The Infortunate

I just finished reading a book called the Infortunate, the voyage and adventures of William Moraley. First let me mention that this was so much easier to read than Ecological Imperialism. The book is about this man named William, and because of his financial woes decides to come to America. His father had recently died and felt he should inherit his father's estate, that was left to his mother. He tried to sue his mother and lost. He signs a contract to be a indentured servant where he will work for 3-7 years for a designated master. In return, the master will provide payment for the passage across the Atlantic, daily food, shelter, clothes and freedom dues at the end of the contract.

William arrived in Pennsylvania and New Jersey territory around 1729 at age 30. His master was Isaac Pearson who was a master clockmaker. Which is what William's main profession. He also was a farmer, silversmith, goldsmith, blacksmith and button maker. The Infortunate book is basically his journal of his adventure.

When he arrived in Philadelphia he describes the city in great detail from the abundant food sources to how the city streets are aligned. Even mentions that there are no holidays only the King's birthday and Christmas day for the religious people.

He tells of the many people that he met along his travels. He leaves Philadelphia and arrives in Burlington, NJ where his master lives. Says that the family consisted of the master, wife and 2 daughters, a nephew, a negro slave, a bought servant, and himself. Again he goes into great details about the city and it's surroundings. Slaves were seldom made free because the masters had to provide money upon their freedom. Also, if any servant was caught after they escaped (which 3 left) they had to make up 2 days for every day there were gone.

In Chapter 7 he writes about the Indians. It is my impression that he thought the Indians to be a bunch of drunks because they had Rum. When you read the chapters William himself loved sitting down with a drink.

He wasn't very good with the women either. He met a woman and became engaged. Except his friends stole his gold ring the night before and she dumps him. At his death there is no record of him ever being married.

After he became a free man he had accumulated a lot of debt and several times narrowly missed being arrested and found himself in New York where he met a man named Don Roderigo de Almeria of Velential. The chapter on him actually made me laugh. Don Roderigo studied law and had some money and stature. He meets a girl name Jaquelina. Finally gets approval from her father and they become engaged. His brother comes to town and ends up marrying her. He leaves town on a ship, gets captured by pirates, becomes a slave for 3 years. His Dad finds out, sets him free with 500 pistols, comes back, brother dies, sees Jaquelina, who professes her love and they marry. She dies, he can't handle it so he converts to religion and goes to London to renounce the Church of Rome. Now that is a hard life. William writes about all these adventures but never really write about the day to day trials until the end when he makes it back to London.

He finally reunites with his mother who had remarried for the 3rd time. When she dies, her final will states that she wants everything sold, including the home. The remaining money is to be divided into monthly payments for William. He was not happy. In fact, he ends up arrested because he gets into a fight with one of the executors. The charges are dropped. The money from the estate was never enough for him to be an independent master clockmaker or own property or be allowed to vote as a freeman. Later he has a nervous breakdown, most likely because he was extremely poor. He died at the age of 62 in Newcastle without a will.