The Story of Our Escape
I first started to feel myself getting restless on a boat ride to New Orleans in 1830. I was told that I was along to help Mr Amos with his cargo, but it was all too clear that the true intentions were to sell me to the highest bidder. I was getting more savage everyday while mulling over the fact that, after all I had done for Mr. Isaac and Mr. Amos, they would sell me south for their own gain. This really angered me because I had already paid about three quarters of what they had asked for my freedom. One night, I was feeling wild with anger, and I got an axe and snuck down to the lower level of the boat and was about to kill Mr. Amos, when a voice popped up in my head saying, "What! commit murder! and you a Christian?" I hadn't thought about it as murder but more of self-defense; I was keeping them from virtually killing me by selling me to the south. I realized that murder was against the law, and I snuck back to the top of the boat. When we got to New Orleans, it was no longer disguised that I was to be sold. The other men on the boat were dismissed, and the boat was sold. The only thing that saved me was Mr. Amos waking up severely ill. I stayed with him and nursed him all the way home. If it wasn't for me, he would have died on that boat. The family showed gratitude but they didn't think that they had any obligations towards me. Again, it was all too clear that they still intended to sell me. I spent days thinking and finally resolved to run to Canada. When I approached my wife on the subject, she stubbournly tried to change my mind. When she refused to go, I told her that I would go with the children then. Right as I was leaving her master's plantation to go to mine, she ran out crying that she would go after all. We prepared for weeks and finally left with the help of another slave to convey us across the river. Twelve days into the journey we ran out of food. Previously we had traveled only under the cover of darkness, but I ventured from the woods and bought food at the second house I came upon. This food revitalised us, and we arrived in Cincannati two days later. Welcomed and entertained by kind folks in town, our children were able to recover. From there we were given a stagecoach ride for 30 miles. We continued to travel by night until we reached Scioto where we had been told to take the old military road formed by General Hull during the last war with Britain. We traveled on this road in plain daylight; all fear of being spotted was gone. The one trouble is that no one told us that there were no inhabitants on this road and our provisions were not well stocked. We ended up with only one piece of dried beef and a long way yet to travel. Two days later, we spotted three people walking towards us. They didn't see us because their packs were heavy enough to force them to walk hunchbacked. When they came closer we discerned that they were Indians. When they saw us they let out a howl and fled. In fear, we continued on our path. We began to see Indians watching us from behind trees and darting out of view every time we looked towards them. Eventually we saw their wigwams and were greeted by a man who appeared to be of some prominance. Many youths were much astonished and just wanted to touch the children who were extremely shy.
Thankfully, the Indians fed us and gave us a place to sleep and, in the morning, directed us to the lake. We continued to journey until we came to a place without trees and could see the lake. There was a boat moored on the shore and many men passed around it. I left my family in the woods and set out to find information. When I approached, a man asked if I wanted to work. I replied that I did and was soon emptying corn into the ship. I got next to another African American in the line and started to share my story and he pulled the captain aside to talk to me. The captain sympathized with me and agreed to take us to Buffalo. He told me that he would send a boat to pick us up after dark. I was wary of being cheated, but sure enough a boat came ashore with three men who helped me get my family onboard. When we reached the woods, I was terrified because my family was gone. It turns out that my wife, seeing me with the other three, thought I had been captured and hid in the woods with the children. It took me a second to convince her of our safety ad have her board the ship with me. When we reached Buffalo, I fell on the sand and praised the Lord. We were free!
Thankfully, the Indians fed us and gave us a place to sleep and, in the morning, directed us to the lake. We continued to journey until we came to a place without trees and could see the lake. There was a boat moored on the shore and many men passed around it. I left my family in the woods and set out to find information. When I approached, a man asked if I wanted to work. I replied that I did and was soon emptying corn into the ship. I got next to another African American in the line and started to share my story and he pulled the captain aside to talk to me. The captain sympathized with me and agreed to take us to Buffalo. He told me that he would send a boat to pick us up after dark. I was wary of being cheated, but sure enough a boat came ashore with three men who helped me get my family onboard. When we reached the woods, I was terrified because my family was gone. It turns out that my wife, seeing me with the other three, thought I had been captured and hid in the woods with the children. It took me a second to convince her of our safety ad have her board the ship with me. When we reached Buffalo, I fell on the sand and praised the Lord. We were free!