James Watkins

Narrative of the Life of James Watkins (Dodo Press)

James Watkins was an African American slave born on Mr. Abraham Ensor's plantation, about six miles from Cockesville, Baltimore Co., Maryland c. 1821. He was named Sam Berry, after his mother, but was more commonly known as "Ensor Sam. " He escaped in 1841 and eventually fled the US for England. In 1852 he published his autobiography; Narrative of the Life of James Watkins, Formerly a "Chattel" in Maryland, U. S. : Containing an Account of His Escape from Slavery, Together with an Appeal on Behalf of Three Millions of Such "Pieces of Property, " Still Held Under the Standard of the Eagle and also later wrote a book of poems; Poems, Original & Selected (1859).