Andrew (ePub)

In 1765 Andrew was a scrawny twelve-year-old slave in Maryland. In the years that follow he grows to manhood. Andrew is the fictional story of his journey. Andrew is bought by an elderly plantation owner to help with the problems of old age. The two form an unlikely bond and Andrew is allowed privileges not usually given to slaves. The old man dies but frees Andrew before doing so. Content to be a freed slave working on the plantation, his life is about to drastically change. Forced to defend himself against the brutality of a neighboring overseer, he kills the man. A slave, even a freed slave, has no recourse but to run for his life and so he does with the help of a loosely formed network of Quaker sympathizers and a renegade slave, Jim, who is to guide him north to Massachusetts. But before going on their journey, they have to wait for one additional runaway, Branwen. At their destination, Andrew finds a job with a blacksmith, Branwen with a doctor and Jim returns to Maryland. Andrew joins the militia and soon finds himself fighting the British in the first Battle of the Revolution on Lexington Green. Later, the militia moves to Cambridge to guard George Washington, the new Commander of the Continental Forces. Washington declares blacks cannot join the Continentals. Retuning to Lexington, Andrew questions why he is fighting for the Patriots because of Washington's proclamation, even though later reversed. He does not think much of the British either. So, he quits the militia and his job and decides to go west. Before going west, he goes into British controlled Boston to find Branwen. He finds Branwen has left Boston with the doctor who has been killed at Bunker Hill. Escaping Boston, Andrew is shot. He finds his way to a Quaker farm. By chance, Branwen, now a nurse, is called to tend to Andrew. During Andrew's recovery, Branwen is captured by slave hunters who start to return her to Maryland. Andrew gives chase, Branwen is rescued and a new journey begins.