William J. Anderson - New Master

New Master

William’s next master kidnapped him in the night time and handcuffed him to bring him to his plantation. Anderson was not allowed to get any of his belongings or to say anything to friends or family. In Anderson’s narrative he describes this master as “one of those cunning, fox-like slaveholders.” Next he was brought to a slave market and sold to a southern trader. The trader then on November 6, 1826, tied together sixty to seventy slaves, Anderson included, and made them walk from Eastern to Western Tennessee. The journey took a total of two months. While William and the other slaves walked they sung “Farewell, ye children of the Lord”. When they reached their final destination, women and men were separated to stand in lines to be sold.

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