SLAVE NARRATIVES A Folk History of Slavery in the United States From Interviews with Former Slaves TYPEWRITTEN RECORDS PREPARED BY THE FEDERAL WRITERS' PROJECT 1936-1938 ASSEMBLED BY THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS PROJECT WORK PROJECTS ADMINISTRATION FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA SPONSORED BY THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS Illustrated with Photographs WASHINGTON 1941 VOLUME IV GEORGIA NARRATIVES PART 2 Prepared by the Federal Writers1 Project of the Works Progress Administration for the State of Georgia Garey, Elisha Doc Garrett, Leah Gladdy, Mary Gray, Sarah Green, Alice Green, Isaiah (Isaac) Green, Margaret Green, Minnie Gresham, Wheeler Griffin, Heard Gullins, David Goodman 1 11 17 28 31,38 48,57 60 64 66 72 78 Hammond, Milton 91 Haimon, Jane Smith Hill 97 Harris, Dosia 103 Harris, Henderson 115 Harris, Shang 117 Hawkins, Tom 126 Heard, Bill 136 Heard, Emmaline 147,154 160 Heard, Mildred 165 Heard, Robert 170 Henderson, Benjamin 173 Henry, Jefferson Franklin 178 in Henry, Robert Hill, John Hood, Laura Hudson, Carrie Hudson, Charlie Huff, Annie Huff, Bryant Huff, Easter Hunter, Lina Hurley, Emma Hutcheson, Alice 194 200 208 211 220 233 238 244 252 273 281 Jackson, Amanda Jackson, Camilla Jackson, Easter Jackson, Snovey Jake, Uncle Jewel, Mahala Johnson, Benjamin Johnson, Georgia Johnson, Manuel Johnson, Susie Jones, Estella Jones, Fannie Jones, Rastus 289 294 299 303 310 315 322 327 337 343 345 351 356 J.-T30C9: PIANTATIOH LIES 1 as viewed by ex-slave SLISHA DOC GASSY 258 Iyndon Avenue Athens, Georgia Written by: Sadie B. Hornsby Athens - Edited bys Sarah. K. Hall Athens and John N. Booth District Supervisor Federal Writers1 Project Res* 6 & 7 Augusta, Ga* f)0C91 2 BLISHA DOC GARBT Bx-Slave - Age 76 Asked for the story of his early life and his recollections of slavery, Elisha replied: knows *bout dem days*11 ll Yes lb,9am, fdeed Ifll tell you all I His next words startled the interviewer.*I knowed you was comin1 to write dis jedgment," he said. ^1 seed your hand writin1 and long *fore you got here I seed you jus1 as plain as you is now. I told dese folks what I lives wid, a white ! oman was comin1 to do a heap of writin1 11 1 was horn on de upper edge of Hart County, near Shoal Crick. Sarah Anne Garey was my 1 L and I was one of dem shady "babies. Dere was plenty of dat kind in dem times. Uy own sister was Rachel, and 1 had a half sister named Sallie what was>white as anybody. John, Lindsay, David, and Joseph was my four brothers. *What did us chillun do? body eat dar fless dey wukked. Us wukked lak hosses. Didn11 no- I* se been wukkin1 ever since I come in dis v/orld* *Us lived in log huts. and a mud chimbly at each end. Evvy hut had a entry irt de middle, Us slep1 in beds what was *tached to de side of de hut, and dey was boxed up lak wagon bodies to hold de corn shucks and de babies in. Home-made rugs v/as put on top of de shucks for sheets, and de kiwer was de same thing. ft I still 'members my grandma itechal. De traders fotched 1-er here ff urn Virginny, and she never did learn to talk plain, Grandma Sallie Gaines was too old for field wuk, so she looked atter de slave babies v/hilst deir Ha1 s was wulckin1 in de field. Gaines v/as de shoemaker. Grandpa Jack 2.. tt Most of de time I was up at de big house waitin1 on our white folks, huntin* eggs, pickin* up chips, makin1 fires, and little jobs lak dat. De onliest way I could find to make any in one y in dem lays was to sell part1 idges what I cotahed in traps to dem Yankees what was allus pass in1 * round* Dey paid me ten cents apiece for part1 idges and I might have saved more of my money if I hadn11 loved dat store boughten pepfaint candy so good. "What I et? Anything I could git. 