On these terms I worked the following
winter, and earned four pounds sixteen shillings, one quarter of which
went to my master for the privilege, and the rest was paid him on my
own account. This added to the other payments made up forty four
pounds, eight shillings, which I had paid on my own account. I was
then about thirty five years old.
The next summer I again desired he would give me a chance of going out
to work. But he refused and answered that he must have my labor this
summer, as he did not have it the past winter. I replied that I
considered it as hard that I could not have a chance to work out when
the season became advantageous, and that I must only be permitted to
hire myself out in the poorest season of the year. He asked me after
this what I would give for the privilege per month. I replied that I
would leave it wholly with his own generosity to determine what I
should return him a month. Well then, said he, if so two pounds a
month. I answered him that if that was the least he would take I
would be contented.
Accordingly, I hired myself out at Fisher's Island, and earned twenty
pounds; thirteen pounds six shillings of which my master drew for the
privilege, and the remainder I paid him for my freedom. This made
fifty-one pounds two shillings which I paid him. In October following
I went and wrought six months at Long Island.
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