Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1844-03-30

pretended mistress, and also heard the statement
of Mrs. E., resolved to protect him. A petit
ton for freedom was accordingly filed by an en-
inent lawyer in this city, VIM. Gwinn, Esq. The
boy in the mean time being placed In custody of
the writer Of this history.
1t is not necessary to our present purpose, that
we should here go into detail of the contest that
followed. The struggle was earnestly contested
on all sides and the result was, that it terminated
in compromise between the parties, and the boy.
whose African name was Lootank, obtained his
liberty.
Finding himself free, Lootank earnestly entrea-
ted the gentleman who had protected him, to take
| him into his famy-which was accordingly done,
and he here conducted himself so satisfactorily,
that he gained the confidence and regard of his
employer, and by care and frugaty, saved every
year more than one half of his wages He was in
fact, faithful, honest attentive servant, and very
rigid in the observance Of his duties as a ST. let
Catholic, in which faith he had been instructed by
Mons. Boyer.
After remaining in this family several years,
Lootank married an orderly colored girl of good
disposition and habits, of the same religious faith
as himself-but unfortunately she was slave!
This girl was a chambermaid in a respectable
family in Baltimore; the head of it, being at that
time wealthy dry goods merchant living in Mar
ket street, a few doors west of Charles street.
Within the course of three or four years she had
|
brance to the family; her master therefore determ-
med to sell her, and she accordingly was private
ly disposed Of to a slave dealer, and hurried on
board vessel, then the point of sailing to New
| Orleans, without the slightest intiuatun huyiug
been given either to herself or her husband, who
in fact knew nothing Of her removal until after
she had salled-and then he was refused any in
formation whatever regarding her destination.
Lootank, who up to this time had been cheerful
and apparently contended, at once sunk into con-
dition of the most gloomy melancholy that
moment, he scarcely ever uttered word unless
he was spoken to, and was never seen to smile
He continued for several months in this state of
wretchedness and despondency, scarcely ever lea
wing the house, unless sent out; and finally, from
being perfectly sober man, he rapidly fell into a
habit of intoXication.
His past good conduct and his affective circum-
stances which had led to his present condition,
naturally excited the commiseraton of the family
in which he lived, and every effort was made to
reclaim him, but nothing could be done-his case
was utterly hopeless, and it was evident that he
was lost man. Though now of little use in the
family, he was permitted to remain, and was pro-
vided for; his life at length becoming a burthcn to
him, he concluded to 60 to sea; aud without con-
sultng any one, engaged cook on board a
vessel bound to Havana.
About two years subsequent TO this movement
on the part of LoOtank, during all which time
nothing had been heard from him, and when il
was supposed he was dead, he suddenly present
ed himself in the kitchen ofhs former protector
His appearance was squalid and very miserable
his health gone, and his constitution rrecIaima-
bly, destroyed Upon being questioned in rea-
ton to his adventures, since he sailed, he gave the
following account Of himself
He states that upon arriving at the Island Of Gu
Fl br, he was constantly employed in various sery
ces about the vessel, until she was reloaded and
about to return home; he was then sold by the
Captain as a slave, to a Spaniar1, with whom he
remained without disclosing his right to freedom
or making any remonstrance or complaints bu
with fixed determination to avail himself of the
> first opportunity to escape.
f After remaining in Cuba something more thar
l year, chance led him to an acquaintance witt
the steward of brig which at that time was load
, ing at Havana for New Orleans, and to whom he
made known his case. After some conference be
tween them, it was agreed that he should, thu
1 night before the vessel sailed, be Struggled OF
, board and slowed away which accordingly wa
done The brig sailed the next morning-th
+ passage was made in few days, and the stewart
managed to keep him concealed and furnish hin
: with food, until he was safely landed at New Or
leans.
h Arrived IN that city, he found himself nearl
+ without money, and unknown to every individual
there. In this condition he had no resource bu
10 seek employment ABOUT lHe QuayS, as ne cCuI
: pick up, and thus from day to day he managed t.
, obtain precarious subsistence-no one question
ing his right to freedom, or in any way molcstin
Y HIM.
f Being ola civil and obliging disposition an
Wlbal, when sober, an excellent servant he at
tracted the notice Of gentleman at New Orleans
who was about to make VISIT to an estate Whic
he owned some twenty or thirty miles above tn
city, and where he expected to remain severa
q weeks. This gentleman agreed to take him int
y his service as an out-rider and hody-servant +
: attend him. They had only proceeded shor
distance on their journey, when passing field il
: which large number Of hands were Iaboring nea
the road, poor Lootant discovered amongst then
+ his wife, who had been so barbarously torn from
| him, and ofwhom he had since, until this moment
heard nothing. He instantly cried out to his new
Y master and implored that he light be permitted
2 to stop and speak to her. This favor was grant
Y ed. Upon approaching his wife, he was over
: come by his feelings, that for several minutes h
could not utter word. The overseer who wa
with this gang, as soon as he was made acquaint
ed with the circumstances, bluntly told Lo0tank
that he must proceed on his Journey, as he cou
y not permit the work to be longer interrupted Hi
wife then informed him that it was useless 70
him to remain there-that their connexon wa
= dssolved-that she had now another husband, am
even if he were disposed, for her sake, to max
himself slave and remain, it would do no good
Il and he had better make up his mind to leave ant
h forget her forever.
= Upon this, more dead than alive he was take
e away, and proceeded on his journey. The gen
. tleman with whom he was now travelling being
; humane man, upon learning his history, kindI