The Account of Thomas Anderson, a Slave, Cabell County, Virginia, was taken down by J. P. CLARK on December 24, 1854. He is known as Uncle Tom where he resides:  I was born a slave in Hanover county, Virginia, and being very much exposed in my boyhood–no one taking any interest in my welfare–I became very wicked, and remained so till I arrived at the age of nineteen, I was led to attend a religious meeting held by the Baptists, when I was awakened to a sense of my condition from these words, from a humble minister: “The wicked have no hope beyond the grave, while the righteous have a hope beyond Jordan’s cold stream; and after they have crossed Jordan they have gone home to a God of pity, to a God of compassion, to a God of sovereign mercy.” These words took a deep hold on my wicked heart, and break up the great deep in my soul. And soon after, He try my faith very strong. My master, who owned me at that time, supposed my religion was all a fancy, and said he could and would whip it out of me. He took me up, and scourged me until feeling of flesh was almost gone. At length I fall I before him and lift up my cries to heaven, and ask my great Creator “What have I done?” My master cursed me, and said: “Will you preach to me?” But I now feel glad that I could suffer patiently for my new Master.