.  For some time, I beheld him from the reeds defending
+himself with  great courage and firmness, till at last he was obliged
+to surrender himself into their hands.
+
+Then they came to us in the reeds, and the very first salute I had
+from them was a violent blow on the head with the fore part of a gun,
+and at the same time a grasp round the neck.  I then had a rope put
+about my neck, as had all the women in the thicket with me, and were
+immediately led to my father, who was likewise pinioned and haltered
+for leading.  In this condition we were all led to the camp.  The
+women and myself being pretty submissive, had tolerable treatment from
+the enemy, while my father was closely interrogated respecting his
+money which they knew he must have.  But as he gave them no account of
+it, he was instantly cut and pounded on his body with great
+inhumanity, that he might be induced by the torture he suffered to
+make the discovery.  All this availed not the least to make him give
+up his money, but he despised all the tortures which they inflicted,
+until the continued exercise and increase of torment, obliged him to
+sink and expire.  He thus died without informing his enemies of the
+place where his money lay.  I saw him while he was thus tortured to
+death.  The shocking scene is to this day fresh in my mind, and I have
+often been overcome while thinking on it.  He was a man of remarkable
+stature.  I should judge as much as six feet and six or seven inches
+high, two feet across his shoulders, and every way well proportioned.
+He as a man of remarkable strength and resolution, affable, kind and
+gentle, ruling with equity and moderation.
+
+The army of the enemy was large, I should suppose consisting of about
+six thousand men.  Their leader was called Baukurre.  After destroying
+the old prince, they decamped and immediately marched towards the sea,
+lying to the west, taking with them myself and the women prisoners.
+In the march a scouting party was detached from the main army.  To the
+leader of this party I was made waiter, having to carry his gun, &c.
+As we were a scouting we came across a herd of fat cattle, consisting
+of about thirty in number.  These we set upon, and immediately wrested
+from their keepers, and afterwards converted them into food for the
+army.  The enemy had remarkable success in destroying the country
+wherever they went.  For as far as they had penetrated, they laid the
+habitations waste and captured the people.  The distance they had now
+brought me was about four hundred miles.  All the march I had very
+hard tasks imposed on me, which I must perform on pain of punishment.
+I was obliged to carry on my head a large flat stone used for grinding
+our corn, weighing as I should suppose, as much as 25 pounds; besides
+victuals, mat and cooking utensils.  Though I was pretty large and
+stout of my age, yet these burthens were very grievous to me, being
+only about six years and a half old.
+
+We were then come to a place called Malagafco.  When we entered the
+place we could not see the least appearance of either houses or
+inhabitants, but upon stricter search found, that instead of houses
+above ground they had dens in the sides of hillocks, contiguous to
+ponds and streams of water.  In these we perceived they had all hid
+themselves, as I suppose they usually did upon such occasions.  In
+order to compel them to surrender, the enemy contrived to smoke them
+out with faggots.  These they put to the entrance of the caves and set
+them on fire.  While they were engaged in this business, to their
+great surprise some of them were desperately wounded with arrows which
+fell from above on them.  This mystery they soon found out.  They
+perceived that the enemy discharged these arrows through holes on the
+top of the dens directly in to the air.  Their weight brought them
+back, point downwards on their enemies heads, whilst they were smoking
+the inhabitants out.  The points of the arrows were poisoned, but
+their enemy had an antidote for it, which they instantly applied to
+the wounded part.  The smoke at last obliged the people to give
+themselves up.  They came out of their caves, first spatting the palms
+of their hands together, then and immediately after extended their
+arms, crossed at their wrists, ready to be bound and pinioned.  I
+should judge that the dens above mentioned were extended about eight
+feet horizontally into the earth, five feet in height and as many
+wide.  They were arched over head and lined with earth, which was of
+the clay kind, and made the surface of their walls firm and smooth.
+
+The invaders then pinioned the prisoners of all ages and sexes
+indiscriminately, took their flocks and all their effects, and moved
+on their way towards the sea.  On the march the prisoners were treated
+with clemency, on account of their being submissive and humble.
+Having come to the next tribe, the enemy laid siege and immediately
+took men, women, children, flocks, and all their valuable effects.
+They then went on to the next district which was contiguous with the
+sea, called in Africa, Anamaboo.  The enemies provisions were then
+almost spent, as well as their strength.  The inhabitants knowing what
+kind of conduct they had pursued, and what were their present
+intentions, improved the favorable opportunity, attacked them, and
+took enemy, prisoners, flocks and all their effects.  I was then taken
+a second time.  All of us were then put into the castle, and kept for
+market.  On a certain time I and other prisoners were put on board a
+canoe, under our master, and rowed away to a vessel belonging to Rhode
+Island, commanded by capt. Collingwood, and the mate Thomas Mumford.
