Introduction to the primary source written by James G. Basker, from James G. Basker (editor) with Nicole Seary, Black Writers of the Founding Era: 1760–1800 (New York: Library of America, 2023), p. 362.
“The . . . cicada life-cycle observation [is] from Banneker’s private journal, one of the few documents that survived the fire that destroyed his house the day of his funeral in 1806. . . . The recording of the seventeen-year life cycle of the Locust—based on personal observation—makes Banneker one of the first naturalists to document Brood X of the Magicicada.”
The first great Locust year that I can Remember was 1749. I was then about Seventeen years of age when thousands of them came and was creeping up the trees and bushes, I then immagined they came to eat and destroy the fruit of the Earth, and would occation a famine in the land, I therefore began to kill and destroy them, but I soon Saw that my labour was in vain, therefore gave over my pretension. Again in the year 1766 which is Seventeen years after their first appearance to me, they made a Second, and appeared to me to be as full as numerous as the first. I then being about thirty four years of age I had more Sense than to endeavour to destroy them, knowing that they was not so pernicious to the fruit of the Earth as I did immagine they would be. Again in the year 1783 which was Seventeen years Since their Second appearance to me they made their third and they may be expected again in the year 1800 which is Seventeen Since their third appearance to me. So that if I may venture so to express it, their periodical return is Seventeen years, but they like the Comets make but a short stay with us—The female has a Sting in her tail as sharp and hard as a thorn with which She perforates the brances of the trees and in them holes lays eggs, that branch soon dies and fall, then the egg by some Occult cause immerges a great depth into the earth and there continues for the Space of Seventeen years as aforesaid—
I like to forgot to inform that if their lives are Short they are merry, they begin to Sing or make a noise from the first they come out of Earth till they die, the hindermost part rots off and it does not appear to be any pain to them for they Still continue on Singing till they die
(ca. June 6, 1800)
Source: Benjamin Banneker, Untitled Observations and Study of the Cicada: Manuscript, Banneker Astronomical Journal (opposite entry for June 6, 1800), MS2700, Maryland Center for History and Culture. Courtesy of the Maryland Center for History and Culture. A PDF of the complete Astronomical Journal is available from the Maryland Center for History and Culture, https://www.mdhistory.org/resources/benjamin-banneker-astronomical-jour….