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CHAPTER XVIII

THE STORY OF DILL, A NEGRO SLAVE IN THE REVOLUTION

      THE willows had put forth their downy catkins, the blue-birds and robins were abroad in the fields, and all nature had said farewell to grim winter. The spring of 1766 was so far advanced that in early April Mrs. Jeremiah Page ventured to allow her group of little ones to play out in the garden a few hours each sunny day. What a merry group they were, six bright-eyed little children! and what a relief to the mother when she could safely allow them to be out-of-doors, after the long winter, when amusement had to be furnished in the limited apartments of the home, which, however, compared favorably with any of the farmhouses of the day. To be sure, Sarah, the eldest and namesake of the mother, now fifteen years of age, assumed not a little of the care; but with the opening spring came her opportunity for attending school, and neither Jeremiah Page nor his wife would allow anything to keep her from the few weeks of schooling furnished for the girls of the town. The girls must be able to read and write;

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and the Pages, who were in advance of some of the people, were desirous that their daughters should know a little "reckoning." "It won't come amiss," said the father, when being charged with trying "to tiptoe" his girls above the neighbors. Hannah, the baby, was less than a year and a half, while the birthdays of the other four ranged between 1751 and this spring-time.
      The fond parents stood one day at the south window of the best room looking at the merry group, while, like so many samples of perpetual motion, they were amusing themselves around the trunk of the elm whose buds were already swollen to bursting.
      Just then there came a cry of alarm. Lydia, who had been too ambitious, stumbled, and was trampled upon by her eager pursuer. There was no one but mother who had the balm for every wound of flesh or mind, and she was as prompt to respond as were the children to give the alarm. Having effectually applied the remedy and set all to rights, she rejoined her husband, who now began to realize as never before the cares which each day brought to his faithful wife. The illness which had detained Mr. Page from his brick-yard for that one day had afforded an opportunity which the early morning and late evening hours had not granted him.
      "Wife, you must have more, assistance," said Jeremiah Page. "I see these burdens are wear-

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ing upon you. We need a younger slave. Dinah is too old and clumsy to keep an eye out for those children, and catch them when they run away from the house as they are bound to do."
      At this serious moment of parental discussion, black Dinah came rolling into the room. She had overheard the charge as to her abilities, and lost no time to vindicate herself.
      "Lor's sake, Massa Page," exclaimed Dinah, "I car for dem ar chillen jest as well as ever I did. I lubs every one on 'em, specially Hannah;" at the same time stooping to the babe, whom she grabbed up, and covering its little rosy cheeks with audible kisses from her great lips, she waddled away.
      "Dinah is willing and faithful as far as she can be," said Mr. Page, standing in the centre of the room, and looking towards the door which Dinah had just closed behind her and the youngest of the group; "but she would be of more use in some family where she could sit in the chimney corner and knit. She's become too large for us. I must trade her off. The first day I'm down to Salem I'm going to see if Tapley has any fresh stock on hand. It's time for some spring blackbirds from Guinea to be in." Mrs. Page agreed with her husband as to her needs, though she rather disliked to part with her good cook; but like a dutiful wife (particularly of those times) listened to the reasoning of her husband, the

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head of the family, and quietly assented to his further remarks in regard to domestic service. "These black women depreciate in value very rapidly after they reach middle life. Dinah is as large as two now, and takes up lots of room. I know the children are attached to her, but they'll, soon learn to like a young and lively girl."
      It is evident that Jeremiah Page ruled in his family affairs as well as in his brick-yards, but he had a most tender regard for the wife of his youth and mother of his children. Now that he had learned from personal observation what her daily cares were, he was bent upon relieving her.
      Had this family been the only one in the possession of slaves, here would be a time to pause and interject a series of execrations; but the course pursued in this family was such as the customs of the time approved. The families in the highest walks of society were the most thoroughly equipped with colored slaves, or servants as they were sometimes called. Slaves of both sexes were generally found in the families of the clergy, and it was no uncommon thing for a people to present a slave to their pastor as an act of tender regard.
      The Rev. John Hancock of Lexington, grandfather of John Hancock the patriot, received such a gift from his church; Rev. Joseph Sewall of the Old South Church, Boston, was similarly remembered; Rev. Joseph Emerson of Malden, father of

