A Narrative of the Life and Adventures of Venture, a Native of Africa, but Resident above Sixty Years in the United States of America, Related by Himself by Venture Smith — Summary & Review

Venture Smith’s narrative begins in Dukandarra, Guinea, around 1729, where he was born the son of a prince. His early life was marked by family upheaval when his mother left his father and traveled east with her children, surviving by foraging. After a period tending sheep under a kind guardian farmer, Venture returned home to find his father reconciled with his mother. However, their peace was shattered when an invading army, instigated by a white nation, attacked, demanding tribute and ultimately torturing and killing his father. Venture and many others were captured during violent raids, forced to march hundreds of miles, and sold into slavery. Renamed Venture by his purchaser, he was transported across the Atlantic, surviving the Middle Passage with many others who did not.

In America, Venture’s life as a slave was marked by hardship and resilience. Initially living with his master’s sister, he was entrusted with responsibilities like guarding keys, showing his trustworthiness. Yet he also faced brutal punishments, including being hung on a gallows for resisting his master’s son. Venture married Meg, a fellow slave, but was later separated from her and their infant daughter when sold to a new master. Despite betrayals, including a failed escape attempt undermined by a companion’s treachery, Venture remained determined to secure his freedom. Through hard work—carding wool, farming, fishing, and trading—and careful saving, he paid over seventy pounds to buy his freedom, finally liberated around age 36.

After gaining freedom, Venture continued to work tirelessly, selling land and moving to Long Island where he cut and corded thousands of cords of wood, earning substantial sums. He lived frugally, avoiding luxuries to save money and redeem his family from slavery, purchasing his wife Meg and children Solomon, Cuff, and Hannah. Venture invested in land, farming, and maritime trade, including whaling voyages and clam collection. Despite his industriousness, he suffered repeated financial losses due to theft, betrayal, and racial injustice, including legal penalties for incidents beyond his control.

In his later years, Venture faced physical decline—near blindness and ulcers—but retained his freedom, family, and pride in his character for truth and integrity. He mourned the loss of his sons who did not follow his path, reflecting on the costs of freedom and the persistence of injustice. Throughout, the narrative offers detailed glimpses into 18th-century African and American life, the brutality of slavery, and the complex relationships between slaves and masters. Venture’s story is told with sober honesty, marked by resilience, faithfulness, and a relentless pursuit of dignity and family restoration.