Twice a Slave by Samuel C. Tippit

Author:Samuel C. Tippit
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: SamRan Publishing
Published: 2014-01-15T00:00:00+00:00

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April 1785

Northwest Cape Fear, North Carolina

Rachel and I lived peacefully on our 320 acres during the year following our wedding. A little more than a month after the ceremony, John approached Mister Bradford and offered him ten acres adjacent to the large piece of property he had purchased. John arranged for him to cultivate his hundreds of acres as payment for the ten acres. Mister Bradford didn’t indicate he knew of my involvement in the transaction. But Rachel came to me shortly after their agreement and asked if I knew anything about it. I didn’t lie—just smiled and said there are things she didn’t need to know.

Mister Bradford was apologetic when he told me he would no longer work for me, but would be working for John. I’m sure he didn’t realize how thrilled I was about his decision. My relationship with the Bradford family blossomed after he had his own property. It enabled me to develop a relationship as a family member and not have the added complication of being his supervisor.

I hadn’t realized how good life could be. God blessed us more than we could have ever imagined. After a year, I loved Rachel more than when we first met. We learned in March that Rachel was going to have a child. We discussed names and decided if it were a girl, we’d name her after Rachel’s mother, and if a boy—after my father.

John prospered and quickly became the most powerful man in the region. He was a loved and respected leader among the people. He owned land at the edge of Fayetteville and was building a large home on the property. After we learned Rachel was with child, we needed furniture and clothes for the baby. However, Aunt Elizabeth wouldn’t give the necessary travel documents needed for a slave. It was only a short trip to Fayetteville. John told us we could stay at his house even though it wasn’t completed, which meant I wouldn’t have to show travel documents where we stayed. John thought it would be safe.

Rachel and I enjoyed the trip. It gave us time to talk and dream about our future. As we rode, Rachel said, “I wish I could have known your father. Was he like you?”

“There were many things we had in common, but especially one.”

“What?”

“Dreams. He was a dreamer.”

She had to laugh. “You’re definitely his son.”

As we passed the trading post, I told Rachel about the whipping I’d received before the war. The story horrified her. “Well, if someone wants to whip you today, they’ll have to whip me first.”

I patted her knee. “I’ll never let that happen.”

Rachel kept looking ahead. “I love you, Joseph Willis.”

We arrived in Fayetteville a little before dusk. John’s wife, Aseneth, had told Rachel where she might find a carpenter who could build furniture for the baby’s room. As we drove down the main street, we attempted to understand Aseneth’s instructions. I saw a man carrying tools and thought he might know where the carpenter lived.

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