Slave Narratives

by William L. Andrews

  Narrative of the Life and Adventures of Henry Bibb was published “by the author” in New York in 1849. Bibb made no changes to the text in subsequent printings. The text presented here is that of the first printing. (Cross-references to page numbers in the text of the Narrative have been changed to correspond to the appropriate page numbers in the present volume, but a cross-reference to an illustration not included in this volume has been omitted.)

  Sojourner Truth met Olive Gilbert (1801–84), a white abolitionist and friend of William Lloyd Garrison, around 1846, while Truth was living in the Northampton Association of Education and Industry, a utopian community in western Massachusetts. Truth, who was illiterate, used Gilbert as her amanuensis in recording her story for publication. Narrative of Sojourner Truth was published “for the author” in Boston and New York in 1850. It was reprinted, with the addition of a short preface by Harriet Beecher Stowe, in 1853 and 1855. Truth obtained the plates for her Narrative in 1875 and, with the help of Frances Titus, her friend and neighbor in Battle Creek, Michigan, republished it, adding selections (edited by Titus) from Truth’s “Book of Life,” a collection of testimonials, letters, and newspaper articles describing her public activities. This expanded version was reprinted in 1878 and 1881, and in 1884, the year after Truth’s death, it was republished with a new “Memorial Chapter” compiled by Titus. The text presented here is that of the 1850 first printing.

  Running a Thousand Miles for Freedom; or, the Escape of William and Ellen Craft from Slavery was written by William Craft and published in London by William Tweedie in 1860 and reprinted in 1861 (the Crafts had fled to England after the passage of the Fugitive Slave Law in 1850). The text included in this volume is that of the first printing.

  Harriet Jacobs began writing her autobiography in 1853 while living in Cornwall, New York, and completed the manuscript in 1858. After an unsuccessful attempt to arrange for its publication in England, Jacobs sought the help of Lydia Maria Child, an abolitionist writer. Child agreed to serve as her editor and advised Jacobs to expand her description of the aftermath of Nat Turner’s rebellion but to omit a final chapter on John Brown (which Jacobs had apparently added to the manuscript after Brown’s raid on Harpers Ferry in 1859). In a letter to her friend Lucy Searle, Child described her editorial work on Jacob’s manuscript: “I abridged, and struck out superfluous words sometimes; but I don’t think I altered fifty words in the whole volume.” The Boston publishing firm of Thayer and Eldridge agreed in September 1860 to publish the book and arranged for the production of stereotype plates, but the firm went bankrupt before any copies were printed. Jacobs acquired the plates, and Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl was published “for the author” in Boston in January 1861, with a “Preface by the Author” signed “Linda Brent,” Jacobs’ pseudonym. The work was published in London by William Tweedie in 1862 under the title The Deeper Wrong; Or, Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl. Written by Herself. The text in the present volume is that of the 1861 first printing.

  Jacob D. Green wrote and published his autobiography while touring England as an antislavery lecturer. Narrative of the Life of J. D. Green was printed by Henry Fielding in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, in 1864, and was not reprinted until 1999. The text printed here is that of the original printing.