'tatoes, combread, meat and lye hominy was dan anything else. Peas, green corn, what dey give us more Bakin* was done in big old ovens what helt three pones of bread and in skillets what helt two. was swung over de coals in de fireplace. Big pots for bilin1 Dey was hung on hooks fastened to de chimbly or on cranes what could be swung off de fire when dey wanted to dish up de victuals. Hit warn11 nothin1 for us to ketch five or six fpossums in one night1 s huntin1. tote f De best way to possums is to split a stick and run deir tails tkoo1 de crack - den fling de stick crost your shoulders and tote de fpossums flong safe and sound. Dat way dey can1t bite you. in1 out of sacks. When us went giggin1 at night* us most allus fetched back a heap of fishes and frogs. fishes and rabbits. Dey1s bad fbout gnaw- Dere was allus plenty of Our good old hound dog was jus1 f bout as good at trailin1 rabbits in de daytime as he was at tree in1 *possums at night. I was young and spry, and it didn't seem to make no diff1 unce what let dem days. Big gyardens was scattered over de place y/har-some -ever larster happened to pick out a good gyarden spot. Dem gyardens all b1 longed to our Marster* but he fed us all us wanted out of !em. 3 4 ^All dat us chillun wore in summer was jus* one little shirt. It was a long time * fore us knowed dere was folks anywhar dat put iriore dan one piece of clothes on chillun in summer. Grandpa Jack ciade de red shoes us wore widout no socks in winter. Our other winter clothes was cotton shirts and pants, and coats what liad a little wool in fem. Summer times us went bar headed, but linker Ked Dere warn11 no difffunt made bullrusb. hats for us to wear in winter. clothes for Sunday. church. Us put f Us toted our shoes em on jus1 f f long in our hands goin1 to fore us got dar and tuk *em off again soon as us got out of sight of de raeetin1 house on de way back home. "Marse Joe Glover v/as a good man and he never whupped his Niggers much. she was. Will. His wife, our Miss Julia* was all right too - dat Deir three chilluns was Miss Sue, Miss Puss, and Marster Marse Joe done all his own oversee in*. He used to tuck his long white beard inside his shirt and button it up. *Dat was a fine lookin1 turn-out of Marse Joefs - dat rocka-way carfiage wid bead fringe all f round de canopy, a pair of spank- in1 black hosses hitched to it, and my brother, David, settin1 so proud lak up on de high seat dey put on de top for de driver. "Dere warn11 no slave, man or f oman, livin1 on dat planta- tion what knowed how many acres was in it. as 500 slaves in all. I *spects dere was mai^r Marster fpinted a cullud boy to git de slaves up ffore day, and dey wukked ffum sunup to sundown. 11 Jails? f Yes Ma*am, dere was sev*ral little houses dat helt bout two or three folks what dey called jails. White folks used to git locked up in * em but I never did see no Higgers in one of dem little jailhousds* I ne^er seed no Higgefs sold, but I did see f eia 4. in wagons gwine to Mississippi to "be sold. I never seed no slave in chains *Sorne few slaves could read and write, and dem what could read was most allus called on "by de others for preachin1. McCollie was de fust cullud preacher I ever seed. Charlie White folks flowed slaves to make "brush arbors for churches on de plantations, and Nigger aoys and gals done some tall courtin1 at dem "brush arbors. Dat was de onliest place whar you could git to see de gals you lakked de "best. Iawd.f dey tuk r Dey used to start off services singin* Come Ye Dat Loves De Warn11 no pools in de churches to baptise, folks in den, so l em down to de crick. #ust a deacon went in and measured de water wid a stick to find a safe and suitable place - den dey was ready for de preacher and de canidates. Swybody else stood on de banks of de crick and jined in de singing Lead Me to de Water for to "be Baptized,1 Some of dem songs was: f Oh, How I love Jesus,* and f0h, Happy Da.y dat Fixed my Choice.1 ^1 hates to even think fbout funerals now, old as I is. f Course I*se ready to go, "but Ifse a thinkin* t bout dem what ainft. S*unerals dem days was pretty much lak dey is now. country would be dar. Swybody in de All de coffins for slaves