A Girl Called Samson: an unsung Revolutionary War hero

A Girl Called Samson by Amy Harmon is a fictionalized story of a real life Revolutionary War hero. In 1760, Deborah Samson is born in Plympton, Massachusetts. When her father abandons the family and her mother is unable to support Deborah and her siblings, she is bound out as an indentured servant. She lives and works with the Thomas family, she yearns for a life of freedom and adventures. As the colonies are battling for their independence, Deborah disguises herself as a soldier and enlists in the Continental Army. With her height and lanky build her transformation is persuasive and soon she finds herself witnessing the horrors of war. As Deborah fights for her country’s freedom, she must protect her secret at all costs and finds something she did not expect: love. Will she survive the war? Will her secret be discovered? 

I love history and especially American history. I have never heard of Deborah Samson. A woman born ahead of her time, Deborah fought with bravery, ingenuity and courage. Amy Harmon’s story is a fast paced story, told through letters and from Deborah’s point of view, readers will witness battles and the fight for freedom with Deborah. I found myself cheering for her, urging her on and holding my breath that she wouldn’t be caught. I also enjoyed seeing more Revolutionary War figures than the usual suspects. I learned about real life General John Paterson and Agrippa Hull, a freeman. After I finished this story, I immediately looked up the individuals and read more into their lives before, during and after the war. If you enjoy strong women characters and history, I highly, highly recommend A Girl Called Samson. 

A Girl Called Samson is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

The Tide Between Us: a story of the Irish-Caribbean slavery and emancipation

The Tide Between Us by Olive Collins is an epic story of Irish-Caribbean slavery and emancipation. The story opens in Ireland, 1991 and a skeleton has been found when a violent storm uprooted a tree. The story goes back in time to 1821 when 10-year-old Irish body, Art O’Neil, is deported to the British Caribbean colony of Jamaica as an indentured servant. He is among the thousands of Irish were sent from their homeland to the colony. Art gradually acclimates to the exotic country, the customs of the African slaves as he builds a life there. When the new heirs arrive at the plantation, old ghosts are resurrected for Art of the brutal injustices he and his family suffered back in Ireland, he plots his revenge. He bides his time and hides his loathing from his new master. As he works, he prospers and buys land and he works with the promise of a gold coin for every decade of service. One day he sets out to claim his coins, he has a feeling that he may not return home alive. Then the story fast forwards to Ireland, 1991, as Yseult, the owner of Lugdale Estate, must deal with the skeleton discovery as well as the news that a gold coin, minted in 1870, was found with it. As she watches the events unfold, she must face the long-buried secrets of her family’s past. How long can she hide before the past forces her to face it? 

The Tide Between Us is truly an epic story of a little known history of the Irish indentured servants in Jamaica. Ms. Collins was inspired by the real events of 2,000 Irish children deported to Jamaica and the statistic that 25% of Jamaican citizens claim Irish ancestry. Separated in two parts, the story takes the reader deep into the slave trade and the day to day life on a plantation and two families who are connected through history, blood and circumstances. It is a very powerful story which brings to life historical events that have been hidden. It is also about the resilience of the human spirit as one fights against his or her circumstances to build a better life for their descendants. For me, Part 1 was far more engaging and interesting than Part 2. While heartbreaking to read the appalling treatment and conditions the slaves had to endure, I was glad that Ms. Collins didn’t shy away from the very real facts. Unfortunately, Part 2 introduced Yseult who is 81 and as cranky and grumpy as an older woman can get. She was a hard character to like and sympathize with. By the end, the reader discovers the reasons for her attitude, it didn’t make her likeable or sympathetic. Overall, I enjoyed The Tide Between Us and highly recommend it. One piece of advice, it is a thick book, about 560 pages, it will take time to read it and you will have to take your time to truly appreciate the depth of the story. 

The Tide Between Us is available in paperback and eBook. 

The Immigrant: the untold story of an indentured servant

The Immigrant by Alfred Woollacott III is a story of his ancestor, John Law, who under circumstances beyond his control, was brought to America. It is a story of survival against all odds, against prejudice and discrimination. It is story of how one man’s strength to survive influenced the generations that came after him.

The story opens in 1775, Reuben Law is in the midst of the opening battles of the American Revolution. While marching away from Concord, Massachusetts, he thinks about the stories of his great grandfather. The reader is then transported to Doon Hill, Dunbar Scotland in 1650, where 14 year old John Law is fighting in the Scottish Royal Army against the English. He is captured and taken to London where John is sold as an indentured servant and sent to the Massachusetts Bay Colony. When he arrives, he is met with prejudice and discrimination as he tries to learn this strange new land. When his indenture is over, he is given a parcel of land, which he calls New Scotland, and builds a home. He makes friends with the Indians who teach him about the land. He catches the eye of a local Puritan girl named Lydia Draper and dispute ridicule and social shunning, they marry and start a family on the farm against the struggles of nature and political strife.

I really enjoyed this story because it is full of history and shows the ugly side of early American history. The hostility and discrimination that was such a part of America then, simply because John Law was Scottish, he was not to be trusted. It also shows the strength of one man to overcome this treatment and gain the respect of a number of his community, even though some never do. The book covers major historical events with vivid detail from the Battle of Dunbar to King Philip’s War to the American Revolution. If you want a book which details a story so often untold, I highly recommend The Immigrant.

The Immigrant by Alfred Woollacott III

is available on Amazon

in paperback for $15.99 and

subscribers of Kindle Unlimited for free.