Owned For Seven Years

[DaisyBuchanan]

October 15, 1692

The day was cool and the sun hidden behind dark clouds as Maggie Finch stood on the dock of Boston Harbor. She tried to keep her fear hidden behind an air of proud arrogance. Her green eyes moved over the gathering crowd while the captain of the Changing Wind auctioned off years of her life. Maggie had sold herself into indentured servitude to pay off her mother’s debts and now waited nervously to see who would own her for the seven years.

She did what she could to make herself presentable in the hopes that she would be taken in by a respectable family to work in their home or care for their children. With the little clean water she was allowed she had scrubbed her face until her cheeks shone pink, she had smoothed her curls and tied her long red hair with a small bow at the nape of her neck. Carefully protected through the entire voyage, she wore the only clean dress she owned. The dark blue wool of her gown covered her lush figure but did nothing to disguise her narrow waist and fulsome curves. In vain she hoped it was modest enough for Puritan Boston; she did not want to attract the wrong kind of attention.

Throughout the long sea voyage, in the cramped and dirty hold there was little to do but talk and during those cold nights she had heard many frightening tales of life in the colony.

Maggie shook her head to chase away dark thoughts and loosened a red curl to fall across her cheek. With a careless smile she tucked it behind her ear as her natural good humor took over.

“Witch hunts, Indian attacks, hard work, miserable conditions”, she thought to herself, “it can’t all be bad.”

 

[BRIGHTWELL]

Franko Hogers

Two hours ago Franko Hogers stepped out on the wharf. A customs man had meet his as he stepped off the Mocabecka. He had nothing to declare and permited a quick contraban search. The customs man was satisfied. And walked up the dockway. Though his English was not the best he could read and write in English enough to get by.

A banner hung over a short dock down the street.Auction/noon-sunset/servents-slaves-indenturedFranko had a stop to make in town. Puritain merchants were a tough nut to crack. but they could be delt with. He entered a money changer store just off the dock area. He changed his Gilders for English pound sterling.

The Puitan merchant was in a good mood it seems his wife had just had a health boy and he wasin the mood to give great deals on English goods that had just arrived. Franko bought 10 spools of thread and 20 pounds of English lead and also picked out 5 rolls of English linen.

On his way back he noted the Auction banner again and thought he would go take a look. As he got closer he could see the man selling men and woman at a frightening pace. No sooner had a bid been made that another followed. And the next person was up on the block some times he would show arm strenth or teeth. At no time did he show any parts of woman's bodies that normal clothing did not cover. Boston was Boston after all. As Franko reached the gate he was told there was a fee to attend, a half a crown. He was told it kept the low life from interfering with the commerce of the colony. Franko figured it was just anther tax by a different name. He received a bidding number and showed his bag of English sterling and was allowed on to the dock.

The Auctioneer spoke slow in telling the virtues of his selected prospects. Some were criminals from the jails of London and lower England. Franko watched as several pale and pastey looking women were paraded out to the auction block. None of the men interested him and several of the women made him want to get on his boat and go home. After about an hour he was ready to leave and he saw a woman next in line at the bottom of the stairs.

'Now that I could bring home' he thought. As she climbed the stairs Franko's heart jumped. Look at those eyes. Green as Ireland itself. And she stood straight and tall. She had flaming red hair, a little thin, but in time he could change that. This is the one he decided. This is the one I will return to Neiw Amsterdam with.

The bidding started out at just a few crowns. The auctioneer was not happy at the price she was going for. He started looking to more faces. At 5 crowns he was ready to close the deal. Franko bid 6. The auctioneer declared a new bidder. Some of the crowd turn to see who the new bidder was.

Franko heard the word Dutchman whispered through the crowd. And suddenly two bids for 7 crowns were made then 8, then 9. The auctineer was smiling now no long looking for faces. Now looking at just those doing the bidding. 10 Franko called out. 11 countered a tall man with a stiff white collar. Fine thought Franko, lets put an end to this. "20 pounds Serling" and Franko held up his purse. The auctioneer was almost out of his mind with joy. He was hoping to make 150 on the whole lot now this foreigner had pushed him well into a profitable trip. He looked around not really especting any more bids. The tall man shook his head. He called 20 once. No takers, 20twice. No takers. 20 third time. No takers. SOLD 20pounds streling. A couple of early bidders clapped. The man with the stiff white collar tipped his hat.
Franko made his way to the payment table next to the docket. He counted out 4 stacks of 5 single pound sterling and pushed them across the table. The clerk checked each cion then counted them himself. A scribe was next to him and recorded the transaction. The clerk was satisfied that all was in order and retreived the girl with green eyes. He led her from the holding area and hands her over to Franko.
The auctioneer watches as Franko leaves the auction area and leads his new purchase off the dock. He was saddened to see him leave. He was a money maker. He would have to find out who he was and how he could make more money from him.

