War comes to Willy Freeman

13&14

Mr. Goodrich was figuring out everything that happens 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 for Uncle Jack. I got there and it was so big there. There were big windows and doors. We walked into the room and Mr. Ivers was sitting there. He said, “Oh it’s you again”. 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 said that Mr. Ivers had lost a case. I looked at Uncle Jack; he had the biggest smile on his face.

So after all of that, 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. Uncle Jack was free; 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. So 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

 Chapters 11 and 12

Winter came hard for everyone. I worked in the tavern and searched around town for Ma. I kept getting the vision on my head of walking down the street and seeing Ma. Meanwhile I made it up to Horace for turning out to be a girl. He wanted me to find another place to sleep; he said it was weird for a girl and boy that were nearly grown to sleep together. I said lots of men and women that aren't married do it. And anyway there aren't many places for people to stay with the war and everything. The cooks got hold of a dress for me. Usually I got up before Horace and got dressed. One morning I glance over at Horace and saw him peeking at me. So I started to hang my blanket up and he said what's that for Willy and I said I saw you peeking the other day. He blushed as red as an apple, and that gave me the idea that he had been peaking all along. He would still occasionally curse when he would drop a board on his foot or smash his finger, and then he would apologize. I just said its fine; you have done it all along. They were talking about ending the war in spring, and everyone was becoming excited. And I knew Horace liked me, I wasn't 13 anymore, I was 15 and I liked him too. Horace would give me orders and I’d say you aren't my boss. I like him but sometimes he makes me mad. I just wanted the British to be gone already. I wanted to know If ma was on a prison ship or not.  I could hardly remember what she looked like it had been 2 years. Mr. Fraunces gave Horace and I each a shilling a week for the work we did. All of the Loyalists were thinking about moving to England or Canada and starting over, because they betrayed the Americans, so now they must leave. And some people didn't care whether the Americans or British won, they just wanted it to be over. To have their homes all to themselves.  Mr. Fraunces told Willy that the prison ships had just came in and she should go look for her mom. She was there the whole day looking for her mom. She didn't find her. She kept asking if there were any women on the ships and they all said no. I began to cry then I stopped crying and walked back to the tavern. They could tell by the look on my face what happened so nobody said anything.  Mr. Goodrich came by and said I’m looking for Willy Freeman. He said I've seen your mother. She is very sick and at the Ivers house, I’m afraid it’s serious he said.

                If I went Mr. Ivers would clap me back into slavery, but ii had to take the chance. I wanted to save my mom.  He would claim I was his, and sell me. But I had to take the chance for my mom. So Mr. Goodrich said he knew of a ship leaving for black rock in 2 or 3 days and I could get a ride on their and walk the rest of the way to New field pretty easy. I was scared Ma would die before I could save her.  I said goodbye to Mr. Frances  he said I was welcome back anytime. Then I said goodbye, as I was walking towards the ship I saw Horace hauling water up the hill. He said Willy I’m mighty glad you turned out to be a girl. Then I kissed Horace for the first time, he said lots of girls wanted to kiss him, but he never let them, and he said he hopes I comeback. They made me polish brass on the boat. I had to give 12 coppers to the ferryman so he would take me across.  I found the house, I looked in the window, and saw the Arabus family eating stew, so I stuck my face against the window and knocked and they heard the noise and looked. Then they came and hugged me. They said Captain Ivers would put me into Slavery if he caught me here. They were trying to put jack back into slavery. I slipped into the kitchen and down into the cellar ma was down there it was cold and dark and damp. She looked so gray and sick I wouldn't have recognized her if they wouldn't have told me it was her. It’s me ma I said, she said willy? Is that you?  She said Mr. Ivers won’t give me medicine I’m best to die. The British kept ma on a prison ship for 2 years and made her wash laundry and she got really sick.  I stayed in the barn overnight till the Ivers left for a couple hours. I knew she’d got worse overnight.  I told jack I’m going to get me a doctor I have money. I ran to the doctor and waited for what seemed like hours by his office door, he gave me medicine. I ran home mixed it with rum and brought it to ma, she put it in her mouth, spit it out and died. The next thing I remember doing is pounding away at captain Ivers with my fists. I must have clawed him too, because he had big red scratches on his face, they were oozing blood. I heard a bang, and I was on the floor with him standing over me with his whip.  Then jack punched him in his mouth and then ran out the door, then Mr. Ivers busted out of the door with his shot gun. Captain Ivers is going to kill him for sure now.  I ran out into the woods and hid. After I saw Captain Ivers gallop away on his horse then I went back to the house and helped Aunt Betsy bury ma. Then after that I went to Mr. Goodrich’s house. I walked in the snow and finally when I got there I gave him uncle jack’s papers and he went out to the jail to get jack out. And I fell asleep all wet by his fireplace.