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Rev. William Emerson of Concord, had his slave, but whether acquired by purchase or gift is not known. Rev. Samuel Moody of York, Maine, says by letter to his granddaughter Hannah, daughter of Rev. Joseph Emerson, --
      "My love to your brothers and sisters, not forgetting Dinah; she also is espoused to Christ in her Baptism, and she must love, honor, and obey ye Lord."
      Colonel Page made repeated trips to Salem, but found no negroes on sale who gave promise of what he needed; so he left his order with John Tapley, who agreed to notify him of the arrival of the first freight from Africa in which there were any negroes likely to answer his purpose.
      It was on the morning of April 19, 1766, that the colonel rose from the breakfast-table, lathered and shaved, called for his surtout, and said by way of explanation, "Tapley has sent up word by Putnam that he's got some fresh African stock that'll just suit me; so I'm going down before I go over to the yard. If any one calls, tell 'em I'll be home before noon," with this he mounted his horse and galloped off.
      Mr. Page was a business man, and not long about a trade when he found what he wanted. "In bonds yet, are they?" he asked, as he strode about the storehouse at Tapley's wharf among the casks of wine, molasses, ruin, and an occasional negro. "Yes; but I'll have off the duties quick

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enough, if you want them. Fine family, I tell you; young to be sure, but they'll improve every day, and not be going the other way like that old wench of yours," replied Tapley, as he hustled his human goods about to make them show off in a favorable manner. "It's a trade," said Page, with an air of business such as characterized all his proceedings at the market. "Make out your bill. Here's your money, and Putnam will make the exchange." While Tapley's bookkeeper was making out "the receipt, Colonel Page counted out the cash. The business done, Jeremiah Page mounted his restless steed, and would have been off, had not the merchant called him to a halt by saying, "What do you suppose they'll try on us next, another Stamp Act, or what?" The proceedings of Parliament affected every business man; and Colonel Page was not without an interest in them, although he was engaged in the manufacture of bricks. "Things look a little cloudy. If his Majesty expects to make us pay the expense of the French wars, besides fighting and sacrificing as we did, I'm, afraid he'll find we shall protest pretty strongly." With these words, uttered with a deal of emphasis, the customer mounted his horse, and was off towards his Danvers home.
      It was a full hour before noon that he drove into the yard, dismounted, entered the house, laid aside his surtout, took from his waistcoat pocket

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the legal evidence of his trade, and announced to Mrs. Page that he had made a swap, saying, "You'll soon have three instead of one, and altogether they won't take up as much room as Dinah does." And he read aloud the following: --

DANVERS, Apr. 19, 1766.

      Rec'd of Mr. Jeremiah Page, Fifty eight pounds thirteen shillings and four pence lawfull money and a negro woman called Dinah, which is in full for a negro woman called Combo and a negro girl called Cate, and a negro child called Deliverance or Dill, which I now sell and Deliver to ye said Jeremiah Page.

JOHN TAPLEY.

      JONA. BANCROFT,
      EZEKL. MARSH.

      The prospect of more assistance in her family was cheering to the over-burdened housekeeper, yet she disliked to part with Dinah. But before she had time to reconcile her mind to the thought, Putnam stopped his ox-team at the door, and shouted, "Here's your slaves!" And with the same breath said to the living portion of his load, "Get off, ye darkies! here's your new home." The farmer's words were unintelligible to the family; but his gestures, with ox-whip in hand, were understood by the trio, and they were soon at the threshold of the Page mansion.
      Dinah was at once sent to the loft to locate the new-comers, and manifested much pleasure upon having in her apartment of the Page home an ad-

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dition of three from her own country. It was with difficulty that she could make them understand her words, for she had been so long with English-speaking people that she had lost her native tongue.
      As Tapley allowed but little for Dinah, he was not particular to have her sent down at once; and she remained for some days before Putnam called to take her to the merchant's office.
      "How do you like them, wife?" inquired Jeremiah Page, when returning at night from the brick-yard. "Rather awkward, surely. Still, I think Combo is tractable, and as for Cate, she's only a girl, but Dill is so young she is little more than a bother at present." -- "I know that," replied the head of the family, as he drew up to the tea-table; "but these will improve with age, while Dinah is too old for that, you know. I thought I'd take the little one --I didn't want to see them separated; and then, she'll be a good thing for our children to play with till she gets old enough for service. I made a good trade with Tapley. He didn't want the youngster round."
      "If they are just from Africa, there is a good deal of uncertainty about their living until they become useful. We do not know what effect our climate will have on them," remarked Mrs. Page, who did not regard the trade as favorably as her husband represented, but she resolved to make the best of it.

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      Combo, the mother, soon learned, through the patience of Mrs. Page, to do many things; and Cate was useful in watching the children and looking after her little sister Deliverance, who for short was called Dill. They promised well through the heated season; but when the cold weather of winter settled down upon them, it was more than their constitutions could endure, and before another spring Combo and Cate were charged off to the profit-and-loss account on Jeremiah Page's ledger.
      The family were now in a more unfortunate condition than when Mr. Page decided to make a change. Dinah could not be traced, or she would have been brought back, if money could do it. As for Dill, she was too young to be of any help, but had proved to be uncommonly tractable; and Mrs. Page was bent upon giving her a good training in culinary matters. "I sha'n't try any more of them unless they are acclimated," said Jeremiah Page one day, half aloud, as he sat balancing his accounts. Thoughtfully folding the bill of sale, and placing it in his great file for the year 1766, he added, "Poor investment that."
      New cares now began to engross the attention of the brickmaker. The Stamp Act had been passed and repealed. The people of Danvers, like all the patriots, were filled with anxiety. Jeremiah Page was as bitter against taxation without representation as were any of his neighbors, and