was home-made. Dey was painted black wid smut off of de wash pot mixed wid grease &&&^ water. De onliest funeral song I fmembers ftum dem days is: f 0h, livin1 man Come view de ground Whar you must shortly lay.1 4 *How in de name of de Lawd could slaves run away to de North wid dem Nigger dogs on deir heels? I never knowed nary one to 5. run away. Patterollers never runned me none, but dey did git atter some of de other slaves a whole lot* l&rse Joe Allus had one pet slave what he sont news by. "When slaves coxae in ffum de fields at night, dey was glad to jus1 go to bed and rest deir bones. Y/uk at dinner time Saddays# Dey stopped off ffum field Sadda^y nights us had stomp down good times pickin1 de banjo, blowin1 on quills, drinkin1 liquor, and dancin1. I was sho* one fast Higger den. grown folks and gals. Sunday was meetin1 day for Soys thfowed rocks and hunted birds1 nests clat day. "Chrisfmas mornin*s us chillun was up rfore squirrels, lookin1 up de chimbly for Santa Glaus. Dere was plenty to eat den - syrup, cake, and evvything* rt KTew Yearfs Day de slaves all went back to wuk wid most of * em clearin* new ground dat day. Dere was allus plenty to do. De only other holidays us had was when us was rained out or if sleet and snow drove us out of de fields. frolickin1. Ewybody had a good time den a When us was trackin* rabbits in de snow* it was heaps of fun. *lfetrse Joe had piles and piles of corn lined up in a ring for de corn shuckin's. Be genfral pitched de songs and de Uiggers would follow, keepin1 time a-singin1 and shuckin1 corn. Atter all de corn was shucked, dey was give a big feast wid lots of whiskey to drink and de slaves was f lowed to dance and frolic ! til mornin1. If a neighbor got behind in geth'rin* his cotton, Marse Joe sont his slaves to help pick it out by moonlight. days, us ain11 never gwine see no more* Times lak dem 6 6.> W I ainrt never seed no sich time in my life as dey had when Marse Will Glover married Miss Moorehead. She had on a white satin dress wid a veil over her face, and I fclare to goodness I never seed Mext day attar de weddin1 day, lllarse Will sich a pretty white lady. had de infare at his house and I knows I ainf t never been whar so much good to eat was sot out in one place as dey had dat day. even had dried cow, lak what dey calls chipped beef now. some-pin* brand new in de way of eatin* s den. Dey Dat was I et so much I was skeered I warn* t gwine to be able to go *long back to Marse Joers plantation wid de rest of *em. *01d Marster put ewy foot forward to take care of his slaves when dey tuk sickf f cause dey was his own property. Dey poured asafiddy (asafetida) and pinetop tea down us* and made us take tea of some sort o another for *most all of de ailments dere was dem days* Slaves wore a nickel or a copper on strings *round The people Keep a-coming, and the train"1 s done gone; Too late, too late, the train's done gone, Too late, sinner> too late, the trainfs done gone; Never seen the like since Ifve been born, The people keep a-coming, and the train's done gone; Too late, too late, the train's done gone* V/ent dorai into the valley to watch and pray, ky soul got happy and I stayed all all day; Too late, too late, the train's done gone; Too late, sinner, too late, the train's done gone; Never seen the like since I've been born, The people keep a-cordng and the train's done rone* Too late, too late, the train's done gone* 10 Song for interviewer by: Mary Gladdy, ex-slave, 806 - 6th Avenue, Columbus, Georgia, December 17, 1936 OLD SLAVS CANTICLE. My sister, I feels *im, my sister I feels v im; All night long I've been feelin f in ; Jest befoe day, I feels v im, jest be -foe day I feels T la; She sperlt, I feels 'im, the sperit I feels *iml Uj brother, I feels 'im, my brother, I feels 'im; All night long I've been feelin im, Jest befoe day, I feels 'im, jest befoe day, I feel 'im; She sperit, I feels f imJ According to Mary Gladdy, ex -slave, 806$ - 6th Avenue, Columbus, Georgia, it