July 25, 2025 • 10 mins
Delve into the captivating life of an American Bondman, as lovingly presented by his daughter, Josephine Brown. This biography not only revisits the significant experiences documented in her fathers own narratives, but also introduces fresh anecdotes and her unique perspective on his life. While the book draws heavily from previously published autobiographical accounts, it is enriched by a narrative style brimming with humor and wit. As observed by Andrews, the biographys exceptional contribution to the legacy of William Wells Brown is the insights it provides into the rhetorical strategies employed by both father and daughter in their united stand against slavery.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Chapters eleven and twelve of Biography of an American Bondman
by his Daughter by Josephine Brown. This LibriVox recording is
in the public domain. Chapter eleven, Give Me Liberty or
Give Me Death. Captain Price, who became the last purchaser
(00:20):
of William, was the owner of several steamers and a
partner in a firm in Saint Louis, engaged in the
business of purchasing and shipping produced to the Southern States.
The young slave had been with the Prices scarcely three
months when the family resolved upon a visit to New Orleans,
(00:42):
and it was settled that William should accompany them as
a servant. In due time, Captain Price, with his wife
and daughter, attended by their new chapel, set out on
their journey in one of the captain's boats, the steamer Chester.
The boat, instead of returning to Saint Louis, took in
(01:02):
at cargo at New Orleans for Cincinnati, and the captain
and his family concluded to extend their visit to the
latter place. It was the middle of December when the
boat left New Orleans with a large number of passengers
and a heavy load of freight. The Prices had some
fears about bringing the slave to the frontiers of the
(01:25):
Free States, and Missus Price sounded William to see if
he had any thoughts about freedom. As a matter of course,
the young slave expressed a wish to return to Saint
Louis as soon as possible, and seemed to dislike the
idea of going to a free state. Well Pleased with
his seeming indifference about liberty and not being able to
(01:48):
dispense with his services, the family determined to take William
to Cincinnati with them In due time. The boat arrived
at the place of her destination, did her passengers, and
discharged her cargo. Twenty years ago, there was little or
no anti slavery feeling in the southern part of the
(02:09):
state of Ohio. Few persons thought it wrong to catch
a runaway slave and return him to his master, and
a fugitive ran as much risk in attempting to escape
through the Buckeye State at that time as he would
in the adjoining state of Kentucky. William, however, had resolved
(02:29):
to make the attempt without any regard to consequences. In
his published narrative, he says, during the last night that
I served in slavery. I did not close my eyes
a single moment in sleep. When not thinking of the future,
my mind dwelt on the past. The thought of a
(02:51):
dear mother and an affectionate sister and three brothers, yet
living under the dominion of Whibsen's courages me to shed
many tears. If I could have been assured that they
were dead, I should have felt satisfied. But I imagined
I saw my mother in the cotton field, followed by
(03:13):
the merciless taskmaster. I thought of the probability of my
sister and brothers being in the hands of Negro drivers
or speculators, subjected to all the cruelties that the hateful
institution allows them to inflict. And these thoughts made me
feel very sad. Indeed, at last the trying moment came.
(03:36):
It was the first day of January eighteen thirty four, when,
without a shilling in his pocket and no friend to
advise him, William quitted his master's boat, and, taking the
North Star for his guide, started for Canada. During fifteen nights,
did this half clad, half starred fugitive urge his weary
(03:58):
limbs to carry him on towards a land of freedom.
With regard to these eventful days, mister Brown says and
his narrative, supposing every person to be my enemy, I
was afraid to appeal to anyone, even for a little
food to keep body and sould together. As I pressed forward,
(04:19):
my escape to Canada appeared certain, and this feeling gave
me a light heart, For behind I left the whips
and chains before me were sweet Freedom's planes. Well. On
my journey, at night, and passing farms, I would seek
a corn crib and supply myself with some of its contents.
