Polly Elizabeth Pritchard was born in Beaufort in August of 1723. She was born an indentured servant. Her parents were indentured servants as well. She spent her childhood with her parents, working for their owner. She had a pretty good childhood, living a happy life. When she was about 13 everything started to go downhill. Her parents both got the fever and died. Polly was left with no parents. Her master made her make up the fourteen years her parents owe.
Polly was sold to a few people, one man who kept her up in his attic, doing work for him. Then she was sold to a man named Percival Derby. He was an evil man, she could tell by the looks of him. After he bought her, he went to buy slaves. He bought a girl about Polly’s age, fourteen. Polly thought this girl was a weird slave and that she was much better than her. When they got back to Mr. Derby’s house, Polly found out that she was supposed to teach the slave girl english and how to act in America. At first she dreaded the fact that she would have to teach a slave. There was a very long list of what she needed to be taught.
A few weeks had past, Polly had found out the slave girls name, Amari. She already knew a little english which suprised Polly. Most slaves don’t know anything about english. Polly and Amari were assigned to work in the kitchen with Teenie, the mother of Tidbit. They washed dishes and help prepare the meals. When Polly and Amari had been at the Derby household for about a month, they had to go to their first job at the big house. One of the servants mother was bit by a rattlesnake and needed to go see her. Polly and Amari dressed like her and went to serve dinner. All was going well until Amari dropped the pie. She was whipped repeatedly. Polly felt awful about Amari.
Polly had seen awful things in her life. A baby had been killed along with a slave and now she was going to be sold along with Tidbit and Amari. The doctor was to bring them to the market, sell them and then bring the money back to Mr. Derby. Polly knew that the doctor could never sell a slave though. He set them free about halfway to the slave market with the little food he had. He told them to go north, but they went south. Cato, a slave back at the Derby farm told them that there was a place called Fort Mose in the south. They traveled at night and hid during the day. The whole journey was about two months with a few stops on the way. They walked and about three fourths of the way through, they were stopped by a white man. He took them and planned to sell them. The mistress in the house, was very kind to them, she gave them a wagon and food. They then were on their way. They were almost to Fort Mose. A few weeks later, they arrived at Fort Mose. Polly was given the job of a teacher.
Polly loved her job, she got to teach people how to read and write and for once, she got paid! She had money so she could buy new clothes, food or even a new pair of shoes! Her life was good, she even met a man! His name was Brett and he used to be a indentured servant as well. He had run away along with two little slave girls from his owner. Polly got married to him and had four kids. She died of natural causes when she was 42.
Polly was sold to a few people, one man who kept her up in his attic, doing work for him. Then she was sold to a man named Percival Derby. He was an evil man, she could tell by the looks of him. After he bought her, he went to buy slaves. He bought a girl about Polly’s age, fourteen. Polly thought this girl was a weird slave and that she was much better than her. When they got back to Mr. Derby’s house, Polly found out that she was supposed to teach the slave girl english and how to act in America. At first she dreaded the fact that she would have to teach a slave. There was a very long list of what she needed to be taught.
A few weeks had past, Polly had found out the slave girls name, Amari. She already knew a little english which suprised Polly. Most slaves don’t know anything about english. Polly and Amari were assigned to work in the kitchen with Teenie, the mother of Tidbit. They washed dishes and help prepare the meals. When Polly and Amari had been at the Derby household for about a month, they had to go to their first job at the big house. One of the servants mother was bit by a rattlesnake and needed to go see her. Polly and Amari dressed like her and went to serve dinner. All was going well until Amari dropped the pie. She was whipped repeatedly. Polly felt awful about Amari.
Polly had seen awful things in her life. A baby had been killed along with a slave and now she was going to be sold along with Tidbit and Amari. The doctor was to bring them to the market, sell them and then bring the money back to Mr. Derby. Polly knew that the doctor could never sell a slave though. He set them free about halfway to the slave market with the little food he had. He told them to go north, but they went south. Cato, a slave back at the Derby farm told them that there was a place called Fort Mose in the south. They traveled at night and hid during the day. The whole journey was about two months with a few stops on the way. They walked and about three fourths of the way through, they were stopped by a white man. He took them and planned to sell them. The mistress in the house, was very kind to them, she gave them a wagon and food. They then were on their way. They were almost to Fort Mose. A few weeks later, they arrived at Fort Mose. Polly was given the job of a teacher.
Polly loved her job, she got to teach people how to read and write and for once, she got paid! She had money so she could buy new clothes, food or even a new pair of shoes! Her life was good, she even met a man! His name was Brett and he used to be a indentured servant as well. He had run away along with two little slave girls from his owner. Polly got married to him and had four kids. She died of natural causes when she was 42.
Indentured Slaves were also treated poorly. They had to do work just like the slaves.
"History.org: The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation's Official History and Citizenship Website." Lusty Beggars, Dissolute Women, Sorners, Gypsies, and Vagabonds for Virginia : The Colonial Williamsburg Official History & Citizenship Site. The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, 2013. Web. 25 Nov. 2013.