War comes to Willy Freeman

Chapters 9 and 10

I had to stay out in the barn with Horace; He said it wasn't that bad.  There were horse blankets that you could roll up in. They kept you pretty warm even in the worst weather. I was to help out with the livestock and cleaning, and anything else there was to do. I’d get my room and board and maybe a few pennies too, after all I wasn't a slave I was a free women. How was I supposed to keep Horace from finding out I was a girl unless I slept in my clothes?  Horace was a problem, he would come into the loft strip off his clothes like nothing, I would try to move the blankets around a little so I didn't see anything. Just about the time the British were driving the Americans out of New York a terrible fire occurred and 500 houses burnt down. And they were already in a short supply of houses. All of the houses left over with just chimneys and maybe a brick wall turned into little tents. This place was called Canvas Town. Horace says most everyone in Canvas town is black. Horace and I went to Canvas town and were walking and all the streets were filled with Garbage and mud. Horace says the mud could have dead bodies pushed down in it, you could step on them and you would never know. As we were walking we saw a big black man sitting on a broken brick wall smoking a pipe, and admiring the view. He had a scar on his chin his nose was busted over, and half his teeth were missing. He looked mighty rough. “’Scuse me sir” I said, “I’m looking for a pretty for my ma” I said. She ain't here there ain't no mothers in Canvas Town” He said.  She said “don’t mind him, who’s your ma?” “Lucy Freeman is her name”, I said. She said, “I seen your Ma”.  “Now you listen” she said, “you come back tonight, and bring me a couple coppers for my medicine, and I’ll see what I can do, now run before he catches you” she said. So me and Horace ran back. That night Horace and I got some coppers and went to Canvas town. We couldn't find which house was hers. Then finally as we were walking we thought we found it so I stuck my lantern in there and she was sleeping so I went in. Horace handed me my lantern once I got in there. I knelled over her and shook her by the shoulder. She didn't wake up; she just sort of rattled there. I figured she was drunk, which worried me because then she might not remember about Ma. So I gave her cheek a little pat, just a little slap, and when I did I realized her face was cold. My stomach jumped. I didn't want to touch her no more, but I had to , Just in case she was still alive and could be saved. So I laid my hand on her face, she was stone cold dead. So I jumped out the window hole and my lantern went out. “She’s dead Horace” I whispered. Then we ran for it.

                Horace and I decided to write a letter to my aunt and uncle so they would know I was alive. So he started to write, “Dear Aunt Betsy, I’m living down here in N.Y with Mr. Fraunces. I’m all right, and in good health. I have looked for Ma but don’t find her anywhere. If you know where she is write Mr. Fraunces, Love Willy” the whole time I wanted to write more, But Horace was complaining about his wrist. He says he hurt it while brushing the horses earlier that day.  So Horace and I went and delivered the letter to be sent. After that we went and collected hay from a farmer across the field.  After we filled our wagon with hay he fed us cider and Biscuits, then as we were pushing the wagon up the river bank, we got all sweaty. And Horace decided the we should go for a  swim. So I told him I was going to go look for grapes in the field, and I don’t know how to swim, and I have a cold. So I ended up going and picking grapes and eating them.  As I was doing that I realized it’s been a long time so I went and found Horace and he started to climb up the river back and he was naked so I started running and he started chasing after me. So finally I stopped and tried not to look at his face, then he’s like “Willy what’s wrong? You have been acting different today. So I told him I was a girl, and he ran away and put his clothes on. Then after that we didn't talk much he said I should of told him I was a girl. 

