Transcriber's Note
Every effort has been made to replicate this text asfaithfully as possible, including obsolete and variant spellings and otherinconsistencies. Text that has been changed to correct an obvious erroris noted at the end of this ebook.
The cover image was produced by Jeroen Hellingman and has been placed into thepublic domain.
FIFTY YEARS IN CHAINS;
OR,
THE LIFE OF AN
AMERICAN SLAVE.
Hast Thou not said that whatsoe'er is done
Unto thy weakest and thy humblest one,
Is even done to Thee?"—Whittier.
New-York
H. DAYTON, PUBLISHER
36 HOWARD STREET.
Indianapolis, Ind.:—Asher & Company.
1860.
Entered according to Act of Congress in the year 1858, by
H. DAYTON,
in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for the
Southern District of New York.
J. J. REED,
PRINTER & STEREOTYPER,
43 Centre-St., N. Y.
PREFACE.
The story which follows is true in every particular. Responsiblecitizens of a neighboring State can vouch for the reality of thenarrative. The language of the slave has not at all times been strictlyadhered to, as a half century of bondage unfitted him for literary work.The subject of the story is still a slave by the laws of this country,and it would not be wise to reveal his name.
FIFTY YEARS IN CHAINS
OR,
THE LIFE OF AN AMERICAN SLAVE.
CHAPTER I.
SEPARATED FROM MY MOTHER.
My story is a true one, and I shall tell it in a simple style. It willbe merely a recital of my life as a slave in the Southern States of theUnion—a description of negro slavery in the "model Republic."
My grandfather was brought from Africa and sold as a slave in Calvertcounty, in Maryland. I never understood the name of the ship in which hewas imported, nor the name of the planter who bought him on his arrival,but at the time I knew him he was a slave in a family called Maud, whoresided near Leonardtown. My father was a slave in a family named Hauty,living near the same place. My mother was the slave of a tobaccoplanter, who died when[Pg 10] I was about four years old. My mother hadseveral children, and they were sold upon master's death to separatepurchasers. She was sold, my father told me, to a Georgia trader. I, ofall her children, was the only one left in Maryland. When sold I wasnaked, never having had on clothes in my life, but my new master gave mea child's frock, belonging to one of his own children. After he hadpurchased me, he dressed me in this garment, took me before him on hishorse, and started home; but my poor mother, when she saw me leaving herfor the last time, ran after me, took me down from the horse, clasped mein her arms, and wept loudly and bitterly over me. My master seemed topity her, and endeavored to soothe her distress by telling her that hewould be a good master to me, and that I should not want