+While we were going to the vessel, our master told us all to appear to
+the best possible advantage for sale.  I was bought on board by one
+Robertson Mumford, steward of said vessel, for four gallons of rum,
+and a piece of calico, and called VENTURE, on account of his having
+purchased me with his own private venture.  Thus I came by my name.
+All the slaves that were bought for that vessel's cargo, were two
+hundred and sixty.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II.
+
+  _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.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III.
+
+_Containing an account of his life, from the time of his purchasing his
+                freedom to the present day._
+
+My wife and children were yet in bondage to Mr. Thomas Stanton.  About
+this time I lost a chest, containing besides clothing, about thirty-
+eight pounds in paper money.  It was burnt by accident.  A short time
+after I sold all my possessions at Stonington, consisting of a pretty
+piece of land and one dwelling house thereon, and went to reside at
+Long-Island.  For the first four years of my residence there, I spent
+my time in working for various people on that and at the neighboring
+islands.  I the space of six months I cut and corded upwards of four
+hundred cords of wood.  Many other singular and wonderful labors I
+performed in cutting wood there, which would not be inferior to those
+just recited, but for brevity sake I must omit them.  In the
+aforementioned four years what wood I cut at Long-Island amounted to
+several thousand cords, and the money which I earned thereby amounted
+to two hundred and seven pounds ten shillings.  This money I laid up
+carefully by me.  Perhaps some may enquire what maintained me all the
+time I was laying up money.  I would inform them that I bought nothing
+which I did not absolutely want.  All fine clothes I despised in
+comparison with my interest, and never kept but just what clothes were
+comfortable for common days, and perhaps I would have a garment or two
+which I did not have on at all times, but as for superfluous finery I
+never thought it to be compared with a decent homespun dress, a good
+supply of money and prudence.  Expensive gatherings of my mates I
+commonly shunned, and all kinds of luxuries I was perfectly a stranger
+to; and during the time I was employed in cutting the aforementioned
+quantity of wood, I never was at the expense of six-pence worth of
+spirits.  Being after this labor forty years of age, I worked at
+various places, and in particular on Ram-Island, which I purchased
+Solomon and Cuff, two sons of mine, for two hundred dollars each.
+
+It will here be remembered how much money I earned by cutting wood in
+four years.  Besides this I had considerable money, amounting in all
+to near three hundred pounds.  After this I purchased a negro man, for
+no other reason than to oblige him, and gave him sixty pounds.  But in
+a short time after he run away from me, and I thereby lost all that I
+gave for him, except twenty pounds which he paid me previous to his
+absconding.  The rest of my money I laid out in land, in addition to a
+farm which I owned before, and a dwelling house thereon.  Forty four
+years had then completed their revolution since my entrance in to this
+existence of servitude and misfortune.  Solomon my eldest son, being
+then in his seventeenth year, and all my hope and dependence for help,
+I hired him out to one Charles Church, of Rhode Island, for one year,
+on consideration of his giving him twelve pounds and an opportunity of
+acquiring some learning.  In the course of the year, Church fitted out
+a vessel for a whaling voyage, and being in want of hands to man her,
+he induced my son to go, with the promise of giving him, on his
+return, a pair of silver buckles, besides his wages.  As soon as I
+heard of his going to sea, I immediately set out to go and prevent it
+if possible.  But on my arrival at Church's, to my great grief, I
+could only see the vessel my son was on almost out of sight going to
+sea.  My son died of the scurvy on this voyage, and Church has never
+yet paid me the least of his wages.  In my son, besides the loss of
+his life, I lost equal to seventy-five pounds.
+
+My other son being but a youth, still lived with me.  About this time
+I chartered a sloop of about thirty tons burthen, and hired men to
+assist me in navigating her.  I employed her mostly in the wood trade
+to Rhode-Island, and made clear of all expenses above one hundred
+dollars with her in better than one year.  I had then become something
+forehanded, and being in my forty-fourth year, I purchased my wife
+Meg, and thereby prevented having another child to buy, as she was
+then pregnant.  I gave forty pounds for her.
+
+During my residence at Long-Island, I raised one year with another,
+ten cart loads of water-melons, and lost a great many every year
+besides by the thievishness of the sailors.  What I made by the water-
+melons I sold there, amounted to nearly five hundred dollars.  Various
+other methods I in order to enable me to redeem my family.  In the
+night-time I fished with set-nets and pots for eels and lobsters, and
+shortly after went a whaling voyage in the service of Col. Smith.
