CHAPTER III.

_Containing an account of his life, from the time of his purchasing his
freedom to the present day._

My wife and children were yet in bondage to Mr. Thomas Stanton. About
this time I lost a chest, containing besides clothing, about thirty-
eight pounds in paper money. It was burnt by accident. A short time
after I sold all my possessions at Stonington, consisting of a pretty
piece of land and one dwelling house thereon, and went to reside at
Long-Island. For the first four years of my residence there, I spent
my time in working for various people on that and at the neighboring
islands. I the space of six months I cut and corded upwards of four
hundred cords of wood. Many other singular and wonderful labors I
performed in cutting wood there, which would not be inferior to those
just recited, but for brevity sake I must omit them. In the
aforementioned four years what wood I cut at Long-Island amounted to
several thousand cords, and the money which I earned thereby amounted
to two hundred and seven pounds ten shillings. This money I laid up
carefully by me. Perhaps some may enquire what maintained me all the
time I was laying up money. I would inform them that I bought nothing
which I did not absolutely want. All fine clothes I despised in
comparison with my interest, and never kept but just what clothes were
comfortable for common days, and perhaps I would have a garment or two
which I did not have on at all times, but as for superfluous finery I
never thought it to be compared with a decent homespun dress, a good
supply of money and prudence. Expensive gatherings of my mates I