Franko lead the girl down the dock to his dock and to the gang way to the Mocabeca. The girl looked surprised when he did not turn to go into town and looked very scared as she saw she was being brought to another boat and put aboard. She looked around looking for a away to stay. But two of Franko's crew grabbed her arms and lead her below.

 

[DaisyBuchanan]

Maggie

The young English woman was very pleased with herself. She had managed to remain calm and composed during the entire auction.

Maggie knew that she would be nervous. As she stepped on to the platform, she even expected to be scared. After all, her entire future was uncertain and out of her control. Her life was going to be put into the hands of a stranger and she would no longer be her own master. However, women were rarely allowed to decide their own fate and even when they could make their own choices their options were few, and generally unpleasant. Trading the bleakness of London for the opportunities of Boston was just about the best she could hope for in her life. However, she was unprepared for the humiliation she felt as the years of her life were auctioned off to the highest bidder. She lifted her chin a little higher and even managed a bit of a smile as she gazed out over the gathering crowd. She wouldn’t be cowed like the others; she would face the future head on.

Ultimately, she found the strength in fact that it had been her choice to leave London for the New World. She wasn’t a slave and she wasn’t a convict, she was a young woman looking to start a new life, in a New World. She knew that wherever she ended up, with whoever bought her contract, she was going to be facing a brighter future than the poverty, crime and disease she left behind.

5, 6, 7 pounds sterling. Maggie heard the auction for her begin. She felt a ripple of excitement as the door on her old life was closing and the one to her new life was about to be opened.

8, 9, 10 pounds sterling. The bidding continued and Maggie was pleased to see that she was regarded as a suitable addition to a Boston household and to know that all her efforts to keep her clothing clean and remain presentable were reaping benefits.

Maggie’s green eyes were scanning the crowd as the bidding went higher and higher.

“Twenty pounds Sterling.”

She heard the final bid and drew a sharp breath of surprise. In her life, she had never even seen that much money and couldn’t believe that anyone would be willing to offer that much for her. She tried to see who had placed the bid but the sun was in her eyes. She could only tell the crowd was shifting out of the way of a solitary figure as it made its way to the counting table but before she could make out any details, she was led off the block and told to wait.

She waited but it wasn’t long before a man came for her.

He didn’t seem inclined to converse and Maggie didn’t know what to say so she remained silent. Both eager and anxious about her new life she followed him off the auction site. She expected to be lead to a cart for travel to the county, a farm perhaps. Or maybe he would simply lead her to a town house in the city of Boston… she wasn’t expecting to be led back to the docks and towards another ship.

“A boat?” Maggie shook her head. “No. No. This can’t be right.”

Maggie’s voice was filled with fear and confusion as she tried to make the man understand her.

“I just got off of a boat… I don’t… I mean I can’t…” Maggie realized that she was nearly panicked and she knew that she must calm herself before she could make anyone listen to her. Unfortunately, as she tried to draw a relaxing breath two rough sailors grabbed her arms and lead into the belly of the ship. She twisted in their grasp, desperate to be released, to have a chance to explain, to get an explanation.

“Please… This ship, whose is it? Where is it going?” She stopped struggling and allowed them to lead her below deck but she didn’t stop pleading with them.

“Please, please. Just tell me, what is going on. I won’t cause any trouble, I just need to know. Who is your Master? The captain of this ship?” The continued to ignore her questions until she was no longer sure that they even understood her. Then, without ever speaking to her, they left her alone in a small room. To her it seemed dark, cold and damp and unlike the last ship, there was no one else with her.

Alone for the first time since she left London, Maggie was also truly afraid for the first time.

