WILLIAML (LEMENTS
LIBRARY OF
AMERICAN IIISTORY
UNIVERSITY/MICHIGAN







THE
LIFE
- OF
CHARLES FREEMAN,
oNCE AN
AMERICAN SLAVE.
* This little narrative will be read with much interest.”
“We do not remember reading a more interesting truthful Memoir of a
slave, the way he made his escape from Slavery shows that he is an intelligent
young man, while his presence at the Panorama adds greatly to the interest of
the Exhibition and much weight to the facts related by the Lecturer, (the
Rev. W.H. Irwin) who hasjustarrived in England after fourteen years residence
as a Missionary among Slaves.”
SOLID AT
The COSMORAMA, 209, REGENT STREET,
And to be had of all Booksellers,
Price 2:1.
* Part I. Descriptive Catalogue of the Panorama, price ºd.


T H E LIFE
on
CHARLES FREEMAN.
-
(so named at the first meeting and private exhibition
of the African and American Slave Panorama,
April 1850.)
CHARLEs, as he was previously called, (Slaves having
only one name,) was a House Slave to a Mr. Tompson, a
Slave-owner; at six years old his business was to amuse
and take care of his Master's children, how he came there
he does not know, nor anything of his Father or Mother,
but has been told by his Master that he was born on one
of his plantations, and this must therefore suffice for his
early history.
With Mr. Tompson he lived nine years, and had
learned to cook and wait at table but hearing so frequently
other countries spoken of by the many visitors who came
to see his master, and often of the flourishing condition of
certain parts, he felt a great desire to leave, and deter-
mined to run away.
After many days and nights of anxious thought, and
forming many plans for his escape, he could wait no longer
and determined to leave that night, all the while carefully
avoiding everything that might lead to suspicion, it being
no uncommon thing for slaves to run away the slightest
sign of discontent would have been sufficient to have
frustrated all his plans; this day seemed the longest Charles
ever recollected, the night appeared reluctant to come, but
at length it arrived and he felt renewed courage under its
sable hue, he now waited for the family to retire, soon all
was quiet, and he was left alone, when with trembling steps

4.
he ventured to open the door, then gently closing it stole
to the woods, where he thought to remain until he could
provide himself with what he might want on the journey,
never having left the boundaries of his master's plantation
he could form little or no idea of the country through
which he must pass, but knowing the North Star would
have this for his guide, for he had determined to go Far
North and always to travel ºf night, taking rest and secret
ing himself during the day.
Having saved a little money, about two dollars, which
had been given to him by visitors, this he secreted;
remaining in the woods the first night and day, the
following night he thought to return to his companions to
obtain more food and better stock himself for the journey,
accordingly when it was quite dark he started and soon
found his way to them, but one of his fellow slaves hoping
to gain favour with his master betrayed him and after a
long struggle succeeded in binding him and locked him in
an adjacent barn, at day-break the slave informed his
master of what he had done and where Charles was, this
greatly pleased him, and as soon as he could he went to
the barn and ordered Charles to be flogged, but for some
reason the order was not obeyed, though he was kept in
most fearful suspense for a long time ; he was now no
longer allowed to be a household slave, but as a lasting
punishment, was sent to labour in the corn fields with
about thirty others, and made to work under an overseer
who remained with them whip in hand, and by the
fearful lash made of dried cow-hide, urged them with
constant stripes to perform their task; he remained as
a field slave about a year, and again attempted to make
his escape, and took refuge in a swamp, called the “Dismal
swamp.” from the fact of its being so unhealthy and full of
the most venomous and deadly snakes, that few white men
would venture there to pursue a runaway slave.
The snakes are, the Hoop Snake, the Water Mockinson,
the Cotton Mouthed, the Copper Head and the Crokus Al-
der and many others, from the bite of which death general-
ly follows in a few minutes.

5 -
He lived here about six weeks with other slaves who
had made their escape, and had built log cabins, and lived
on wild Pigs, Racoons, Oppossums and other animals that
they could catch. Onventuring out of the Swamp in search
ºf game, about 10 at night, he was suddenly captured by
two white men, and being made to tell where he had come
from, they carried him back to his master to receive the
reward which had been offered for his capture, (as is al-
ways the case, amounting to from 100 to 200 dollars accor-
ding to the value of the slaves) he was immediately put in
chains and kept the night and day without food or water,
when he was released, and again escaped flogging as he was
to be sold when the Slave-dealer, or as the slaves call them
*Nigger Buyer' came his rounds, for if flogged the scars
would greatly reduce his value.
He was then sent to labor in the corn fields from
which he had run away, and was closely watched lest he
should again escape. As the time drew near for the Slave
trader to come he daily grew more impatient, well know-
ing that he should be sold, to go south and to work in the
swamps of Lousiana, he preferred to risk his life by again
running away rather than go, as in these swamps few
slaves live seven years, and more than half do not exceed
three years; from the time he was told of his fate he
had determined again to attempt his escape, and having
saved a little money, about five dollars, by selling skins,
tobacco, or anything he could to strangers, and a good
quantity of provisions; he only waited an opportunity
to steal away.
Soon after this the Overseer came into the field, his
walk showed he had been drinking freely of whisky, (his
favºurite beverage) and was much excited, flourishing the
whip in his hand dispensed to all he thought proper the
cruel lash ; as soon as he reached Charles he drew the whip
as hard as he could across his naked back, Charles spoke
hºstily to him and asked him why he did so, when he re-
plied dare you speak insolently to me, Sir, the Trader will
be here next month and you shall go to New Orleans,”

