A Narrative of Some Remarkable Incidents in the Life of Solomon Bayley

A former slave from Delaware tells his own story, beginning with the desperate flight from bondage and the brutal hardships that followed. He describes the physical and mental trials of his escape, the constant threat of capture, and the fierce determination that kept him moving toward freedom. The narrative is marked by his deep religious conviction, which sustains him through the darkest moments.

After gaining his liberty, he learns the trade of a cooper but soon abandons it, troubled by its connection to the liquor trade. A chance meeting with the state’s governor leads to a brief period of prosperity as he is entrusted with managing a farm and sharing in its profits. Yet his fortunes waver as the governor dies, and personal sorrow soon arrives: the loss of his only son and the tragic deaths of his daughters. Throughout, his humility and faith remain the steady core of his remarkable journey.