Lesson 161: Douglass, Part 6
Reading assignment: Chapters 8, 9
Here was the situation. Legally, Capt. Anthony owned Douglass. He had let his daughter, Lucretia Auld, use his services. Her husband Thomas Auld then let his brother Hugh use him. It was in High’s home that Hugh’s wife had begun to teach Douglass to read. He spent seven years in this household.
Then Anthony died. Who would inherit Douglass: Lucretia or her brother Andrew? Andrew had a very bad reputation. Douglass wanted to go to Lucretia, whose husband Thomas would probably let him stay with his brother Hugh. He got his wish.
From the moment Lucretia inherited property, it became the property of her husband. Lucretia died soon after. In 1832, Thomas Auld told Hugh Auld to send Douglass to him. Thomas Auld had by this time remarried.