A narrative of the life, travels, and sufferings of Thomas W. Smith ..

Front matter

NARRATIVE

LIFE, TRAVELS AND SUFFERINGS

OF

Preface

The Author has presumed to present the public his Biography, which contains an account of the various scenes, through which he has passed during thirty-five years of his life, in his voyages and travels in various parts of the world. In writing, he has been under the necessity of trusting wholly to memory, not having kept a Journal of his Adventures ; as the idea of their publication had not until recently occurred to him.

As a writer, he claims no merit, not having been favored with le rudiments of a common English education ; but to the authenticity of his Narrative, he claims as a christian, from the intelligent and candid, their implicit confidence. He therefore presents it to the community as a series of incidents, which scarcely has its parallel.

Unadorned by the flowers of rhetoric, he leaves it to the reader, to judge of its merit or demerit. T. W. S.

New-Bedford, Sept. 1, 1844.

Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2011 with funding from The Library of Congress

THE

LIFE, TRAVELS AND SUFFERINGS

OF

THOMAS ¥. SMITH.

Chapter I

The birth of the author — the early death of his father — he and his widowed mother are taken into her father's family — the author put out to service and deprived of education — his labors and sufferings while with Moore — his return home— is put out the second time to a Mr. Miles — his cruel treatment while there— is induced by young Link to run away with him — they lodge in a gravel pit —are taken out by a company of Gipsys and carried to a cave in a wood — conversation with the Gipsys, and his adoption by them.

I was horn of respectable parents in the neighborhood of Lewisham, County of Kent in England. My father's name was Alfred Smith, and he survived my birth only about three years. Death then came, and with its iron grasp, severed the ties of nature and love, which bound us together as a happy family ; and thus deprived me of the natural protector and guardian of my youth.

My father's spirit took its flight To realms of joy and pure delight.

My mother, being left destitute with a helpless babe, to the mercy of an unfriendly world, now took shelter beneath her parental roof. Her parents, although not in very favorable circumstances, did not hesitate to welcome their own dear and unfortunate child to their paternal protection.

I resided beneath my grandfather's hospitable roof five years, enjoying the productions of nature's bounty in proportion to our limited circumstances.

As time rolled on I was sometimes sent to take care of the old gentleman's lambs to prevent them from getting into our neighbor's pasture. Another branch of my employment was that of leading my grandmother to meeting or to any other place which her business or wishes called her.

She became blind when my mother was a little girl. However, for many years, she performed the duties of her domestic circle with extreme exactness and discretion, to the astonishment of her family and neighbors.

Ah ! poor woman ! It is with deep and painful emotions of heart, that I often recall to my recollection her fond parental caresses, which on me were so lav-

ishlv bestowed.

I was now seven years of age, and it was thought advisable by my parents, that 1 should be put out to some place where I might be kept with more strictness, in order to prevent me from associating with wicked boys, whose influence in all probability would have destroyed the seeds of morality, which were carefully sown in my youthful heart by my pious mother. Accordingly a place was procured. The day was appointed for my departure, and my mother employed all possible means to prepare me for it. This being the first time I was to leave my mother, it proved to be a severe trial. 1 found that I was now no longer to be indulged with a fond mother's care, no longer to be caressed by a tender and indulging grandmother. I expostulated with my parents to permit me to remain with them until I should finish my education, which I had .but just commenced. But s.ll my expostulations were in vain, as they deemed it expedient for my future welfare that 1 should become experimentally acquainted with labor in my young davs, in order that by its means I might obtain an honorable subsistence in after life. Poor misguided parents! Having themselves been deprived of the inestimable blessing of education, they knew not the value of it in their offspring. This indeed was a great error, the magnitude cf which I shall ever deplore. Had my parents allowed me to acquire a common English education, I should have been qualified, in some degree, to become a useful member of society, and in all probability it would have had a great influence in preventing me from wandering away from them and would have prevented the final separation,, which subsequently took place between us.

All things being nowT ready, I took my departure in company with my mother, with a tremulous heart and weeping eyes, for my new master's house. My master, Mr. Edward Moore, instructed me how to perform the various duties of my office, which was that of an errand-boy. He was a man in comfortable circumstances in life. His family consisted of nine persons ; himself and wife, his sister and niece, his wife's mother and sister, and three domestics. As I was but a small boy my wages were small also, it being only one shilling per week.

