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without any possibility of a discovery of our circumstances。
I told him in general； too； that as I had several relations in the
place where we was； and that I durst not now let myself be
known to them； because they would soon come into a knowledge
of the occasion and reason of my coming over； which would be
to expose myself to the last degree； so I had reason to believe
that my mother； who dies here； had left me something； and
perhaps considerable； which it might be very well worth my
while to inquire after； but that this too could not be done
without exposing us publicly； unless we went from hence； and
then； wherever we settled； I might come； as it were； to visit
and to see my brother and nephews； make myself known to
them； claim and inquire after what was my due； be received
with respect； and at the same time have justice done me with
cheerfulness and good will； whereas； if I did it now； I could
expect nothing but with trouble； such as exacting it by force；
receiving it with curses and reluctance； and with all kinds of
affronts； which he would not perhaps bear to see； that in case
of being obliged to legal proofs of being really her daughter；
I might be at loss； be obliged to have recourse to England； and
it may be to fail at last； and so lose it； whatever it might be。
With these arguments； and having thus acquainted my husband
with the whole secret so far as was needful of him； we resolved
to go and seek a settlement in some other colony； and at first
thoughts； Caroline was the place we pitched upon。
In order to this we began to make inquiry for vessels going to
Carolina； and in a very little while got information； that on the
other side the bay； as they call it； namely； in Maryland； there
was a ship which came from Carolina； laden with rice and
other goods； and was going back again thither； and from
thence to Jamaica； with provisions。 On this news we hired a
sloop to take in our goods； and taking； as it were； a final
farewell of Potomac River； we went with all our cargo over
to Maryland。
This was a long and unpleasant voyage； and my spouse said
it was worse to him than all the voyage from England； because
the weather was but indifferent； the water rough； and the
vessel small and inconvenient。 In the next place； we were full
a hundred miles up Potomac River； in a part which they call
Westmoreland County； and as that river is by far the greatest
in Virginia； and I have heard say it is the greatest river in the
world that falls into another river； and not directly into the sea；
so we had base weather in it； and were frequently in great
danger； for though we were in the middle； we could not see
land on either side for many leagues together。 Then we had
the great river or bay of Chesapeake to cross； which is where
the river Potomac falls intoit； near thirty miles broad； and we
entered more great vast waters whose names I know not； so
that our voyage was full two hundred miles； in a poor； sorry
sloop； with all our treasure； and if any accident had happened
to us； we might at last have been very miserable； supposing
we had lost our goods and saved our lives only； and had then
been left naked and destitute； and in a wild； strange place not
having one friend or acquaintance in all that part of the world。
The very thought of it gives me some horror； even since the
danger is past。
Well； we came to the place in five days' sailing； I think they
call it Philip's Point； and behold； when we came thither； the
ship bound to Carolina was loaded and gone away but three
days before。 This was a disappointment；； but； however； I；
that was to be discouraged with nothing； told my husband
that since we could not get passage to Caroline； and that the
country we was in was very fertile and good； we would； if he
liked of it； see if we could find out anything for our tune where
we was； and that if he liked things we would settle here。
We immediately went on shore； but found no conveniences
just at that place； either for our being on shore or preserving
our goods on shore； but was directed by a very honest Quaker；
whom we found there； to go to a place about sixty miles east；
that is to say； nearer the mouth of the bay； where he said he
lived； and where we should be accommodated； either to plant；
or to wait for any other place to plant in that might be more
convenient； and he invited us with so much kindness and
simply honesty； that we agreed to go； and the Quaker himself
went with us。
Here we bought us two servants； viz。 an English woman…servant
just come on shore from a ship of Liverpool； and a Negro
man…servant； things absolutely necessary for all people that
pretended to settle in that country。 This honest Quaker was
very helpful to us； and when we came to the place that he
proposed to us； found us out a convenient storehouse for our
goods； and lodging for ourselves and our servants； and about
two months or thereabouts afterwards； by his direction； we
took up a large piece of land from the governor of that country；
in order to form our plantation； and so we laid the thoughts
of going to Caroline wholly aside； having been very well
received here； and accommodated with a convenient lodging
till we could prepare things； and have land enough cleared；
and timber and materials provided for building us a house； all
which we managed by the direction of the Quaker； so that in
one year's time we had nearly fifty acres of land cleared； part
of it enclosed； and some of it planted with tabacco； though
not much； besides； we had garden ground and corn sufficient
to help supply our servants with roots and herbs and bread。
And now I persuaded my husband to let me go over the bay
again； and inquire after my friends。 He was the willinger to
consent to it now； because he had business upon his hands
sufficient to employ him； besides his gun to divert him； which
they call hunting there； and which he greatly delighted in； and
indeed we used to look at one another； sometimes with a great
deal of pleasure； reflecting how much better that was； not than
Newgate only； but than the most prosperous of our circumstances
in the wicked trade that we had been both carrying on。
Our affair was in a very good posture； we purchased of the
proprietors of the colony as much land for #35； paid in ready
money； as would make a sufficient plantation to employ
between fifty and sixty servants； and which； being well
improved； would be sufficient to us as long as we could either
of us live； and as for children； I was past the prospect of
anything of that kind。
But out good fortune did not end here。 I went； as I have said；
over the bay； to the place where my brother； once a husband；
lived； but I did not go to the same village where I was before；
but went up another great river； on the east side of the river
Potomac； called Rappahannock River； and by this means
came on the back of his plantation； which was large； and by
the help of a navigable creek； or little river； that ran into the
Rappahannock； I came very near it。
I was now fully resolved to go up point…blank to my brother
（husband）； and to tell him who I was； but not knowing what
temper I might find him in； or how much out of temper rather；
I might make him by such a rash visit； I resolved to write a
letter to him first； to let him know who I was； and that I was
come not to give him any trouble upon the old relation； which
I hoped was entirely forgot； but that I applied to him as a sister
to a brother； desiring his assistance in the case of that provision
which our mother； at her decease； had left for my support； and
which I did not doubt but he would do me justice in； especially
considering that I was come thus far to look after it。
I said some very tender； kind things in the letter about his
son； which I told him he knew to be my own child； and that
as I was guilty of nothing in marrying him； any more than he
was in marrying me； neither of us having then known our
being at all related to one another； so I hoped he would allow
me the most passionate desire of once seeing my one and only
child； and of showing something of the infirmities of a mother
in preserving a violent affect for him； who had never been
able to retain any thought of me one way or other。
I did believe that； having received this letter； he would
immediately give it to his son to read； I having understood
his eyesbeing so dim； that he could not see to read it； but it
fell out better than so； for as his sight was dim； so he had
allowed his son to open all letters that came to his hand for
him； and the old gentleman being from home； or out of the
way when my messenger came； my letter came directly to my
son's hand； and he opened and read it。
He called the messenger in