INCREDIBLE IMPRESSION
I recall the old days when I saw the colonies and had my adventures. I was born on August 2, 1615, well that was 8 years after Jamestown, the first southern colony was founded. My life was that of the typical English girl and it was of much fun. I was able to learn how to read and write like many of the other girls. However, I was lucky enough to complete my education for not many could do that in the time of my childhood. Being one of the few girls that could get a full education, I felt frustration when people tried to discourage me from moving towards my goal of having a good education and supporting my family. I helped my mother, Annabeth with the chores, and I helped my dad, Edward with farm work.
My parents wanted me to associate my friend, Samantha Johnson to the colonies, but they could not afford the ticket. Samantha AND HER HUSBAND decided to pay for me to travel with them, and in return I had to be her indentured servant. This meant that I would be working for her and her family for 47 years! She made a compromise, since it was a law that I had to work for her for 47 years, Samantha decided not to treat me as a servant because we have been friends for 13 years. I was very anxious because the ship would be leaving in 2 weeks.
I packed all of my belongings and said goodbye to my parents. I still couldn't believe that this was happening. My parents started to cry and I was so I was very emotional at that moment, but I knew that if I left without them realizing it, they would not shed as many tears. While my mother and father were weeping I yelled a quick "Goodbye. See you again someday." As I got closer to the docks, the sobs got fainter.
With Samantha at my side, I got into the compact ship that was to transport us to colonies. After an hour the boat set off and at first I was very afraid of how the people in this place would be. As we continued on the trip, I began to relax. The time passed very slowly and I was not sure that we would get to the colonies soon. I was worried about my parents and their health. It took forever to get to the colonies, and once we were there I was amazed at how wrong I was in judging the land. It was the complete opposite of what I thought it would be. This surprised me very much. It was a grassy land with small houses of the people already living there and I saw many slaves.
We did not have slaves near my house, so this was a real surprise for me. It looked as though every person had a billion slaves and no one seemed to care how many people were being tortured. I was disgusted and so was Samantha. Samantha whispered to me, "Rosy, we will never have slaves, and we will help these poor people." I responded with a nod and we were off to build a house. Quickly we gathered all the material, but then I wondered what to do next. Just then, we had an idea, "Let's go ask a neighbor." We both said at the same time. A very nice man living next door agreed to make the house for us on one condition, "You will give me 13 shillings for the labor." At first we thought it was a bit expensive but we agreed. The amazing adobe was perfect for us. It was very easy for me to farm and grow the food on the land because my fantastic father taught me how to farm. I showed Samantha many of the techniques I had learned in the past.
All the men and women around were impressed at how hard I worked and the fact that I got all of my work done before anyone else. I would often draw on the dirt when I was free. I would imagine that everyone was free and lived in harmony. Then, "Thump! Thump! Thump!" Someone walked up to me. I was afraid for I had never seen such a huge hideous face before. The man looked as though he was a slave, and I felt bad for him. He was running away and asked me for directions I pointed to my left. He looked as though he hadn’t come here long ago, perhaps 3-4 months at the most. "Bang! Bang!" 2 bullets shot, 1 hit his leg and the other coming straight for me. Trying to dodge it, I fell off of the huge boulder I was sitting on. I broke my left arm and cried in pain.
I was rushed into our house and Samantha who was familiar with this kind of injury told me to put a certain paste on my arm and rest it for a few days. I knew that work would not be done at the same rate without me. I managed to work with only my right arm until my left arm was good to use again. I did not mind the bit of pain that shot up my arm at some moments because the work was more important. Samantha often told me not to work this much, but I wanted to get it all done. At night i would sometimes go and give the mistreated slaves food and water, a blanket, or some paste to make their wounds get better. No one knew about this. The slaves did not even know who did this, all they knew was that there was a person that cared for them and worried about their well-being.
Two Slaves, 1 Mission
Life went on as it was for many years. No one knew of my tasks at night. Then one night I heard footsteps behind me, but when I turned around, no one was there. Just as I was giving food and blankets from the plantation and the store through the outlet, I felt a hand on my shoulder. "AAAAhhhhhh!" I screamed. I was relieved to find out it was Sammy (Samantha). She was very happy with what I was doing and wanted to join me. I explained, "It is too dangerous for you Sammy, I don’t want you to get in trouble."
She did not agree, so from now on, I had a companion doing all of this. The slaves called us valiant and admired us, but I did not want this. When I told them about it all of the slaves would say that I was too modest. So life went on and the stories of these women and the search for them also proceeded. It was as easy as taking corn from a baby, but soon it got more treacherous and we would have to stop for many days at a time. I was happy with what I was doing but I was sore afraid of getting caught.
