War Comes to Willy Freeman!

13&14

Mr. Goodrich was figuring out everything that happen and getting ready for court. Then he told me it would help him if I went to court with him to say my side of the story. I didn't want to because Mr. Ivers would be there and try to hurt me. But I went to court for Uncle Jack. I got there and it was so big in the court room. There were big windows and doors. We walked into the room and Mr. Ivers was sitting there. He said, “Oh it’s you again” in this rude voice. I saw Uncle Jack sitting all chained up. I was sitting there while they were debating about it. Then Mr. Goodrich showed the judge the war papers about Uncle Jack being free. He told the judge that Mr. Ivers was trying to keep him in slavery. Then he told the judge I was a free nigger. The judge thought about it for a while and then looked at at Mr.Ivers and said that he had just lost a case. I looked at Uncle Jack and he had the biggest smile on his face.

So after the war and all i went through, I was free. I knew that sense I was a woman that I wasn't going to be all the way free. But I wouldn't have to work for anyone. I was going to go back to Mr.Fraunces and try to learn from him. I wanted to own my one tavern when I was older, but it was going to take a lot of work and time. Uncle Jack was free now but  he went and worked at a fishing business so he could buy Aunt Betsy and Cousin Dan freedom. It was going to take a while but I knew he was going to do it. The war brought me my Pa and Ma death and an adventure. It made me stronger and the responsibility of being  on my own.

War Comes to Willy Freeman!

11&12

British ships leaving

Winter came and Horace was still getting use to me being a girl. In February the British finally claimed that the war was over and they were sailing back . So I went down to the prison ships to see if Ma was getting off one of them. People were saying they saw a woman on one of the ships, so I went and looked. I stayed there all night waiting for her. She wasn't there, I started crying. I went back to the tavern, Horace saw that I was sad so he lift me alone. We ate some supper and then I saw Mr. Goodrich come up to the door. He said he saw Ma; she is down at Mr. Ivers place and is sick. He said it was serious.

I just stood there when he told me that. I told Mr.Fraunces I had to go there and save her, but Mr. Ivers will see me and try to put me into slavery . But I had to go help my Ma. But how would I get there, how would I get across the river. I saw some boats at the dock. I asked someone if they would take me across the river. I paid the guy that gave me a ride across the river a Spanish dollar and then I walked the rest of the way. I got there and sneaked to the kitchen. Aunt Besty gave me the biggest hug. Then she told me she was in the cellar. She was not pretty like I remembered, I had to go get a doctor. Aunt Betsy said that Mr. Ivers won’t allow it,but  I kept trying to get a doctor but they kept saying I couldn't.  So I just left and got a doctor, i didn't care i had to try to save her. I got to the doctor’s office; I had to wait awhile because he was busy. Finally he can out, I begged him to get me some medicine.  The doctor went and got me some medicine. I ran back to the tavern and gave it to her. The doctor said to mix it with rum. So I did and then brought to down to her. She kept spiting it out. I went  back upstairs to get some more rum and medicine . I heard her say my name and i walked over to her.I bent down to touch her,see looked at me and then died. Aunt Besty and I went a buried her before Mr. Ivers got back. We went back inside after we were done then Mr. Ivers saw me, he was mad because I got a doctor and came back to his house after i ran off. He  got out his whip and started wiping me. Then Uncle Jack got mad and pushed  him up against the wall and hurt him. Then Uncle Jack knew he was going to be in trouble so he ran out into the woods and Mr. Ivers followed him with a gun and started shouting at him. Then next thing I knew, they caught Uncle Jack. I felt so bad for him. Then I remembered that Mr. Goodrich said if I needed help for anything to ask him. So I ran to his place and told him the story and he said he would help.

War Comes to Willy Freeman!