War comes to Willy Freeman

Chapters 7 and 8

                I started thinking why does the British own all of this land if us Americans are the ones that started it and made it how it is today? And I guess I don’t care what side I’m on. Because the Americans have made us black people feel so low.  And then the British captured my ma and killed my pa, so it didn't seem like there was much of a difference between the British and the Americans. But I will still want to be an American, probably only because Pa swore he was American.  “Was ma in a prison ship”? The only way to find out He said was to go down and ask myself. I was scared of the British there was no telling what they would do to me. I walked on down to one of the boats where there was a British officer lounging in it, I said “sir, do you know if there is any black women on any of them ships right there?”  “Black women?” he said curious. I said yes I’m looking for my ma.  You’re Ma? We don’t keep women on these ships, we are British not animals. “None at all sir?” I asked. He said are you deaf boy? I said no sir; he said where are you from boy? I waved my hand behind me and said back there. He said back there? And he said why don’t we give you a taste of prison until you come up with a better story. Then I said no please don’t I’m a girl. He said well by George, you are a girl, well get out of here. Then this soldier named Charlie tried to take my shirt It off to see if I was actually a girl and then finally I got away and I was safe.

                 I slept in a barn overnight, in the morning I found a black boy with a wagon full of wood so I got a ride with him. He asked me who my master was, I said Mr. Fraunces, and the boy that was giving me the ride knew I was lying, because that’s who he worked for. So I helped him unload the wood In the back, then he brought me in the kitchen to give me something to eat. Then the cooks were like what are you doing, and the boy was like Sam said I could get food whenever I wanted. So right then Sam walked in and said I said what? And then he’s like who’s this? And then I told him about uncle jack knowing him and I was his nephew. So once I got done eating Sam told me to meet him in his office. While I was eating I fell asleep, so the boy had to wake me up. So I went into Sam’s office. I told him i was a girl and my Pa got killed by the British and is started crying. He said I could work for him and stay there for a while, and he has some places I could check for my mom. And he said Willy, it might be a good idea if you stay a boy for a while.

War comes to Willy Freeman

Chapters5and6

                It was just luck that Uncle Jack Arabus was home when I got there; he was in the American Army. There were seven or eight black Men in the company. The rule was that they got themselves free if they joined up. They took me in the kitchen, with a fire going. A rough wooden table where the Arabus family ate. Big pots hanging along the walls and cupboards with pewter mugs and plates inside. Aunt Betsy fed me some pork and cornbread. As I was eating I told uncle about my story about the British, Pa and Ma. Just then Mrs. Arabus walked in and said, "who is this?" "She’s my sister’s child, Wilhelmina." "Why’s she dressed like a boy?" Mrs. Ivers spit. My Aunt was explaining how I just came from New London and rode in a boat all day long. She looked at me like I was dirt. Her stare made me a little uneasy. Mr. Arabus walked into the kitchen and said "whose nigger boy is this?" "She isn't a boy she’s a girl" Mrs. Ivers said. Then he said "whose nigger are you?" I said "I’m a free nigger. Colonel Ledyard set us free 4 years ago so Pa could join up in the army." "It’ll be easy to get a hold of Colonel Ledyard." Mr. Arabus said. "He’s dead, I watched him get killed." I said. Suddenly Mrs. Ivers said "I don’t want her in this house." "She’s staying, until I decide what to do with her." said Mr. Ivers.   Mrs. Ivers turned and said "fine she can start by scrubbing floors and put her in  a dress she is going to work for her supper." So I was put back into slavery. I knew I had freedom papers but they were all the way back in our cabin. Maybe I can go to New York. Another reason for leaving was the whole Arabus family slept down in the invers cellar on heaps of straw. It was a mean damp place down there. I was scared I would get sick in a place like that. The next day Mrs. Ivers put me to work scrubbing floors. I wanted to shout at her but if I did I would get beat and she would twist my ear. Mr. Ivers told me to stand up then he said "Colonel Ledyard is dead you say?" "Yes sir, I seen it." I said. "I suppose you have papers for your freedom?" "Oh yes sir." I said. "Where are they?" He said. "In our cabin" I said. I talked to Uncle Jack, and he said it’s too risky to go to New York alone. Captain Ivers came In the back door and said, "where’s Dan?" He said "I want him to take a message for me."  “He’s in the barn sir I’ll take it.” I said. “Do you know where doctor’s beach house is?" He said. And I said "Yes I do."  So I took the note and put on my Aunt’s old coat and went outside. Aunt Betsy said "hurry back so u can help with supper." I felt like I wanted to hug her, because I didn't know when I would see her again. I trotted down the path toward the beach and my heart started beating really fast. I left the shore. But then I had to pole into and outlet for night so I didn't make a hole in my boat by hitting something. As I was pulling into shore there was about 5 or 6 boats coming my way really fast. These boats were big whale boats like 30 feet long coming lickety-split my way!  Now I could see the outlines there was about 30 men in each boat. Then I heard a loud shout and all the boats were coming right toward me!