raising his whip to strike another lacerating blow, Charles
defended himself with a hoe that he had in his hºnº
striking the Overseer on the side of his head felled in. to
the ground, leaving him to recover he ran to the neares,
plantation, and as it was evening kept close until night
when he ventured to a barn, by the side of which he i.
hid his money, on obtaining this it struck him that he
would see if the stable-door was locked, finding it open he
selected the best horse, having assisted to rear the study
he thought he was entitled to a ride he then put on abridle
and a cloth instead of a saddle, to avoid suspicion, all being
quiet he jumped on his horse and again started North,
taking this time the telegraph wire for a guide; after riding
at full speed a few miles on the road, he was stopped by
the patrole who asked where he was going at that time of
the night, he replied pray do not stop me, my master is ill
and I am going for the Doctor, this did not satisfy them,
they asked him for his pass, he said his master was too
ill to write it, and putting the whip to his horse, galloped
away as fast as the horse could carry him, after riding near-
ly thirty miles the thought struck him that his master would
telegraph him, he then climbed up a tree which served
as a telegraph post, and pulling his knife out of his pocket,
after some time he succeeded in dividing the wire; he then
proceeded on his journey, and as daylight began to dawn
he rode into the woods to secret himself and feed his horse,
seeing a barn close at hand and finding it deserted, took
some corn that had been left and gave it to his horse, after
which he retreated further into the woods for the day; at
night he again started on his journey, and having to cross
a river nearly -a-mile wide, made his horse swim through
with him on his back, thus travelling for nearly a week over
the most dangerous ravines and boroughs, his provisions
being exhausted as well as his money, having bought
refreshment on the road, when he came near a store he
made another desperate push hoping to reach a free state,
and indeed he did think from the appearance of the fields
and the habitations he passed, that he was already in a free
state; stillwishing to ensure his safety herode until hunger

7
compelled him to run all risks of being again taken : and
to beg for food.
The first person he saw was an elderly gentleman
coming out of his house, he went up to him asked for
something to eat, the gentleman looked hard at him and
asked him if he was not a fugitive, he answered yes, the
gentleman replied to Charles' great joy that he was
in a free state, and that he would do all he could to help
him, and kindly giving him food and money, enquired what
part he had left; on being informed, he desired Charles to
leave his horse, and he would advertise it for sale, unless
the owner fetched it within so many days, as Charles had
no further use for him, the railroad being close at hand,
this was agreed to, and the gentleman saw him in one of
the railway cars going to Philadelphia; on arriving there
he enquired the way to the New York station, from which
place he was ninety-six miles, the train was just going,
and arrived in New York at night, on seeing a coloured
man, asked him where he could find a lodging, when he took
him to his own house, and on hearing how he escaped and
what he was, recommended him to get a berth as second
cook on board one of the Liners going to England, where he
might be safe as long as he lived.
He accordingly offered himself as assistant Cook
on board one of the Liners, (Meat for Manners,) which
was accepted; after being at sea a week, the Rev. W. H.
Irwin visited the galley, and speaking of his Panorama
of the slave-trade, and stating his opinion of slavery, the
cook informed him that his man was a runaway slave,
Mr. Irwin wished to see him, and after putting many
questions to him respecting his late master, &c. found that
he correctly answered every enquiry, (Mr. Irwin being well
acquainted with that part of the country.
This fact though rather singular struck Mr. Irwin
was likely to aid him in his Panorama, as Charles spoke
English exceedingly well, and for a slave was a fine
8
intelligent looking young man, made an offer to take charge
of him on landing in England,Charles most gladly accepted
the terms proposed and is now with Mr. Irwin, a living
specimen of a Slave ; a glance at him will show that it is
not that the Slave is wanting in intellect, and as this short
account of the last two years of his life will prove. It is
now just two years since he first attempted to escape from
slavery, and finally succeeded on the 24th of Feb. 1850.
On speaking to him he is able to reply on most general
points with acuteness, and displays much judgement in all
he does and says, as will be seen at the Panorama. -
Surely such a one need not be treated as the brute
that perishes for lack of understanding, surely the time is
coming when it will be too degrading to every nation to
hold in slavery and chains, such a one gifted with every
intellect necessary to make him not only a useful member
of society, but if well directed a valuable one.
Mr. Irwin is doing all he can to instruct him, and
hopes in a few years to fit him to supply his place as a
Missionary, Mr. Irwin's health no longer allowing him to
labour in that capacity. -
Crozier & Mulin, printers, silver street, Regent Stre”