I had now been three weeks with Mr. Moore's family, during which time I had been to market several times with Mr. Moore, and had become acquainted with his usual places of trade. One morning he sent for me. On appearing before him he asked me if I thought myself capable of going to market and purchasing such things as he should direct me. 1 answered in the affirmative. Accordingly I was supplied with money and wTas sent with particular orders to purchase things and return with all possible dispatch. On my return he seemed to be well pleased with me, After that I wTas sent to market frequently. One morning on my return from market I put the change, which was left, on the table where I was accustomed to leave it. After Mr. Moore had done his breakfast he called for me as usual to give him an account of what I had bought. I went immediately to the table where I had left the change, took it up and gave it to Mr. Moore. When he examined the account he found that the money was deficient a shilling. I was at a loss to know what had become of it, as I was perfectly satisfied the change was correct when I left it on the table. Mr. Moore overlooked this misfortune of mine, but not without entertaining some suspicions of my honesty, as he plainly showed on another occasion. I entertained some suspicion of a middle aged woman, who had taken the place of a chamber-maid a week previous to the loss of the shilling. I saw her handling the money but did not mention it to Mr. Moore. Two or three days subsequent to this she desired me to accompany her a short distance to see a lady, to whom she had some money to pay. Agreeably to her request I accompanied her to the place. — After passing a few compliments she handed over her money, and I was extremely surprised to see in her hand the identical shilling which I had lost from the table. The money was readily recognized by me in consequence of certain marks which it bore.

Mr. Moore, notwithstanding the unfavorable condition in which I stood with him, still continued to send me to market, occasionally.

A week subsequent to the transaction taking place, I gave Mr. Moore as usual the change, which was left. When he examined it, it was found deficient a six-pence. I did not know what to say or do. I well knew that the change was correct, when I left it on the table. However, Mr. Moore did not say much to me, but I perceived by his stern countenance that he was displeased.

About this time Mrs. Moore's mother and sister leased a tenement and I was employed in removing such things as I could well manage, for which services the old lady rewarded me with a silver shilling. The morning following I was agafn sent to the market and again the change was found deficient a few pence. Mr. Moore at this time unwisely let loose the arrow of his ungovernable passion, saying that I was a little rogue and threatened me severely. I went from him trembling and weeping over my innocent misfortune.

It so happened that my mother came to visit me on the following day. I was highly gratified on seeing the object of my tenderest affection. I informed her of my misfortune and the causes of the same and thus gave relief to my dejected spirits. Soon as it was ascertained that my mother was in the house, Mrs. Moore came in to see her. After passing the usual compliments Mrs. Moore very politely invited her to go up stairs.

OF THOMAS W. SMITH. y

Shortly I was sent for to appear before them. As soon as 1 appeared my mother requested me to give them the necessary information relative to the money, which had been lost. I related the whole as well as my ability would permit. Mrs. Moore was greatly surprised at my disclosure, but still entertained some doubts, as may plainly be seen by the following question. She inquired of me how I had come in possession of the shilling, which I then had in my possession. I informed her, that her mother had the goodness to give it to me, and the old lady being present testified to the fact, Here the matter was suffered to rest. Sometime subsequent to this, Mr. Moore called for me to bring him fire to light his pipe. I did not hear in consequence of being in the garden. One of the domestics informed me of it and immediately I obeyed the command. On appearing before him he inquired where I had been and the cause of iny delay. I gave him a reasonable answer. He appeared to be very much out of temper. He took the fire, lit his pipe, and as I turned to go from him, he kicked me severely saying "there you little rogue, away with you and be more attentive for the future."

This ill treatment without any provocation, was more than I could possibly endure, and I immediately quit his house, leaving my wearing apparel behind. I soon arrived at my parents' humble dwelling where I was received with joy and some surprise. After communicating to my mother the cause of my departure from Mr. Moore's family, she very much approved of my resolution. During my residence with Mr. Moore he was so generous as to present me with a suit of summer clothes.

Thus ended my first service for a man who looked suspiciously on me, and who treated me unhandsomely without making the least effort to ascertain the truth by which he might have imparted justice where justice was due.

