Chapter 1
My family moved to America in the 1600s. The exact date is always up for debate but we definitely moved here. In 1689, we struck gold in our coal mine and our life has changed after that. We became one of the richest families and we still are one of the richest. My daddy always told me about how other families would try and suduce the men and how mad everyone would get if they denied them. We’ve stayed within our family and only marrying those who prove their worth. Most didn’t realize that the women either cooked, cleaned and cared or worked in the mines. They didn’t want those conditions so my family turned them away.
In 1699, the first shipment of slaves came from England. Of course, my family being the wealthiest ones, we got to pick the best of the litter. It started with two, Miss June and Frederick. My daddy explained that since there were too few slaves, they needed two of them that can reproduce and have children. At first, Frederick didn’t agree to it, he wouldn’t have children with Miss June. He claimed it was wrong to have sexual relations with someone who wasn’t his own wife. My daddy said his great grandfather then bought Fredericks wife and told Frederick that him and his wife and their children would forever be safe as long as they stayed our family.
For 40 years, we have kept our promise. We buy slaves and protect them, feed them, and make their lives as happy as possible. We always told them that we don’t own them, they can leave whenever they want. Sometimes, we do get one boy who decides he wants to leave but others caught him and hung him.
The year is 1739, my daddy and I still keep our promise to our guests. The children and grandchildren of Frederick, Miss Daisy and Miss June still live with us. This is our story, this is my story. My name is Elizabeth Blackwell and I am 17 years old.
