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had leftme； and yet； on the other hand； I could never think it
proper to discover myself to them in the circumstances I was
in； as well relating to the having a husband with me as to my
being brought over by a legal transportation as a criminal； on
both which accounts it was absolutely necessary to me to
remove from the place where I was； and come again to him；
as from another place and in another figure。
Upon those considerations； I went on with telling my husband
the absolute necessity there was of our not settling in Potomac
River； at least that we should be presently made public there；
whereas if we went to any other place in the world； we should
come in with as much reputation as any family that came to
plant； that； as it was always agreeable to the inhabitants to
have families come among them to plant； who brought substance
with them； either to purchase plantations or begin new ones；
so we should be sure of a kind； agreeable reception； and that
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 h