+After being seven months, the vessel returned, laden with four hundred
+barrels of oil.  About this time, I became possessed of another
+dwelling-house, and my temporal affairs were in a pretty prosperous
+condition.  This and my industry was what alone saved me from being
+expelled that part of the island in which I resided, as an act was
+passed by the select-men of the place, that all negroes residing there
+should be expelled.
+
+Next after my wife, I purchased a negro man for four hundred dollars.
+But he having an inclination to return to his old master, I therefore
+let him go.  Shortly after I purchased another negro man for twenty-
+five pounds, who I parted with shortly after.
+
+Being about forty-six years old, I bought my oldest child Hannah, of
+Ray Mumford, for forty-four pounds, and she still resided with him.  I
+had already redeemed from slavery, myself, my wife and three children,
+besides three negro men.
+
+About the forty-seventh year of my life, I disposed all my property at
+Long-Island, and came from thence into East-Haddam.  I hired myself
+out at first to Timothy Chapman, for five weeks, the earnings of which
+time I put carefully by me.  After this I wrought for Abel Bingham
+about six weeks.  I then put my money together and purchased of said
+Bingham ten acres of land, lying at Haddam neck, where I now reside.
+On this land I labored with great diligence for two years, and shortly
+after purchased six acres more of land contiguous to my other.  One
+year from that time I purchased seventy acres more of the same man,
+and paid for it mostly with the produce of my other land.  Soon after
+I bought this lot of land, I set up a comfortable dwelling house on my
+farm, and built it from the produce thereof.  Shortly after I had much
+trouble and expense with my daughter Hannah, whose name has before
+been mentioned in this account.  She was married soon after I redeemed
+her, to one Isaac, a free negro, and shortly after her marriage fell
+sick of a mortal disease; her husband a dissolute and abandoned
+wretch, paid but little attention to her in her illness.  I therefore
+thought it best to bring her to my house and nurse her there.  I
+procured her all the aid mortals could afford, but notwithstanding
+this she fell a prey to her disease, after a lingering and painful
+endurance of it.
+
+The physician's bills for attending her during her illness amounted to
+forty pounds.  Having reached my fifty-fourth year, I hired two negro
+men, one named William Jacklin, and the other Mingo.  Mingo lived with
+me one year, and having received his wages, run in debt to me eight
+dollars, for which he gave me his note.  I procured a warrant, took
+him, and requested him to go to Justice Throop's of his own accord,
+but he refusing, I took him on my shoulders, and carried him there,
+distant about two miles.  The justice asking me if I had my prisoner's
+note with me, and replying that I had not, he told me that I must
+return with him and get it.  Accordingly I carried Mingo back on my
+shoulders, but before we arrived at my dwelling, he complained of
+being hurt, and asked me if this was not a hard way of treating our
+fellow creatures.  I answered him that it would be hard thus to treat
+our honest fellow creatures.  He then told me that if I would let him
+off my shoulders, he had a pair of silver shoe-buckles, one shirt and
+a pocket handkerchief, which he would turn out to me.  I agreed, and
+let him return home with me on foot; but the very following night, he
+slipped from me, stole my horse and has never paid me even his note.
+The other negro man, Jacklin, being a comb-maker by trade, he
+requested me to set him up, and promised to reward me well with his
+labor.  Accordingly I bought him a set of tools for making combs, and
+procured him stock.  He worked at my house about one year, and then
+run away from me with all his combs, and owed me for all his board.
+
+Since my residence at Haddam neck, I have owned of boats, canoes and
+sail vessels, not less than twenty.  These I mostly employed in the
+fishing and trafficking business, and in these occupations I have been
+cheated out of considerable money by people whom I traded with taking
+advantage of my ignorance of numbers.
+
+About twelve years ago, I hired a whale-boat and four black men, and
+proceeded to Long-Island after a load of round clams.  Having arrived
+there, I first purchased of James Webb, son of Orange Webb, six
+hundred and sixty clams, and afterwards, with the help of my men,
+finished loading my boat.  The same evening, however, this Webb stole
+my boat, and went in her to Connecticut river, and sold her cargo for
+his own benefit.  I thereupon pursued him, and at length, after an
+additional expence of nine crowns, recovered the boat; but for the
+proceeds of her cargo I never could obtain any compensation.
