An Enslaved Man's Life in the Moravian Church in Pennsylvania, c.1770s

Chattel with a Soul: The Autobiography of a Moravian Slaveis a rare firsthand account written by Andrew the Moor, originally named Ofodobendo Wooma, who was born around 1729 in West Africa. The narrative recounts his early life, including being sold into slavery at a young age, enduring multiple trades across African regions, and experiencing the horrors of the Atlantic slave trade before arriving in colonial America. After being sold in New York, Andrew found spiritual refuge in the Moravian Church, where he converted to Christianity, was baptized in 1746, and became an active member of the congregation in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. His story, which he dictated in the late 18th century and was finalized upon his death in 1779, was preserved in the church archives.

I, Andrew the Moor, was born in Ibo land, in the unknown part of Africa and was circumcised when I was 8 days old, according to the custom of my nation. My name was Ofodobendo Wooma. My father died when I was about 8 years old, and my brother, who was poor and had 5 children of his own, took me to live with him. But not long thereafter, he borrowed 2 goats from a man for 2 years and gave me to him as security. He was supposed to give me back when he received the goats back, but he did not wait for that, he handed me a pipe of tobacco on the road which I trampled underfoot and he took that as cause and sold me to another after a year's time. 

For a short time I was often bought and sold again, and came from one nation to another, the language of which I did not understand, until I was brought to a large district called Nemils, where a merchant of the region bought me, clothed me, and [placed] me in his house with his other servants. A few weeks afterwards, the servants removed me at their master's order to another house not far away. I was immediately locked inside the house. I was frightened and trembled with fear because I found myself in a place where the heads of at least 50 dead men hung. It was the house of a cannibal. Though this nation generally does not eat men, nevertheless, some still eat human flesh to make themselves appear barbaric and important. I expected to be slaughtered at once, and they appeared to have an appetite for me because I was young. But my companion demanded more for me than they wanted to give. For this reason he took me further, brought me again to the aforementioned district, took my clothing, and sold me to one of those who traded into the region. I was immediately taken into a vessel with a number of others whose language I did not understand. That made me very sad until I came across a girl from my region who comforted me very much. The first 3 or 4 days they gave me nothing to drink and nothing to eat except pork, which in my country it is forbidden to eat; whoever eats pork, the others hate and shun him as a very wicked man. Because I was almost starved, I was finally obliged to eat a little of it. We were brought to the coast of Guinea; the girl and I kept together there and awaited what was going to happen to us. One morning we were terribly frightened because we saw 2 white people coming toward us.

We thought sure they were devils who wanted to take us, because we had never before seen a white man and never in our lives heard that such men existed. One of them, the captain of a ship, signaled us that we should follow him, which we did with great apprehension and were brought to a ship where we saw 3 or 4 negroes and expected any moment that someone would knock us down. But the people on the ship were untied and there appeared to be about 60 blacks, so our fear faded and I comforted myself that I would be treated like they were. We were brought to Antigua where I was sold with some 30 others to a captain from N York, who sold me in N York to a Jew who named me York. That was the year 1741, and at that time I was about 12 years old. The first year I had nothing to do but run in the streets with other youths, where I learned many ungodly things. In the 2nd year, my master planned to sell me in Madeira for a pipe of wine. I was very worried about that, spoke to several neighbors, and asked their advice. They said they could not help me, that I should ask God to help. I asked how and what I should pray.

