The Blind African Slave: Or Memoirs of Boyrereau Brinch, Nicknamed Jeffrey Brace (Wisconsin Studies in Autobiography) - Softcover

Brace, Jeffrey

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0299201449 ISBN 13: 9780299201449

Publisher: University of Wisconsin Press, 2005

Synopsis

Born in West Africa around 1742, Jeffrey Brace was captured by slave traders at sixteen and shipped to Barbados, where he was sold. After fighting as an enslaved sailor in the Seven Years War, Brace was taken to Connecticut and sold again. Brace later enlisted in the Continental Army in hopes of winning his manumission. After military service, he was honorably discharged and was freed from slavery. In 1784, he moved to Vermont, the first state to make slavery illegal. There he married, bought a farm, and raised a family. Although literate, he was blind when he narrated his life story to an antislavery lawyer, Benjamin Prentiss. Brace died in 1827, a well-respected abolitionist. In this first new edition since 1810, Kari J. Winter supplements our knowledge of Brace's life and times with original documents and new material.

About this title

About the Author

Kari J. Winter is associate professor of American Studies at the State University of New York at Buffalo. She is the author of Subjects of Slavery, Agents of Change: Women and Power in Gothic Novels and Slave Narratives, 1790-1865.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

The Blind African Slave, Or Memoirs of Boyrereau Brinch, Nicknamed Jeffrey Brace

THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN PRESS

Copyright © 2004 The Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System
All right reserved.
ISBN: 978-0-299-20144-9

Contents

Illustration List..................................................................................................ixPreface............................................................................................................xiIntroduction.......................................................................................................3A Note on the Text.................................................................................................85The Blind African Slave; Or, Memoirs of Boyrereau Brinch, Nicknamed Jeffrey Brace..................................87Appendix A: Deeds of Manumission Drawn by William Welch............................................................185Appendix B: Legal Documents Related to Jeffrey Brace's Military Pension Application, 1818-1821.....................193Appendix C: Documents related to Jeffrey Brace's Land Transactions and Estate......................................217Appendix D: A Brace Chronology.....................................................................................223Bibliography.......................................................................................................227

Chapter One

General observations-account of the river Neboah or Niger-of an English vessel engaged in the slave trade-general account of the kingdom of Bow-woo-description of Deauyah, the capital-king's palace-face of the country-soil-climate-laws and customs, peculiar to this country-crimes how punished-mode of the creation of nobility-war feast-brief account of Boyrereau's ancestors-father, mother, brothers, sisters, & c.-speculative observations-scriptures.

Few indeed have been the travellers who have penetrated into the interior of Africa, as far as the kingdom of Bow-woo, which is situated between the 10th and 20th degrees of north latitude, and between the 6th and 10th of west longitude; and these few have been of that class of travellers, who are either incapable of, or have other pursuits than, communicating to the world that useful information, which has so long been sought in vain. We have indeed obtained some knowledge of the river Neboah of Niger, which runs throu' this fertile dominion. According to the account in Morse's Universal Geography, this river is one of the longest in the world. It is said to be navigable for ships of any size, upwards of 1500 miles.

"The Niger, according to the latest accounts, rises near Sankaria, longitude 6 degrees 20 minutes west, latitude 11 deg. north, thence running northerly to Knia-bia, thence Northeast to Bammako, thence generally a northeast course to Sego and Jennu, thence, after forming the island of Janbala 90 or 100 miles in length, it leaves Tombuctoo to the north, passes east by Houssa and is lost in the low lands and lakes of Ghana and Wangara; or if we can credit the accounts of Mr. Horneman, it continues its course easterly to the north of the mountains of the Moon; thence northeasterly until it falls into Bahriel Arrak, which by some has been considered the Nile, from Abyssinia, thence passing Nubia, Sennaar, and Dongolia, it divides Egypt into two parts, pursuing a northerly course, and falls into the Mediterranean by several mouths." But in examining the latest and most approved maps of Africa we cannot find such a river described and it is therefore believed that no historian or engraver has been able to delineate exactly the source or direction of this river. Yet certain it is, that its source is north of the equator, and it is navigable for boats as far as the town of Deauyah, the capital of the kingdom of Bow-woo, which is situated in the county of Hughlough, about three miles from the river on an extensive plain, fertilized by the most luxuriant bounties of nature, peculiar to that clime. According to some writers, "this river has its source in the lake Bernu, and runs directly west, enters the Atlantic, or Western Ocean at Senegal, after a course of 2800 miles. It increases and decreases like the Nile, fertilizes the country, and has grains of gold in many parts of it. The Gambia and Senegal are only branches of this river."

