Narrative of the Life of Moses Grandy, Late a Slave in the United States of America

By Moses Grandy

Born into slavery in North Carolina around 1786, Moses Grandy was bequeathed to his young playmate, his original owner's son, when they were both eight years old. Hired out until he was twenty-one, Grandy describes each of his temporary masters--some cruel and some kind. His first wife is sold shortly after they marry, and he never sees her again. After saving his money whenever possible and buying his freedom for $600, Grandy is betrayed by his childhood friend, who sells him. Grandy marries again and purchases his freedom a second time, only to be once again betrayed. With the assistance of white friends, Grandy buys his freedom a third time and moves north. He is also able to purchase the freedom of his second wife, but their children remain in slavery. Grandy wrote this Narrative to raise funds for the freedom of his children.

A DOCSOUTH BOOK. This collaboration between UNC Press and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Library brings classic works from the digital library of Documenting the American South back into print. DocSouth Books uses the latest digital technologies to make these works available in paperback and e-book formats. Each book contains a short summary and is otherwise unaltered from the original publication. DocSouth Books provide affordable and easily accessible editions to a new generation of scholars, students, and general readers.

• Language: English
• Publisher: UNC at Chapel Hill Library
• Release date: Sep 1, 2011
• ISBN: 9780807869529

Moses Grandy

Born into slavery in North Carolina around 1786, Grandy had to purchase his freedom three times due to dishonest masters.

Book preview

Narrative of the Life

of Moses Grandy,

Late a Slave in the

United States of

America

Moses Grandy

A DocSouth Books Edition

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Library

Chapel Hill

A DocSouth Books Edition, 2011

ISBN 978-0-8078-6951-2 (pbk.: alk. paper)

Published by

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Library

CB #3900 Davis Library

Chapel Hill, NC 27514-8890

http://library.unc.edu

Documenting the American South

http://docsouth.unc.edu

[e-mail]

Distributed by

The University of North Carolina Press

116 South Boundary Street

Chapel Hill, NC 27514-3808

1-800-848-6224

http://www.uncpress.org

This book was digitally printed.

About This Edition

This edition is made available under the imprint of DocSouth Books, a collaborative endeavor between the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Library and the University of North Carolina Press. Titles in DocSouth Books are drawn from the Library’s Documenting the American South (DocSouth) digital publishing program, online at docsouth.unc.edu. These print and downloadable e-book editions have been prepared from the DocSouth electronic editions.

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[Title Page Image]

NARRATIVE OF

THE LIFE OF

MOSES GRANDY;

LATE A SLAVE

IN THE UNITED

STATES OF

AMERICA.

Slavery is a mass, a system of enormities, which incontrovertably bids defiance to every regulation which ingenuity can devise, or power effect, but a Total Extinction. Why ought slavery be abolished? Because it is incurable injustice. Why is injustice to remain for a single hour?

William Pitt.

PUBLISHED AND SOLD FOR THE BENEFIT OF HIS RELATIONS STILL IN SLAVERY.

LONDON:

C. GILPIN, 5, BISHOPSGATE-STREET.

1843.

[Page verso]It is not improbable that some of the proper names in the following pages are incorrectly spelled. M. G., owing to the laws of the slave states, being perfectly illiterate, his pronunciation is the only guide.

DUBLIN:

PRINTED BY WEBB AND CHAPMAN, GREAT BRUNSWICK -ST.

[Page iii]INTRODUCTION.

ABOUT a fortnight ago, the subject of the following brief Memoir came to me, bearing with him a letter from a dear friend and distinguished abolitionist in the United States, from which the following, is an extract:—"I seize my pen in haste to gratify a most worthy coloured friend of mine, by giving him a letter of introduction to you, as he intends sailing this week (August 8th, 1842,) for Liverpool and London, via New Orleans. His name is Moses Grandy. He knows what it is to have been a slave, and what are the tender mercies of the southern slave-drivers. His history is not only authentic, but most extraordinary, and full of thrilling [Page iv] interest. Could it published, it would make a deep sensation in every quarter. He was compelled to buy his freedom three times over! He paid for it 1850 dollars (nearly £400 sterling). He has since bought his wife, and one or two of his children; and before going, to England will first go to New Orleans, to purchase some of his other children if he can find them, who are still held in captivity. His benevolence, affection, kindness of heart, and elasticity of spirit are truly remarkable. He has a good head, a fine countenance, and a great spirit, notwithstanding his education has been obtained in the horrible school of slavery. Just get him to tell you his narrative, and if you happen to have an Anti-slavery Meeting, let him tell his tale to a British audience." In