(04:42):
The next day, while buried in the forest, I would
make a fire and roast my corn and drink from
the nearest stream. One night, while in search of corn,
I came upon what I supposed to be a hill
of potatoes buried in the ground. For want of a cellar,
I obtained sharp pointed piece of wood, with which I
dug away for more than an hour, and on gaining
(05:06):
the hidden treasure, found it to be turnips. However, I
did not dig for nothing. After supplying myself with about
half a dozen of the turnips, I again resumed my journey.
This uncooked food was indeed a great luxury, and gave
strength to my fatigued glimbs. The weather was very cold,
(05:26):
so cold that it drove me one night into a barn,
where I laid in the hay until morning. A storm
overtook me, when, about a week out, the rain fell
in torrents and froze as it came down. My clothes
became stiff with ice. Here again, I took shelter in
a barn and walked about to keep from freezing. Nothing
(05:47):
but the fear of being arrested and returned to slavery
prevented me at this time seeking shelter in some dwelling.
Even when in this forlorng condition, I would occasionally find
myself repeating, free, I'll be free, and none shall confine
with fetters and change this free spirit of mind. From
my youth have I vowed in my God to rely
(06:09):
and despite the oppressor, gained freedom or die Dreary were
the hours that I spent while escaping from America's greatest evil.
End of chapter eleven, Chapter twelve. Oh then be kind,
whoever thou art that breathest mortal breath, and it shall
(06:29):
brighten all thy life and gild the veil of death.
So fearful are the tyrants at the south, that their
victims will recognize themselves as men, that they will not
permit them to have a double name. Jim, Peter, Henry,
et cetera, et cetera. Is all a slave is known
by the subject of this memoir was not an exception
(06:50):
to this rule. When William was six or seven years old,
doctor Young, having no children of his own, adopted a nephew,
a son of his brother Benjamin. This boy's name was
William also, and not wishing to have the two names confounded,
orders were given that the colored nephew's name should be changed,
and accordingly he was afterwards called Sandford. This name William
(07:14):
always disliked, and resolved that he would retake his former
name should he succeed in escaping to Canada. After having
been fifteen days on his journey, and having passed three
days without food and withal suffering much from illness, William
determined to seek shelter and protection. For this purpose, says he,
(07:34):
I placed myself behind some fallen trees near the main road,
hoping to see some colored person, thinking I should be
more safe under the care of one of my own color.
Several farmers with their teams passed, but the appearance of
each one frightened me out of the idea of asking
for assistance. After lying on the ground for some time
(07:56):
with my sore, frostbitten feet and benumbed with cold, I
saw an old, white haired man dressed in a suit
of drib with a broad brimmed hat, walking along leading
a horse. The man was evidently walking for exercise. I
came out from my hiding place and told the stranger,
I must die unless I obtain some assistance. A moment's
(08:18):
conversation satisfied the old man that I was one of
the oppressed fleeing from the house of bondage. From the
difficulty with which I walked, the shivering of my limbs,
and the trembling of my voice, he became convinced that
I had been among thieves, and he acted the part
of the good Samaritan. This was the first person I
had ever seen of the religious sect called Quakers. At
(08:43):
the farmhouse the this good man, where many at port
fugitive slave had before found a resting place for his
jaded feet. William was treated with the kindest care until
he was so far recovered as to resume his journey.
The members of no religious society or more noted for
their good works, the friends. They are distinguished for the
kindness with which they always received the runaway slave, Having,
(09:06):
many years ago as a religious society condemned slavery and
disfellowshipped slaveholders, they occupy a position before the world that
few other sectarian bodies can claim, never before having met
with whites to sympathize with him and treat him as
a man. William was overwhelmed with surprise at the interest
(09:27):
the Quaker and his family took in him. How softly
on that bruised heart a word of kindness falls, and
to the dry and parts sold, the moistening teardrop calls.
