Runaway Slave

“Get him!” Samuel Johnson frantically chased Frederick Bailey through the streets of Clinton. It was May 15th, 1820, and enslaved Frederick Bailey was escaping his master.

Frederick Bailey was 14 years old and living with his enslaved family with their master, Samuel Johnson. Frederick was running away to meet his soulmate, Clary Exiter, who was also a slave. To get to Clary, Frederick had to journey on foot through East Guilford, Clinton, and then arrive in Old Saybrook. Frederick and Clary had met in Guilford a few weeks prior, when their masters were having a gathering. They had decided that Frederick would leave at 9:00, and hopefully arrive in Old Saybrook by 1:00 (providing he didn’t run into too much trouble). From there they would travel up to Boston, where Frederick’s freed uncle lives.

Today was the day. Frederick would leave his family and master in East Guilford and start a new life with Clary. “Master, I am going into town, would you like anything?”

Samuel answered, “Get me a gallon of water you stupid child.”

“Yes sir,” said Frederick. Frederick then took his bag and said his goodbyes to his family. Frederick was now off on his journey.

Frederick walked through the streets of East Guilford at a steady pace hoping to get to Old Saybrook as soon as possible. First, Frederick needed to get some supplies with the money that he stole from Samuel. First up was food and water. He went to a local market and purchased some water and bread. Next was a new pair of sturdy shoes which he bought from a nearby store. Lastly, he needed some maps. He went to his friend’s house and picked up the maps for travel directions. At last, Frederick was ready.

“Where’s Frederick?” Samuel asked Lettuce, Frederick’s mom.

“I have no idea, sir.”

“It has been over an hour and he isn’t back yet. I have a feeling he isn’t coming back soon. Negro, get me my coat.” Samuel then went out to try to find Frederick.

“According to these maps, I am a third of the way to Old Saybrook,” Frederick said to himself. Once arriving in Old Saybrook, Frederick hoped he would travel smoothly up to Boston from there with Clary. Oh, he really was dying to see Clary again. The way her brown eyes twinkled in the sunlight, and her beautiful dark skin as smooth as silk. He still had a long distance until he would reach her.

“Do you know the whereabouts of a negro boy that goes by the name of Frederick?” Samuel asked the store owner.

“Yes. He just bought some bread and water from me, and seemed to be heading east towards Old Saybrook,” said the owner.

“Thank you,” said Samuel Johnson. Samuel thought about how when he tracked down that boy, he would give him many beatings.

Frederick had to take an unexpected break in a side street in Clinton for an hour to cool down a little bit. The sun made him feel like he was basting like a turkey in an oven. Frederick had the eerie feeling he was being watched, but shook it off and continued walking.

As Samuel was arriving in Clinton, he remembered that Frederick was wearing a brown hat. He would look out for that brown hat. When Samuel arrived in Clinton, he went down a few side streets. While going down one, he saw Frederick wearing that brown hat. Samuel screamed, “Get that boy!”

That is precisely when Frederick took off in a sprint, turning around many different corners. Samuel chased Frederick, starting to get closer and closer to him. Frederick looked as if he was headed straight for a bale of hay, but suddenly turned right. Right before that hay bale was a patch of mud, which Samuel slipped in, and then went face-first into the bale of hay.

“Woo-hoo!” cheered Frederick when he got back on route to Old Saybrook.

Samuel was exhausted from the chase and just laid next to the bale of hay for ten minutes.

Samuel finally arrived at Clary’s house two hours later, sneaking in the window, and hugged her. He helped her get her bags together, and sneak back out. From there, they would take a boat up to Boston.

“How was the walk up to Old Saybrook, honey?” Clary asked Frederick.

“Not too great. My master is right on my tail, so let’s move quickly. Thankfully he won’t be able to chase us out on the water.”

Clary and Frederick boarded the sailboat and were just about to leave when they saw him. It was Samuel, covered from head to toe in mud, dirt, hay and anger.

“You will pay for this!” Samuel jumped and landed onto the sailboat just as they were pushing from the shore.

“No!” Clary yelled.

The wind that day was incredibly fast, moving their sailboat hundreds of feet off the shore in seconds.

“Well, well, well. It seems here we have two escaped slaves.” Pointing to Clary he said, “I am sure your master will be very grateful when I return you back to him.” He circled around them.

“If you do,” Clary muttered angrily.

“We can do this the easy way or the hard way,” Samuel said very slowly.

“I choose the hard way,” Frederick said just as he swept out Samuel’s feet. Samuel fell hard to the floor of the boat, twisting his ankle.

“This is for the years of pain you have put my whole family in.” With that, Frederick hauled him up in the air and threw him overboard. Samuel slowly swam back to shore to care for his wound.

“I will get you for this!” screamed Samuel.

“Sure you will,” Frederick said sarcastically.

“Hopefully we never see that man again,” exclaimed Clary.

“Yeah,” Frederick said as he exhaled slowly.

A day later they arrived in Boston and moved into Frederick’s uncle’s house. After living comfortably in Boston for a while, they got word that Frederick’s mom, Lettuce, had died on December 4th, 1820. Frederick had felt as if someone stabbed him straight in his heart. At least he was with Clary. Two years later, he married Clary on October 30, 1822. But for the rest of his life, Frederick would still have to live his life feeling like a runaway slave.

Author’s Statement

My intention with this piece was to tell Frederic’s story because it felt like we were focusing mainly on Lettuce. I wanted to make it an action/thriller story, and make sure people would remember it. I think I achieved my goals, by adding in lots of juicy verbs and adjectives. I also focused on Frederic’s story, but also mentioned Lettuce. I hope people will remember Frederic’s story, and also how badly the enslaved were treated. I tied in a lot of historic knowledge with facts, and dates. The biggest challenge was the lack of knowledge. A lot of the things, I had to infer, and think, is that probably what happened? I also had to double-check all of my dates and facts. Another challenge was how much I could “make up” with a historical fiction story, and balance the truth with what would be entertaining. This was an assignment that I had to put a lot of effort into, and I think I did just that.