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great boxes; I had them shipped on board; not as my goods; 

but as consigned to my real name in Virginia; and had the 

bills of loading signed by a captain in my pocket; and in these 

boxes was my plate and watches; and everything of value 

except my money; which I kept by itself in a private drawer 

in my chest; which could not be found; or opened; if found; 

with splitting the chest to pieces。



In this condition I lay for three weeks in the ship; not knowing 

whether I should have my husband with me or no; and therefore 

not resolving how or in what manner to receive the honest 

boatswain's proposal; which indeed he thought a little strange 

at first。



At the end of this time; behold my husband came on board。  

He looked with a dejected; angry countenance; his great heart 

was swelled with rage and disdain; to be dragged along with 

three keepers of Newgate; and put on board like a convict; 

when he had not so much as been brought to a trial。  He made 

loud complaints of it by his friends; for it seems he had some 

interest; but his friends got some check in their application; 

and were told he had had favour enough; and that they had 

received such an account of him; since the last grant of his 

transportation; that he ought to think himself very well treated 

that he was not prosecuted anew。  This answer quieted him at 

once; for he knew too much what might have happened; and 

what he had room to expect; and now he saw the goodness of 

the advice to him; which prevailed with him to accept of the 

offer of a voluntary transportation。  And after this his chagrin 

at these hell…hounds; as he called them; was a little over; he 

looked a little composed; began to be cheerful; and as I was 

telling him how glad I was to have him once more out of their 

hands; he took me in his arms; and acknowledged with great 

tenderness that I had given him the best advice possible。  'My 

dear;' says he; 'thou has twice saved my life; from henceforward 

it shall be all employed for you; and I'll always take your advice。'



The ship began now to fill; several passengers came on board; 

who were embarked on no criminal account; and these had 

accommodations assigned them in the great cabin; and other 

parts of the ship; whereas we; as convicts; were thrust down 

below; I know not where。  But when my husband came on 

board; I spoke to the boatswain; who had so early given me 

hints of his friendship in carrying my letter。  I told him he had 

befriended me in many things; and I had not made any suitable 

return to him; and with that I put a guinea into his hand。  I told 

him that my husband was now come on board; that though 

we were both under the present misfortune; yet we had been 

persons of a different character from the wretched crew that 

we came with; and desired to know of him; whether the captain 

might not be moved to admit us to some conveniences in the 

ship; for which we would make him what satisfaction he 

pleased; and that we would gratify him for his pains in procuring 

this for us。  He took the guinea; as I could see; with great 

satisfaction; and assured me of his assistance。



Then he told us he did not doubt but that the captain; who was 

one of the best…humoured gentlemen in the world; would be 

easily brought to accommodate us as well as we could desire; 

and; to make me easy; told me he would go up the next tide 

on purpose to speak to the captain about it。  The next morning; 

happening to sleep a little longer than ordinary; when I got up; 

and began to look abroad; I saw the boatswain among the men 

in his ordinary business。  I was a little melancholy at seeing 

him there; and going forward to speak to him; he saw me; and 

came towards me; but not giving him time to speak first; I said; 

smiling; 'I doubt; sir; you have forgot us; for I see you are very 

busy。'  He returned presently; 'Come along with me; and you 

shall see。'  So he took me into the great cabin; and there sat 

a good sort of a gentlemanly man for a seaman; writing; and 

with a great many papers before him。



'Here;' says the boatswain to him that was a…writing; 'is the 

gentlewoman that the captain spoke to you of'; and turning to 

me; he said; 'I have been so far from forgetting your business; 

that I have been up at the captain's house; and have represented 

faithfully to the captain what you said; relating to you being 

furnished with better conveniences for yourself and your 

husband; and the captain has sent this gentleman; who is made 

of the ship; down with me; on purpose to show you everything; 

and to accommodate you fully to your content; and bid me 

assure you that you shall not be treated like what you were at 

first expected to be; but with the same respect as other passengers 

are treated。'



The mate then spoke to me; and; not giving me time to thank 

the boatswain for his kindness; confirmed what the boatswain 

had said; and added that it was the captain's delight to show 

himself kind and charitable; especially to those that were 

under any misfortunes; and with that he showed me several 

cabins built up; some in the great cabin; and some partitioned 

off; out of the steerage; but opening into the great cabin on 

purpose for the accommodation of passengers; and gave me 

leave to choose where I would。  However; I chose a cabin 

which opened into the steerage; in which was very good 

conveniences to set our chest and boxes; and a table to eat on。



The mate then told me that the boatswain had given so good 

a character of me and my husband; as to our civil behaviour; 

that he had orders to tell me we should eat with him; if we 

thought fit; during the whole voyage; on the common terms 

of passengers; that we might lay in some fresh provisions; if 

we pleased; or if not; he should lay in his usual store; and we 

should have share with him。  This was very reviving news to 

me; after so many hardships and afflictions as I had gone 

through of late。  I thanked him; and told him the captain should 

make his own terms with us; and asked him leave to go and 

tell my husband of it; who was not very well; and was not yet 

out of his cabin。  Accordingly I went; and my husband; whose 

spirits were still so much sunk with the indignity (as he 

understood it) offered him; that he was scare yet himself; was 

so revived with the account that I gave him of the reception 

we were like to have in the ship; that he was quite another man; 

and new vigour and courage appeared in his very countenance。  

So true is it; that the greatest of spirits; when overwhelmed 

by their afflictions; are subject to the greatest dejections; and 

are the most apt to despair and give themselves up。



After some little pause to recover himself; my husband came 

up with me; and gave the mate thanks for the kindness; which 

he had expressed to us; and sent suitable acknowledgment by 

him to the captain; offering to pay him by advance; whatever 

he demanded for our passage; and for the conveniences he had 

helped us to。  The mate told him that the captain would be on 

board in the afternoon; and that he would leave all that till he 

came。  Accordingly; in the afternoon the captain came; and we 

found him the same courteous; obliging man that the boatswain 

had represented him to be; and he was so well pleased with 

my husband's conversation; that; in short; he would not let us 

keep the cabin we had chosen; but gave us one that; as I said 

before; opened into the great cabin。



Nor were his conditions exorbitant; or the man craving and 

eager to make a prey of us; but for fifteen guineas we had our 

whole passage and provisions and cabin; ate at the captain's 

table; and were very handsomely entertained。



The captain lay himself in the other part of the great cabin; 

having let his round house; as they call it; to a rich planter 

who went over with his wife and three children; who ate by 

themselves。  He had some other ordinary passengers; who 

quartered in the steerage; and as for our old fraternity; they 

were kept under the hatches while the ship lay there; and came 

very little on the deck。



I could not refrain acquainting my governess with what had 

happened; it was but just that she; who was so really concerned 

for me; should have part in my good fortune。  Besides; I wanted 

her assistance to supply me with several necessaries; which 

before I was shy of letting anybody see me have; that it might 

not be public; but now I had a cabin and room to set things in; 

I ordered abundance of good things for our comfort in the 

voyage; as brandy; sugar; lemons; etc。; to make punch; and 

treat our benefactor; the captain; and abundance of things for 

eating and drinking in the voyage; also a larger bed; and bedding 

proportioned to it; so that; in a word; we resolved to want for 

nothing in the voyage。



All this while I had provided noth

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