BIOGRAPHY OF A SLAVE
Being The Experiences Of Rev. Charles Thompson,
A Preacher Of The United Brethren Church,
WHILE A SLAVE IN THE SOUTH.
Together With Startling Occurrences Incidental To Slave Life.
1875
PREFACE.
In publishing this book I hope to do good not only to my own race, but to all who may read it. I am not a book-maker, and make no pretensions to literary attainments; and I have made no efforts to create for myself a place in the literary, book-making ranks. I claim for my book truthfulness and honesty of purpose, and upon that basis it must succeed or fail. The Biography of a Slave is called for by a very large number of my immediate acquaintances, and, I am assured, will meet with such reception as to justify the expense I have incurred in having it printed and bound. To the members of the United Brethren Church, white as well as colored, I look for help in the sale and circulation of my work, yet I am satisfied I will receive commendable patronage from members of all Christian churches everywhere.
The book is written in the narrative style, as being much better suited to the tastes and capacities of my colored readers, and I have used simple and plain English language, discarding the idiomatic and provincial language of the southern slaves and ignorant whites, expecting thereby to help educate the blacks in the use of proper language.
I am indebted to William H. Rhodes, Esq., attorney at law, of Newman, Douglas County, Illinois, for his valuable assistance in the preparation of my manuscript for the printer. He has re-written the whole of it for me, and has otherwise assisted me in the matter of placing the book before the public.
CHARLES THOMPSON.
Newman, Illinois, Aug., 1874.
The book is written in the narrative style, as being much better suited to the tastes and capacities of my colored readers, and I have used simple and plain English language, discarding the idiomatic and provincial language of the southern slaves and ignorant whites, expecting thereby to help educate the blacks in the use of proper language.
I am indebted to William H. Rhodes, Esq., attorney at law, of Newman, Douglas County, Illinois, for his valuable assistance in the preparation of my manuscript for the printer. He has re-written the whole of it for me, and has otherwise assisted me in the matter of placing the book before the public.
CHARLES THOMPSON.
Newman, Illinois, Aug., 1874.
Contents
CHAPTER I
Charles Thompson, born in Atala County, Mississippi—Division of Kirkwood's slaves among his six Children—The writer and his two sisters fall to Mrs. Wilson—The parting between mother and child—Deprived of a fond mother forever—Old Uncle Jack—Wilson buys Uncle Ben from Strucker—Uncle Ben runs away and is hunted with blood-hounds—Two hundred dollars reward.
CHAPTER II
Not sent to hell by Wilson—Mrs. Wilson protects me, to whom I belong—Sent to school with the children—The school-children teach me to read and write—What came of it—Mount that mule or I'll shoot you—I mounted the mule—A start for the railroad to work—I dismount and take to the woods—I owe allegiance to God and my country only.
CHAPTER III
Caught, tried, and taken back home to James Wilson—My mistress saves me from being whipped—I go to the railroad and work one month precisely—Go back home—Wilson surprised—Left the railroad at 3 o'clock A.M.—Did not want to disturb Leadbitter's rest—Sent to Memphis with a load of cotton—Afraid of the slave-pens and slave-auction—Start for home—Not sold—Pray, sing, and shout—Get home and ordered to hire myself out.
CHAPTER IV
Start out on my travels to hunt a new master—Find Mr. Dansley—Hire to him—Thirty dollars per month for my master and five dollars for myself—Wilson astonished—Appointed superintendent of Dansley's farm—Rules and regulations—Peace and tranquillity—My moral labors successful—Prayer and social meetings—Meetings in the woods—Quarrel and fight like very brothers—Time comes to be moved to another field of labor.
CHAPTER V
James Wilson comes along—Wants me to go with him to Saulsbury, Tennessee, to help build a house for a grocery-store—Takes me along with him—Wilson taken sick—I take care of him—He gels well—I make another attempt to escape from slavery—What came of it.
CHAPTER VI
Was hired to Mr. Thompson, and adopted his name—Opened regular meetings, and preached on the plantation and other places—Took unto myself a wife—Was purchased by Thompson, duly installed on the plantation, and invested with authority—Various means and plans resorted to by the overseer to degrade me in the eyes of Mr. Thompson—Driven, through persecution, to run away—Return back to my master.
Charles Thompson, born in Atala County, Mississippi—Division of Kirkwood's slaves among his six Children—The writer and his two sisters fall to Mrs. Wilson—The parting between mother and child—Deprived of a fond mother forever—Old Uncle Jack—Wilson buys Uncle Ben from Strucker—Uncle Ben runs away and is hunted with blood-hounds—Two hundred dollars reward.
CHAPTER II
Not sent to hell by Wilson—Mrs. Wilson protects me, to whom I belong—Sent to school with the children—The school-children teach me to read and write—What came of it—Mount that mule or I'll shoot you—I mounted the mule—A start for the railroad to work—I dismount and take to the woods—I owe allegiance to God and my country only.
CHAPTER III
Caught, tried, and taken back home to James Wilson—My mistress saves me from being whipped—I go to the railroad and work one month precisely—Go back home—Wilson surprised—Left the railroad at 3 o'clock A.M.—Did not want to disturb Leadbitter's rest—Sent to Memphis with a load of cotton—Afraid of the slave-pens and slave-auction—Start for home—Not sold—Pray, sing, and shout—Get home and ordered to hire myself out.
CHAPTER IV
Start out on my travels to hunt a new master—Find Mr. Dansley—Hire to him—Thirty dollars per month for my master and five dollars for myself—Wilson astonished—Appointed superintendent of Dansley's farm—Rules and regulations—Peace and tranquillity—My moral labors successful—Prayer and social meetings—Meetings in the woods—Quarrel and fight like very brothers—Time comes to be moved to another field of labor.
CHAPTER V
James Wilson comes along—Wants me to go with him to Saulsbury, Tennessee, to help build a house for a grocery-store—Takes me along with him—Wilson taken sick—I take care of him—He gels well—I make another attempt to escape from slavery—What came of it.
CHAPTER VI
Was hired to Mr. Thompson, and adopted his name—Opened regular meetings, and preached on the plantation and other places—Took unto myself a wife—Was purchased by Thompson, duly installed on the plantation, and invested with authority—Various means and plans resorted to by the overseer to degrade me in the eyes of Mr. Thompson—Driven, through persecution, to run away—Return back to my master.
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