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 memoir, 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.
Conversion and escape
After the death of his old master he was separated from some of his siblings who were sold away, while he and his mother fell into the hands of Luke Ensor, Abraham Ensor's son. In 1841, he tried to escape for the first time, but was caught and severely punished. For three months, his master made him wear an iron collar with bells attached to it. Some time after his failed escape, he stole away at night to attend a Methodistcamp meeting. Here, he experienced his conversion and spent many hours in intense prayer, which resulted in his returning late to the plantation. Ensor, having explicitly forbidden his participation, tied him up in order to whip him, but was unable to strike a single blow when Watkins told him that Jesus would held him responsible for every blow. The religious experience having increased his longing for freedom, he made a second attempt at escaping in May 1844, succeeding with the help of Quakers.
Abolitionist and author
To avoid detection by Luke Ensor, he changed his name to James Watkins. He settled in Hartford, Connecticut where he married and had children. The Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 convinced him that he was not safe in the United States. So he sailed to Great Britain, where he began giving anti-slaverylectures and also wrote two versions of his memoir, one published in 1852, the second one in 1860. His wife followed him to Britain after some time, but became ill and returned to Connecticut on medical advice. Nothing seems to be known about his later life and death.
