Ukawsaw Gronniosaw
a man sold into slavery · West Africa · Britain · 18th century
By his own account he was born in Bornu, in West Africa, grandson of its king on his mother's side. As a boy he went to the Gold Coast and was sold to a Dutch captain; freed in America when the master he served died, he crossed to England and lived there as a poor labourer. Past sixty, he told his life story, which was printed at Bath in 1772.
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1772 · From his boyhood, just after he was sold on the Gold Coast and taken aboard a Dutch ship. The captain read prayers to the crew every Sunday. The book was taken down from his own telling in England.
I was never so surprised in my whole life as when I saw the book talk to my master; for I thought it did, as I observed him to look upon it, and move his lips.--I wished it would do so to me.--As soon as my master had done reading I follow'd him to the place where he put the book, being mightily delighted with it, and when nobody saw me, I open'd it and put my ear down close upon it, in great hope that it wou'd say something to me; but was very sorry and greatly disappointed when I found it would not speak, this thought immediately presented itself to me, that every body and every thing despis'd me because I was black.
A Narrative of the Most Remarkable Particulars in the Life of James Albert Ukawsaw Gronniosaw, an African Prince, as Related by Himself (1772)
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