An Indentured Servant Confesses to Murder

The Vain Prodigal Life and Tragical Penitent Death of Thomas Hellier (1680)

Thomas Hellier was a twenty-eight-year-old indentured servant who emigrated from Dorset, England, to Virginia in the late seventeenth century. His tragic story points to the disparity between the expectations that motivated his migration and the reality he faced once he arrived. While many who suffered similar disillusionment adapted to their new environments and survived as best they could, Hellier chose a different, more dreadful path, savagely murdering his masters. In time, colonists shifted from the use of indentured servants, bound for a period of seven years, to a slave-based agricultural economy, whose laborers were bound for life.

Thus had I trifled away and mis-spent my ten pounds and the price of my horse. Next, to supply necessity, I sold my Cloaths for want of money: so walking up Tower-ditch, I going in at the Eagle and Childe, enquired if there were any Ship-Captain quartered there? One replied, There was no Ship-Captain quartered in that house, but that he himself was concern’d about Seafaring matters. I enquired to what parts he was concern’d? He answered, To Virginia: So asked withal, if I were minded for that Country; if I were, I should have Meat, Drink, and Apparel, with other Necessaries provided for me. I replied, I had heard so bad a character of that Country, that I dreaded going thither, in regard I abhorred the Ax and the Haw. He told me, he would promise I should onely be employ’d in Merchants Accompts, and such Employments to which I had been bred, if they were here used.

On August the 10th, 77, I being over-perswaded, went on board the Young Prince Captain Robert Morris Commander; on the 5th of September ditto, the Young Prince weighed Anchor from the Downs; and on the 25th of October following, she arrived within the Capes of Virginia, and dropt Anchor at Newpersnews.

I was delivered into the custody and dispose of one Lewis Connor of Barmedoe hundred Virginia, who sold me off to one Cutbeard Williamson, living at a Plantation call’d Hard Labour, belonging to Westover-Parish in Charles City County Virginia: which said Williamson promised me I should be employed in Teaching his Children, and not be set to any laborious work, unless necessity did compel now and then, meerly for a short spurt. But nevertheless, though I wanted not for Cloaths nor Victuals, yet I found their dealings contrary to their fair promises; which much disheartened me. And though my labour at the Howe was very irksome, and I was however resolved to do my utmost endeavour at it; yet that which embittered my life, and made everything I took in hand burdensome to me, was the unworthy ill-usage which I received daily and hourly from my ill-tongued Mistriss; who would not only rail, swear and curse at me within doors, whenever I came into the house casting on me continually biting Taunts and bitter Flouts; but like a live Ghost would impertinently haunt me, when I was quiet in the Ground at work. And although I silently wrought as fast as she rail’d, plying my labour, without so much as muttering at her, or answering any thing good or bad; yet all the silence and observance that I could use, would not charm her vile tongue. These things burning and broyling in my Breast, tempted me to take the trip, and give my master the bag to hold; thereupon I vamped off, and got on board Capt. Larimore’s ship, where I remained eleven days, or thereabouts, the Ship then riding at Warwicks-Creek Bay.

I was absent from my Master’s business almost three weeks, but at length my Master hunting about, and searching to and fro, had discovered where I was, and so sending a Messenger, fetched me back home again. As I was upon my return homeward, I had a design to have knock the Messenger on the head; for which purpose I took up a great stone and carried it along in my hand a good way, unknown to the man: but my heart failing me, I let drop that design. At length home I came, begg’d pardon of my Master for my fault, and all seemed pretty well again. But my usage proving still worse than before, my Mistress ever taunting me with her odious and inveterate Tongue, do all I would, and strive all the ways whatever I could, she, I found, was no whit pacified toward me. Whereupon I began to cast about and bethink my self, which way to rid me of that Hell upon Earth, yet still seeking if possible to weather it, but all in vain.