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he feared that something would be done to injure his business. He heartily indorsed the non-importation agreement, and strongly forbade the use of tea in his house. But Mrs. Page, who lacked nothing in the way of patriotism as she regarded it, saw no harm in using the supply she had in the house, and decided to have a social sip without violating the letter of the family edict.
      Dill became accustomed to the New England climate, and developed into a useful servant by the time the Revolution began to absorb the attention of the people; but it is doubtful if she played the part in the tea-party on the roof which Miss Larcom assigns to her. The minor duties so early allotted to Dill no doubt included that of polishing her master's buttons, when in 1773 he was made a captain of the militia. With what pride she must have looked upon her master, dressed in his military garments, set off with the white ruffles that she had so deftly crimped, when all ready to start to a meeting of the patriots clown at Salem! And how much greater her pride must have been when "Massa Gage" occupied the front room, and passed in and out attired in the brilliant costume befitting the king's governor of the Province.
      It was on the ninth anniversary of the coming of Combo, Cate, and Dill to the Page home that Captain Jeremiah Page responded to a hasty alarm, and marched off to intercept the army of the king.

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From that time forth there were heated discussions in the home; and Dill's interest in the family caused her no little anxiety, although she had no adequate appreciation of the occasion of the disturbance. She met her first real grief when her mistress died on March 1, 1776, and she was subjected to a new mistress.
      Dill heard much talk about the Declaration of Independence, but was far from comprehending its significance. Her lot had fortunately been cast among good people, and she had no thought of any liberty which she had not always enjoyed. The younger children of the family clung to her more closely now that their mother was gone. Dill manifested an interest in those under her charge only surpassed by a mother's affection: she romped with them in the garden, fondled them in her arms by the family hearth-stone, dried their innocent tears, and seemed like one of them. And Dill was contented in her ignorance until she was shown that the Declaration of Independence, which brought cheer to her master, and to maintain which he fought and sacrificed, had a meaning for her, although she was black and had been purchased by Jeremiah Page's money.
      She was yet in her "teens" when the Constitution of the State was adopted, and the people said, "All men are born free and equal, etc."
      It was some years before Dill left the Page family, and then her going was more like that of

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a daughter, who having attained her majority and reciprocated the affections of a worthy man, exchanged the paternal home for that of one of her own choice in which she was to preside as mistress.
      Slaves who took their freedom, and others who remained with their masters and mistresses, were very numerous in Salem, and Dill naturally cast in her lot with the people at the seaport. There were many Caesars among them, and to prevent confusion they were known by the surname of their respective masters. It was Caesar Symonds who won the affections of "Deliverance Page" the marriage records of Salem attest.
      The new responsibilities assumed by Dill were not so absorbing as to cause her to forget the people and the home which she had left, neither was she forgotten by the Page family. Seldom did they visit the port without seeking out the little black house in North Salem where their old servant presided as mistress. Bundles and baskets

[Photo- "Dill's Daughtere, Anstiss"]

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were continually left at the cottage door, and each recurring Thanksgiving brought cheer to the Page family as they carried cheer to the hearts of Dill and her children. As each of the children of Jeremiah Page established homes for themselves, a new channel of supply was created for the increasing family at Salem. The visiting children took delight with those of black faces, and in listening to the chatter of a parrot, which in summer was kept in a green cage hanging from a limb of a willow-tree near the door of the humble home of the Symonds family. Dill never failed to make

[Photo- "St. Peter's Church at Salem"]

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regular visits to the Page home until old age settled down upon her.
      She was tall and erect in stature, and when dressed as her taste directed, with bright yellow turban, gold ear-hoops, and bright plaid shawl, had every appearance of an African princess. Her presence, together with that of her daughters Hannah and Anstiss, brought pleasure to the Danvers home, where the grandchildren of Jeremiah Page kept up the family interest.
      In the great company assembled on a June day of 1805 to honor the memory of a noted man, there were seen no faces more tearful than those of Deliverance Symonds and her daughters. All the words of eulogy from eloquent lips over the remains of Colonel Jeremiah Page could not outweigh the half-audible sentence, "He was a good man," uttered by the black woman who lingered by the bier of her master and benefactor.
      It was nearly a half century later when in Salem a little company of people, chiefly colored, bore the form of a nonagenarian through the aisle of St. Peter's Church; and among all who gave reverent heed to the rector's words, "I am the resurrection and the life," were noticed members of the Page family of Danvers, who had seen in the departed an innocent slave, an honest servant, a faithful wife, a devoted mother, and a sincere Christian.

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