They taught me the Lord's Prayer. In the evenings I knelt down and said, "O Lord, our neighbors said you were so good and you gave each man what he asks from you. If you will help me to a good master in this city, then I will love you for it." The next day my master offered me to Mr. Noble, to whom he was in debt, and Brother Henry von Vleck (his clerk or apprentice) took me away. To my great sorrow, Mr. Noble did not want to have me because I was too young and weak to do his work. After [that] I was brought to him a 2nd time and was again absolutely refused. I told this to our neighbors, that Mr. Noble had an inclination to buy me if I were stronger. They replied that there was no better man in N York than he, and that I should without fail ask the Lord to so dispose him that he would buy me, which I did that same evening. I said to my unknown Lord that our neighbors had again described Him to me as very merciful and Mr. Noble as a very good master, and that if He wished that I were to come to Mr. Noble, then I would always love Him thereafter. The day after I was brought with another negro youth to Mr. Noble's house for a 4 week trial, at the end of which the other youth was sent back and I was bought by Mr. Noble. About this time the first Brethren came to N York and lodged with Mr. Noble. They often told me that our Savior had shed his blood for me and all black men and that He had as much love for me, and everyone, as for white people, which I did not believe. On the contrary, I thought that God only loved people who were important in the world, who possessed riches, and so forth. But I resolved when possible to find out whether what I so often heard from the Brethren was true. 

Mr. Noble sent me to school and because I was very eager, I learned to read in less than half a year. From that time on I always had the N. Test, or another good book in my pack and read from it whenever I had the time and opportunity. Mr. Noble held morning and evening prayers with his family and even though I was often in the same room, I never prayed with them, but crept into a corner, went in my room later and prayed and did as I had seen and heard them until Mrs. Noble said one time that since our Savior had suffered and died as much for me as for them, I could be as blessed as them and I should pray with them, which I did. But I always repeated them in my room when I was alone. I was very anxious about my salvation and attempted to receive it through my own power. In the mornings, after my master awoke, I often undertook to do my work for the day joyfully, to deal in love with every man, and to pray continually. But unfortunately it often happened soon after my resolution that the day's time had slipped past and caused me [such] anguish that I dared not pray again until the next day. Then I hoped the Lord would have forgiven my trespass. There often came over me through prayer in my room such fear that I thought the devil was standing behind me. Once when I perceived this hard and troublesome road to salvation completely and saw no possibility to reach my goal, I resolved to throw myself out of a window and thus make an end to my sinful life. I was already standing in the opening and wanted to make the leap. Then it was as if someone pulled me back. In the process I returned to my senses and with a thousand tears begged forgiveness of the Savior. From that time on I had an opportunity to recognize my unworthiness and powerlessness daily, and the Savior's love and mercy and his selfless passion and death made such an impression on my heart that I wished nothing so much as to become a genuine black offering to Jesus and a member of the congregation. I often had a great longing to be baptized, and Mr. Whitefield once offered to baptize me, but Mr. Noble refused. At the end of the year 1745, Mr. Noble permitted me to go to Bethlehem, where I arrived with a joyful heart the 9th of Jan. n. St. 46 with the brothers Wm. Edwards and John Hopson. I had various blessed conversations with Br. Nathanael [Seidel] and opened my whole heart to him. Mr. Noble, who had given me to Br. Spangenberg, also came to Bethlehem several weeks after me to a synod. During his stay, on Feb. 15th, I was baptized into Jesus' death by Br. Christian Rauch and named Andrew. (He was the first negro whom the Brethren baptized in Pennsilv.) It is impossible for me to describe the bliss that I felt in my heart as a result. The following Sabbath I had the great grace of enjoying the body and blood of the beloved Savior with the congregation through the Holy Sacrament. In April of that same year I went to N York to serve Mr. Noble in his illness and after his passing I returned to my dear Bethlehem. This is the extent of his account. Here on the 21st of Jan. 1762 he was united with the now widowed Magdalena in holy matrimony, which the Savior blessed with 3 children, only one of whom, the son Andrew, after only a short time longed to be beyond the body. Our blessed brother enjoyed in the congregation a blessedly happy passage, and it was a true joy to him to be able to tell a poor black something of the Savior. He happily praised the Lord and related what the Savior had done for his soul. And his election, that he came out of the darkness and into the light and from the power of Satan to God and into the congregation as a believer, was always very significant and important to him. In his worldly affairs he was faithful and diligent. For several years he had been burdened with a strong cough. His longing to be home with the Lord became so [illegible word] that he could barely await the blessed [illegible word], and often sighed, "O my dearest Savior, O come soon & fetch me." Yet he was very patient and calm. On the evening of the 13th he gently passed away, and his end showed that he had believed.