Writings, to the great Astonishment of all who heard her.
As to her WRITING, her own Curiosity led her to it; and this she learnt in so short a Time, that in the Year 1765, she wrote a Letter to the Rev. Mr. OCCOM, the Indian Minister, while in England.
She has a great Inclination to learn the Latin Tongue, and has made some Progress in it. This
Relation is given by her Master who bought her, and with whom she now lives."
The publisher also included the following:
"AS it has been repeatedly suggested to the Publisher, by Persons, who have seen the Manuscript, that Numbers would be ready to suspect they were not really the Writings of PHILLIS, he has procured the following Attestation, from the most respectable Characters in Boston, that none might have the least Ground for disputing their Original.
" WE whose Names are underwritten, do assure the World, that the POEMS specified in the following Page, were (as we verily believe) written by Phillis, a young Negro Girl, who was but a few Years since, brought an uncultivated Barbarian from Africa, and has ever since been, and now is, under the Disadvantage of serving as a Slave in a Family in this Town. She has been examined by some of the best Judges, and is thought qualified to write them.
His Excellency THOMAS HUTCHINSON, Governor.
The Hon. ANDREW OLIVER, Lieutenant-Governor. (There also were sixteen other signatures including John Hancock.)
The Wheatley family returned to Boston in 1773 when John Wheatley freed Phillis Wheatley.
Although she stayed along their side, caring for them in their last years. In 1776, during the
beginning of the Revolution, Phillis Wheatley wrote a letter to George Washington, including a poem. He acknowledged her letter and replied with praises, including an invitation to visit.
Mr. John Wheatley died in 1778. Thus, Phillis Wheatley was then on her own. She was free, but poor. She then met an...