In the year 1758, an English vessel, engaged in the slave trade, sailed up this river to the head of navigation and came to anchor before the town of Yellow Bonga. The hurricane months having commenced, they made their peace with the natives, the crew went on shore, and remained through the rainy season, which commences in May and continues until September. After this season of the year was past and during the time of high water, it appears that they continued their passage up the river about 70 miles farther, leaving the Captain, Supercargo, and some other officers and gentlemen to riot in the luxury of the land, with the chief inhabitants, whom their intrigue and apparent affability, the Europeans had induced to become friends. While the vessel lay at anchor in a kind of lake formed in the river, they sent out their boats to steal the innocent natives and succeeded but too well.

Here we will leave these dealers in human flesh and blood, and give some account of the kingdom of Bow-woo, before mentioned. This kingdom, or principality lies about, or the capital stands about, 280 miles above the town of Yellow Bonga-and here the account is taken from the narrator's own mouth who was only 15 or 16 years of age when he was taken and borne away from prosperity, affluence and ease into ignominious slavery.

This he considers to be a province or colony of the Empire of Morocco, the extent of its boundaries he is unable to ascertain, nor can he tell accurately the number of its inhabitants. But the city of Deauyah, the capital and residence of the king, also the native place of Boyrereau, the narrator, is situated on the bank of a small river, about six rods wide, which empties into the Niger, three miles below the town, which is between five and six miles in length, along the east side of said river, and is built in a manner peculiar to that country-the houses are placed in rows, & are joined, only where broken off or intersected by cross streets. This town, besides public buildings, contains nine rows of houses, which are long and low, none more than one story high, except the King's Palace. They are generally built of a kind of clay, made into a cement, which is strengthened by being bound together by small sticks of timber in the body of the walls, so that the face of the same upon both sides is made perfectly smooth and painted, or rather colored white, red, blue, green, purple, or black, according to the fancy of the possessor, which variety renders the view very picturesque and really diverting to the beholder.

The King's palace is situated near the north part of that city, and is composed of about thirty buildings of a very diversified appearance, many of them are in some degree elegant, and this palace includes all the public buildings of the city, except a market and two places of public worship. The country adjacent, for many miles around, appears like a perfect plain, and thinly inhabited, except where there are villages, which are to be met once in about two leagues, generally, in every part of the kingdom, except in the mountainous part, of which he has but little knowledge.-The climate, as may naturally be supposed, is uniformly hot, except in the rainy seasons (which is called in their language vauzier). As a very learned writer observes, "The natives in these scorching regions would as soon expect that marble should melt, and flow in liquid streams, as that water, by freezing, should loose its fluidity, be arrested by cold, and ceasing to flow, become like the solid rock."

Laws & Customs peculiar to this Country

The King is absolute and enjoys unlimited authority over his people; he has, properly speaking, no ministers. The first grade of nobility perform the office of councilors of state and are properly governors or first magistrates in counties or small districts; and on important occasions are summoned to sit in grand council before the King.

Petty offences are punished with whipping. Adultery is considered as a capital offence, and the offenders are both tried in grand council before the King, and if clearly proved guilty by at least two witnesses, both the adulterer and adulteress are buried alive, with their heads above ground, which are shot into pieces and left exposed to view for the terror of others. Murder and Treason are adjudged and punished in the following manner: at the close of a war in which the King in person is commander in chief, he assembles all of his chief officers to what is called the grand War Feast, as a preparatory step to the banquet. He causes a strict inquiry to be made into the conduct of every officer and soldier. Those who have been guilty of any offence, also those who have signalized themselves, are indiscriminately called before him and his council, on a full, fair and candid investigation. If it does clearly appear that any officer or soldier have been guilty of cowardice, they are banished from the kingdom, with this condition, that if they engage in any foreign service and are once distinguished for their bravery, they are again restored to the privileges of citizenship, but if they return without thus retrieving their characters, they are shot as traitors, who are on a fair conviction by two witnesses before the king, in grand council in the foregoing manner, sentenced to be shot by twelve of their ablest archers. Murderers are punished in the same way.

