James Watkins

James Watkins (born ), was an African-American author and abolitionist. After managing to escape from slavery, Watkins travelled to the United Kingdom, where he gave several lectures against American slavery.

Early life Watkins was born into slavery as Sam Berry about 1823 on "Mr. Abraham Ensor's plantation, about six miles from Cuckerville, Baltimore Co., Maryland." His mother was Milcah Berry. His father, Amos Salisbury, was the overseer of the plantation. Watkins describes him as a "cruel and severe disciplinarian" who never recognized Watkins as his son. Salisbury died about 1836. In the first edition of his slave narrative, Watkins states, "I well remember how glad I felt at having got rid of such a cruel overseer", but in the second edition that sentence about his feelings at the death of his father is left out.

In October 1853, he lectured in Wolverhampton where the newspaper reported noted:

In Sheffield in July 1854, Watkins delivered another speech that was captured at great length by a newspaper reporter. Watkins declared:

His activist wife, Mary Eliza, followed him to Britain after some time, but became ill and returned to Connecticut on medical advice. Other sources suggest he may have returned to live in the US on the SS Nevada in 1869 , and was listed in the 1880 census for Baltimore, Maryland aged 51.