Soon days turned into weeks, weeks into months, and months into years when we had to stay aware of the men hunting us. If anyone came near we would put on our shawls and act like the paupers that lived outside great plantations like these. "Bang! Bang!" I heard a gun being shot. Quickly I woke up Sammy and we ran to the shop which is where the noise was all coming from. A man was hobbling over. A bullet in his leg and it seemed as though he had a fracture. Crushed some herbs to make a medicine for this keg, but before that, we had to take the bullet out using 2 twigs. After applying the herb paste, we wrapped his leg in a soft cloth and he left on his way. However, at the time he was with us, he told us about his noble deed and about 2 slaves that were injured and mistreated. This man's name was Abec, we later found out when we went to help the 2 poor slaves. There was a tall guy named Walker Green, but we called him Green for short. The shorter guy was named Martin Clinton, I we called him Marty for short. I was surprised at how much they were like us because I knew that all slaves wanted to be equal, but they did not want any type of segregation. They cared about every slave, not just themselves. I could not believe that they rebelled some time ago even though it was a failure, I was inspired. We dug a hole and gave them food every night.
We attended the Maryland Tolerance Act of 1649 because it gave Christians like us a better life. It declared freedom for us. We were so happy because now we could practice our religion freely.
I was to marry another indentured servant, and his name was Roger Smithe. Our marriage was in December and we lived happily. The next year our daughter was born and she was as beautiful as a swan. We named her Isabelle for it matched her beauty. I was still working for Sammy at that time. She was fond of my daughter even though she had her own. Sammy's daughter, Beatrice was old enough to take care of herself so Sammy took care of Isabelle while I was working. When Isabelle was 4 our second daughter was born. She was even more beautiful than our first so we christened her Bella. I was enjoying my time with my girls and I still got my work done quickly.
I was very close to being done with my years of service. It was now 1665 and I only had 13 years left. I could not wait to be free. I would finally get to spend time with my daughters and it would be a much easier life. No more working I would finally be able to relax. It would be the first time in 47 years where I would rest.
She did not agree, so from now on, I had a companion doing all of this. The slaves called us valiant and admired us, but I did not want this. When I told them about it all of the slaves would say that I was too modest. So life went on and the stories of these women and the search for them also proceeded. It was as easy as taking corn from a baby, but soon it got more treacherous and we would have to stop for many days at a time. I was happy with what I was doing but I was sore afraid of getting caught.
Soon days turned into weeks, weeks into months, and months into years when we had to stay aware of the men hunting us. If anyone came near we would put on our shawls and act like the paupers that lived outside great plantations like these. "Bang! Bang!" I heard a gun being shot. Quickly I woke up Sammy and we ran to the shop which is where the noise was all coming from. A man was hobbling over. A bullet in his leg and it seemed as though he had a fracture. Crushed some herbs to make a medicine for this keg, but before that, we had to take the bullet out using 2 twigs. After applying the herb paste, we wrapped his leg in a soft cloth and he left on his way. However, at the time he was with us, he told us about his noble deed and about 2 slaves that were injured and mistreated. This man's name was Abec, we later found out when we went to help the 2 poor slaves. There was a tall guy named Walker Green, but we called him Green for short. The shorter guy was named Martin Clinton, I we called him Marty for short. I was surprised at how much they were like us because I knew that all slaves wanted to be equal, but they did not want any type of segregation. They cared about every slave, not just themselves. I could not believe that they rebelled some time ago even though it was a failure, I was inspired. We dug a hole and gave them food every night.
We attended the Maryland Tolerance Act of 1649 because it gave Christians like us a better life. It declared freedom for us. We were so happy because now we could practice our religion freely.
I was to marry another indentured servant, and his name was Roger Smithe. Our marriage was in December and we lived happily. The next year our daughter was born and she was as beautiful as a swan. We named her Isabelle for it matched her beauty. I was still working for Sammy at that time. She was fond of my daughter even though she had her own. Sammy's daughter, Beatrice was old enough to take care of herself so Sammy took care of Isabelle while I was working. When Isabelle was 4 our second daughter was born. She was even more beautiful than our first so we christened her Bella. I was enjoying my time with my girls and I still got my work done quickly.
I was very close to being done with my years of service. It was now 1665 and I only had 13 years left. I could not wait to be free. I would finally get to spend time with my daughters and it would be a much easier life. No more working I would finally be able to relax. It would be the first time in 47 years where I would rest.
Freedom… Finally
We were very good friends with Green and Marty. Every night we would give them food and fresh fruits like peaches. I used to be agile, but I don't know what happened now. I was not able to work as fast. The acute pain in my arm kept on getting worst instead of better and I could not understand why this was happening. After working I would disappear to go and sit near the forest and stare at the colossal trees.
