The worst of them all

Tibeats sold me to Edwin Epps. I was happy to get away from Mr. Tibeats at first but then I found him to be not nearly as bad as my new master. My new master frequently got drunk and would wake us up at all times of the night and make everybody dance while i played the violin. my first job was picking cotton. I was slow and as punishment my master wiped me freely. 

I almost got hung

Due to money issues Mr.Ford had to sell me to Mr.Tibeats. Since working for Mr. Tibeats I have helped on several building projects for Mr.Ford on his plantation. In the short period of time working for Mr. Tibeats, I discovered him to be quite cruel and inhumane . He tried to whip me for doing exactly as he said so i fought back and ended up wiping him till I could do it no more. After I could no longer beat him he swore he would get revenge and got on his horse and rode away. He returned shortly later with two other men. The three of them tied me up and tried to hang me when . Just as they were about to hang me Mr. Chapin, one of the overseer's  intervenes. He threatened to shoot Tibeats and chases them away. After the men ran away he sent the news to my master prompting his return.

John M. Tibeats the carpenter

My master assigned  me to work with one of his hired hands.The man i was assigned to is a carpenter by the name of John Tibeats. It seems that no matter what I do he is always angry. I would do exactly what he wanted me to do and he would beat me for it anyways.

my new master

I have not posted anything in a while so I will do my best to catch you up. I have been sold to a man named William Ford. He is a kind man who preaches the word of god and fairness to others. once i got to his home on the banks of the Red River in the Bayou Boeuf region of central Louisiana I was assigned to work in the lumber mill. In thanks for his kindness I figured out a way to move the lumber by water saving him money.

moving

At midnight we were moved to a steamboat moored on the potomac river. that morning we took the boat down river. from the boat we moved too stagecoaches then to a train. when we reacher richmond virginia. we were soon transferred to the pen of a Mr. Goodin. Mr.goodin questions me and I accidentally let slip the fact that I was from New York prompting Burch to threaten to kill me again.

The others

I was finally allowed to leave the room I was being held in and got to meet the other slaves being held here. Clemens Ray, Eliza Berry, and Eliza’s children. Eliza was married to a white man who promised to set her free after he died. after he died his son in law sold Eliza and her children to Burch breaking the promise.  The whole time we were there we had to stay in this dirt yard with little cover with nothing more to do then talk.

the slave pen

Today two men entered this dark room I have been held in. I immediately began to protest my capture when one of the men by the name of  James H. Burch who I later found out was a large slave dealer in Washington began to beat me with a paddle and a wip. Once I stopped talking he said if I ever said I was free again he would kill me.

My capture

Today two men by the names of Merrill Brown and Abram Hamilton offered to pay me to join them in working for a circus in New York City . Once we got to the city I found that the circus was not there and I was to go with them to Washington where we would meet up with the circus. When i was in washington we had a a couple of drinks. Soon I felt sick and retired into my room were some people came and got me and told me i was to go see the doctor. On the way to the doctors I passed out and when I woke up I was in a small dark room in chains.