Narrative of the Life of Moses Grandy, Late a Slave in the United States of America | Page 8

the $230 I had already paid him, if, beside them,
he would take for my freedom the $600 he had given for me. He drove
me away, saying I had no way to get the money. I sat down for a time,
and went to him again. I repeated my offer to procure the $690, and he
again said I could not. He called his wife out of the room to the porch,
and said to her, 'Don't you think Moses has taken to getting drunk?' She
asked me if it was so; I denied it, when she inquired what was the
matter. Master replied, 'Don't you think he wants me to sell him?' She
said, 'Moses, we would not take any money for you. Captain Cormack
put a thousand dollars for you on the supper table last Friday night, and
Mr. Sawyer would not touch it; he wants you to be overseer in the
Dismal Swamp.' I replied, 'Captain Cormack never said any thing to me
about buying me; I would cut my throat from ear to ear rather than go
to him. I know what made him say so; he is courting Miss Patsey, and
he did it to make himself look big.' Mistress laughed and turned away,
and slammed to the door; master shook himself with laughing, and put
the paper he was reading before his face, knowing that I spoke the truth.

Captain Cormack was an old man who went on crutches. Miss Patsey
was the finest of master's daughters. Master drove me away from him
again.
On Monday morning, Mr. Brooks, the overseer, blew the horn as usual
for all to go to the field. I refused to go. I went to master, and told him
that if he would give me a paper, I would go and fetch the $600; he
then gave me a paper, stating that he was willing to take that sum for
my freedom: so I hired an old horse and started for Norfolk, fifty miles
off.
When I reached Deep Creek, I went to the house of Captain Edward
Minner. He was very glad to see me, for in former days I had done
much business for him; he said how sorry he had been to hear that I
was at field work. He inquired where I was going. I said, to Norfolk, to
get some of the merchants to let me have money to buy myself. He
replied, 'What did I always say to you? Was it not, that I would let you
have the money at any time, if you would only tell me when you could
be sold?' He called Mrs. Minner into the room, and told her I could be
sold for my freedom; she was rejoiced to hear it. He said, 'Put up your
horse at Mr. Western's tavern, for you need go no farther; I have plenty
of old rusty dollars, and no man shall put his hand on your collar again
to say you are a slave. Come and stay with me to-night, and in the
morning I will get Mr. Garret's horse, and go with you.'
Next morning we set off, and found master at Major Farrence's, at the
cross canal, where I knew he was to be that day, to sell his share of the
canal. When I saw him, he told me to go forward home, for he would
not sell me. I felt sick and sadly disappointed. Captain Minner stepped
up to him, and showed him the paper he had given me, saying, 'Mr.
Sawyer, is not this your hand-writing?' He replied, 'Mistress said, the
last word when I came away, I was not to sell him, but send him home
again.' Captain Minner said, 'Mind, gentlemen, I do not want him for a
slave; I want to buy him for freedom. He will repay me the money, and
I shall not charge him a cent of interest for it. I would not have a
colored person, to drag me down to hell, for all the money in the
world.' A gentleman who was by said it was a shame I should be so
treated; I had bought myself so often that Mr. Sawyer ought to let me
go. The very worst man as an overseer over the persons employed in
digging the canal, Mr. Wiley M'Pherson, was there; he was never

known to speak in favor of a colored person; even he said that Mr.
Sawyer ought to let me go, as I had been sold so often. At length, Mr.
Sawyer consented I should go for $650, and would take no less. I
wished Captain Minner to give the extra $50, and not stand about it. I
believe it was what M'Pherson said that induced my master to