  This volume presents the texts of the original printings chosen for inclusion here, but it does not attempt to reproduce features of 18th-century typography such as the long “s” and the use of quotation marks at the beginning of every line of a quoted passage. The texts are printed without other changes, except for the correction of typographical errors. Spelling, punctuation, and capitalization are often expressive features, and they are not altered, even when inconsistent or irregular. The following is a list of typographical errors corrected, cited by page and line number: 69.6, situa-/; 105.11, Fench; 107.28, gentleman; 115.34, to had,; 141.1 litttle; 143.10, an other; 143.38, amonst; 147.26, said in; 159.22, appelation; 164.12, deliverence; 181.32, onc emore; 197.22, day?; 200.7, twelth; 203.18, MICELLANEOUS; 207.2, ou; 210.6, bronght; 219.11, 1767; 227.12, my; 233.27, Comssimioners; 431.35, hem; 435.24, ogic; 446.17, stripes;—; 463.3, boys,; 482.10, No; 498.19, and too; 508.8, superanuated; 521.32–33, pursuaded; 526.26, aud; 541.18, followig; 541.28–29, Perrysbugh; 544.4, “DEAR; 544.21, “You; 548.28, boat?; 548.30, Have; 549.4, Sir; 560.25, instiution; 561.31, faithful.; 562.6, heart rending-shrieks; 562.10, begining; 570.29, ‘the; 570.30, brave,—; 593.36, cihldren; 595.30, ‘Oh!; 596.5, ‘would; 596.6, go.’; 596.9, ‘yes,’; 604.35, hat he; 609.33, ‘Oh; 609.34, God!’; 660.19, felt—; 688.13–14, whatsoever.—; 691.36, “My; 691.36, go?”; 692.4, “Yes,; 692.8, SLAVE!”; 693.15, I; 717.30, It’s; 718.7, home.; 720.29, master,”; 727.23, ready.; 785.9, “I; 860.3, Philip; 876.11, “where; 876.12, rest.”; 910.20, sent of; 1017 911.37, heen; 930.10, you; 953.8, employod; 953.19, heared; 953.26, wipped; 954.19, dertermined; 954.40, niggirs; 955.9, ady; 955.11, hrrd; 955.24, ascertrin; 955.34, pide; 955.36, mantel-piete; 955.39, filleh; 956.32, confidant; 956.34–35, withold; 957.5, adminstered; 957.32, mo; 958.40, thnt; 959.33, fiogging; 960.8, othere; 960.10, fiifty; 960.17, whito; 960.19, wes; 960.23, quit; 961.1, borowed; 961.10, an in impression; 961.23, preformed; 961.27, tm; 961.30, may; 965.6, patroles; 971.36, and and; 972.40, occured; 973.4, were no; 973.5, fearfnl; 973.16, tbe; 973.18, were I; 974.4, half; 975.2, cows;; 975.9, out outside; 975.24, when the we; 975.40, The The; 976.40, did succeed; 977.12, Philadephia; 977.29, he Holy; 982.13, her her; 983.10, suitation; 983.32, buffalo; 985.1, aud; 985.29, my my; 988.14, appaling; 988.15, labour in; 988.39, latitute; 989.5, While; 989.20, contitution; 990.36, yeild; 991.24–25, goverment; 991.35, aboard; 993.21, the plans; 993.28, prolaim; 996.5, momemt.

  Errors corrected second printing: 620.37, hear; 709.24, away.; 724.2, want?*; 997.37, one, (LOA).

  Notes

  In the notes below, the reference numbers denote page and line of this volume (the line count includes chapter headings). No note is made for material included in standard desk-reference books such as Webster’s Collegiate, Biographical, and Geographical dictionaries. Biblical references are keyed to the King James Version. Quotations from Shakespeare are keyed to The Riverside Shakespeare, ed. G. Blakemore Evans (Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1974). Footnotes and bracketed editorial notes within the text were in the originals. For further biographical background, references to other studies, and more detailed notes, see Pioneers of the Black Atlantic: Five Slave Narratives from the Enlightenment, 1772–1815, edited by Henry Louis Gates Jr. and William L. Andrews (Washington, D.C.: Civitas/Counterpoint, 1998); The Civitas Anthology of African American Slave Narratives, edited by William L. Andrews and Henry Louis Gates Jr. (Washington, D.C.: Civitas/Counterpoint, 1999); I Was Born a Slave: An Anthology of Classic Slave Narratives, edited by Yuval Taylor (2 vols., Chicago: Lawrence Hill Books, 1999); Olaudah Equiano, The Interesting Narrative and Other Writings, edited by Vincent Carretta (New York: Penguin Books, 1995); Harriet A. Jacobs, Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, edited by Jean Fagan Yellin (Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1987).

  A NARRATIVE OF THE MOST REMARKABLE PARTICULARS IN THE LIFE OF JAMES ALBERT UKAWSAW GRONNIOSAW

  2.3 Countess of HUNTINGDON] Selina Hastings (1707–91), Countess of Huntingdon, a leading English Methodist who helped Phillis Wheatley publish her Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral in London in 1773.

  3.4 young LADY] Identified as the English writer Hannah More (1745–1833) in The Black Prince, a version of Gronniosaw’s narrative published in the United States in 1809, though the identification is uncertain.

  4.35 W. SHIRLEY] Walter Shirley (1725–86), a Methodist clergyman, writer of hymns, and cousin of the Countess of Huntingdon.

  5.5 BOURNOU] Probably a reference to Bornu, a Muslim-dominated state around Lake Chad.

  13.14 Mr. Freelandhouse] Theodoras Frelinghuysen (1691–c. 1748), a Dutch Reformed minister and a leading revivalist preacher during the “Great Awakening” of the 1740s.

&nbs
p; 15.30–31 Bunyan . . . holy war] The Holy War, Made by Shaddai upon Diabolus, for the Reigning of the Metropolis of the World (1682), by John Bunyan (1628–88).

  16.7 Baxter’s . . . unconverted] A Call to the Unconverted to Turn and Live (1658) by Richard Baxter (1615–91).

  16.34 “Behold . . . God.”] John 1:29.