9&10

I was told to stay out in the barn with Horace. But I didn't want to stay out there with him because I didn't want him to find out that I was a girl. I tried to wash my clothes when he wasn't around. Mr. Fraunces gave me a couple pennies a day, because I wasn't a slave so it would help me later in life. I knew I wasn't expected to stay forever but Mr.Fraunces didn't seem in a rush to get me out of there. Another thing I was worried about was about getting a letter to Aunt Betsy to tell her I was okay.  I didn't know how to wright or read so I couldn't wright it. But I knew Horace could read and wright so I could make him wright it for me. I found out from Mr. Fraunces where some places Ma could be. He said she could be in a prison ship but that it was very unlikely for her to be there. Then he said there is this place were black women and men live. It was a town that got burned now long ago. The people that live there use blankets or sheets to cover the holes in the left over houses. Then they live in the houses and try to work. He said it is a very sad town. It is called Canvas Town. i was going to go there to see if Ma was there.  I couldn't go for a while because I had work that I had to do. But the day came I had the afternoon off, it was in the middle of October. Horace and I walked up Broad Street and over Beaver Street. We got a lift from this man, he was a known smuggler, and he killed six men and so one. He rambled about all of that all the to Canvas Town. It was a pretty scary place! It smelled like charcoal and old garbage and rotten stuff. As we were walking down the street we can to the black man sitting in a whole were a window used to be. He was bruised and cut and had scars. I asked him if he has seen a pretty black woman about 30. He asked me what I was doing here. I said I was looking for my Ma. There was a woman that came to the door and said, don’t mind him, who’s your Ma? I said Lucy Freeman, I told her where we were from and that her skin was chocolate colored skin. The woman said she saw my Ma yesterday. She had a bad fever, so if I bring back some coppers of medicine then she would help me. She said come back after dark because the man will be gone. We went back to Mr. Fraunces tavern tell dark.  After we ate we grabbed some candles and lanterns and some coppers. There were no stars and you couldn't see the moon, just a little fog. About every two minutes I wanted to go back but I made Horace go with me so I had to go. Finally we got to Canvas Town. People were waving their pitch forks at us. Maybe Horace was right, we shouldn't have come. But there wasn't know way of turning back.  We were walking down the street, and we found her house. I went in through the hole. She was sleeping; I went and shook her to wake her up. Her face was stone cold dead! Just then I realized she was dead. I ran out of there and we made a run for it!

Now I didn't know if Ma was in Canvas Town or not. She could be anywhere she could have even died for all I know. I was lucky enough to be staying in one of the best taverns in New York. The one thing I found instructive was being a boy for a change, if Horace knew I was a girl then he would boss me around and tell me  to do this and do that. I still wanted to get a letter to Aunt Betsy and tell her I was okay. So I went and asked Mr. Fraunces if I could have Horace wright it for me. Mr. Fraunces said he could and he said there was this boy named Elizur Goodrich that lived in Greenwich that could take the letter down to Stanford. A couple days later and righting the note we sat off. It was beautiful in Greenwich. We didn't have any trouble finding him; he lived in the grandest house of all. I asked Mr. Goodrich servant if she could get him for me. She can back out and said, he doesn't have time for any nigger boy. So I told her the story about my Ma and Pa. Then a tall white man can out, and talked to me. He said he would take the letter for me. I told him thank you.  He said I have a very patriotic family. There was a pond down behind there house so Horace went down there to swim. But I wasn't going to swim, he would find out I was a girl. So I went and got some grapes from the field by there. It was getting late so I called for Horace, he didn't answer me. Then I thought maybe he drowned or something. I looked over there, there he was, and he came out of the water. But he was naked so I just started running back to the field like I lot something. He was running after me. Then I told him what I “lost” and he told me I would never find it. I finally told him I was a girl. He looked surprised and ran back other to the wagon to get dressed. I walked over to him. We talked about it and he said he will have to get used to it, but it’s nothing to be ashamed about. We didn't really talk when we were going home.

War Comes to Willy Freeman!

Chapter 7&8

It was late afternoon and the sun was behind New York. It was the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. But I wanted Ma so bad. There were prison ships down the river a ways, I went over to them. There were British soldiers all around them. I asked one of the soldiers if there was any black woman in there. The soldier looked at me and said we don’t keep woman and prisons. I said, not at all sir. I wanted to make sure he wasn't lying to me. He snapped back at me and said, are you deaf boy, didn't you hear what I said! I yes sir; I knew there wasn't going to be any arguing with him. He asked where I was from and I didn't want to say I was from Connecticut because it was rebel country. So I said over there, and pointed behind me. That what I kept saying. Then they said I was a spy and I said I can from Long Point, you won’t know where it is. It’s very small village. They took my arm and were going to put me in prison because they thought I was a spy. But then I told them I was a girl.  So the officer told me to get out of there now. So as I was walking up the road I felt someone touch my arm. I looked back and it was an officer named Charlie. He kept asking me if I was a girl. Then he un folder my arms and started lifting up my shirt. I shouted, no it was I lie I’m a boy not a girl. Then he reached for my chest and I pulled out a potato that I put in my shirt and showed him that I’m a boy. then all the officers were laughing at Charlie and I just got out of there as fast as I could.

