The Poor Unhappy

Transported Felon's

Sorrowful Account.

OF

His fourteen Years Trans-

portation at Virginia in America.

In SIX PARTS.

By James Revel, the unhappy Sufferer.

SHEWING,

How his Father having only this one Son, made
him his Darling, and when he was old enough
put him Apprentice to a Tin-man, near Moor-
fields, where he got into bad Company. How,
he ran away from his Master, and went a rob-
bing with a Gang of Thieves. How his Master
got him back again, but he would not be kept
from his wicked Companions, but went thiev-
ing with them again. How he was transported
for Fourteen Years. With an account of the
way the Transports work, and the Punishment
they receive for committing any Fault.

Concluding with a word of Advice to all young Men.

London, Printed and Sold in Stone-

cutter-Street, Fleet-Market.

The poor unhappy Transported Felon.

PART I.

MY loving countrymen pray lend an ear,
To this relation that I bring you here,
My present sufferings at large I will unfold,
Altho' its strange, 'tis true as e'er was told.

Of honest parents I did come tho' poor,
Who besides me had children never more,
Near temple-bar was born their darling son,
In virtue's paths he for some time did run.

My parents in me took a vast delight,
And sent me unto school to read and write,
And cast accompts likewise as it appears,
Until that I was aged thirteen years.

Then to a tin man I was apprentice bound,
My master and my mistress good I found,
They lik'd me well, my business I did mind,
From me my parents comfort hop'd to find.

My master near unto Moorfields did dwell,
Here into wicked company I fell,
To wickedness I quickly was inclin'd,
So soon is tainted any youthful mind.

I from my master then did run away,
And rov'd about the streets both night and day,
Did with a gang of thieves a robbing go,
Which fill'd my parents hearts with grief and woe.

At length my master got me home again,
And us'd me well in hopes I might reclaim,
My father tenderly to me did say,
My dearest child why did you run away.

If you had any cause at all for grief.
Why came you not to me to seek relief,
I well do know you did for nothing lack,
Food for the belly, and cloaths for the back.

My mother said, son, I did implore,
That you will from your master go no more,
Your business mind, your master don't forsake,
Lest you again to wicked courses take.

( 3 )
I promis'd fair, but yet could not refrain,
But to my old companions went again,
For vice when once, alas! it taints the mind,
Is not soon rooted out again we find.
With them a thieving I again did go,
But little did my tender parents know,
I followed courses which did seem most vile,
My absence griev'd them being their only child.
A wicked life I liv'd I must confess,
In fear and dread, and great uneasiness,
Which does attend those actions most unjust,
For thieves can never one another trust.
Strong liquor banished the thoughts of fear,
But justice stopped us in our full career,
One night was taken up one of our gang,
Who five impeach'd, and three of them were hang'd.
I was one of the five was try'd and cast,
Yet transportation I did get at last,
A just reward for my vile actions base,
So justice overtook me at the last.
My father vex'd, my mother she took on,
And said, alas! alas! my only son,
My father said, it cuts me to the heart,
To think on such a cause as this we part.
To see him grieve pierced my very soul,
My wicked case I sadly did condole,
With grief and shame my eyes did overflow,
And had much rather choose to die than go.
In vain I grieved and in vain my parents wept,
For I was quickly sent on board the ship,
With melting kisses, and a heavy heart,
I from my parents then did part.

PART II.
IN a few days we left the river quite,
And in short time of land we lost the sight,
The captain and the sailors us'd us well,
But kept us under lest we should rebel.
We were in number much about threesco[re]
A wicked lousy crew as e'er went o'er,
Oaths and tobacco with us plenty were,
Most did smoak, but all did curse and swear

( 4 )
Five of our number in the passage dy'd,
Who were cast into the ocean wide,
And, after sailing seven weeks and more,
We at Virginia all were put on shore.

Then to refresh us we were all well clean'd,
That to our buyers we might the better seem,
The things were given that did to each belong,
And they that had clean linen put it on.

Our faces shav'd, comb'd our wigs and hair,
That we in decent order might appear,
Against the Planters did come us to view,
How well they lik'd this fresh transported crew.

The women from us separated stood,
As well as we by them to be thus view'd,
And in short time some men up to us came,
Some ask'd our trade, others ask'd our name.

Some view'd our limbs turning us round,
Examining like horses if we were found,
What trade my lad, said one to me,
A tin-man sir. That will not do for me.

Some felt our hands, others our legs and feet,
And made us walk to see if we were compleat.
Some viewed our teeth, to see if they were good,
And fit to chew our hard and homely food.

If any like our limbs, our looks and trades,
Our captain then a good advantage make,
For they a difference make it doth appear,
'Twixt those of seven and those of fourteen years.

Another difference make it doth appear,
Those who have money will have favour shew'd;
But if no cloaths nor money they have got,
Hard is their fate, and hard will be their lot.

At length a grim old man unto me came,
He ask'd my trade, likewise my name,
I told him I a tin-man was by trade,
And not eighteen years of age I said,

Likewise the cause I told which brought me here,
And for fourteen years transported were;
And when from me he this did understand,
He bought me of the captain out of hand.
PART III.

DOWN to the harbour I was took again,
On board a ship loaded with chains;

( 5 )
Which I was forc'd to wear both night and day,
For fear I from the sloop should run away,

My master was a man but of ill fame,
Who first of all a transport thither came,
In Rapahannock county he did dwell,
In Rapahannock river known full well.

When the ship was laden and home sent,
An hundred miles we up the river went,
The weather cold, and very hard my fare,
My lodgings on the deck both hard and bare.

