Boyrereau Brinch's Experience of Slavery in Connecticut

Here I bid adieu to the British fleet forever, as I was sold to a man belonging to Old Milford, west side of Oyster river. His name was John Burrell, a professed puritan. The snow was about two inches deep, and I had on a thin linen jacket and one pair of trowsers or sailor's kilts and no shoes. I was the first night put upon the naked hearth to sleep, but could not enjoy the sweets of repose….

My wounds, which I received [during the French and Indian War], broke out newly and I almost perished with cold and hunger, and as this puritan christian could not condescend to give me any thing to eat but old crusts and bones, such as people generally throw to their dogs, and nothing to sleep upon but a cold stove, not even a blanket or old quilt could be allowed. ...

[After yet another beating,] one Mr. Samuel Eals came and took me up, and very charitably led me into the house, told Burrell that such abuse was inhuman and unchristian; he also threatened to complain of him to the authority. They quarrelled for some time then he gave me his great-coat and sat me down by the fire, and went to one James Parker, got a pair of shoes and took me with him.

Often have I been caused to reflect upon the conduct of [Burrell] towards me, as he was one of the strongest professors in the church, and as strict in his family devotion as any man I was ever acquainted with; and he must have been a hypocrite, and never received that grace which worketh a change of heart...

[To people who say] I have no right to examine into the acts and feelings of white people to such I answer, If I have the same propencities and feelings, and endowed with the same intellectual reason, then where is the distinction? Is it the color or is it the power you have gained over me…? Do you not see some geniuses burst forth and rise above the tyrranny and oppression they are under, and stand as monuments of admiration?

At night Mr. Eals made me a straw bed, which was the first bed I had slept upon after I was taken into bondage, until this time. This humanity, and christian like act, opened my wounded feelings and brought my sorrows up a fresh to my view.

My mother's tenderness came to my recollection.... At night I dreamed that the good spirit came to me, took me by the hand, asked me to accompany him, which I did without the least hesitation. He ascended with me high above the earth, and wafted me through vast space--at length we arrived at the African coast and came in sight of the Niger, following its course up the river, about one hundred yards above the earth. ...The shades of night seemed to break away, and all at once he gave me a fair view of Deauyah, my native town. The people were all asleep, and we hovered about the town until it was light. We then descended and sat upon the grass before the church.

[But when I awoke, I] found myself still a forlorn slave. … Mr. Samuel Eals used me very well while I remained with him; but as soon as I was able to work, I was sold to one Peter Pridon [Prudden], son of the old priest Pridon, of Old Milford. I lived with him about two months, and got five severe whippings for crying nights.

From Pridon I was bartered away for some old horses to one Gibbs, who was a man of very inferior talents, possessing great pride and ostentation, always at work and in a hury. ... With this man I stayed about three months.... I have thought he took a peculiar delight in whipping me, as I uniformly received about four whippings per day. …

Next I was sold to Phineas Baldwin, of the town of Old Milford. I continued with him until summer, or rather spring, when I went to live with his son Phineas, who had two small children to tend. In his nursery I was engaged until the last of May, when I was sold to Jones Green, of the same place. Green did not whip me but about twice in a week, except now and then a kicking.

From Green I was transferred to one Murrier, a tanner, where I remained until September, at which time the widow Mary Stiles, of Woodbury, Connecticut, bought me.

This was a glorious era in my life, as widow Stiles was one of the finest women in the world; she possessed every christian virtue. This same woman was the mother of Benjamin Stiles, Esq. whose illustrious character is rewarded in the heart of every person living who knew him. ...

This good lady learned me to read. One day I was sent to school, where I was taught to read by the master. I could not speak plain, therefore when I came to [the letter] W I could not pronounce it and when I attempted so to do, I was understood to say devilyou. He thought I said so in order to insult him, and therefore was angry, and with his ferule [a flat stick like a ruler] struck me. The second time he struck me his ferule broke, and he ordered me to sit down; but I concluded I would not stay there to be whipped by a schoolmaster, therefore I walked out instead of sitting down. ...

At length I went in and Mrs. Stiles asked me what they had done to me, and how I liked going to school. She was questioning me as her grand children had told her what happened. … She questioned me for sometime with all the humanity of a saint, then generously told me I should not be whipped at school, for she would learn me to read herself.

When this lady died I descended like [property] ... to her son Benjamin Stiles, Esq.

Source: The Blind African Slave, or Memoirs of Boyrereau Brinch, Nick-named Jeffrey Brace (1810). https://docsouth.unc.edu/neh/brinch/brinch.html