 

[BRIGHTWELL]

Mocabeca

Franko enters his small state room. The Captain an Englishman that had stayed behind when the English had held Neiw Amsterdam and called it New York. Is waiting for him.
"A fine spirited lass there Mr. Hogers if I say so." Captaln Williamson notes.
"Thank you Henry, and please call me Franko." Franko replies.
"With all do respect, sir you own the boat, and we do have crew aboard, it would not be proper for me to call you anything but, Mr. Hogers." Capt. Williamson responds.
"If you feel that way Henry, sure. Please see to the casting off as soon as possible I woul like to be home by tomorrow."
"Yes sir, I'll see to right away!" Capt. Williamson turns to leave.
"Oh and Henry!" Franko says out loud. "Yes sir?" He turns back.
"She cost me 20 pounds sterling, lets treat her well!" Franko added.
Captain Williamson blinked and his mouth fell open." Twenty pounds sterling, sir? I could get we four small connon for that here in Boston!"
" I know Henry, I know, Here me a Dutchman haggling for stock and throw it all away on a woman."
Capt. Williamsom nods. "Well it your money sir, you know best, I'll take my leave now and see about casting off."
After about ten minutes Franko can feel the boat moving. He turns to his ledgers to see where he stood regarding the trip.
An hour passes and he is satisfied all his deals had been good ones, save the girl. he closes the books and decides it time for a turn on the deck. H climbs the short stairway and is standing on the main deck. He looks up at the clouds. They are broken and a fair wind is blowing. He finds the Captain and the navigator looking over some charts. he walks up to them.
"Everything goes well Captain?"He askes.
"Fine Mr. Hogers, Charles here thinks we can be around the cape by night time and in the sound by Midnight. " He replies.
"Fine, that sounds fine, so we will return down the East River then, Fine, I'm going brlow and check on our 20 pound cargo!"
"Yes sir, they put her in locker four sir." Captain Williamson states.
Franko smiles and makes his way forward. He climbs another set of stairs downward. He followes the cargo way till he finds locker four. He unlatches it and looks in. The girl sees him and stands. Franko could tell she was very frightened.

 

[DaisyBuchanan]

Maggie

It seemed to the girl that she had been locked in the little cell for an eternity although in reality it wasn’t more than an hour or two.

She wasn’t a weak-willed young woman or one prone to fits of hysteria, so left alone for a while she did begin to calm down and collect her thoughts. Of course, she remained frightened. She had left her home to begin a new life in the Plymouth Bay Colony, she sold herself to the highest bidder for a chance to earn a better life but despite her carefully thought out plans nothing seemed to be going the she anticipated. She fought down the urge to rage at the situation and instead tried to calm herself with a simple plan.

She would relax, she would remain calm, she would be presentable and as soon as possible, she would learn what was happening. She had to believe that if she was calm, rational, someone would come to talk to her. It gave her the strength to hold down the panic the threatened to overwhelm her when she realized that ship was sailing with the evening tide and she was being carried away from Boston.

Maggie ran to the porthole and strained to look out but she could see little in the dim evening light. Once again, fear squeezed at her heart, deep breathing could not calm the pounding in her chest. She sensed she was losing the struggle to maintain her composure but instead of allowing panic to defeat her she simply sat down on a rickety chair and focused her attention on a mundane task. One by one, she pulled from her head the little pins that held her red hair in a neat arrangement. With the removal of each pin, a curly red lock of hair fell loose. First, one fell to rest against her cheek, then another spilled over her shoulder and by the time she removed them all her long red hair curled wildly around her face and rolled in waves down her back.

She combed her hair with her fingers, trying to make order out of chaos. She knew that she was attempting to assert control over her hair as she could not over so many other aspects of her life. Her actions did nothing to lessen her fears; she was still very frightened. However, it allowed her to keep her actions under control, when she heard the door of her cell open; she stood calmly to her feet.

Her green eyes were wide, her hands trembled and blood drained from her cheeks leaving her fair complexion pale in faint evening light. Her fear was obvious but manner was calm. She folded her hands politely in front of her and she tried to keep her tone respectful…

“Sir, please tell me where you are taking me. I know that you paid a great deal for my contract but I expected to remain in Boston. Surely you can see how this is quite a distressing turn of events. I don’t want to anger you; in fact I am certain we can come to an agreement of sorts – if you just tell me what is happening and what you want from me.”

By the time she finished speaking her one hand was twisting nervously in the other. “Sir, my name is Margaret Finch, but I’m usually called Maggie. Tell your name and we can start from there.” She gamely attempted a congenial smile that in the end seemed more anxious then friendly.

