Development Phase - Letter from African slave sent from America to a family member back home in Africa

Development Phase – Letter from African slave sent from America to a family member back home in Africa

Set the scene

Although Slavery existed before the nineteenth Centaury, people find it particularly shocking that such barbaric methods were in effect in the modern ages.

Thousands of people were taken from their homes. Some had been slaves in Africa but most had been born free. They had come from many different African cultures. Some were highly skilled as leaders, weavers, sculptors, metal smiths, and storytellers. Most had been either kidnapped or captured in raids on villages and duped in believing romantic notions of a better life. They were led onto ships, where they lost their freedom and were labelled nothing more than – slave.

These slave ships followed the triangular trade route. This route was named after the pattern it made on the Atlantic Ocean.

One triangle began with New England merchants transporting flour, meat, and other merchandise to the West Indies. The food would be exchanged in the West Indies for sugar, which the New Englanders would carry to England and exchange for manufactured goods to be brought back to the colonies.

The Slaves ships were cruel and their Captain’s brutal. During this period of time for example, one American captain in the triangular trade sold rum, candles, guns, and iron chains in Africa. With the money he received, the captain then bought 196 slaves. Before the ship reached the West Indies, 109 of those slaves died. Some died before the voyage began. Some rebelled during the voyage and were shot. Many took their own lives by jumping overboard.

Georgia Bullock Co August 29th 1857

Whilst researching on this topic I found a letter from Vilet Lester to Patsey Patterson,

Vilet Lester writes to her former mistress, Patsey Patterson, briefly describing her chain of owners since she left the Patterson's. She inquires about others she has left behind, in particular her daughter, whom Lester's new owner has agreed to buy in order to reunite them.

My Loving Miss Patsy

I hav long bin wishing to imbrace this presant and pleasant opertunity of unfolding my Seans and fealings Since I was constrained to leav ...

This is a preview of the whole essay

Georgia Bullock Co August 29th 1857

Whilst researching on this topic I found a letter from Vilet Lester to Patsey Patterson,

My Loving Miss Patsy

I hav long bin wishing to imbrace this presant and pleasant opertunity of unfolding my Seans and fealings Since I was constrained to leav my Long Loved home and friends which I cannot never gave my Self the Least promis of returning to. I am well and this is Injoying good hlth and has ever Since I Left Randolph. whend I left Randolf I went to Rockingham and Stad there five weaks and then I left there and went to Richmon virgina to be Sold and I Stade there three days and was bought by a man by the name of Groover and braught to Georgia and he kept me about Nine months and he being a trader Sold me to a man by the name of Rimes and he Sold me to a man by the name of Lester and he has owned me four years and Says that he will keep me til death Siperates us without Some of my old north Caroliner friends wants to buy me again. my Dear Mistress I cannot tell my fealings nor how bad I wish to See youand old Boss and Mss Rahol and Mother. I do not [k]now which I want to See the worst Miss Rahol or mother I have thaugh[t] that I wanted to See mother but never befour did I [k]no[w] what it was to want to See a parent and could not. I wish you to gave my love to old Boss Miss Rahol and bailum and gave my manafold love to mother brothers and sister and pleas to tell them to Right to me So I may here from them if I cannot See them and also I wish you to right to me and Right me all the nuse. I do want to now whether old Boss is Still Living or now and all the rest of them and I want to [k]now whether balium is maried or no. I wish to [k]now what has Ever become of my Presus little girl. I left her in goldsborough with Mr. Walker and I have not herd from her Since and Walker Said that he was going to Carry her to Rockingham and gave her to his Sister and I want to [k]no[w] whether he did or no as I do wish to See her very mutch and Boss Says he wishes to [k]now whether he will Sell her or now and the least that can buy her and that he wishes a answer as Soon as he can get one as I wis himto buy her an my Boss being a man of Reason and fealing wishes to grant my trubled breast that mutch gratification and wishes to [k]now whether he will Sell her now. So I must come to a close by Escribing my Self you long loved and well wishing play mate as a Servant until death

Vilet Lester
of Georgia
to Miss Patsey Padison
of North Caroliner

My Bosses Name is James B Lester and if you Should think a nuff of me to right me which I do beg the faver of you as a Sevant direct your letter to Millray Bullock County Georgia. Pleas to right me So fare you well in love

Notes on setting the scene

Who are you?

My character is a young girl of about fifteen years who has been taken from her home and sold to a wealthy family. Her skin is very light due to an illness caught when very young, it maybe therefore easier for her to fit in with the family who will buy her.

Why are you writing this letter home?

My character is writing this letter home to tell her mother that she is safe and has been bought by a nice family. Her father has been killed by the people who invaded her village.

Where are you writing it?

My Character is writing this letter from her owner’s house. She was bought by a wealthy childless couple who will not treat her as a slave. She will still be expected to work in the house but will be given a wage and meals.

How are you feeling?

My character is feeling frightened because she doesn’t know what to expect from the family who have bought her. When she learns treat her well she feels happy but also guilty that she has allowed herself to feel that way. She misses her mother whilst mourning for her father.

How has your freedom been taken away from you?

My characters freedom has been taken away from her from the way that she has been taken from her family but she has gained freedom by escaping the chauvinism of her village.

My object

The object that my character has chosen to send back with the letter is a piece of tapestry that she has woven with her mistress. She sends this because she used to weave with her mother and wants to show her mother the new things she has learnt.

This says that my character is not necessarily easy to forget her old life but easily adapts to new ways, it also suggests that her old life was not as good as her new life.

Her state of mind would be apprehensive but also proud to show her mother what she has learnt.

The letter that I have read sent by a real life slave has influenced my grammar and spelling.

To muma,

I hav bin taken by a good peepls. Thei are kind too me. I am well. It is not bad here.

First tells her mother that she is happy and safe so that her mother won’t worry.

I lik the ladi she is kind to me. The man is cald jo he tort me how to rit noo word and

The sentences include little punctuation and are poorly spelled. The letter that I read, sent by a real life slave influenced my grammar and spelling.

he tuk me to see a show with the ladi hoo is called sali. I hav noo cloths and shoos.

She is keen to tell her mother of her new and wonderful life because she is proud of it.

I am not angry with you becos you didn’t help me and helpd mi sister. Jo told me huow it werks.

Another reason that she is keen to share her new life with her mother is out of spite, as her mother helped her sister escape but not her. She makes a reference to her owner, Joe, this alienates herself from her mother by idolising someone else.

I miss you and him but I am happy he has left me and you and that he has gone.

This makes a reference to her father, it implies that she did not like him and shows that although she misses him he must have caused her and her mother great worry.

The ladi says I must go. Goodbye love your dorta.

This end bittersweet because the person reading the letter doesn’t know whether all of the things said were true or whether they were a fabrication of the truth. Does the lay want her to go and work as a slave? Or does she want to show her how to sew more tapestry pieces?

She first tells her mother that she is happy, so that her won’t worry