Broteer Furro (a.k.a Venture Smith)
In 1736, Broteer Furro was the 7 year old son of a prince in Guinea. After watching his father murdered by trappers, he was taken with 259 other Africans to a ship. On board, Broteer was purchased by the ships steward for 4 gallons of rum and a piece of cloth; he was renamed ”Venture.”
59 Africans died on the voyage; most others sold at auction in Barbadoes. Venture continued with his master to Rhode Island where he eventually married another slave (Meg) and had a daughter.
At age 22, Venture and his family were sold to Thomas Stanton of Stonington, CT. Living in the attic, Venture had 2 sons with Meg. One day, while being beaten by his master's wife, he grabbed the whip. For this, his master beat him with a club by the fireplace and constrained him with chains for 3 days. He was then sold, separating him from his family.
At age 30, Oliver Smith, Venture's 3rd master, agreed to allow Venture to buy his freedom if he could make the money outside of his slave tasks. Hiring himself out and saving everything, he would be age 36 before earning the £71 to free himself ($20,000 today).
By age 44, he made enough to free his 2 sons, his wife Meg and 3 strangers he just wanted to get out of slavery. At age 46, he paid £44 ($7,000 today) to also free his eldest daughter.
At age 69, still married to his love Meg, Venture dictated his life story to a teacher named Elisha Niles; it was then published. I discovered it while researching the home of Thomas Stanton; the location where Venture had been beaten, chained and from whom he purchased the freedom of his wife. The narrative presented of the Stanton family and home is much different than that of Venture, presenting a picture of caring cooperation between cultures. If not for Venture's narrative, that would be the prevailing perspective.
This month, I celebrate Venture's tenacity, enduring spirit and tireless devotion to freeing his people. To quote Venture, “Freedom is a privilege nothing else can equal.“ I also pray we learn to appreciate truth in education rather than comfort.