Having reached my fifty-fourth year, I hired two negro
men, one named William Jacklin, and the other Mingo. Mingo lived with
me one year, and having received his wages, run in debt to me eight
dollars, for which he gave me his note. I procured a warrant, took
him, and requested him to go to Justice Throop's of his own accord,
but he refusing, I took him on my shoulders, and carried him there,
distant about two miles. The justice asking me if I had my prisoner's
note with me, and replying that I had not, he told me that I must
return with him and get it. Accordingly I carried Mingo back on my
shoulders, but before we arrived at my dwelling, he complained of
being hurt, and asked me if this was not a hard way of treating our
fellow creatures. I answered him that it would be hard thus to treat
our honest fellow creatures. He then told me that if I would let him
off my shoulders, he had a pair of silver shoe-buckles, one shirt and
a pocket handkerchief, which he would turn out to me. I agreed, and
let him return home with me on foot; but the very following night, he
slipped from me, stole my horse and has never paid me even his note.
The other negro man, Jacklin, being a comb-maker by trade, he
requested me to set him up, and promised to reward me well with his
labor. Accordingly I bought him a set of tools for making combs, and
procured him stock.
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