THE
LIFE AND SUFFERINGS
OF
LEONARD BLACK,
A FUGITIVE FROM SLAVERY.
WRITTEN BY HIMSELF.
NEW BEDFORD:
PRESS OF BENJAMIN LINDSEY.
1847.
NOTICE.
Doubts having been expressed upon sundry matters connected with thefollowing little narrative, Mr. Black has requested me to say a fewwords concerning its authorship and claims to belief.
The book was written substantially by Mr. Black himself, but, inconsequence of his deficiency of education—growing out of thefact that his childhood and youth were spent in slavery—it neededconsiderable correction to fit it for the press. This work waskindly performed, gratuitously, by a friend of the author, who was,however, very careful to preserve the narrative as nearly unchangedas possible—confining himself mostly to punctuating, correcting theorthography, striking out unnecessary words and sentences, &c. &c.
I am well acquainted with Mr. Black, and have the fullest confidencein the truth of his narrative, as has the friend who assisted him inpreparing it for the press, and, indeed, every one who knows him.
A. M. MACY.
Nantucket, October 30th, 1847.
INTRODUCTION.
In putting this little volume before the public, it is well, perhaps,that I should speak of my motive.
Born and reared in slavery, I was, of course, deprived of education;and believing that I can be of service to the public in the ministry,I have published this account of my life and sufferings, with the hopethat I might realize a sufficient sum from its sale, to enable me toprocure a greater degree of education, thereby increasing my usefulnessas a preacher.
With this simple statement I present myself to the humane, in the hopethat I may not appeal in vain.
LEONARD BLACK.
April, 1847.
LIFE AND SUFFERINGS
OF
LEONARD BLACK.
CHAPTER I.
It is my object to give to the reader a plain, simple narrative of themore interesting portion of my life, while in slavery.
I was born in Annarundel County, State of Maryland, about sixty milesbelow Baltimore, and lived a slave more than twenty years. My oldmaster was a physician, but I think it prudent to withhold his name.No one, who has always enjoyed the right of liberty, can realize thehorrors of slavery. To be at the will of another, to be owned likea cow or horse, and liable at any moment to be sold to the highest[Pg 6]bidder, to be transported to a distant part of the country, leavingthe dearest relatives behind; to be, in fine, ground down mentally andphysically by the untold curses of slavery, may be a very pretty thingto the masters of the “peculiar institution,” but it is death to theslaves.
After more than twenty years of bondage, God delivered me from it, witha strong hand and an outstretched arm, as he did Israel of old.
As near as I can remember, my mother and sister were sold and takento New Orleans, leaving four brothers and myself behind. We were allplaced out. At six years of age I was placed with a Mr. Bradford,separated from my father, mother and family. But the eye of God wasupon me, and blessed me. My master w