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 went into the kitchen and got my clothes out. The nurse and the servant
girl were there, and I said to the man who was going to take out my trunk,
"Stop, before you take up this trunk, and hear what I have to say before
these people. I am going out of this house, as I was ordered; but I have
done no wrong at all to my owners, neither here nor in the West Indies. I
always worked very hard to please them, both by night and day; but there
was no giving satisfaction, for my mistress could never be satisfied with
reasonable service. I told my mistress I was sick, and yet she has ordered
me out of doors. This is the fourth time; and now I am going out."
And so I came out, and went and carried my trunk to the Moravians. I then
returned back to Mash the shoe-black's house, and begged his wife to take
me in. I had a little West Indian money in my trunk; and they got it
changed for me. This helped to support me for a little while. The man's
wife was very kind to me. I was very sick, and she boiled nourishing
things up for me. She also sent for a doctor to see me, and he sent me
medicine, which did me good, though I was ill for a long time with the
rheumatic pains. I lived a good many months with these poor people, and
they nursed me, and did all that lay in their power to serve me. The man
was well acquainted with my situation, as he used to go to and fro to Mr.
Wood's house to clean shoes and knives; and he and his wife were sorry for
me.
About this time, a woman of the name of Hill told me of the Anti-Slavery
Society, and went with me to their office, to inquire if they could do any
thing to get me my freedom, and send me back to the West Indies. The
gentlemen of the Society took me to a lawyer, who examined very strictly
into my case; but told me that the laws of England could do nothing to
make me free in Antigua[14]. However they did all they could for me: they
gave me a little money from time to time to keep me from want; and some of
them went to Mr. Wood to try to persuade him to let me return a free woman
to my husband; but though they offered him, as I have heard, a large sum
for my freedom, he was sulky and obstinate, and would not consent to let
me go free.
[Footnote 14: She came first to the Anti-Slavery Office in Aldermanbury,
about the latter end of November 1828; and her case was referred to Mr.
George Stephen to be investigated. More of this hereafter.--ED.]
This was the first winter I spent in England, and I suffered much from the
severe cold, and from the rheumatic pains, which still at times torment
me. However, Providence was very good to me, and I got many
friends--especially some Quaker ladies, who hearing of my case, came and
sought me out, and gave me good warm clothing and money. Thus I had great
cause to bless God in my affliction.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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