Chains Chapter Summaries 1-7

Chapter 1

• Isabel and her sister Ruth are attending the funeral of Miss Mary Finch in Rhode Island.
• Robert, Mary’s nephew, shows selfishness by focusing on inheritance post-funeral.
• Isabel seeks connection with her deceased mother by visiting her grave.
• Isabel and Ruth are revealed to be enslaved individuals, with Miss Mary as their former owner.

Chapter 2

• Isabel expresses anxiety over her uncertain situation after learning of Miss Mary's will from the pastor.
• Robert dismisses Isabel’s claims of freedom, threatening her and asserting control over her and Ruth.
• Isabel recalls traumatic memories of a previous sale that separated her family, instilling fear about their future.

Chapter 3

• Robert takes the sisters to collect their meager possessions, neglecting their sentimental items.
• They encounter Jenny, who shares a history with their mother but is unable to buy them.
• Isabel and Ruth are eventually sold to Elihu and Anne Lockton, a wealthy couple from New York.
• Jenny surprises everyone by attempting to buy the girls, but is overtaken by Madam Lockton’s bid.

Chapter 4

• The Locktons and the sisters travel by boat to New York, where Isabel longs for escape from their grim fate.
• Isabel reflects on the pain their parents would feel witnessing their plight.

Chapter 5

• Upon arrival, Madam Lockton causes a scene over a walnut chest, indicating her obsession with material possessions.
• Mr. Lockton’s loyalty to the British causes suspicion from local officials, particularly Bellingham.
• Amidst tension, Isabel’s laughter at her mistress's embarrassment results in severe physical punishment.

Chapter 6

• Curzon, a slave who accompanies Isabel, introduces her to vital city locations like the Tea Water Pump.
• He discusses the ongoing political conflict, branding Mr. Lockton a "dirty Loyalist."
• Curzon encourages Isabel to spy for the rebels, suggesting that her masters might divulge secrets about their loyalties.

Chapter 7

• Arriving at the Lockton residence, Isabel meets Becky Berry, the overwhelmed housekeeper overseeing her duties.
• Isabel’s tasks include fetching water and assisting Becky, with strict house rules regarding her autonomy.
• Becky warns that the Locktons’ pro-monarchy stance mandates that their slaves also act as Loyalists, highlighting the complexity of allegiance during the conflict.