I ran along for a mile or so until I figured I got away from the soldiers. What do I do next, I asked myself. The best thing I could do is cross over to New York. How would I get across the river? There must be a ferry somewhere, so I went to look for one. I came to a little village called Brooklyn. I fingered no fairy’s in tell morning so I slipped out behind a tavern and found a barn where they kept horses and slept. I woke up at dawn and slipped out before any one saw. I started down the road towards the fairy. I asked the black boy that drives it how much it is. He said tuppence, I’m going down there, hop on and I will give you a ride. I told him I didn't have a tuppence and I only had some money but I got stolen by someone when I was sleeping.  He asked me who my master was. I said Mr. Sam Frauces because I heard Uncle Jack talking about him before. He could tell I was lying. He said he would lie to if he didn't know me. So I said if you think you’re a good liar then tell me a story. He told me some tips about getting around in New York. He said he would get me past all the guards by the boarding dock.  I thought that was mighty kind of him. He said his name was Horace. I told him mine, we shook hands. We road along a little ways, then we were at Black Sam Fraunces tavern. We went behind his building; there was a barn behind there. I helped him unload some cordwood. He asked if I was hungry, and I said yes and then he said follow me into the kitchen. I asked if Mr. Fraunces would mind. He said he wouldn't mind at all.  We went and got some soup from the pot and the cooker said what are you doing. Horace said that Mr.Fraunces said I can help myself. Then standing there was Mr.Fraunces asking what he just said he could do. Mr. Fraunces asked when the last time I ate was and I told him two potato’s in a couple days. He asked me where I can from. I told him about my Uncle Jack because I didn't want to answer where I can from. He knew my Uncle Jack, I told him I was stay with them because my Ma got taken by the British. He asked my name and I told him my first and last name, so he would know I was free. So Horace got me some soup and we ate it, I felt really tired and fell asleep with my head on the table. Horace woke me up and told me Mr. Fraunces wanted to see me. I went into his office and he asked me if my Ma was Jacks sister. I told him that she was jacks wife’s sister. So it was his sister in law. He started asking me questions and I couldn't lie so I told him the truth about my Pa getting killed and the jolly boat and all that stuff. I started crying during it, and then I got done telling the story. He just looked at me and said I could stay with them because I had already been though a lot. I said I would work hard, he said I bet you will Willy. I told him thank you, and the main thing was to find my mom. He told me I don’t even know if she is in New York. I got really sad then; he told me I probably should stay as a boy for now.

War Comes to Willy Freeman!

Chapter 5&6

I was lucky that Uncle Jack was home when I got there. He was in the American army under Captain Bradley. Uncle Jack was staying over in New York up along the Hudson river, near some place called Cold Spring. Aunt Besty took me into the kitchen. It was nice to be with all of them. Aunt Betsy fed me some corn bread and salt pork.  As I was eating I told them the story about all that had happen today, about Pa dying and Ma getting taken back to New York. As i was talking I saw this tall white person walk into the kitchen. It was Captain Ivers wife. She looked at me and said, "Who is this?" Aunt Betsy said,"It is my sister’s child. Her name is Wilhelmina." I got up and curtyed, like what Ma taught me to do. Mr. Ivers wife asked why I was dressed up like a boy. Uncle Jack and Aunt Betsy explained how I came from New London and how Pa was killed and Ma was taken off by the British. Mrs. Ivers told me I couldn't stay there with them. Mrs. Ivers was being very rude to Uncle Jack and Aunt Betsy about me staying there with them.  As they were talking  Captain Ivers walks into the kitchen and said, "whose nigger boy is this?" I said, "Nobody’s sir, i am a  free nigger." He just looked at me for a second.  He asked how I got down here. I told him that I took my Pa’s jolly boat down here. Captain said I could stay, but I would have to work for him. I knew I couldn't stay there long because he would keep me, and I would have to get my freedom again because I didn't have the freedom papers. I thought to myself when no one is looking I could sneak down to the beach and take the jolly boat to New York and try to find Ma. So about four days later I can up to the house for supper time, and Mr. Ivers had a note that needed to be delivered to one of his workers. So I said I would take it to them. He just gave me this look, like he didn't trust me to take it. He gave it to me anyway. Once I got out of the house I ran for the beach were I put the jolly boat. I threw the note on the sand and got in the jolly boat and left.

