My old master, George Larrimore, married Jane Roane, the sister of a gentleman named John Roane, one of the most distinguished men in Virginia, who in turn married a sister of my master.  One of his sisters married a Judge Scott, and another married Mr. Brockenbrough of Charlottesville.  Mr. Larrimore had three children; George, Jane, and Elizabeth.  The former was just ten days older than myself; and I was his playmate and constant associate in childhood.  I used to go with him to his school, and carry his books for him as far as the door, and meet him there when the school was dismissed.  We were very fond of each other, and frequently slept together.  He taught me the letters of the alphabet, and I should soon have acquired a knowledge of reading, had not George’s mother discovered her son in the act of teaching me.  She took him aside and severely reprimanded him.  When I asked him, not long after, to tell me more of what he had learned at school, he said that his mother had forbidden him to do so any more, as her father had a slave, who was instructed in reading and writing, and on that account proved very troublesome.  He could, they said, imitate the hand-writing of the neighboring planters, and used to write passes and certificates of freedom for the slaves, and finally wrote one for himself, and went off to Philadelphia, from whence her father received from him a saucy letter, thanking him for his education.

The early years of my life went by pleasantly.  The bitterness of my lot I had not yet realized.  Comfortably clothed and fed, kindly treated by my old master and mistress and the young ladies, and the playmate and confidant of my young master, I did not dream of the dark reality of evil before me.

When he was fourteen years of age, master George went to his uncle Brockenbrough’s at Charlottesville, as a student of the University.  After his return from College, he went to Paris and other parts of Europe, and spent three or four years in study and travelling.  In the mean time I was a waiter in the house, dining-room servant, &c.  My old master visited and received visits from a great number of the principal families in Virginia.  Each summer, with his family, he visited the Sulphur Springs and the mountains.  While George was absent, I went with him to New-Orleans, in the winter season, on account of his failing health.  We spent three days in Charleston, at Mr. McDuffie’s, with whom my master was on intimate terms.  Mr. McDuffie spent several days on one occasion at Mt.  Pleasant.  He took a fancy to me, and offered my master the servant whom he brought with him and $500 beside, for me.  My master considered it almost an insult, and said after he was gone, that Mr. McDuffie needed money to say the least, as much as he did.

He had a fine house in Richmond, and used to spend his winters there with his family, taking me with him.  He was not there much at other times, except when the Convention of 1829 for amending the State Constitution, was held in that city.  He had a quarrel with Mr. Neal of Richmond Co., in consequence of some remarks upon the subject of Slavery.  It came near terminating in a duel.  I recollect that during the sitting of the Convention, my master asked me before several other gentlemen, if I wished to be free and go back to my own country.  I looked at him with surprise, and inquired what country?