Moses Grandy was born a slave in Camden County, North Carolina ca. 1786. He was bequeathed to his master's son, James Grandy, when they were both eight years old. As was common practice, Moses was hired out yearly until his master was twenty-one. Although the profits of his labors went to James after he came of age, Moses began to save some of the money he earned working on canal boats in hopes of purchasing his freedom. Twice he paid his masters the price they demanded. The first time, Moses gave six hundred dollars to James Grandy—who took the money and sold him to Mr. Trewitt. The second time Moses paid Trewitt the amount demanded but was freed only after several white men petitioned his owner. Moses continued to work on various cargo vessels and saved enough money to buy his wife and children. At the end of his Narrative of the Life of Moses Grandy; Late a Slave in the United States of America (1843), Grandy briefly discusses abolitionists in England, Ireland, and the northern states who were critical in the fight against slavery at that time.

Harris Henderson