 

[BRIGHTWELL]

Maggie Finch

Franko listened to her and waved her to come out of the locker and lead her up to the deck. They were well away from Boston harbor so Franko had little fear that she would jump in to the cold New Englang water and try to escape. He leads her to the rail. they are sailing south east to get around the cape then south and finally west.

Franko takes one of her hands into his. "Maggie Finch, my English is not the best. I speak merchant English. I am a Dutchman we are sailing to Niew Amsterdam. I hope for you to understand that I was not in Boston to buy girl. I in Boston to buy English thread and linens and wool cloth."
Franko pauses to form the words in his head he wanted to say.

"I buy because I get angry at English at auction. I hear them say Dutchman as if I bad person. In Niew Amsterdam I am a wealthy man with much power I have the only corperation in colony. I have five seperate businesses in colony in the corperation. This is one of my boats. My most favorite boat theMocabeca.
Franko looks out at the sea and watches as the sun sinks in the west.
"I donot need you, I don't know what you can do?" he pauses.

I have no wife and no childern. I have a sister and a niece. Germania is about your age as is Becka. Some of the serving girls may be your age, but I don't see you doing that. Though you do have the look and the fire, I don't think so. I will be watching and giving you different chores to do. From there I will decide. I never had to beat my girls, I hope I will not have to beat you! I also warn you not to run away. My sister will not be good to you if you run away, she will hunt you like she did in Austria. She is the hunting woman in family.

 

[DaisyBuchanan]

Maggie

From the rail of the Morabeca, Maggie looked out over the ocean and considered the Dutchman’s words.

Strange as it may seem, they did comfort her. Although he was little difficult to understand at first, the more he spoke the less troublesome his accent seemed. There was nothing dark or sinister in his plans, he was just a businessman, goaded into making an unexpected business deal and now trying to make the best of it. She could accept that, and deal with his plans for her future. His explanation had removed the uncertainty from her future and she seemed back on her original course for a better life.

Boston, New England, New Amsterdam or New York, it didn’t matter to her where she was so long as she wasn’t returning to England. If this life in New Amsterdam isn’t quite what she was anticipating, she still wasn’t going to let it upset her. She would make the best of it with hard work and a cheerful smile.

“Sir, I won’t try to run away and I will do my best to fit amiably into your household. I can contribute a great deal, I am a hard worker and I know my place.”

She had to push her wind tossed hair out of her face before she could continue and did so with a bright and pretty smile. “I can cook a little, and I can clean. I can read and write, but only in English. In addition, I can do sums. I can sew well, but my fancy needlework isn’t very good. I can also tend a garden, either flower or kitchen.”

The wind continued to whip her red curls around her face like a dozen dancing snakes, but Maggie barely noticed. She wanted to make him understand that he would regret taking her on.

“I will treat your sister with respect there will be no need for her to display her hunting skills. I will work hard and be obedient, so there will be no need for you to beat me. I have never been beaten or whipped, I don’t think that I will give you cause.”

Maggie was working on the assumption that the Dutchman’s family would be kind to her and there would be no need to runaway or be disobedient. She prayed that it would all work out.

 

[BRIGHTWELL]

the cape

Franko listens to every word Maggie spoke, taking it all in. When he heard that she could read and write and do sums. She did not know it but she had sealed her fate. He listened as she continued on about being good and be willing to work with his sister.

Franko smiles at her. He knew how to get the most out of everything and everybody. He nodded as she ended her speech.

"Miss Maggie I understand the words that you are saying to me and I want you to know.That after listening to you, I am very sure that I have a job that will fit my needs. While I said that I didn't need you, your values were not known to me. Tomarrow we will be in Niew Amsterdam. I will have one of my girls show you where you will be working. " Franko pauses and looks out at the water.

'If your words are true then your journey with me will be a long and happy one. " His words are cut short by the call of one of the crew.

"THE CAPE." One of the crew pointed and the ship swung to its new course. Franko now knew that Boston was behind then, maybe for all time. Soon they would be heading west out of the Enlish waters and would be in friendly waters. That would not be fore some time yet, but he knew or was rather sure that this red headed woman would play a large part in his life for many years to come.

 

[DaisyBuchanan]

Maggie

Maggie smiled happily, she finally felt truly comfortable and at ease in his presence.