                The men from the whale boats took me and dumped me into the bottom of one of their boats. I was just sitting there staring at the sky on my back, until one of them crouched down beside me. I told him "I am going to Stanford to see my friends. I am going to Stafford because my Pa got killed by the British, and Ma got taken by the British." The man said "that’s the truth?" I said "yes, I saw it with my own eyes." They believed my story but still made me sit there on my back and said they’ll decide what to do with me later. There was no knowing on what they would do with me, maybe they would found out I was a run away and send me back to Captain Ivers. Then I would never find my Ma. So I just lay on my back and stared at the stars, then as I was looking at the sky I fell asleep. I woke up to the crunching of pebbles and rocks. There was men jumping out and pulling the boats onto shore. Somebody grabbed my shoulder and said out of there now boy. Then we were on shore, me and only 20 other men. All the rest of the men went away into the woods. Then I got an idea I got up off the gunnel and walked a little while down the beach and bent down and looked like I was washing my hands then I picked up a couple little rocks. I quickly threw them into the woods and they hit a tree and all of the soldiers turned and were like what’s that? Then I threw another one and they all got up. Then I started moving down the beach and I ran 50 feet away where all I saw was ship outlines then I started running down the beach then I found woods and hid in there. Then I found a field and ran across until I found a fence and jumped over it. As I was passing through village’s an old lady gave me a ride and gave me some potatoes. I stopped once, and got out two potatoes and cooked  them over a fire. They tasted very good. Then as I kept going I saw some ships that looked like prison ships. I was thinking my mom could be on one of them ships, the only way to know was to find out myself.

War comes to Willy Freeman

Chapters 3 and 4

https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=revolutionary+war&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.&bvm=bv.41934586,d.b2I&biw=1366&bih=667&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&ei=KsUSUb2bJuu62gXU0oDIDg                As I was being pulled up the wall something hit the stone wall and flung bits of rock in my face. They got in my mouth, and hit my face it stung.  There men crouched all around, firing at the British. There was a cannon at each corner of the fort. And a little room underground. There was a man holding his side and his face was pale. The firing stopped we saw 3 soldiers walking up towards the fort with a white flag. Pa said “The British want us to surrender”.  The British were threatening to massacre all of them if they didn't surrender. “They’re moving around the back now” Pa said, there’s no way to get out now, the woods is full of them. Pa said “Willy go down to the magazine room, and you will be safer and you can help make cartridges”.  It was pretty dark In here, they left the door open so we could get some light though.  There was a boy down there, I said Pa  says “I am to help” Making cartridges saved an awful lot of time for the soldiers. His name was William Latham. I asked “do you think they’ll break in?”

He just looked about as a pale as I did. He said who’s your Pa, He recognized me but I said we are from New London. A soldier swung into the room and said, “Get some cartridges up here fast”. So William went up there, it was my turn next. William came back down stairs and said the British are all around the fort trying to climb up the walls. The British are climbing up the walls and we are fighting them with pikes. I went to the top of the ladder and the British had ripped some boards out of the wall.  Just then the British busted through the door. I crouched in the corner sick and shaking.  The soldier said who commands here then Colonel Said I do, then they jabbed their bayonet right through his side. They stuck their bayonet right through Pa’s back.