+
+Four years after, I met with another loss, far superior to this in
+value, and I think by no less wicked means.  Being going to New-London
+with a grand-child, I took passage on an Indian's boat, and went there
+with him.  On our return, the Indian took on board two hogsheads of
+molasses, one of which belonged to Capt. Elisha Hart, of Saybrook, to
+be delivered to his wharf.  When we arrived there, and while I was
+gone, at the request of the Indian, to inform Captain Hart of his
+arrival, and receive the freight for him, one hogshead of the molasses
+had been lost overboard by the people in attempting to land it on the
+wharf.  Although I was absent at the time, and had no concern whatever
+in the business, and was known to a number of respectable witnesses, I
+was nevertheless persecuted by this conscientious gentleman, (the
+Indian not being able to pay for it) and obliged to pay upwards of ten
+pounds lawful money, with all the costs of court.  I applied to
+several gentlemen for counsel in this affair, and they advised me, as
+my adversary was rich, and threatened to carry the matter from court
+to court till it would cost me more than the first damages would be,
+to pay the sum and submit to the injury; which I accordingly did, and
+he has often since insultingly taunted me with my unmerited
+misfortune.  Such a proceeding as this, committed on a defenseless
+stranger, almost worn out in the hard service of the world, without
+any foundation in reason or justice, whatever it may be called in a
+christian land, would in my native country be branded a crime equal to
+highway robbery.  But Captain Hart was a _white gentleman_, and I a
+_poor African,_ and therefore it was _all right, and good enough for
+the black dog._
+
+I am now sixty nine years old.  Though once straight and tall,
+measuring without shoes six feet one inch and an half, and every way
+well proportioned, I am now bowed down with age and hardship.  My
+strength which was once equal if not superior to any man whom I have
+ever seen, is now enfeebled so that life is a burden, and it is with
+fatigue that I can walk a couple of miles, stooping over my staff.
+Other griefs are still behind; on account of which some aged people,
+at least, will pity me.  My eye-sight has gradually failed, till I am
+almost blind, and whenever I go abroad one of my grand-children must
+direct my way; besides for many years I have been much pained and
+troubled with an ulcer on one of my legs. But amidst all my griefs and
+pains, I have many consolations; Meg, the wife of my youth, whom I
+married for love, and bought with my money, is still alive.  My
+freedom is a privilege which nothing else can equal.  Notwithstanding
+all the losses I have suffered by fire, by the injustice of knaves, by
+the cruelty and oppression of false-hearted friends, and the perfidy
+of my own countrymen whom I have assisted and redeemed from bondage, I
+am no possessed of more than two hundred acres of land, and three
+habitable dwelling houses.  I gives me joy to think that I _have_ and
+that I _deserve_ so good a character, especially for _truth_ and
+_integrity._  While I am now looking to the grave as my home, my joy
+for this world would be full--IF my children, Cuff for whom I paid two
+hundred dollars when a boy, and Solomon who was born soon after I
+purchased his mother--If Cuff and Solomon--O! that they had walked the
+way of their father.  But a father's lips are closed in silence and
+grief!  Vanity of vanities, all is vanity!
+
+                         F I N I S.
+
+
+
+CERTIFICATE.
+
+Stonington, November 3, 1798.
+
+These certify that VENTURE, a free negro man, aged about 69 years, and
+was, as we have ever understood, a native of Africa, and formerly a
+slave to Mr. James Mumford, of Fisher's-Island, in the state of New-
+York, who sold him to Mr. Robert Stanton, 2d, of Stonington, in the
+state of Connecticut, and said Stanton sold said VENTURE to Col.
+Oliver Smith, of the aforesaid place.  That said VENTURE hath
+sustained the character of a faithful servant, and that of a
+temperate, honest and industrious man, and being ever intent on
+obtaining his freedom, he was indulged by his masters after the
+ordinary labour on the days of his servitude, to improve the nights in
+fishing and other employments of his own emolument, in which time he
+procured so much money as to purchase his freedom from his late master
+Col. Smith; after which he took upon himself the name of VENTURE
+SMITH, and has since his freedom purchased a negro woman, called Meg,
+to whom he was previously married, and also his children who were
+slaves, and said VENTURE has since removed himself and family to the
+town of East-Haddam, in this state, where he has purchased lands on
+which he hath built a house, and there taken up his abode.
+
+                                       NATHAN MINOR, Esq.
+                                      ELIJAH PALMER, Esq.
+                                       Capt. AMOS PALMER,
+                                         ACORS SHEFFIELD,
+                                            EDWARD SMITH.
+
+*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 10075 ***