I was next put out to one Mr. Miles, a twine-spinner by trade. He was a man of dark complexion, high cheek bones, sunken eyes and stern countenance. His appearance made a very unfavorable impression on my mind. This was my first effort in physiognomy. I was 2 not, however in the least mistaken. He proved out by his unmanly and inhuman behavior, all the rascality, which was depicted in his countenance. My employment was to turn the spinning wheel, for which toilsome labor I was compensated with my board and \8d. per week. For the first week things went on smoothly. One winter's morning, (I have the greatest imaginable reason ever to remember that unlucky day,) as we were going to our work I had the misfortune to fall in the street, by which I skinned the palm of my hand, and thus inflicted a severe wound, which partly deprived me of the use of it. The following morning my hand felt very stiff and painful, in consequence of the cold having got into the wound, which had not been dressed since its infliction. Mr. Miles requested me to go to my usual labor. I informed him that it would be entirely impossible for me to turn the wheel with one hand, and 1 could not use the other very well. His reply was, '17/ make you turn it with the devil to you, you little lazy dog" I found there was no possible means of avoiding it, and therefore reluctantly proceeded with Mr. Miles to my avocation. We commenced our day's labor and every thing went on with the usual tranquillity with the exception of my hand, which was very painful. While I was in the act of taking the thread off the hook it slipped from my hand. Mr. Miles was very much exasperated. However, he did not, at this time lay his hand on me, but threatened that if ever I permitted the like to occur again he would certainly chastise me with the greatest severity. This threat greatly agitated me. I trembled with fear. I sighed for my parents and bewailed my sad fate. Yet 1 found no relief; no arm to protect ; no parental bosom on which to recline. My spirits were depressed and I fell into a state of despondency.

The hour soon arrived when I was to feel the full weight of Mr. Miles' denunciation and resentment. The wheel line gave way, which was rather old and very much the worse for wear. This disaster exasperated his unreasonable mind and in a great measure prepared him to execute his previous threat. He soon repaired the

Injury which was done, amid volleys of imprecations, which proceeded from his polluted mouth. I trembled exceedingly, as I was not accustomed to hear such profane language. The wheel-line being now'repaired we again commenced spinning. My hands by this time had become so numb as to be incapable of holding anything between my fingers. The thread was now to be taken off and I left the crank with that intention : when on stepping over the stand which supported the wheel I stumbled over it and fell on my face and hands, the result of which was a cut-lip and a bloody nose, at which I was very much alarmed, having never before met with such a disaster. I bled freely. Mr. Miles, whose passion had not yet abated, now lustily cried out while I was endeavoring to wipe off the blood : " make haste you little rascal, and take off the thread." I endeavored to obey his command but in vain ; his passion raged and he got there before me. This unreasonable man now gave vent to all the springs of his malicious passion. He executed his previous denunciation by treating me in the most brutal and inhuman manner. This cruel monster beat me with such severity that the bruises were plainly to be seen two months after their infliction. I did not leave Mr. Miles at this time in consequence of the great distance which separated my parents from me. I therefore was obliged to endure all the abuse, which he thought proper to heap upon me. During the time of my residence with him I had become acquainted with a boy who lived at a little distance, with a Mr.

West, a green grocer. This unfortunate boy's name was John Link. He was from twelve to thirteen years of age. He was an artful and fearless boy, and was also shamefully ill treated. We were in the habit of meeting in the evening, and mutually communicating our feelings. Things with us went on well for a while. One evening after returning from work, Mrs. Miles sent me of an errand. It was to get a pound of butter. 1 bought it and was returning home with all possible speed, when squezing through the crowd in the street 1 was pushed down ; the butter fell from my hand, and before it could be recovered it was trodden under foot by the busy crowd. I ran home crying mournfully and related my misfortune to Mrs. Miles. As soon as she heard it, she rose from the chair with her hands uplifted loudly exclaiming : " Oh ! you careless little villian ! I will teach you how to be more careful for the future." So saying she took the broom and struck me on my shoulders and head several times. So severe were her blows, that she raised, several bumps on my head. After this John Link and I met at the usual place to relate our misfortunes to each other. He informed me that Mr. West had unmercifully whipped him. He stated that he had resolved to leave and seek his fortune elsewhere. I inquired of him where he intended to go. He said he was going to Dartford, a prosperous village with a population of ten thousand inhabitants, situated ten miles from Lewisham and fourteen from Bury St. Edmunds, the place where we then resided. I interrogated him respecting his motive for going at such a distance from his home. His answer was to this effect, " I am determined to go some where, where it will be impossible for my parents to find me." " For," continued he, " it is of no use for me to go home ; they will put me out again — they take all my wages and spend it for gin, and I am obliged to go bare-footed in consequence of it." I enquired of him how he could go to Dartford without money. His answer was, that he was going to ask Mr. West for permission to go and see his parents and for his wages to take home to his mother the amount of which would be Is. which he thought would be sufficient to sustain him until he could find employment.

