20 



New Hampshire consisted of about 10,000 white and 200 

 black people. Of the latter, more or less were slaves. Slav- 

 ery was recognized and regulated by the Provincial law. It 

 was never formally abolished in New Hampshire, but was 

 simply ignored in its state constitutions and laws. It was un- 

 profitable and its maintenance was undesirable. Had it been 

 otherwise, it might have continued as long in New Hampshire 

 as it did in Georgia ; for it is often a humiliating fact, that 

 while persons declaim loudly upon great moral and religious 

 duties and principles, they quietly regulate their private actions 

 by what they deem their private interests. 



In the first minister's day, slavery was well nigh universal 

 among the nations, and its injustice was little thought of. But, 

 from the traditions which have come down to us, it is a matter 

 of some doubt, whether here in New Hampshire, the master 

 ruled his slaves, or his slaves the master. It is quite certain 

 that their service was easy and their lives contented. 



Tradition says that on one occasion, when his servant, Prince, 

 went with an ox team upon the farm, the first minister accom- 

 panied him. Coming to a slough in the road, the latter seated 

 himself upon the rear end of the cart and Jthe darkey mounted 

 the tongue. In the deepest part of this slough the cart tipped 

 up and the minister found himself in the water, to the loud 

 regrets of his driver, who sorrowfully informed him that the 

 pin which held it down had jolted out. A few days later, the 

 order of riding was reversed, and at the same place, the cart 

 again tipped up and this time dumped Prince into the water. 

 Sitting quietly upon the cart tongue and holding up the pin, 

 the good-natured parson with a twinkling eye remarked, " The 

 pin, Prince, has jostled out again, just as it did before." 



Against the date of December 31, 1746, is this entry in the 

 first minister's diary: " Went to Canterbury. Bought a negro 

 wench of Capt. Clough for w h I am to give him JE140." The 

 bill of sale of Prince together with those of several others of his 

 slaves have been preserved. That of Prince reads as follows: 



Woburn, July 10, 1 751 . 

 For value rec d I have this day sold to Mr. Timothy 

 Walker a negro boy named Prince, which I have owned for 

 some time past. Ruth Hayward. 