At last, Satan taking advantage of my secret inward regret, suggested to my vicious corrupt minde, that by ridding my Master and Mistress out of the way, I might with ease gain my Freedom, after which time I sought all opportunities to effectuate and bring to pass my said horrid contrivance: Concluding, when they were dead, I should be a Freeman. Which said execrable Project I attempted and put in execution May 24, 1678. Thus …

Betimes in the Morning before day, I put on my best cloaths, then got my Ax, and attempted two or three times to enter my Master’s Lodging-room, still my heart failing me, I stept back again; but however at length in I rushed: A Servant-maid, who lay every night in the same Room, passed along by me the same time with her bed on her shoulder, or under her arm, to whom I offer’d no violence, but let her pass untouched; nor had I meddled with her, had she kept out of my way. From her I passed on to my Masters Bed, and struck at him with the Ax, and gave him several blows, as near as I could guess, upon the Head: I do believe I had so unhappy an aim with my hand, that I mortally wounded him the first blow. My Mistress in the interim got out of Bed, and got hold of a Chair, thinking to defend her self; and when I came toward her, struggled, but I proved to hard for her; She begg’d me to save her Life, and I might take what I would, and go my way. But all in vain, nothing would satisfie but her Life, whom I looked on as my greatest Enemy; so down she went without Mercy. The Wench to whom I intended no hurt, returned, as I suppose to rescue her Mistress; whereupon she suffer’d the same cruel Fate with the other two.

After this Tragedy I broke open a Closet, and took provision for my Journey, and rummaging my Mistress Chest, I took what I thought fit, as much as loaded a good lusty Horse; So taking my Master’s Gun in my hand, away I hastened: But while the Horse stood without door, a neighbor came to the house, with an excuse to borrow the said Horse. To whom I frowning, answered very roughly, and threatening him, bid him be gone, he could not have the Horse; who departed, and (I suppose) betrayed to the other Neighbours some jealousie he had conceived, concerning some Mischief I had been doing. A Childe also belonging to the Family was run forth to betray the business. But before any body came, I was gone upon my intended progress with my Master’s Horse loaded, and his gun in my hand.

After wandering the unknown Woods a tedious time, to and fro, and finding no path, I struck up towards a Plantation belonging to one Gilly, near Chickahommony Swamp, where I had a Ship-mate living; here I found a Path, and following that Path, it led me up to the house, where finding my Ship-mate, I enquir’d the nearest way to the Falls of James River: Who told me, he knew not the way, but said, he would go and enquire; so he called his Master’s Son, who asked, if I would not walk into the house, and eat before I went. I said it was too early for me to eat: The said Gilly’s Son-in-law came forth also, and very urgent they were to have me walk in and smoke Tobacco, seeing I would not eat. I told them, I would not smoke, but desired them to direct me my way, (still keeping my Gun in my hand, I being as shie of them, as they were watchful over me.) At last they told me, they would shew me the way; one walking before me, and the other following me, who led me to a Passage over a Water: where before I passed over, I had some occasion to lay my Gun out of my hand: Whereupon one laying hold of the Gun, said, This is a compleat Gun, and withal fired it off: Whereupon I discern’d my self surprised.

They told me I was to go no farther: So they seising me, I struggled a while, and had like to have been too hard for one of the men. But Gilly himself hearing the report of the Gun, run down toward the place; so being overpower’d, I was forced to submit to have my hands bound. Upon this seisure I was struck with silence, not having power either to confess or deny the Fact. They forthwith brought me before Mr. John Stith, the next Justice of Peace; This happened May 25, 1678. I had no power to answer the Justice to any thing, only I begg’d that I might have a Minister sent for to me, and then I should relate the whole matter. One Mr. Williams was sent to me the next morning (being Saturday) to whom I acknowledged the whole matter. After conference with the said Minister, I began by degrees to be rendred sensible of the heinousness of my horrid and bloudy Crime; for which I was Tryed at James-Town, July 26, 1678. And was Sentenced to be Hang’d in Chains the 27, ditto; according to which just Sentence, I am now deservedly to suffer here this instant 5th of August, 1678.

A Documentary History of American Industrial Society, vol. 1, ed. John R. Commons, Ulrich B. Phillips, Eugene A. Gilmore, Helen L. Sumner, and John B. Andrews (Cleveland: Arthur H. Clark Company, 1910), 360–365.

READING AND DISCUSSION QUESTIONS