                I sat there for what felt like forever crying in the corner, with my eyes closed. A British soldier was standing over me with a bloody bayonet pointing towards me, I screamed and stood up. He had blue eyes and blonde hair, ad he seemed young even to me. “please don’t kill me I’m not a boy, I’m a  girl”  I said. “Why are you in this?” he said. He sort of shoved me off the palisade and jumped down and grabbed my collar again. As a ran tears flew off my face. I snuck down the hillside and across the field until I could finally see our cabin. It was sitting there in the sun looking just how it was when I left. When I got in a little ways of it I started to run, I just wanted to put my arms around Ma. I ran to the door, it was open, I looked in nobody was there.  Where was she? Why wasn't she waiting for me? . Ma? Ma where are you? I called out. But I didn't get nothing back. Tears began to run down my cheeks. I went back inside to see if there was any signs of where she might have gone, but here was nothing. I figured she had hid stuff in the fields like the rest of them, and just went to go collect it again. I sat on the ground with my back against the cabin waiting for Ma. It was getting dark where Ma was?  Had the British got her? And killed her and flung her away somewhere? I sat there wondering if I should go up to Groton and look for her. I saw somebody coming down the road toward me. It wasn't ma, it was the old darkie named granny Hyde. I told her what had happened to Pa, then she told me the British took ma to New York. I went to sleep, woke up in the morning and sat up and said Ma? Then I realized she was gone and started crying again. I ate the rest of the biscuits that were there. Where would I go? The only relatives I have are Aunt Betsy and uncle jack Arabus and Cousin Dan. Would they take me in? Ma always said how much Aunt Betsy and her loved each other. She was bound to take me in. thinking about it made me feel better, not exactly happy but I stopped gasping for breath and such. It was 50 miles away, how would I get there? I would have to see if pa’s boat was there, there is a chance the British or someone just plain stole it.  I searched the cupboard for some food. There was some corn bread and a few apples, so I wrapped it in ma’s handkerchief. I headed to the beach. The British ships were raising their sails and getting ready to go back to New York.  I didn't want to sail against the British ships but I figured they’d be leaving soon. I found the boat, untied it got it and pushed off.  It was about 35 miles to New haven. And maybe 15 more to New Field, where Aunt Betsy lived with captain Ivers. What if they didn't have a place for me? Or what if her master Captain Ivers didn't want any more niggers around?  I stopped at a little creek to get water, and tried not to think bad things, then I took a bag drink of water and ate my bread and set off again.  By the middle of the afternoon finally the British sails were out of view so she felt a little safer.  I finally found the shore. I started walking up the path I crept around the back and stuck my head into the barn. It was my cousin Dan he was pitching hay.  I stepped into the barn, “you’re Dan ain’t you?” I said. “yes sir” he said. I said I’m your cousin Willy. He said willy?  Then he went inside and told his Ma I was here. Then I told my Aunt everything that had happened and she asked me what I am going to do. And I said ell I figured I was staying with you. She said I don’t know Willy. Captain Ivers might not let you. Aunt said not to trust captain Ivers too much. When I saw uncle Jack he gave me a hug and said you poor child.

"War Comes to Willy Freeman"

Chapters 1 and 2

Hi my name is Wilhelmina Freeman.  Call me Willy. My parents are Lucy and Jordan Freeman. We live in a cabin near Fort Griswold. I saw the Red Coats, Not long before they march up to Fort Griswold and run their bayonets through a lot of our people. I was scared for pa. Ma said he would fight.  Pa said “since we are free now it our country too” Pa got his freedom from colonel Ledyard, by joining the militia. Ma got a cow from nursing Mrs. Ledyard’s little girl back to health. We lived on a little split of land by Thames River.  I heard a boom and a canon was hot to sea and that scared me because I knew pa was out at sea on his jolly little boat. Ma and I were inside the house when we heard a shrill, and mom yelled “the cow!!”  The red Coats killed the cow. They said if they knew we were niggers they wouldn't have touched our cow. They were saying they should take me back to New York with them, they thought I was a boy, so they reached out and tried to touch my breasts. Right then pa stepped in and said “take your hands off that child or I’m going to kill you”

                The soldier that was touching me looked at Pa, laughed, and let go. I kind of jumped back to the cabin door. The soldier raised his musket and said “you’ll do what, and Pa said “I’ll rip your head off”. And the soldier said “if you was white I’d run you through” and walked away. Then pa said “is the horse alright? Ma “said yes but they got the cow, Pa said “good”. We suddenly heard a pop-pop-pop from across the river they were fighting in New London. Pa said “get me something to eat Lucy” She got him pork and biscuits. Then Pa said “Willy I want you to ride up there with me to bring the horse back” the mom said “no not the child” and Pa said “I ain't going to get her killed” I went and got one of my dad’s hats and wore it because I already had shorts on so then I looked like a boy. As we rode to the fort we saw people running and carrying stuff in their arms. They were taking it to the field to hide it from the British. There was smoke drifting up from New London. We circled around behind the fort and came up through the back. The British was going to burn the town down I knew that. The firing started to get closer and I wished Pa would change his mind and go back home. “my heart began to race and my legs felt weak and wobbly. Pa had to climb up the wall and hope someone would be there to give him a hand. They pulled him headfirst over the wall. The British start shooting at me and then I have to get help into the fort so I’m safe.