The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1880-06-17
A SLAVE PRINCESS.
The Strange Story of a Remarkable Adven-
turess-Sarah Wilson's Wanderines-HOw
Convict Slave Impersonated March,
ioness.
Nem York Ereuiin0 Post.

Itwas common practice in some of
the American Colonies to sell white per-
sons into slavery for limited number of
wears, butt was not common to term this
sort of servitude slavery, although it was
such to all intents and purposes. The
person sold was called a servant, and the
indenture that bound him or her during
the period of servitude gave the master
complete control over his servant, with
the right to punish him severely for any
offence, or to hunt him down if he attemp-
ted to escape from bondage. Some Of
the old laws of Virginia under this head
were harsh in the extreme, and if they
were rigidly enforced, as we may presume
was the case, hard, indeed, must have
been the lot of any bond-servant who in
Cured the displeasure of his master.
The source from which many servants
of this kind were obtained was the courts
of England, where it was customary to
transport 70 America prisoners who had
been convicted of offences not punishable
by death, but who we're too great offenders
to be kept at home in overcrowded jails.
They were accordingly shipped to the
colonies and were sold for alimited num-
Der of years, usually seven. An an
nouncement like that which follows,
which appeared in the Pennsylvania
Gazette as late as July %, 1874, was at
one time very common: "Just arrived
from Londonderry, in the brig Peggy,
Capt. Stewart, a number of fine, healthy
men and women servants, and some
small boys, whose times are to be dis
posed of to the best bidders by the cap
tain, on board, or by Campbell & Kings
ton, on the wharf"
A convict sent to this country in l77l
created sensation, and so extraordinary
was her career that her name has found a
place in history. It is true that where it
appears in the records of the times it is
but bare mention; but the dozen or
twenty lines given to her in Doran's
olives of the Queens of England of the
House of Hanover" shows that her ad.
ventures in America were the subject of
discussion, perhaps of mirth, in the draw
ing rooms of Queen Charlotte. In that
brief outline there are few errors. The
story, as have been able to gather it
from different sources, is as follows: In
August, 1770, a woman who had no bus
iness there found her way, by means of
the private stairs, into the apartments
of Queen Charlotte. Entering the room
in which the Queen and the Duchess of
Ancestor were sitting she took a survey
of everything there with the greatest
composure. The Queen and the Ouch
ess were too much alarmed to expel her;
but at length the Duchess had the pres
ence of mind to ring the bell, which
brought page, who with difficulty forced
the intruder to retire. But little more
was thought of this piece of presumption; ;
but short time after the affair the
Queens apartments were again entered
and this time cabinet was broken open
and robbed of valuable jewels and min
iature of the Queen. The thief proved
to be woman named Sarah Wilson,
the maid of the Hon. Miss Vernon, sis
ter of Lady GrOsvenors and who was
probably the same woman who had pre-
viously entered the apartments. She was
apprehended and tried and condemned
to death; But through the influence Of
her mistress the sentence was commuted
to transportation to America, there to be
sold for period of seven years-a step
that created some stir in London, for
there were persons who complained that
in this way the gallows had been cheat
ed.
In 177l Sarah Wilson, sent out in a
convict ship, landed in Maryland, where
she was exposed for sale and was bought
by William Duyall, of Bush Greek, Fred
eric County, to whom she was legally
bound for the stipulated term of years.
Duvall took her to his residence, where
she remained in his service apparently
contented, till an opportunity offered
to make good her escape. From Bush
Creek she found her way into Virginia,
and passed through North Carolina to
South Carolina, where she felt that she
had put too wide strip of country be-
tween herself and her master to render
return to slavery probable. With no
fear of arrest to haunt her, she assumed
the title of the Princess Susanna Caro-.
lima Matilda, and asserted that she was
sister of the Queen. The richness Of
some of her apparel, her jewels and the
miniature of the Queen gave color to her
statement, which was generally believed.
Having gained footing, she travelled
from plantation to plantation, assuming
the air of royalty, and with so much dig
nifty that many persons thought they were
honored when they were permitted to kiss
her hand. To all persons who found
their way into her presence she was gra-
cious, and liberal in the promise of favors
from her own hand and from that of her
royal sister. One woman was to have a
place near her person; man was to be
at the head of regiment; some persons
were to be honored with preferments in
the treasury, while others were to be as
signed to prominent positions in the army
and navy. There was no end to her lib
erality, and her newly-found friends were
equally obliging; for they placed consid-
erable sums at her disposal. For sea-
son she lacked nothing-nothing till her
fame reached the more northern colonies,
where Duvall, who had heard these re-
markable stories, recognized in the de.
scription of the Princess Matilda his run
away bond woman, and forthwith sought
to recover her. The first step was to ad-
vertise her, which he did in the follow
ing manner:
"Bush Creek, frederick County, Mary
land, October II, 1771. Ran away from
the subscriber, a convict servant, named
Sarah Wilson, but has changed her name
to Lady Susanna Caroline Matilda,
which made the public believe that she
was her Majesty's sister. She has blem-
ish in her right eye, black rolled hair,
stoops in the shoulders, and makes a COM
mon practice of writing and marking her
clothes with crown and B. Whoever
secures the said servant woman, or will
take her home, shall receive five pistoles,
besides all cost of charges.
WILLIAM DUvALL.
IT entitle Michael Dalton to search the
city of Philadelphia, and from there to
Charleston, for the said woman"