James Roberts (slave narrative)

James Roberts

"It is not for me to foretell the end of oppression in this country, but one thing is certain, virtue,sobriety, temperance,economy, education and religion, will fit you for any emergency whatever, and are the best qualifications for free men. That their attainment may be your constant pursuit and most earnest endeavr, is the prayer of one now ready to depart."

James Robert's was born in 1753 on the Eastern shore of Maryland, during a time of slavery. He was enslaved by Francis De Shields, a colonel in Washington's army. Robert's fought beside De Shields in the war.once the seven year with Britain ended, Washington became president, and Francis De Shields was now the Vice President of the United States. Five Years later Francis De Shields died. James Roberts because of the loss of his master believed that he was a free man, but instead of freedom he was sold to William Ward. Roberts was torn away from his family and then sold at an auction in New Orleans to Calvin Smith.

While he was enslaved by Calvin Smith he experienced traumatic events on the plantation. His cousin was whipped and put in the stocks only to die a week into being on that very homestead. Soon there after, General Jackson traveled to Calvin Smith's to enlist 500 slaves to prepare for the Battle of New Orleans. Robert's was one of these 500 men. When the army arrived in New Orleans, Jackson saw the fear in his men's eyes. To get their spirits up he said,

“don't be discouraged take a second look at them;they are but men like yourselves. Courage will overcome your fears and dread.”

The triumph of general Jackson's battle had distracted James from his hefty wound upon his head as well as a missing forefinger. After the battle was over, the promise that Jackson had made to the enslaved men had evaporated into thin air. They marched to the Kentucky tavern to drink as much as the men pleased.

"Never," said he, "suffer negroes to have arms; if you do, they will take the country. Suffer them to have no kind of weapons over ten inches long. Never allow them to have a piece of paper with any writing on it whatever. You must examine your slaves very closely, for the time is coming when the slave will get light; and if ever his mind is enlightened on the subject of freedom, you cannot keep him. One slave bought from the East will ruin a multitude of those raised here. Before a slave of mine should go free, I would put him in a barn and burn him alive. Gentlemen, take me at my word; for if you do not, you will be sorry for it before many years. Never arm another set of colored people. We have fooled them now, but never trust them again; they will not be fooled again with this example before them. If you do, you will repent of it but once.”

After the hearts of these men were broken, the only thing James Roberts was allowed to do was go back to work for the master he had learned to despise only to return and observe additional abuse to him and others,

In 1856 James contacted a President Pierce located in Washington city for an interview about receiving a pension for his merits in the war. Pierce said that Robert's was nothing more than a horse or a sheep and that it would be a disgrace to take a pension that his master was still receiving and give it to Roberts.obviously because Robert's was black and Calvin smith was white.

* [http://docsouth.unc.edu/neh/roberts/menu.html James Roberts slave narrative]