was customary among slaves during the Civil War period to secretly gather in their oabins two or three nights each week and hold prayer and experience meetings. A large, iron pot was always placed 27 against the cabin door - - sideways, to keep the sound of their voices from "escaping" or being heard from the outside. Then, the slaves would sing, pray, and relate experiences all night long* Their great, soul-hungering desire was freedom - * not that they loved the Yankees or hated their masters, hut merely longed to he free and hated the institution of slavery* Practically always, every Negro attendant of these meetings felt the spirit of the Lord "touch him (or her) just before day". Then, all would arise, shake hands around, and begin to chant the canticle above quoted. This was also a signal for adjournment, and, after chanting 15 or 20 minutes, all would shake hands again and go home - - confident in their hearts that freedom was in the offing for them* 28 100170 & ^ 4^ A SHORf 2ALK WITH SARAH GRAY - EX-SLAVS A paper submitted by Minnie B. Ross Revision of original oopy and typing by J. C. Russell 1/25/37 jcr-l/25/37 falk with ex-slave j 0017D 1 SM^SSS. M.B.Eoss Sarah Gray is an aged ex-slave, whose years have not only bent her body bat seem to have clouded her memory. Only a few facts relating to slavery could, therefore, be learned from her. The events she related, however, seemed to give her as much pleasure as a child playing with a favorite toy. Sarah The only recollection sks has of her mother is seeing her as she lay in her coffin, as she was very young when her mother died. She remembers asking her sisters why they didn't give: her mother any breakfast. Sarah's master was Mr. Jim Hesbit, who was the owner of a small plantation in Gwinnett County. She exact number of slaves on the plantation were not known, but there were enough to carry on the work of plowing, hoeing and chopping the cotton and other crops. Women as well as men were expected to turn out the required amount of work, whether it was picking cotton, cutting logs, splitting rails for fences or working in the house* Sarah was a house slave, performing the duties of a maid. She was often taken on trips with the mistress, and treated more as one of the Hesbit family than as a slave. She remarked,nI even ate the same kind of food as the master's family." She Hesbits, according to Sarah, followed the customary practice of the other slave owners in the matter of the punishment of slaves. She says, however, that while there were stories slave owners of some very cruel masters, in her opinion the ma#4##4 of those days were not as cruel as some people today. She said occasionally slave owners appointed some of the slaves as overseers, and very often these slave-overseers were very cruel. gg jcr-l/25/27 Talk with ex-slave When the war began, the Heabits and other plantation owners grouped together, packed their wagons fall of supplies, took all of their slaves, and started on a Journey as refugees. They had not gone very far when a band of /Yankee "soldiers overtook them, destroyed the wagons, took seventy of the men prisoners and marched off taking all of the horses, saying Jfcfeertr*^ that they were on their way to Richmond and when they returned there would be no more masters and slaves, as the slaves would be freed. Some of the slaves followed the HJankees, but most of them remained with their masters1 families. Shay were not told of their freedom immediately on the termination of the war, but learned it a little later. As compensation, Mr. Nesbit promised them money for education. She declares, however, that this promise was never fulfilled* Sarah Gray's recollections of slavery, for the most part, seem to be pleasant. She sums it up in the statement, "In spite of the hardships we had to go through at times, we had a lot to be thankful for. Ihere were frolics, and we were given plenty of good food to eat, especially after a wedding " The aged ex-slave