(Related by herself.)

I was born at Brackish-Pond, in Bermuda, on a farm belonging to Mr. Charles Myners.  My mother was a household slave; and my father, whose name was Prince, was a sawyer belonging to Mr. Trimmingham, a ship-builder at Crow-Lane.  When I was an infant, old Mr. Myners died, and there was a division of the slaves and other property among the family.  I was bought along with my mother by old Captain Darrel, and given to his grandchild, little Miss Betsey Williams.  Captain Williams, Mr. Darrel’s son-in-law, was master of a vessel which traded to several places in America and the West Indies, and he was seldom at home long together.

Mrs. Williams was a kind-hearted good woman, and she treated all her slaves well.  She had only one daughter, Miss Betsey, for whom I was purchased, and who was about my own age.  I was made quite a pet of by Miss Betsey, and loved her very much.  She used to lead me about by the hand, and call me her little nigger.  This was the happiest period of my life; for I was too young to understand rightly my condition as a slave, and too thoughtless and full of spirits to look forward to the days of toil and sorrow.

My mother was a household slave in the same family.  I was under her own care, and my little brothers and sisters were my play-fellows and companions.  My mother had several fine children after she came to Mrs. Williams,—­three girls and two boys.  The tasks given out to us children were light, and we used to play together with Miss Betsey, with as much freedom almost as if she had been our sister.

My master, however, was a very harsh, selfish man; and we always dreaded his return from sea.  His wife was herself much afraid of him; and, during his stay at home, seldom dared to shew her usual kindness to the slaves.  He often left her, in the most distressed circumstances, to reside in other female society, at some place in the West Indies of which I have forgot the name.  My poor mistress bore his ill-treatment with great patience, and all her slaves loved and pitied her.  I was truly attached to her, and, next to my own mother, loved her better than any creature in the world.  My obedience to her commands was cheerfully given:  it sprung solely from the affection I felt for her, and not from fear of the power which the white people’s law had given her over me.

I had scarcely reached my twelfth year when my mistress became too poor to keep so many of us at home; and she hired me out to Mrs. Pruden, a lady who lived about five miles off, in the adjoining parish, in a large house near the sea.  I cried bitterly at parting with my dear mistress and Miss Betsey, and when I kissed my mother and brothers and sisters, I thought my young heart would break, it pained me so.  But there was no help; I was forced to go.  Good Mrs. Williams comforted me by saying that I should still be near the home I was about to quit, and might come over and see her and my kindred whenever I could obtain leave of absence from Mrs. Pruden.  A few hours after this I was taken to a strange house, and found myself among strange people.  This separation seemed a sore trial to me then; but oh! ’twas light, light to the trials I have since endured!—­’twas nothing—­nothing to be mentioned with them; but I was a child then, and it was according to my strength.