Narrative of Henry Watson, A Fugitive Slave facts for kids

Narrative of Henry Watson, a fugitive slave is a book written by Henry Watson (born in 1813). He was an African-American man who was enslaved. He later became an abolitionist, someone who worked to end slavery. His book tells his own life story. It is a type of book called a slave narrative. These books were common before slavery ended. Watson's book describes the terrible things he went through as an enslaved person. But unlike many other slave narratives, Watson also shared his feelings of doubt. He did not just show himself as a hero.

Henry Watson's Story

Henry Watson was enslaved for 26 years. This happened in both Virginia and Mississippi. He finally escaped to the North. Watson was born in Virginia in 1813. When he was only 8 years old, he was taken away from his family. He was forced to serve a very cruel slave master.

Life as an Enslaved Person

Early Life and Forced Journeys

At first, Henry was in Virginia. Later, he was forced to march to Natchez. He was sold to plantation owners in Mississippi. His book tells how he was marched in a coffle. This was a line of enslaved people chained together. They were treated like animals. They were threatened with beatings for even small mistakes.

When they reached Natchez, the slave trader removed their chains. He also changed their clothes. This was so "visitors" could look at them. Another trick was to put grease on the enslaved people's mouths. This made them look healthy, as if they had just eaten meat. If the enslaved people displeased the trader, he would strip them. Then he would beat them with a paddle.

Daily Life and Cruelty

Watson also wrote about how masters treated enslaved people. Masters would watch them closely. They wanted to make sure they looked happy. If someone seemed sad or quiet, they were often whipped or sold.

His story also shares the very hard work on plantations. For example, each person had to pick a certain amount of cotton. If they did not pick enough, they would be whipped. The number of lashes matched how much cotton they missed.

Watson wrote about his owner's wife. She enjoyed hurting those under her power. He said she "took delight in torturing." She even made it a "past time." He described her as making everyone around her feel terror.

Finding Freedom

While in Mississippi, a "gentleman from Boston" helped Watson. This person was an abolitionist. They were likely part of the Underground Railroad. This was a secret network that helped enslaved people escape. The gentleman encouraged Watson to seek his freedom in the North. He suggested boarding a ship. He also prepared Watson for any questions from the captain or other white people. Watson decided to take the boat to his freedom.