She was confident that her new life in New Amsterdam would be both productive and satisfying. Franko seemed to recognize that she had skills to contribute to the success of many businesses and talents that could add to the comfort of his domestic life. She planned to build good relationships with his sister and niece, she wanted the other women to value her contributions to the household and recognize that she had a legitimate place in it. She new that domestic discord must be avoided for everyone to be happy and accept her into the home.

She expected to be kept warm and dry, be well-fed and decently clothed, and she realized that whatever church the Dutch family attended was likely to be hers from now until she was no longer with them. In return, she would work diligently, learn what new skills he wanted to teach her, and attempt to keep him happy. She didn’t want him to regret taking her away from Boston and adding her to his life in New Amsterdam.

She was curious about the job he had chosen for her but did not ask him for more details. Men rarely liked it when women asked too many questions, and she could see his attention had already returned to the sailing of his ship. Therefore, she stood on the deck and watched the sailors go about the business of controlling the ship until Franko seemed ready to talk again.

“Sir, I had a small bag of personal possessions, did they make it aboard the Morabeca or will they follow us from Boston?” A slight sadness falls over her, “I know it isn’t much but it is all that I can call my own.”

 

[BRIGHTWELL]

Franko looks at her. "A small bag of personal possessions?" He looks back out to sea. "I didn't buy a small bag of personal possessions I bought a woman with flaming red hair and emeral green eyes for 20 pounds sterling. If you had anything in Boston its staying in Boston. I seriously do not see you getting any where near Boston for the rest of your life"
" You will get six month of training in Niw Amsterdam then when the snows clear you will have six months to get to the base camp on the river. Then you will set up the trading post with the rest of the team. I figure it will take you three summers be fore you can set up the north camp on the lake. It will take you awhile to pick up on the native laungages. But as soon as you master one just use the natives you know to learn the rest. I undersand there are four or five seperate tribes in the lake area." Franko pauses. Then continues. I hope to here some thing from you in say four years time."

"I have another team setting up a trading post at Buffalo Creek. When you have cargo to send East simply build some simple boats or get the indian to deliver it to Buffalo Creek.

 

[DaisyBuchanan]

Maggie

Maggie was disappointed to realize that her few possessions were lost forever. The was nothing specific of value in the bag. Her things weren’t worth much, she didn’t even have a sentimental attachment to anything she owned, they were simply all that she owned in the world. Now she had nothing.

She was listening Franko as he continued. He had her full attention but she still wasn’t certain that she was understanding what he was saying. He spoke English well enough for her to understand the words he used and she was quickly growing accustomed to his accent but she felt taht she was missing something. She knew what he was saying but the meaning of what he was saying was baffling her.

“six months training”… “base camp”… “Trading post”… “native languages”… She thought it sounded like he wanted to train her and then send her off on a commercial expedition into the wilderness to trade with the natives. She was almost certain he was talking of that but she hoped she was mistaken. Why would he pay all that money for her then send her off into the dangerous wilds of the backwoods? Was he crazy? IF that was the case, she didn’t want to anger him. If he wasn’t crazy and it was just a misunderstanding, she didn’t want to anger him.

So, she just smiled. Six months was a long time, and all that training would give her time to figure out want was really going on.

“Umm… that truly does sound like quite an exciting adventure. Do you ever get upriver yourself?”

 

[BRIGHTWELL]

“Umm… that truly does sound like quite an exciting adventure. Do you ever get upriver yourself?”
Franko turn and leans on the rail. "Hem up river?" He shakes his head." Nah nothing up in Fort Orange for Franko Hogers. All my money rides in the South. Pirates come up from the south with goods and sugar an spices. The town would dry up with out the pirates. If you do good work and learn what your told maybe I'll take yeah south to the pirate hideout.

All my girls get payed, once we get you settled We will see how good your skills are. You will heve to keep an open mind. I know your just off the boat from England and you are beening thrusted in to a world you have no right knowing any thing about. There will be a lot to learn . When the snows get here you'll learn to track". Fanko pushed away from the rail turned and looked at her.

" You must think I'm crazy. If you can do the things you say you can do. Twenty pounds will be cheap. 100 pounds would be cheap. You have gifts that 90% of the men don't have and 99 % of the women. Are you kidding. Trust me if the autioneer had said you could read and write and do sums Iwould of payed 100 pounds and walked away whistling!"