After Link had disclosed the whole of his plan, he advised me to adopt it in every respect and accompany him. I withstood him some time. I stated that our money, provided we should succeed in getting it, was not sufficient to pay the stage fare and support us if we should be so unfortunate as not to find a place immediately after our arrival there. " As for the stage fare?" said he, " we need not pay any thing. All we have to do is to get every thing ready and when the stage passes we will jump up behind it and hang on as far as it will carry us on our road."

After I had fully considered my condition, I came to the conclusion, that if I must labor far from home, I would endeavor to find a situation, where I should be used more humanely than I had been hitherto.

Next evening Link and I met again, and I informed him, that I hr.d formed the resolution to adopt his plan in every respect. The- following Saturday was the day agreed upon to ask for our money and permission to visit our parents, and we put our resolution into practice and fortunately succeeded in our undertaking. Next morning we commenced our journey, it being Sabbath day. We traveled with our little bundles over our shoulders to the bank of Blackheath Pond, which was six miles distance from the place of departure. Here we sat down to rest our weaned limbs and eat our scanty meal, which consisted of dry bread, having had the precaution to provide ourselves each with a three-penny loaf.

Blackheath is situated on the south of Greenwich Park, from which it is separated by a handsome built, brick wall, which incloses the Park. This heath contains some hundred acres of land and is covered with the shrub called black-heath, from which it derives its name. It is also noted for its celebrated race ground. It is a summer rendezvous for the Gipsys who spread their tents in that delightful spot.

We traveled until after the sun had gone down, and we had not as yet arrived at any habitafion, where we could obtain a shelter from the chilling winds of night. We were very much fatigued and felt solicitous to obtain some place where we could rest our wearied limbs, having travelled ten miles, a distance which we had never walked before. We continued our journey until we came to the side of a hill where we found a gravel-pit, in which notwithstanding the severity of the cold, we took up our lodgings for the night. But neither the severity of the weather nor the weariness of our stiff limbs had the least tendency to deprive us of the enjoyment of a sweet repose. We had not been many hours enjoying our sandy bed when we were awakened by a loud noise, like the barking or growling of dogs. On arousing we were very much surprised at seeing before us four large English mastiffs, by which we were so frightened, that we hardly dare move or breathe. Presently we saw two men coming toward us.

' Hallo,' says one, ' what is here ?' They approached us. The dogs stood by them wagging their tails ; now looking at us and then at their masters, as if they were waiting for the word of command to seize us, as their prey. After they had strictly examined us they withdrew a short distance and held a consultation for a ^ew minutes and returned saying : " come, my little boys, you must go with us and we will take you to a place where you may sleep comfortably and free from all danger."

We immediately complied with their request having no inclination to do otherwise. We travelled on the highway about a quarter of a mile and then we turned into a lane and proceeded to the north. In this lane we met the third man, who also was of the company, with two dogs and an ass. We travelled from one lane into another, a distance of four or five miles, until we arrived at the base of a high and spacious hill, whose sides were covered with thick and lofty woods. We entered the woods and travelled in a zigzag manner toward the summit of the hill, which was crowned with a high, strong, and ancient castle, whose blackened and terrific wall bespoke to its observer the days ot William the Conqueror. We proceeded until we arrived to the north side of the hill, which was secluded from society. Here we came in contact with the perpendicular side of the hill, which wras very thickly inclosed with the stately oak and majestic elm. We continued travelling along by the side of this precipice the distance of twro hundred yards. We then approached two immense lofty and stately oaks, whose boughs and leafless branches intermitted ; and as they partly rested on the side of the hill, formed a most beautiful inclosure, into which we were led by our conductors. This inclosure being forty or fifty feet in length led us to the side of the hill, in which was a gap, about eight feet in breadth, which ushered us into a capacious cavern, which had the appearance of having been made by human hands. It was hid from view by the immense boughs, by which it was overhung. It was between two and three o'clock in the morning when we were introduced into our new habitation. We were then led in the dark to a heap of straw and commanded to lie down and rest. Presently one of the men came and covered us over with a couple of blankets. We soon fell into a sound sleep in which we buried for a few hours the toils and anxieties which we had endured the preceding day. When we awoke from our sleep, in the morning we found ourselves in a dark and sequestered cavern. On looking around me I beheld three brownish, robust, good looking females, whose countenances bespoke the enjoyment of health and vigor of life, two small children, and the three men who had conducted us thither. Near the mouth of the cavern were three asses and six dogs. These constituted the whole number of inmates and domestic animals of our new habitation.