When once more in a situation to travel, the good
people began to fit out the fugitive with clothes so
that he would be in a better condition to reach
(09:47):
the other side of Jordan. The Quaker's name was Wells Brown,
and finding that his guest had but one name, he
gave the fugitive his name, as well as a covering
for his body. So when the runaway quitted the Quaker's settlement,
he left under the name of William Wells Brown. End
of chapter twelve,
Chapters eleven and twelve of Biography of an American Bondman
by his Daughter by Josephine Brown. This LibriVox recording is
in the public domain. Chapter eleven, Give Me Liberty or
Give Me Death. Captain Price, who became the last purchaser
(00:20):
of William, was the owner of several steamers and a
partner in a firm in Saint Louis, engaged in the
business of purchasing and shipping produced to the Southern States.
The young slave had been with the Prices scarcely three
months when the family resolved upon a visit to New Orleans,
(00:42):
and it was settled that William should accompany them as
a servant. In due time, Captain Price, with his wife
and daughter, attended by their new chapel, set out on
their journey in one of the captain's boats, the steamer Chester.
The boat, instead of returning to Saint Louis, took in
(01:02):
at cargo at New Orleans for Cincinnati, and the captain
and his family concluded to extend their visit to the
latter place. It was the middle of December when the
boat left New Orleans with a large number of passengers
and a heavy load of freight. The Prices had some
fears about bringing the slave to the frontiers of the
(01:25):
Free States, and Missus Price sounded William to see if
he had any thoughts about freedom. As a matter of course,
the young slave expressed a wish to return to Saint
Louis as soon as possible, and seemed to dislike the
idea of going to a free state. Well Pleased with
his seeming indifference about liberty and not being able to
(01:48):
dispense with his services, the family determined to take William
to Cincinnati with them In due time. The boat arrived
at the place of her destination, did her passengers, and
discharged her cargo. Twenty years ago, there was little or
no anti slavery feeling in the southern part of the
(02:09):
state of Ohio. Few persons thought it wrong to catch
a runaway slave and return him to his master, and
a fugitive ran as much risk in attempting to escape
through the Buckeye State at that time as he would
in the adjoining state of Kentucky. William, however, had resolved
(02:29):
to make the attempt without any regard to consequences. In
his published narrative, he says, during the last night that
I served in slavery. I did not close my eyes
a single moment in sleep. When not thinking of the future,
my mind dwelt on the past. The thought of a
(02:51):
dear mother and an affectionate sister and three brothers, yet
living under the dominion of Whibsen's courages me to shed
many tears. If I could have been assured that they
were dead, I should have felt satisfied. But I imagined
I saw my mother in the cotton field, followed by
(03:13):
the merciless taskmaster. I thought of the probability of my
sister and brothers being in the hands of Negro drivers
or speculators, subjected to all the cruelties that the hateful
institution allows them to inflict. And these thoughts made me
feel very sad. Indeed, at last the trying moment came.
(03:36):
It was the first day of January eighteen thirty four, when,
without a shilling in his pocket and no friend to
advise him, William quitted his master's boat, and, taking the
North Star for his guide, started for Canada. During fifteen nights,
did this half clad, half starred fugitive urge his weary
(03:58):
limbs to carry him on towards a land of freedom.
With regard to these eventful days, mister Brown says and
his narrative, supposing every person to be my enemy, I
was afraid to appeal to anyone, even for a little
food to keep body and sould together. As I pressed forward,
(04:19):
my escape to Canada appeared certain, and this feeling gave
me a light heart, For behind I left the whips
and chains before me were sweet Freedom's planes. Well. On
my journey, at night, and passing farms, I would seek
a corn crib and supply myself with some of its contents.
(04:42):
The next day, while buried in the forest, I would
make a fire and roast my corn and drink from
the nearest stream. One night, while in search of corn,
I came upon what I supposed to be a hill
of potatoes buried in the ground. For want of a cellar,
I obtained sharp pointed piece of wood, with which I
dug away for more than an hour, and on gaining
(05:06):
the hidden treasure, found it to be turnips. However, I
did not dig for nothing. After supplying myself with about
half a dozen of the turnips, I again resumed my journey.
