St. Catharines
Henry Jackson
I was born free at Chatham Four Corners, N. Y. State. I was sent to school and learned to read and write. My parents were free at the time of my birth, but had been slaves under the old laws of New York. At about the age of sixteen, my father bound me out to a man named G—, to remain till twenty-one, then to receive two hundred and fifty dollars. G—went to California, where he remained over a year, and then came back for his wife and children and me to take us to that State. Then I went with him by railway and by water: the vessel was a steamer,—took us into some port, the name of which I do not know; there G—and another man came on board, and asked me to go up into the town,—it was a middling-sized town. They took me to an auction room where were other colored people, and I was sold at auction to the highest bidder for four hundred and fifty dollars. I thought it a strange transaction, but I felt that I was in their power,—I was among strangers, had no friends there, knew it would be of no use to remonstrate, and so said nothing. A man by the name of W. K. S. bought me. I saw no papers passed,—there might have been. S. said, “You are in my hands now, and you must obey my orders.” I answered him nothing,—did not say a word to him. As soon as I was sold, G—left, and I have not seen him since. I was taken into S.’s family, and went to work for him and the family, doing house-work, errands, etc. I was treated kindly,—had enough of every thing,—his son gave me a little change occasionally. My mind was all the time occupied by the thought of my freedom, and I made up my mind to escape on the first opportunity. I said nothing to Mr. S. about my past life: he never said any thing about setting me free. Whether he knew it was illegal for G—to sell me, I do not know. I had some fears in regard to running away—fears that something—I could not tell what—would be done with me. At last I started on foot for Philadelphia, which I reached in due time, without any trouble on the way, except being worn out with fatigue.
I did not travel about much while in slavery: but from my own experience of it, and from what I have seen, I pronounce it a very great curse.
I think G—’s conduct is mean. I think it would be a good thing for him to be sold for a few years down South,—I think that by the time he had been there five years, he would be glad to set all the slaves free.
I think it necessary for all free people of color to be on their guard.
I had the privilege of going to church every Sunday. I belonged to the Methodist church before I went away, as did my father and mother. Mr. S. was a member of the same church with myself,—we heard the same preaching and sat at the same communion table. The colored people partook after the others had done. I have not seen S. since I came away, and have no desire to see him.