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| Slave's Journal Reveals Information
About April 18th 1775 by Effie |
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April 15th 1775
I had that horrible dream again last night. The worst, most horrible
dream a slave could possibly have, the dream about the journey to
America. I could vividly remember the smell of waste that filled the
ship. Everywhere you walked you could see the faces of sick men and
women who looked like their lives were worth nothing at all. When
mother got sea sick, the men threw her overboard so she would not harm
the rest of us. This was when I was five years old, just five. Brother
was devastated and refused to stay in the room with the other slaves. I
remember sitting in a corner cramped with many other slaves next to a
barrel of spices being sent to Boston. In my dream I remember
when Brother and I were sold to Reverend Jonas Clark. He was a
good Patriot who treated us well. Many other slaves were often whipped
or beaten when they did something wrong, Mr. Clark was not that way; he
would sometimes talk to us about when he was a student at Harvard
University.
When I awoke from the dream, I stepped off my hard wooden bed and
folded my single white blanket. I pulled my stockings over my feet and
fastened my linen shirt. As I walked down the steps into the parlor, I
saw an unfamiliar man sitting on a chair. This must be one of the men
that Mr. Clark said was going to stay with us; John Hancock and Samuel
Adams I believe were their names. Though I was confused, I began to
make Johnnycakes for the children. When Mr. Clark walked in, he noticed
that I was very distracted by the man. He began telling me information
that I shouldn't have heard. Why was he telling me this? I wasn’t one
to know of this great secret. He told me of the gunpowder and
cannonballs that were being stored in Concord to prepare for a battle.
He talked about the men who would be staying here to prevent being
captured by the British. As he spoke of this secret, another man walked
though the door. He introduced himself as Samuel Adams, a strong
Patriot. I had heard of this name before, but where from? Could this be
the Patriot everyone speaks of? Tis him! Samuel Adams, the man who
planned the funerals for the dear boys who died in the massacre years
ago! I remember this man, a hero they call him, a hero.
Ella
April 19th 1775
I dare say what happened last night. I was awoken to the sound of men
yelling. I recognized one of the voices as Mr. Clark’s, and the others
as John Hancock and Samuel Adams, but there was one more voice that I
didn’t know. I know I shouldn’t have, but I started listening. They
yelled about the regulars, but that was normal, because everyone talks
about the regulars. They screamed about leaving and if there was going
to be a fight. What was going on? I was scared not knowing what they
were so concerned about.”Trained them for this very hour;they would
fight, and, if need be, die, too, under the shadow of the house of
God,” I heard Mr. Clark say. Soon, the men were gone. Who was that
other man? What happened that might start a battle?
When I began my chores this morning, Mr. Clark and Mrs. Clark where
talking about events last night. Thoughout the day, something in the
house was not right. After I served the Clarks their dinner, Mr. Clark
called me into his office. Had he found out I was listening? He ordered
me to sit down and I asked him where the two men had gone. There was a
moment of silence before he began to tell me of the days frightful
events. He said he wanted me to know what had happened. so I heard the
truth. He said because I was here, he didn’t want me to wonder what he
was up to. He thought the truth of what he was doing was necessary. He
told me of three men: Paul Revere, Samuel Prescott, and William Dawes,
who were sent on a journey to warn John Hancock and Samuel Adams that
the Redcoats were coming to Lexington and the continuing to Concord,
where the gunpowder was, to warn Patriots there. The man who was here
last night was Paul Revere, a silversmith from Boston. Once the three
men warned John Hancock and Samuel Adams, they were captured by
soldiers. One man, Samuel Prescott, escaped and went on to Concord.
When the Redcoats couldn’t find the gunpowder, they god mad and fired
at colonists. Minutemen came and both sides stood; one side fired and
then everyone shot. When the smoke cleared, eight farmers lay dead. A
sad day I say, the start of a fight.
Once Mr. Clark dismissed me from his office, I thought about what he
had said. I don’t know why, but I started to cry. The thought of the
poor men that were killed made me very sad. All they were doing was
trying to protect the colonist’s rights. The soldiers had no right to
shoot at those men just because they had bayonedts and muskets. I felt
anger toward the lobsterbacks from that day forward. They were bad, bad
men, who should not harm the Patriots. I wondered what Mr. Clark
thought of this. Did he hate the Lobsterbacks, too? I know he is a
Patriot, but I don't know if he feels the same way I do. Maybe I will
talk to him on my day off. Maybe, just maybe, I might.
Ella
April 20th 1775
Once I got my monthly cornmeal, I continued to think about the days
past. Because today was Sunday, I had the say off. I decided I would go
to church because Mr. Clark lets me go praise God at his church. On my
way to the church, I saw two slaves being whipped for insulting a white
man. Most crimes for slaves were common, but insulting a white man,
that was something I feared.
The fighting had begun, blood has started to be spilled by soldiers. If
the colonies win this war, will all slaves be free too? Will everyone
be free from the British? I can’t help but think that maybe one day I
will own my own house and make my own food.
I was fourteen years of age today and I knew it was time for me to
begin thinking about my rights. My uncle is now free and active in
getting other slaves their freedom. I want to support the Patriots
because I don’t like the British soldiers, but I don't like slave
owners either. I don't know who to support. What was going to happen to
Lexington? Where things going to get better?
I thought of my life, and where it was going to go? I am not like Mrs.
Clark. I don't want to have a huge family. I don't know what I am going
to do with my life as a slave. I hope one day soon to be free and marry
a nice man and have a few healthy children. Only time will tell.
Ella
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Historical References:
Chronicling Black lives in Colonial New England.
4/3/06.<http://scmonitor.com/cgibin/durableredirect.pl?/durable/
1997/10/29/feat.1.html/>
Hakim,Joy. From Colonies to Countries. New York, NY:Wendy Frost, 2003.
Life as a Slave. 4/10/06.<http://library.thinkquest.org/03oct/00394/
life.htm.>
McManus, Eagar J. Slavery in the North.
3/30/06.<http://www.slavenorth.com/slavenorth.htm
Paul Revere
1735-1818.<http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h653.html.>
Paul Revere-a brief biography.
4/28/06.<http://www.paulreverehouse.org/bio/bio.shtml.>
Revolution: Life as a Slave.
4/10/06.<htto://collections.ic.gc.ca/blackloyalists/story/revolution/
slavery.htm.>
Slavery in Boston.
3/31/06.<http://nps.gov/boaf/slaveryinboston/htm.>
Slavery in the American Colonies.
4/7/06.<http://www.polytechnic.org/faculty/gfeld.meth/slave.html.>
Swann-Wright,Dianne. Colonial Slavery. New Hampshire:Cobblestone
Publishing
Company,2002.
The Continental Congress;Lexington.
4/28/06.<http://www.usahistory.info/AmericanRevolution/
Lexington.html>
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