david george was born in essex county, virginia, in 1742 to african parents john and judith, as the slave of a man called 'chapel'. george ran away after witnessing his mother's horrible whipping. he also personally experienced a traumatic severe whipping. george received help to run away from some white travelers and worked for these men for some time. it was not until his master offered a reward for george that he ran away and worked for another white man whom he encountered (this time for many years). because his master continued to pursue him, george migrated to south carolina.