As I was sailing off I saw the shape of sails in the distance. I tried to make my way back up to where I took off in case it was the British. The next thing I know is that i am  surrounded by some Americas boats. They grabbed me out of the jolly boat and threw me into their boat. They didn't know I was on the America side so I had to explain to them that I was on their side. First they thought I was a spy, and I couldn't tell them that I ran away so I said I had friends in Stanford. I had to tell them the story about my Ma and Pa. they finally trusted me and  let me go with them to attack the British. Sometime I guess I dosed off and I woke up to being pulled on to a beach. I could see shapes of men jumped out of the boat onto the beach. I took the chance and sat up. We were in an inlet. There were high bushes and woods beyond. Then someone grabbed me by the shoulder and said get out of there boy. So I got out of the boat and the men were disappearing into the darkness. I was wondering if they would just leave me behind. But then I noticed twenty men standing around the boats as guards. What could I do? I could slip away in the dark into the bushes. The men weren't paying much attention to me they were just in there group talking. So I went over to the water acting like I was getting a drink and grabbed some stones. I looked to see if they were watching me, and they weren't  So I took one of the stones and though it into the woods. The guards heard it and looked but they just started talking again. So I threw another one into the woods. The guards started walking over to the woods away from the boats and me. So I threw the last one I had, the guards got their guns and kept saying whose there, whose there? As they were looking into the wood I hide behind some bushes and trees by the inlet. After a while I run as fast as I could and I came to a fence. On the other side of the fence there was a little dirt road. I jumped over the fence and started down the road. I stared west and I was moving at a pretty good pace. About an half an hour later there was a bigger road. I walked all day to the west and slept in a bard that night, and walked all day the next day. I don’t know how far I had went but I knew if I just kept going I would bump into Manhattan Island where New York was. I went through three or four little villages. Once I got a ride from an Old Darky who was driving a wagonload of potatoes.  He gave me some to eat. Finally, toward the afternoon I began smell the ocean. There was a river and on my side was just a marshy beach and on the other side was New York! 

War Comes to Willy Freeman!

Chapter 3&4

I road back up to the fort. I could tell that the horse was scared so I patted he then I saw a rope. It was Pa; he was there to help me over the wall into the fort. There were some of the people in pain from getting shot or some were just lying still on the ground staring up to the sky. Pa and I and other soldiers went and looked over the wall. We saw three British soldiers with a white flag walking to the fort.  Three of the soldiers that were with Colonel Ledyard, went and talked to the red coats. The red coats wanted us to surrender. They threaten to massacre us if we didn't surrender. Pa told me to go down into the powder magazine. He said I would be safer down there and I could help make cartridges.  There was a little white boy down there working on the cartridges. He was Colonel Ledyard’s son. He taught me how to make the cartridges, so we started making them. We each had to bring some up to the soldiers so they could use them. He went first; he can back and said there were a lot of people dead. I asked him if my Pa was dead, but he didn't know who my Pa was. I wish I had decided to be a girl because it was my turn to take them up to the soldiers. When I got up there I saw two or three British soldiers around four Americans, Pa was one of them. The British were jabbing there bayonets into their backs. I crouched down under a platform were none of the British could see me. I saw Colonel Ledyard go up to the leader of the British. Colonel Ledyard handed his sword over and then the British solider jabbed his sword into Colonel Ledyard side and killed him. Then I saw British soldiers around Pa, I saw there bayonet go through his back and he flung his arms out and fell on to the ground.