  18.10–13 “And I . . . from me.”] Jeremiah 32:40.

  19.3–5 “And ye are . . . power.”] Cf. Colossians 2:10.

  19.7–9 “Wherefore He . . . for them.”] Hebrews 7:25.

  22.21–23 Pocock’s fleet . . . Havannah] The fleet commanded by Admiral George Pocock (1706–92) captured Martinique and Cuba in 1762. Britain returned Martinique to France and Cuba to Spain under the terms of the Treaty of Paris (1763), which ended the Seven Years War.

  24.6 Mr. Whitefleld’s Tabernacle] A building in Moorfields used by the Methodist preacher George Whitefield (1714–70).

  24.10–11 Dr. Gifford’s Meeting] Andrew Gifford (1700–84) was the minister of a Baptist meeting on Eagle Street.

  24.28–29 Mr. Allen’s Meeting] John Allen was the pastor of a Baptist meeting on Petticoat Lane in Spitalsfield.

  25.29–30 “Come unto . . . Soul.”] Cf. Psalm 66:16.

  26.1–2 “I know . . . liveth,”] Job 19:25.

  33.14–16 Mr. Fawcet . . . everlasting rest] Benjamin Fawcett (1715–80), a dissenting minister and friend of the Countess of Huntingdon, had republished The Saint’s Everlasting Rest (1650) by Richard Baxter.

  33.17 Manufactory of Kidderminster] Kidderminster was a center of carpet manufacture.

  THE INTERESTING NARRATIVE OF THE LIFE OF OLAUDAH EQUIANO

  37.1 TO THE LORDS] In later editions Equiano added several letters of recommendation and excerpts from reviews to the prefatory section of the Narrative; many of these additions were made after two unsigned articles appeared in the British press in 1792 accusing Equiano of being a native of Santa Cruz in the Danish West Indies.

  50.20 Eboe] Ibo.

  51.39 Benezet’s . . . Guinea”] Some Historical Account of Guinea, its Situation, Produce, and the General Disposition of its Inhabitants (1771), by Anthony Benezet (1713–84). Benezet, a Quaker schoolteacher in Philadelphia, wrote extensively against slavery and the slave trade.

  52.29 stickado] Xylophone.

  53.18 eadas] A tuberous plant.

  57.39 Benezet’s Account of Africa] A Short Account of that Part of Africa, Inhabited by the Negroes (1762) by Anthony Benezet.

  61.27 Leut. Matthew’s Voyage] A Voyage to the River Sierra-Leone, on the Coast of Africa (1788), by John Matthews, a lieutenant in the Royal Navy.

  62.13–14 Dr. Gill . . . Genesis] John Gill (1697–1771), An Exposition of the Old Testament, in Which are Recorded the Original of Mankind, of the Several Nations of the World, and of the Jewish Nation in Particular (6 vols, 1748–63).

  62.18–19 Clarke . . . Christian Religion] Clarke (1682–1757) had translated The Truth of the Christian Religion by Hugo Grotius.

  63.1–3 Clarkson . . . Species] An Essay on the Slavery and Commerce of the Human Species, Particularly the African (1786), by Thomas Clarkson (1760–1846).

  63.7 Dr. Mitchel] John Mitchel, whose paper “Causes of the Different Colours of Persons in Different Climates” was presented to the Royal Society in 1744 and published in The Philosophical Transactions (1756).

  64.8–9 whose wisdom . . . his ways.”] Cf. Isaiah 55:8.

  69.1–2 “Ev’ry leaf . . . death.”] Cf. Cooper’s Hill (1642), lines 287–88, by Sir John Denham (1615–69).

  73.18 pomkins] Pumpkins.

  81.22 snow] A two-masted sailing vessel resembling a brig.

  82.18 Gustavus Vasa] King of Sweden from 1523 to 1560, leader of a successful revolt against the Danes and founder of the Swedish navy.

  83.17 the Archipelago] The Aegean Sea.

  87.9 the Nore] Anchorage in the Thames estuary that was frequently used by the Royal Navy.

  88.37 Admiral Byng] John Byng (1704–57) was convicted of neglect of duty and shot after failing to defeat a French fleet off Minorca in 1756.

  89.25 Duke of ——] Changed in the eighth and ninth editions (1794) to “Duke of Cumberland.” William Augustus (1721–65), Duke of Cumberland, returned to England in 1757 after having been defeated by the French in Hanover.

  90.16–17 the flag . . . the blue] Admirals in the Royal Navy flew blue, red, or white flags, depending upon their seniority.