When breakfast was ready we were invited to set by a good turf-fire and participate with them of an excellent repast, which the women had prepared of good lambchop, — which I presume was stolen the previous night — a good cup of coffee, some boiled potatoes and bread, However, we made an excellent breakfast.

After we had participated of their repast, one of the men, who was frequently addressed by the members of the company by the appellation of Mr. Jack and whom we subsequently ascertained to be the captain of the company, interrogated us respecting cur parentage, the place of our nativity, the cause of cur leaving home, and the place of our intended destination. We answered every question with honest simplicity to the admiration and satisfaction of the company. As soon as we had accomplished our recital, one of these brawny queens of the forest took me into her lap and expressed her sympathy. She addressed Mr. Jack, her husband, to the following purpose : "It is my ardent and sincere desire to adopt this little boy, for you know, Mr. Jack, he will be company, beside being useful to us for many purposes as we travel through the country." Mr. Jack then addressed me gruffly, saying ; " Well, my little man, you have heard what the lady has said ; she wishes you to stay with us, and go where we go. What say you ; will you stay ? We will treat you with parental kindness, and you shall have plenty to eat, and that ot the best which the land can afford, and but little to do ; besides, you will see new places very often, and shall also ride on my 'Arabian,' (meaning his ass,) to every place where we may go." These fascinating inducements, so artfully presented to my young and tender mind, shone with such sparkling lustre before my eyes, that I found it impossible to resist their proposals, and therefore 1 was readily induced to acquiesce. Link had a similar offer made to h«m by one of the other females ; and he very readily acquiesced.

This female who adopted Link had a beautiful babe, of two years of age, and Link was occasionally to take care of it, while she went in company with the other women to the neighboring villages vo impose on the honest credulity of the villagers by pretending to tell fortunes.

This science of fortune-telling, which these queens of the forest pretended to possess, is a means, to which they have cunningly resorted to obtain an easy livelihood by imposing on the credulous and ignorant mass of the more ' refined' part of society.

By this time Link, who was an artful boy, began to entertain suspicions, that we had fallen among Gipsys and attempted to inform me of it by a whisper, but was heard by one of the men who accosted him thus ; ' Yes my boy, you are right ; we are jolly Gipsys, sons of liberty, who are not confined to one particular place by relatives, houses or any thing of an earthly nature. We go here, and there, and everywhere, and are like the eagle, which is a bird of liberty and flies wherever it sees its prey. Is not this a better way to live than to be confined to a master and be whipped like a slave, in the same manner that you have been?' pointing to us. " We do not intend to whip you or injure you in any degree whatsoever. And now since you have consented to stay with us, boys, you must be baptised in order to become a Gipsy." So saying, he got a bottle of gin and said ; " now boys, you must say after me, c I will be a Gipsy ; I shall be a Gipsy and a son of the forest.'" So saying, he sprinkled some gin on our heads, saying ; " there boys, you are become the sons of liberty ! Now you must shake hands with all the company." So they all shook hands with us and hailed us as jolly young Gipsys. It was now near mid-day, and Mr. Jack took us7out of the cavern. ( There/ said he, c do you know nhere you are ?' ' No,' we replied. And how could we know ? We saw not any thing before us but a thicket ; nor over us but the intermingled boughs and branches of the high and proud English oak, and the majestic elm, which obscured the view of the blue sky. ' Here,' continued he, ' are a plenty of rabbits and foxes that will attack you and bite you to death if you should happen to stray away alone in the woods.' This was said to intimidate us, that we might not stray away from the cavern, and we being credulous very readily credited it. Link and I had now to undergo a daily operation, and that was to be washed with walnut-water every day in order to tan our skins brown. This was deemed necessary in order to appear Gipsy-like, a brown skin being their uniform.