now lives with a few distant relatives. She is well cared for by a family for whom she worked as a nurse for 35 years, and she declares that she is happy in her old age, feeling that her life has been usefully spent. PLANTATION LIFE as viewed by Ex-Slave ALICE GREEN Athens Georgia Written by : Ldited by : Corry Fowler Athens - Sarah H. Hall Athens - and John If. Booth District Supervisor Federal Writers* Project Residencies 6 & 7 32 ICS GR35N .ii-v Alice Greeks supposed address led the interviewer to a caoin with a padlocked front door. A small Negro girl who was slaving in the adjoining yard admitted, after some coaxing, that 3^3 knew where Alice could be found. Pointing down the street, 3ii3 said: " See dat house v/id de sheet hangin1 out in front. v/har ^unt Alice lives now." Datfs A few moments later a rap on the door oi the house designated was answered by a small, slender Hegress " Yes Mam, Ifm Alice Green, ivas her solemn response to t.ie inquiry. She pondered the question of an interview for a i..o;.Lent and then, with unsmiling dignity, bade the visitor come in ai:d be seated. Only one room of the dilapidated two-room shack was usable for shelter and this room was so dark that lamplight v:as necessary at 10:00 of clock in the morning. Her smoking oil lu.p *vas minus its chimney. A Negro child about two or three years old was Alice's sola companion. " I takes keer of little Sallie Mae whilst her --..:..y iTuks at a boardin1 house," she explained. "She's lots of co.-.juLy for me. "Charles and Milly Green was my daddy and mammy. baddy's overseer was a man named Green, and dey said he was a _o;eriul mean sort of man. lived v/hen Daddy was borned. I never did know artiar it was dey Mammy1 s marster was a lawyer dat -2- dey called Slickhead Mitchell, and he iis^d a plantation at Helicon. Springs. Mammy was a house gal and she said dey treated her rijht good* Now Daddy, he done field work. You know what field work is, iioein1, plowing, and things lak dat. When you was a slave you had to do anything and evyything your marster told you to. You was jus1 f bliged to obey your marster no matter what he said for you to do* If you didnft, it was mighty bad for you* I,;y two oldest sisters was Fannie and Rena. Den come my brothers, Isaac and Bob, and my two youngest sisters, Luna and Yiolet* Dere was seven of us in all# Tf Slaves lived in rough little log huts daubed wid mud and de eiiimblys was made out of sticks and red mud. .Mammy said dat atter de slaves had done got through wid deir day's work and finished eatin1 supper, dey all had to git busy workin1 wid cotton. oome carded bats, some spinned and some weaved cloth. I knows you is done seen dis here checkidy cotton homespun- datfs what dey weaved for our dresses. Dem dresses was made tight and long, and dey made fem right on de body so as not to waste none of de cloth. All slaves had was homespun clothes and old heavy brogan shoes* tf You111 be sfprised at what Mammy told me she -ot her larnin1. f bout how She said she kept a .school book hid in her bosom all de time and when de white chillun got home from school -s- 34 sh3 would ax fem lots of questions all 'bout what dey had done larned dat day and, f cause she was so proud of evvy little scrap of book larnin1 she could pick up, de white chillun larned her how to read and write too* All de larnin1 she ever had she got froi:, de white chillun at de big house, and she was so smart at jittin1. fem to larn her dat atter de war was over she got to be a school teacher. Long ffore dat time, one of dem white chillun ~ot married and tuk Mammy wid her to her new home at Butler, Georgia. rf Now my daddy, he was a plum sight shof f nough. He said dat when evvy thin! got still and quiet at night he would slip off and hunt him up some ' omans. Patterollers used to git atter him wid nigger hounds and once when dey cotch him he said da:; beat him so bad you couldn't lay your hand on him nowhar dat it v/arnft sore. Dey beat so many holes in him he couldnft even vaar his shirt. Most of de time he was lucky enough to outrun !em and if he could jusr git to his marsterfs place fust dey couldn't lay hands on him. Yes Mam, he was plenty bad fbout runnin1 away and jittin1 into devilment. 