  91.36 At last Louisburgh was taken] The fortress surrendered on July 26, 1758, after a 48-day siege.

  92.40–93.1 wore ship, and stood after] Changed course and pursued.

  93.34 starting our water] Pumping water out of the ship.

  94.21 two and three years] Changed in the fifth edition to “three and four years.”

  95.26–27 Guide . . . Sodor and Man] An Essay towards an Instruction for the Indians; Explaining the Most Essential Doctrines of Christianity (1740), by Thomas Wilson (1663–1755).

  95.33 rendezvous-house] A house or inn used as the base of operations for a press-gang.

  99.14–16 “Oh Jove! . . . day.”] Cf. Alexander Pope’s translation of The Iliad, Book 17, lines 728–32.

  101.12 this engagement] The battle of Lagos, fought August 18–19, 1759.

  101.33 that time the king died] George II died on October 25, 1760.

  102.15 Belle-Isle] An island in the Bay of Biscay off the southern coast of Brittany.

  104.28–29 God . . . cannot fall] Cf. Matthew 10:29.

  105.36 “Wing’d . . . rage;”] John Milton, Paradise Lost, Book 1, line 175. 106.35 carcases] Incendiary shells.

  107.3 Basse-road] Basque Road, anchorage between the Ile de Ré and the Ile d’Oleron at the entrance to the port of Rochefort on the Bay of Biscay.

  107.11 springs] Ropes used to hold a vessel in firing position.

  107.20 Spanish war began] Britain declared war on Spain on January 4, 1762.

  107.23 a cartel] A ship used to carry out a prisoner exchange.

  115.24–27 “Regions . . . urges.”] Cf. Paradise Lost, Book 1, lines 65–68.

  115.33 “The Dying Negro,”] By Thomas Day (1748–89) and John Bicknell (d. 1787). Equiano’s quotation is not exact.

  117.39 droggers] Coasting vessels.

  119.17 King’s Bench] A debtor’s prison.

  119.18 The last war] The War of the American Revolution.

  121.27–28 woman of her species.] Beginning in the second edition (1789), this was followed by a new paragraph:

  “One Mr. D—— told me that he had sold 41,000 negroes, and that he once cut off a negro-man’s leg for running away.—I asked him, if the man had died in the operation? How he, as a Christian, could answer for the horrid act before God? And he told me, answering was a thing of another world; but what he thought and did were policy. I told him that the Christian doctrine taught us to do unto others as we would that others should do unto us. He then said that his scheme had the desired effect— it cured that man and some others of running away.”

  In the eighth edition (1794), Equiano changed “Mr. D——” to “Mr. Drummond.”

  122.24 a treatise] Instructions for the Treatment of Negroes, inscribed to the Society for propagating the Gospel in foreign Parts (1786), by Philip Gibbes (1731–1815).

  122.30 the sequel] The second volume of The Interesting Narrative.

  123.37–38 pot boil over.] Beginning in the fifth edition (1792), this was followed by: “It is not uncommon, after a flogging, to make slaves go on their knees, and thank their owners, and pray, or rather say, God bless them. I have often asked many of the men slaves (who used to go several miles to their wives, and late in the night, after having been wearied with a hard day’s labour) why they went so far for wives, and why they did not take them of their own master’s negro women, and particularly those who lived together as household slaves? Their answers have ever been—‘Because when the master or mistress choose to punish the women, they make the husbands flog their own wives, a
nd that they could not bear to do.’”

  124.3–5 “With . . . no rest!”] Cf. Paradise Lost, Book 2, lines 616–18.

  125.19–20 329th Act] The act was passed on August 8, 1688.

  125.36 Samaide] Samoyed.

  125.40 Mr. James Tobin] Author of the pro-slavery tract Cursory Remarks upon the Reverend Mr. Ramsay’s Essay on the Treatment and Conversion of African Slaves in the Sugar Colonies (1785).

  127.4 Moses . . . Egyptian] In Exodus 2:11–12.

  128.17–25 No peace . . . suffering feel.”] Cf. Paradise Lost, Book 2, lines 332-40.

  137.19–24 “With thoughts . . . slave of man.”] The author of these lines has not been identified, and may have been Equiano himself.

  145.4 1764] Changed to “1765” in the fifth edition.

  170.15 catguts] Stringed musical instruments.

  174.3 the Grenades] The Grenadines.

  176.14 Cherry-Garden stairs] A landing place in London on the south bank of the Thames.

  177.35 barter and alligation] Computational methods used to determine values and prices in commerce.

  181.3 refused the temptation] Beginning in the second edition, Equiano added at this point: “thinking one was as much as some could manage, and more than others would venture on.”