Katherine S.

March 12, 1761


Dear Diary,


Oh Marry! I am so excited to tell thee about my life. Well I shall start with my name, my name is Charity Patience Baker from The North Carolina colony. I wish to write this diary about my wonders in life and to hope that thee will understand the hardships of being a colonists.

My family chose to travel to North Carolina because of the rich farming soil (1, The North Carolina Colony) We live in the town of Murphy on a plantation in the county of Cherokee ( 2, http://colonialquills.blogspot.com ). Father, Jared Baker, spends his day in his office having his poor slave Mercey do his work for him (3, TNCC). I always disagreed with my father in his way of doing things. I believe slaves are real people not servants unlike father. Mother, Tabitha, is stuck taking care of me and my brothers Seth, age 3, and Jeremiah age 7, I am the oldest at age 11.

Now that I've told thee more about my family, I shall tell thee about me! I have dark brown hair that is always braided, and is the color of dark chocolate. My eyes are the color of the sea and my lips are rosey red. My Ma tells me I am very slender because I'm healthy, I know its only because I don't eat much even though I have as much food in front of me to feed a crowd. In my colony young ladies have to wear dresses with stays ( 4, 18th Century Clothing). My brothers laugh at my dresses then I remind them that Seth still wears them (5, 18th CC) but he calls them his manly petticoat only because he’s under six! I always go out of my way for my family making household necessities like candles and soap.

My family came to the colony in 1756. They came for the rich soil and land availability (6, TNCC). After a while my father became a very wealthy plantation owner. After that my father started a family with my mother Tabitha on the farm and grew the family with animals. Unluckily as time went on my father added slaves to the family because of the new laws on freedom. The harvests grew and grew because the rich soil. I always write in my diary on the weather and the economies changes. The heavy rainfall during summer months keep my fathers crops healthy.

I haven't been the best to my father so my curfew is early, I will get the paddle if Pa catches me up too late and my ink is almost dry and my candle is nearly melted, I must explain my luxurious two story home. There are many attachments for the slaves that my father owns. Perchance thee won't have home like these. The house is nice wood and the hearths are in every room. My brothers stay up late every night and it bothers me because we share a room. Every night at pray time Seth asks me for a new ball. He is so cute as he prays to lord for a new ball. Jeremiah always asks me to stop playing with poppets and knickers and go to bed because he knows the hard work awaiting us.

I hope thee read on to all my other entries. I have to go cause my father is outside my door with a candle listening to us to insure we are sleeping!

Fare thee well,

Charity