11 Daddy used to talk lots f bout dem big cornshuckin1 s. -e s^id dat when dey got started he would'jump up on a big old ala oi corn and holler loud as he could whilst he was a snatchinT de-: shucks off as fast as greased lightin1. -4- rr 35 When Mammy was converted she ji^ed the whitejfolks church and was baptized by a white preacher 'cause in dem days slaves all went to de same churches wid dea^ marster's famblies. Dare warn't no separate churches for Negroes and white people den. tf I warn't no bigger dan dis here little Sallie Mae what stays wid me when de War ended and dey freest de slaves. tine atter it was all over, A long Mammy told me *bout dat day. She said she was in de kitchen up at de big house a-*$ookin' and me and my sisters was out in de yard in de sandbed a-^layin' wid de little v:;iite chillun when dem yankee sojers come. to ^aniiiiy: f Old Miss, she said Milly, look yonder what's a-comlAf I ain't gwine to have notiiin' left, not even a nickels worthy 'cause dere comes de::i yankees.' Dey rid on in de yard, dem sAjars what wore dem jlue jackets, and dey jus' swarmed all over pur place. Dey even a ant in our smokehouse and evvywhar and tooK: whatever dey wanted. D-ay said slaves was all freed from bondage $#d told us to jus' a,Le anything and evvything us wanted from $# big house and all 'round de plantation whar us lived. Dem th^ivin* sojers even _:ic>ed up one of de babies and started off Vid it, and den Old -133 did scream and cry for sho'. Atter dejf had done left, Old -ias called all of us together and said she didn't want none of us to leave her and so us stayed wid her a who}^ year atter freedom --a done come. 36 ff Not many slaves had a chance to git property of deir own for a long time 'cause dey didn't have no money to buy it wid. Dem few what had land of deir own wouldn't have had it if deir white folks hadnft give it to fem or holp 'em to git it. My uncle, Garter Brown, had a plenty fcause his white folks holped him to Sit a home and 'bout evvything else he wanted. got ahead faster dan most any of de others Dem Morton Negroes f round here but dey couldn't have done it if deir white folks hadn't holped 'em so much. " Soon as I got big enough, I started cookin' for welloff white folks. Fact is, I ain't never cooked for no folks dat didn't have jus' plenty of money. white Some of de white folks what*has done et my cookin' is de Mitchells, Upsons, Huckers, Bridges, and Chief Seagraves' fambly. Buesse's I was cookin' for Chief mammy yvhen he was jus' a little old shirttail boy. honey, I allus did lak to be workin' and I have done my share of it, but since I got so old I ain't able to do much no more. My white folks is mighty good to me though. rf Now iloney, you may think it's kind of funny but I ain't never been much of a hand to run 'round wid colored folks# I.Iy mammy and my white folks dey raised me right and larned me good manners and I'm powerful proud of my raisin'. I feels lak no?/ dat white folks understands me better and 'preciates me more. -6- "^tiy* Jusf listen to disl 3? Yftien Iur# Weaver 3ridges told me his mother had done died, he axed me did I want to go to the funeral and he said he was goin1 to take me to de church and graveyard too, and shof ! nough dey did come and git me and carry me.'long. I was glad dey had so many pretty flowers at" Mrs Bridges1 funeral 'cause I loved her so much. kind f She was a mighty sweet, good, oman. " All my folks is dead now fcept me and my chillun, Archie, Lila, and Lizzie. All three of fem is done married now. Arohiei he's got a house full of chillun. de Georgian Hotel. 