Life of James Mars, a Slave Born and Sold in ConnecticutMars, James
History
Life of James Mars, a Slave Born and Sold in Connecticut
Mars, James
Mars, James, 1790-; Slavery -- Connecticut
We stopped with Capt. Lawrence a few days. It was thought best by our
friends that we should not all be together, for it was found that the
parson was still in the land, and on the lookout for us. I was sent
to a woman in the neighborhood, by the name of Darby――a poor woman. I
stopped with her a few days, with instructions to keep still. The old
lady had but one room in her house. You may wonder why I was sent to
such a place; most likely it was thought she had so little room that
she would not be suspected of harboring a fugitive.
A man by the name of Walter lived near by; he was in the habit of
coming in to see how his boy did, as he called me. He told me when any
one came there I must get under the bed. I used to sit in the corner of
the room, so that I should not be seen from the window. I stayed there
a number of days,――I do not now remember how many. One day I ventured
to take a peep through the key-hole; the door was locked. Some one came
to the door; I made a bound, and then a roll, and I was out of sight.
The door was opened, and it was my friend Mr. Walter. He was quite
amused to hear the performance; he said he would take me with him the
next day, he was going to work in a back lot where it would be out of
sight. So the next day I went with him; it was quite a treat. At noon
we ate our dinner in the field; that was new to me. After dinner Mr.
Walter lay down on the ground; he told me he should go to sleep, and I
must keep a look-out to see if any one came in sight. If I saw any one,
I must wake him. I kept watch, but there was none came to disturb him
in his repose. The day passed away, and we returned home at night――all
well, as I supposed; but it seemed that the parson had his pickets out,
and had got an idea that I was somewhere in the street. That night I
had to leave my place at Mrs. Darby’s, and went about a mile to a man’s
house by the name of Upson; he lived on a back street. I thought him
to be a friend; I do not know but he was,――but as I find that men now
act in relation to slavery, I am inclined to think otherwise. The next
morning the man went to his work; he was painting for the minister in
Norfolk. Mrs. Upson sent me to the brook, a little way from the house,
to fetch a pail of water. I did not like going into the street very
much, but being taught by my parents to obey, I went without any words.
As I got to the brook, a man rode into the brook with a cocked hat on.
I did not much like his looks. I did not know who he was. Said he,――“My
boy, where is your father and mother?” I said, “I don’t know, sir.”
“Where is your brother?” “I don’t know, sir.” “Where do you live?” “I
don’t know, sir.” “Whom do you stay with?” “I don’t know, sir.” I did
not then know the name of the man. He rode off, or rather I left him
asking questions. He looked after me till I got to the house, and rode
up. I asked Mrs. Upson who it was that came to the brook when I was
there. She said it was Mr. Robbins, the minister. I thought nothing of
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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