I wished I could be like them sometimes because they did not have to work. My sweet innocent daughter Isabelle was to get married to her friend Abel Holmes. They made a prominent couple and I thought it was cute. My sweet Isabelle was a beautiful bride and all that mattered was that she was happy with her life. A year after her marriage my husband died. He went to Beacon's Rebellion and never returned. I got a letter from his friend that Roger was shot in the chest and died within seconds.
I mourned for days and nights, I could not believe that my husband was dead. I could not bear the pain and it overwhelmed me. In 1678 my 47 years of servitude for Sammy were over, and I was felt joy and pain. Sammy had died 18 years ago with a disease called malaria. I would miss my friends (especially her) and I would be concerned about the slaves even after we left. Bella and I moved to South Carolina because she wanted to explore the colonies. I was not going to let her do it on her own because it was too dangerous.
Two years later my daughter Bella fell in love with Simon Miles and I had them married. She would now see the world with him and I would rest of the colonies with him instead of me. I stayed here until 1682. I saw too many slaves here and decided I could not bear to look at them in this condition. I was on the road once again, and I was going to Jamestown this time. I could not see any more people in trouble.
In Jamestown I taught kids to read, write, and do math. I had many students everyday from 8AM to 12PM and they loved the way I taught them. It was perfect until 1 day I could not go to the students' room because I was very ill. From then on I knew that something was wrong, this had never happened to me before. I resumed my work after a few days I started teaching kids how to farm from 12PM (when the regular class ended) to 5PM.
They all seemed to enjoy themselves, but after a while I did not. Everything was different, my world was upside down. "This could not be right; I must have just caught a little cough from one of the kids." I thought. I went to a neighbor who was familiar with many diseases, but even she did not know what had happened. There was no way that I could have something serious.
Nothing like that had ever been the case. I would not believe that anything was wrong. Years went by like that and now I am 75 years old and still alive. I knew that my health problem was not that serious. I am still teaching and it is a lot of fun. I feel very weak now, and I am not that fast anymore, but I think it is just the old age.
Maybe if I eat more I will be strong again. I do not have slaves but I do send food to my past homes or sometimes a friend of mine goes to get a slave and bring him/ her back. I care for those slaves still today. I do not know what must have happened to them, but I hope that if they are alive, Green and Marty will live a longer happy life in a few years when my friends are able to find them. They were two of the most determined people I have met in my life. If I do not continue to write after this, consider I am not alive and I would like a copy of each of my memoirs to go to my 2 wonderful daughters.
I wished I could be like them sometimes because they did not have to work. My sweet innocent daughter Isabelle was to get married to her friend Abel Holmes. They made a prominent couple and I thought it was cute. My sweet Isabelle was a beautiful bride and all that mattered was that she was happy with her life. A year after her marriage my husband died. He went to Beacon's Rebellion and never returned. I got a letter from his friend that Roger was shot in the chest and died within seconds.
I mourned for days and nights, I could not believe that my husband was dead. I could not bear the pain and it overwhelmed me. In 1678 my 47 years of servitude for Sammy were over, and I was felt joy and pain. Sammy had died 18 years ago with a disease called malaria. I would miss my friends (especially her) and I would be concerned about the slaves even after we left. Bella and I moved to South Carolina because she wanted to explore the colonies. I was not going to let her do it on her own because it was too dangerous.
Two years later my daughter Bella fell in love with Simon Miles and I had them married. She would now see the world with him and I would rest of the colonies with him instead of me. I stayed here until 1682. I saw too many slaves here and decided I could not bear to look at them in this condition. I was on the road once again, and I was going to Jamestown this time. I could not see any more people in trouble.
In Jamestown I taught kids to read, write, and do math. I had many students everyday from 8AM to 12PM and they loved the way I taught them. It was perfect until 1 day I could not go to the students' room because I was very ill. From then on I knew that something was wrong, this had never happened to me before. I resumed my work after a few days I started teaching kids how to farm from 12PM (when the regular class ended) to 5PM.
They all seemed to enjoy themselves, but after a while I did not. Everything was different, my world was upside down. "This could not be right; I must have just caught a little cough from one of the kids." I thought. I went to a neighbor who was familiar with many diseases, but even she did not know what had happened. There was no way that I could have something serious.
Nothing like that had ever been the case. I would not believe that anything was wrong. Years went by like that and now I am 75 years old and still alive. I knew that my health problem was not that serious. I am still teaching and it is a lot of fun. I feel very weak now, and I am not that fast anymore, but I think it is just the old age.
Maybe if I eat more I will be strong again. I do not have slaves but I do send food to my past homes or sometimes a friend of mine goes to get a slave and bring him/ her back. I care for those slaves still today. I do not know what must have happened to them, but I hope that if they are alive, Green and Marty will live a longer happy life in a few years when my friends are able to find them. They were two of the most determined people I have met in my life. If I do not continue to write after this, consider I am not alive and I would like a copy of each of my memoirs to go to my 2 wonderful daughters.