General Notes

REFN: Ind17624
[bobbaker.ged]
[Simmons Jones Baker Manuscript]
"...Whether my Great Grandfather was made suspicious by the conduct of
his first wife is unknown to me but he certainly belied his last to have
been unfaithful for he never acknowledged Zadock to be his son & at his
death left him no part of his Estate. "...
"...Old Zadock in his younger days was a common Sailor, & was impressed
(being then a British subject) & served on board the Litchfield man of
war & was wrecked on the coast of Morocco where he remained a Slave for
seventeen months, closely confined at night & chained to a wheel barrow
in the day - His employment was to roll earth into the Emperors Garden to
make a mound - He was finally ransomed for two thousand dollars &
discharged: His misfortunes however had not yet terminated for on landing
at Wilmington in this State he was again impressed with out having any
personal communication with his friends & relatives - But luckily for
him, the Assembly of the State was
then in session at that place & some of them going on board the ship
heard the name called & old Col. Nicholas Long of Halifax knowing perhaps
something of his fate on the coast of Morocco was induced to enquire who
he was; the old man was at first sulky & refused to make any explanations
but finally he was identified & by the influence of several gentlemen was
discharged  he returned home and never went to sea any more. I remember
well to have seen at my fathers house in 1792 or three & was much amused
with the old Gentleman. After he had taken a goodly portion of old
Jamaica (& he liked it well) he commenced a topographical description of
the Emperors of Morocco's garden with Chalk on the floor - particularly
marking the mound & the place of his confinement at night. By the time he
had finished the floor was pretty well marked all over. I recollect also
the Old gentleman had a
peculiar tact in preventing his bowl (old fashioned genuine china,
holding about a gallon or more) from getting empty - first, his toddy
would be too strong, water must be added, then it would be too weak, rum
must be added; then it was not sweet enough, more sugar must go in. Poor
man he made a bad start in the beginning of life & misfortunes seemed to
be in his almost to the end of it. Peace be to his remains -"