This uncooked food was indeed a great luxury, and gave
strength to my fatigued glimbs. The weather was very cold,
(05:26):
so cold that it drove me one night into a barn,
where I laid in the hay until morning. A storm
overtook me, when, about a week out, the rain fell
in torrents and froze as it came down. My clothes
became stiff with ice. Here again, I took shelter in
a barn and walked about to keep from freezing. Nothing
(05:47):
but the fear of being arrested and returned to slavery
prevented me at this time seeking shelter in some dwelling.
Even when in this forlorng condition, I would occasionally find
myself repeating, free, I'll be free, and none shall confine
with fetters and change this free spirit of mind. From
my youth have I vowed in my God to rely
(06:09):
and despite the oppressor, gained freedom or die Dreary were
the hours that I spent while escaping from America's greatest evil.
End of chapter eleven, Chapter twelve. Oh then be kind,
whoever thou art that breathest mortal breath, and it shall
(06:29):
brighten all thy life and gild the veil of death.
So fearful are the tyrants at the south, that their
victims will recognize themselves as men, that they will not
permit them to have a double name. Jim, Peter, Henry,
et cetera, et cetera. Is all a slave is known
by the subject of this memoir was not an exception
(06:50):
to this rule. When William was six or seven years old,
doctor Young, having no children of his own, adopted a nephew,
a son of his brother Benjamin. This boy's name was
William also, and not wishing to have the two names confounded,
orders were given that the colored nephew's name should be changed,
and accordingly he was afterwards called Sandford. This name William
(07:14):
always disliked, and resolved that he would retake his former
name should he succeed in escaping to Canada. After having
been fifteen days on his journey, and having passed three
days without food and withal suffering much from illness, William
determined to seek shelter and protection. For this purpose, says he,
(07:34):
I placed myself behind some fallen trees near the main road,
hoping to see some colored person, thinking I should be
more safe under the care of one of my own color.
Several farmers with their teams passed, but the appearance of
each one frightened me out of the idea of asking
for assistance. After lying on the ground for some time
(07:56):
with my sore, frostbitten feet and benumbed with cold, I
saw an old, white haired man dressed in a suit
of drib with a broad brimmed hat, walking along leading
a horse. The man was evidently walking for exercise. I
came out from my hiding place and told the stranger,
I must die unless I obtain some assistance. A moment's
(08:18):
conversation satisfied the old man that I was one of
the oppressed fleeing from the house of bondage. From the
difficulty with which I walked, the shivering of my limbs,
and the trembling of my voice, he became convinced that
I had been among thieves, and he acted the part
of the good Samaritan. This was the first person I
had ever seen of the religious sect called Quakers. At
(08:43):
the farmhouse the this good man, where many at port
fugitive slave had before found a resting place for his
jaded feet. William was treated with the kindest care until
he was so far recovered as to resume his journey.
The members of no religious society or more noted for
their good works, the friends. They are distinguished for the
kindness with which they always received the runaway slave, Having,
(09:06):
many years ago as a religious society condemned slavery and
disfellowshipped slaveholders, they occupy a position before the world that
few other sectarian bodies can claim, never before having met
with whites to sympathize with him and treat him as
a man. William was overwhelmed with surprise at the interest
(09:27):
the Quaker and his family took in him. How softly
on that bruised heart a word of kindness falls, and
to the dry and parts sold, the moistening teardrop calls.
When once more in a situation to travel, the good
people began to fit out the fugitive with clothes so
that he would be in a better condition to reach
(09:47):
the other side of Jordan. The Quaker's name was Wells Brown,
and finding that his guest had but one name, he
gave the fugitive his name, as well as a covering
for his body. So when the runaway quitted the Quaker's settlement,
he left under the name of William Wells Brown. End
of chapter twelve,
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