I saw the platform start to rattle; I opened my eyes to see what it was. There was a British soldier standing there above me. He had blond hair and blue eyes, he seemed young to me. I said please don’t kill me. I’m a girl not a boy. He just looked at me, then he said, why are you hearing, what are you doing in this? I said I came up with my Pa, he’s already dead. Then he grabbed me by the soldier and spun me around and said, out of here now! So I left I was running as fast as I could across the battle field into the woods. All I wanted was my Ma. So I started walking to the cabin. When I got there I couldn't find Ma. Where was she? I kept calling for him but she wasn't answering. I was looking around to see if she left something for me to find. She could have gone anywhere. She could of went up and looked to me and Pa. I just sat there with my back up against the wall of the cabin.  I saw someone coming down the road. I thought it was Ma. But it wasn't  it was Granny Hyde. She lived down the road from us. She said she thought I was dead. I said Pa was dead and I saw it happen. I asked her were my Ma was, she said gone. She said the British took her back to New York with them. She said that we won’t ever she her again. I couldn't believe it my Pa was dead and my Ma was captured. Granny Hyde said I could go stay with her, but I didn't want to. I went back into the cabin and went to sleep. I woke up, and called for my Ma, but she still wasn't there. I went and looked out in to the sea and there were more British ships then there were before. I didn't know what I was going to do. I thought about going to help Mrs. Ledyard but I would have to back into slavery. The only relatives I had were Aunt Besty and uncle Jack Arabus and Cousin Dan and I have never met them. Would they take me in? How would I get there? It was fifty miles to Stanford. I could take Pa’s jolly boat that he hid in the trees. Would it still be there? I went and looked for food in the cabin and then I went off to baker’s cove. As I got there the British were sailing off to New York. After the sailed of a ways I started going to Stanford. They lived with Captain Ivers and Mrs. Ivers. They had a wharf by the shore in new field in Stanford. I sailed all day feeling lonely and sad. I headed the jolly boat into a beach alongside the wharf and climbed out. I walked up the beach and there was a path and walked up it. Then I saw a brown shingled house. It was the house where they lived. I walked into the barn and saw Dan. Dan looked at me and said Cousin Willy? I said where’s your Ma? He said she’s in the kitchen making dinner. Then I saw Aunt Betsy running out saying Willy? Then she hugged me, it felt mighty good to be hugged. She asked what I was going to do. I said I was going to stay with you. Aunt Betsy just looked at me and said I don’t know if you can Willy. Then a big black man walked around the house and it was Uncle Jack. He gave me a big hug. He said you poor child and he was glad I came I’d come.

War Comes to Willy Freeman!

Chapter 1&2

"Hi, my name is Wilhelmina Freeman. Most people call me Willy. My parents’ names Lucy Freeman and Jordan Freeman.  We live in a cabin near Fort Griswold."  "There is a war going on in our town right now. I saw the red coats walk past our cabin. It scared me knowing something bad was about to happen." Not too long they would be marching up to Fort Griswold and run there bayonets though a lot of our people. I was scared for Pa because he was out working. I asked Ma if Pa would fight in the war. Ma said that he would. Pa would say, “Since we are free now, it’s our country too.” Pa got his freedom by Colonel Ledyard by joining up in the militia. Ma got a cow from Mrs. Ledyard when she was nursing her little girl though the fever when nobody thought she was going to live. We had a horse to, down in the salt marsh. We lived out on a little split of land by Thames River. As I was milking the cow I heard this big BOOM!!A cannon ball was going out to sea. That scared me even more because Pa was out there somewhere on his jolly boat. We saw the red coats march by our cabin again.  Then we heard a shrill, Ma cried out “The cow!” Ma and I ran down to the barn where the cow was. The red coats killed the cow. They said if they knew us niggers then they wouldn't have touched the cow.  WE walked back up the the cabin. Ma was mighty sad because that was the only thing she has ever had that was hers before.Two soldiers can to our door holding part of the cow. They asked us a lot of questions. They told Ma that they should take me back to New York with them. They thought I was a boy. One of them reached out and felt for my breasts. Then Pa stepped in from behind and said “Take your hands off that child, or I’m going to kill you.”

The soldier that was touching me looked at Pa. Pa said “If you touch that kid again I will tear you head off.” The soldiers left after that. Pa told the story about how he was on the jolly boat and the red coats saw him and started shooting at him. He pulled the jolly boat up behind some trees and ran into the woods and grabbed a big log just in case something happen he would have the log to protect him. We heard more shooting; Pa said I have to go now up to Fort Griswold. He told me I have to go with him, to bring the horse back down when he gets to the Fort. So I did, once we got up there and Pa was over the wall and into the Fort I headed off, back to the cabin. The red coats saw me; they were shooting at me and the horse.