At last to my new master's house I came,
To the town of Wicowoco call'd by name,
Here my European cloaths were took from me,
Which never after I could ever see.

A canvas shirt and trowzers me they gave,
A hop sack frock in which I was a slave,
No shoes or stockings had I for to wear,
Nor hat nor cap my head and feet were bare.

Thus dress'd, into the field I next did go,
Among tobacco plants all day to hoe,
At day break in the morn our work begun,
And lasted till the setting of the sun.

My fellow slaves were five transports more,
With eighteen negroes which is twenty four,
Besides four transport women in the house,
To wait upon his daughter and his spouse.

We and the negroes both alike did fare,
Of work and food we had an equal share,
And in a piece of ground called our own,
The food we eat first by ourselves is sown.

No other time to us they will allow,
But on a Sunday we the same must do,
Six days we slave for our master's good,
The seventh is to produce our homely food,

And when we a hard day's work have done,
Away unto the mill we must be gone,
'Till twelve or one o'clock a grinding corn,
And must be up by day light in the morn.

And if you get in debt in debt with any one,
It must be paid before from thence you come,
In publick places they'll put up your name,
As every one their just demands may claim.

( 6 )

But if we offer for to run away,
For every hour we must serve a day,
For every day a week, they're so severe,
Every week a month, every month a year.

But if they murder, rob or steal while there,
They're straitway hang'd the laws are so severe,
For by the rigour of that very law,
They are kept under and do stand in awe.

PART IV.

AT last it pleased God I sick did fall,
But I no favour could receive at all,
For I was forc'd to work while I could stand,
Or hold the hoe within my feeble hand.

Much hardship then I did endure,
No dog was ever nursed so before,
More pity then the negro slaves bestow'd,
Than my inhuman brutal master show'd.

Oft on my knees the Lord I did implore,
To let me see my native land once more,
For through his grace my life I would amend,
And be a comfort to my dearest friends.

Helpless and sick and left alone,
I by myself did use to make my moan,
And think upon my former wicked ways,
That had brought me to this wretched case.

The Lord who saw my grief and smart,
And my complaint, he knew my contrite heart,
His gracious mercy did to me afford,
My health again was unto me restor'd.

It pleas'd the Lord to grant to me such grace,
That tho' I was in such a barbarous place,
I serv'd the Lord with fervency and zeal,
By which I did much inward comfort feel.

Now twelve years had passed thus away,
And but two more by law I had to stay,
When death did my cruel master call,
But that was no relief to me at all.

The Widow would not the plantation hold,
So we and that were to be sold,
A Lawyer who at James town did dwell,
Came for to see and lik'd it very well.

( 7 )

He bought the negroes who for life are slaves,
But no transported felons would he have,
So we were put like sheep into the fold,
Unto the best bidder to be sold.
PART V.
A Gentleman who seemed very grave,
Said unto me, how long are you a slave,
Not two years quite, I unto him reply'd,
That is but very short indeed, he cry'd.

He ask'd my trade, name and whence I came,
And what vile fact had brought me to this shame,
I told him all, at which he shook his head,
I hope you have seen your folly now he said.

I told him yes, and truly did repent,
But what made me most of all relent,
That I should to my parents prove so wild,
Being their darling and their only child.

He said no more but from me short did turn,
While from my eyes the tears did trickling run,
To see him to my overseer to go,
But what he said to him, I do not know,

He straitway came unto me again,
And said, no longer you must here remain,
For I have bought you of this man said he,
Therefore prepare yourself to go with me.

I went with him, my heart opprest with woe,
Not knowing him or where I must go,
But was surprized very much to find,
He used me so tenderly and kind.

He said he would not use me as a slave,
But as a servant if I'd well behave,
And if I pleas'd him when my time expir'd,
He'd send me home again if I requir'd.

My kind new master did at James-town dwell,
By trade a cooper and liv'd very well,
I was his servant on him to attend,
Thus God unlook'd for raised me a friend.
PART VI.

THUS did I live in plenty, peace and ease,
Having none but my master to please,
And if at any time he did ride out,
I with him rode the country round about.

( 8 )

And in my heart I often griev'd to see,
So many transport felons there to be,
Some who in England have liv'd fine and brave,
Were like horses forc'd to trudge and slave.

At length my fourteen years expir'd quite,
Which fill'd my very soul with fond delight,
To think I should no longer there remain,
But to old England once return again.

My master for me did express much love,
And as good as his promise he did prove,
He got me ship'd and I came home again,
With joy and comfort tho' I went with pain.

My father and mother well I found,
Who to see me with joy did abound,
My mother over me did weep with joy,
My father cry'd, once more I see my boy.

Whom I thought dead, but does alive remain,
And is returned to me once again,
I hope God has so wrought upon my mind,
No more to wickedness thoul't be inclin'd,

I told him all the dangers I went thro',
Likewise my sickness, and my hardships too,
Which fill'd their tender hearts with sad surprize,
While melting tears ran trickling from their eyes,

I begg'd of them from all grief to refrain,
Since God had brought me to their home again,
The Lord unto me so much grace would give,
To work for you both while I do live.

My countrymen take warning e'er too late,
Lest you shou'd share my unhappy fate,
Altho' but little crimes you here have done,
Think of seven or fourteen years to come.

Forc'd from your friends and country to go,
Among the Negroes to work at the hoe,
Indifferent countries void of all relief,
Sold for a slave because you prov'd a thief.

Now young men all with speed your lives amend
Take my advice, as one that is your friend,
For tho' so slight you do make of it here,
Hard is your lot if you once get there.
FINIS.

Bibliographic Information

London, Printed and Sold in Stone-cutter-Street, Fleet-Market.

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