The History of Mary Prince, a West Indian SlavePrince, Mary
History
The History of Mary Prince, a West Indian Slave
Prince, Mary
Fugitive slaves -- West Indies -- Biography; Prince, Mary; Slavery -- West Indies
I was also sent by Mrs. Wood to be put in the Cage one night, and was next
morning flogged, by the magistrate's order, at her desire; and this all
for a quarrel I had about a pig with another slave woman. I was flogged on
my naked back on this occasion: although I was in no fault after all; for
old Justice Dyett, when we came before him, said that I was in the right,
and ordered the pig to be given to me. This was about two or three years
after I came to Antigua.
When we moved from the middle of the town to the Point, I used to be in
the house and do all the work and mind the children, though still very ill
with the rheumatism. Every week I had to wash two large bundles of
clothes, as much as a boy could help me to lift; but I could give no
satisfaction. My mistress was always abusing and fretting after me. It is
not possible to tell all her ill language.--One day she followed me foot
after foot scolding and rating me. I bore in silence a great deal of ill
words: at last my heart was quite full, and I told her that she ought not
to use me so;--that when I was ill I might have lain and died for what she
cared; and no one would then come near me to nurse me, because they were
afraid of my mistress. This was a great affront. She called her husband
and told him what I had said. He flew into a passion: but did not beat me
then; he only abused and swore at me; and then gave me a note and bade me
go and look for an owner. Not that he meant to sell me; but he did this to
please his wife and to frighten me. I went to Adam White, a cooper, a free
black, who had money, and asked him to buy me. He went directly to Mr.
Wood, but was informed that I was not to be sold. The next day my master
whipped me.
Another time (about five years ago) my mistress got vexed with me, because
I fell sick and I could not keep on with my work. She complained to her
husband, and he sent me off again to look for an owner. I went to a Mr.
Burchell, showed him the note, and asked him to buy me for my own benefit;
for I had saved about 100 dollars, and hoped, with a little help, to
purchase my freedom. He accordingly went to my master:--"Mr. Wood," he
said, "Molly has brought me a note that she wants an owner. If you intend
to sell her, I may as well buy her as another." My master put him off and
said that he did not mean to sell me. I was very sorry at this, for I had
no comfort with Mrs. Wood, and I wished greatly to get my freedom.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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