But those who have signalized themselves in battle or by extraordinary feats of military skill and bravery or wisdom in the war council are invited to partake of the feast with the King himself and created, if old men, members of the council; if young men, are made members of the king's life guards, which consists of seventy or eighty young noblemen. This ceremony is performed in the following manner: twelve young virgins of noble birth are arrayed in blue silk robes and adorned with gold caps, bracelets of gold upon their right arms and ankles; the hero is seated on a kind of second throne. A maid approaches him with a bowl of water and a white linen cloth, another with a flask of oil, they wash and anoint his feet, he then has a wreath of honor placed upon his head, which is a gold laced cap, with two globes of solid gold on each side, which are for the purpose of fastening in and supporting plumes by way of ornament; then he is allowed to kiss the queen's hand, and be seated in the proper seat according to his grade of nobility. Thus at the close of a war with the Vough Boo nation, the grand father of Boyrereau, on the father's side, was honored with the title of councillor and governor of the country of Hugh Lough. His name was Yarrah Brinch-Here we must observe, that titles in some degree are hereditary as his son, the father of the present narrator, succeeded to the title of governor of said county, whose name was Whryn Brinch; he was also Captain of the king's Life Guards, which as before stated, consisted of seventy or eighty men, honored according to the foregoing custom or descended by right of nobility to this station. His mother's name was Whryn Douden. Wrogan had living, when last he received a father's blessing or beheld a mother's tender anxiety, three Brothers and four Sisters, to whom the pure and unsullied love of artless simplicity and fraternal affection rendered thrice dear, as nature unshackled by artifice was the principle guide of their tender youthful minds; the mention of whose names calls from a heart almost subdued by grief one sad tear of fraternal remembrance consecrated to religious resignation. The eldest brother's name was Cressee, 2d Deeyee, 3d Yarrah; the eldest sister's name Desang, 2d Bang, 3d Nabough, 4th Dolacella. Boyrereau descended from Crassee Youghgon, grandfather on the mother's side, who was a distinguished officer in a former war, and after a glorious campaign, he returned with the trophies of victory, covered with wounds to the capital, amid the acclamations of a grateful people, was created first Judge of petty offences and civil differences in the county of Voah-Goah. Boyrereau was the third son and seventh child of an ancient and honorable family in the kingdom of Bow-woo, situated in that part of Africa called Ethiopia, and of that race of people denominated negroes, whom we as a civilized christian and enlightened people presume to call heathen savages, and hold them in chains of bondage, who are our fellow mortals and children of the same grandparent of the universe. These reflections bring to his mind the following scripture:-

Ezekiel, chap. 2, ver. 1-And he said unto me, Son of man, stand upon thy feet, and I will speak unto thee.

2. And the spirit entered into me when he spake unto me, and set me upon my feet, that I heard him that spake unto me.

3. And he said unto me, Son of man, I send thee to the children of Israel, to a rebellious nation that hath rebelled against me: they and their fathers have transgressed against me, even unto this very day.

4. For they are impudent children and stiff-hearted. I do send thee unto them; and thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God.

5. And they, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear, (for they are a rebellious house) yet shall know that there hath been a prophet among them.

6. And thou, son of man, be not afraid of them, neither be afraid of their words, though briars and thorns be with thee, and thou dost dwell among scorpions; be not afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, though they be a rebellious house.

7. And thou shall speak my words unto them, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear; for they are most rebellious.

8. But thou, son of man, hear what I say unto thee, Be not thou rebellious, like that rebellious house: open thy mouth, and eat that I give thee.

Deuteronomy, chap. 28, ver. 64.-And the Lord shall scatter thee among all people, from the one end of the earth even unto the other; and there thou shalt serve other gods, which neither thou nor thy fathers have known, even wood and stone.

65. And among these nations shalt thou find no ease, neither shall the sole of thy foot have rest; but the Lord shall give thee there a trembling heart, and failing of eyes, and sorrow of mind.

66. And thy life shall hang in doubt before thee; and thou shalt fear day and night, and shalt have none assurance of thy life.

67. In the morning thou shalt say, would God it were even! and at even thou shalt say, Would God it were morning! For the fear of thine heart wherewith thou shalt fear, and for the sight of thine eyes which thou shalt see.

68. And the Lord shall bring thee into Egypt again with ships, by the way whereof I spake unto thee, Thou shalt see it no more again: and there ye shall be sold unto your enemies for bondmen & bondwomen, & no man shall buy you.

Exodus, chap. 22, ver. 20-He that sacrificeth to any god, save unto the lord only, he shall be utterly destroyed.

21. Thou shalt neither vex a stranger, nor oppress him: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt.

22. Ye shall not afflict any widow, or fatherless child.

23. If thou afflict them in any wise, and they cry at all unto me, I will surely hear their cry;

24. And my wrath shall wax hot, and I will kill you with the sword; and your wives shall be widows and your children fatherless.

Chapter Two

Soil-vegetables and animal productions by sea and land of the Barbary states-a sketch of the history of these states-timber peculiar to the kingdom of Bow-woo-palm wine and oil-some customs-various kinds of fruit &c.-production of the country by cultivation-animals, such as cows, oxen, sheep, goats, horses, hens, geese, turkeys of the domestic kind, with wild beasts peculiar in that country-quadrupeds-fowls &c.-with 3 of the psalms of David.

(Continues...)

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Edition details

• Publisher: University of Wisconsin Press
• Publication date: 2005
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0299201449
• ISBN 13: 9780299201449
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 264
• Editor: Winter Kari J.