The Escapes of David George: An Odyssey of Slavery, Freedom, and the American Revolution by
Gregory E. O'Malley
My rating:
4 of 5 stars
David George was born into slavery and named Davy. He had his own mind about how he wanted to live his live and his master was not a kind one. In 1762 aged 19 he ran away, going south from the Virginia plantation. Davy managed to escape for a time.
David, as he now wanted to be called, was helped by white people several times during his initial escape. John Green, became a sort of friend, where David lived and worked for two years. It was not in Green’s best interest to harbor a fugitive slave but he did so, and when word came the slave catchers were after David, he ran again.
This time he was captured by the Creek Peoples and was a slave once again, but of an entirely different sort. While still trying to escape his original owner, the Chappells were hot on his heels during his time with the Creeks. David somehow managed be involved with the Nachez people, King Jack in particular. It appears that Jack had brokered a deal where David was purchased by John Miller, or George Gaulphin from the Chappells. David now lived in a trading post managed by John Miller, living here for about three years.
Now around 25 David told Mr. Gaulfin and he wanted to live with him in Silver Bluff. So David ended up choosing his master, not a typical situation by a slave.
Here in Silver Bluff David settled down, had a wife and soon children. During his time here David had a profound reaction to a comment about religion and he sought this out. Over a short period of time David started to become a preacher and chose the last name for himself of George.
When the American Revolution began David George sided with the British as a way to escape slavery. Joining their forces he found that he wasn’t escaping racism and so after the war he and his family moved to Nova Scotia.
In Canada David was emancipated and became a minister with a community. Although they were technically free racism and prejudice still abound. The blacks were blamed for whatever when wrong and at point a riot of the white peoples against the blacks broke out that that destroyed many black homes. Realizing they would never be completely free the community emigrated to Sierra Leone.
David George’s life while not entirely his own, was still formed by his own decisions time and again while trying to escape a situation that he did not like.
This is a fascinating story. The book was somewhat dry at times, although the facts themselves are quite compelling. Several times there is a repetition of what was already explained, even a summing up of what came before, which detracted from my overall rating. The book takes on the wider lens of history at that time, and seemed like the book was trying to be a primer of what slavery looked like in the mid-1700’s. For those unfamiliar with the history and situation the extra material will enhance the material.
Book rating: 3.5 stars
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