1 He works up yonder at I loves to stay in a little hut off to myself cause I can tell good as anybody when my chillun and in-laws begins to look cross-eyed at me so I jusf stays out of deir way. ff Ifm still able to go to church and back by myself pretty regflar. f Bout four years ago I jined Hillfs Baptist Church. Lak to a got lost didn!t I? If I had stayed out a little longer it would have been too late, and I shof don't want to be lost." J00097 88 PLANTATION LIFE Interview with: ALICE GREEN 156 Willow Street Athens, Georgia Written by: Edited by: Sadie B. Hornsby Athens / Sarah H. Hall Athens Leila Harris Augusta and John N. Booth District Supervisor Federal Writers* Project Residencies 6 & 7. ,,w 7 " .1. ALICE GREEN Ex-Slav e_-__A e__70._ Alice Green's address led to a tumble down shack set in a small yard which was enclosed by a sagging poultry wire fence. The gate, off its hinges, was propped across the entrance* The call, "Alice!" brought the prompt response, "Here I is. J"usf push de gate down and come on in.* When a little rat terrier ran barking out of the house to challenge the visitor, Alice hobbled to the door* "Come back here and be-have yourself" she addressed the dog, and turning to the interviewer, she said; "Lady, dat dog wonft bite nothin* but somepinf tfeat - when he kin git it." Donft pay him no ftention. Wonft you coxae in and have a seat?" Alice has a light brown complexion and bright blue eyes* She a wore a soiled print dress, and/dingy stocking cap partly concealed her white hair. Boards were laid across the seat of what had been a cane-bottomed chair, in which she sat and rocked Asked if she would talk of her early life the old Negress replied: "Good Lord I Honey, I done forgot all I ever knowed fbout dem days. I was born in Clarke County* Milly and Charley Green was my mammy and pappy and dey bflonged to Marse Daniel Miller. Mammy, she was born and raised in Clarke County but my pappy, he come from southwest Georgia. I done forgot de town whar he was brung up. Dere 39 -2- was seven of us chillun: and Isaac* me and Viola, Lula, Fannie, Rena, Bob,. Chillun what warn't big fnough to wuk in de fields or in de house stayed f round de yard and played in de sand piles wid de white chillun* "Slaves lived in mud-daubed log huts what had chimblies made out of sticks and mud, Lordy Honey! Dem beds was made wid big high posties and strung wid cords for springs. dem days. Folks never had no wire bedsprings Our mattresses was wheat straw put in ticks made out of coarse cloth what was wove on de loom right dar on de plantation. "I donft know nothin* 'bout what my grandmammies done in slavfry I never seed but one of fem, and donft time. her. f member much fbout I was jusf so knotty headed I never tuk in what went on I never fspected to be axed to tell "Money! big gal. Oh-h-h, no MafamJ f cause f bout dem days. I never seed no money ftil I was a great My white folks was rich and fed us good. Dey raised lots of hogs and give us plenty of bread and meat wid milk and butter and all sorts of vegetables. Marster had one big garden and dere warnft nobody had more good vegetables dan he fed to his slaves. De cookin* was done in open fireplaces and most all de victuals was biled or fried. Us had all de f possums, squirrels, rabbits, and fish us wanted cause our marster let de mens go huntin1 and fishin1 lots. 41 *Us jusf wore common clothes* Winter time dey give us dresses made out of thick homespun cloth* tight fittin* waisties. De skirts was gathered on to Us wore brass toed brogan shoes in win- ter, but in summer Niggers went bar1foots. could ketch in summer* Us jusf wore v&at us By dat time our winter dresses had done wore thin and us used fem right on through de hot weather* "Marse Daniel Miller, he was some kinder good to Mammy, and Miss Susan was good to us too. Now Honey, somehow I jusf eainft ber deir chilluns names no more. all day long wid *Oh-h-IU f mem- And I played in de sand piles f em too. Dat was a great big old plantation, and when all dem Niggers got out in de fields wid horses and wagons, it looked lak a picnic ground; only dem Niggers was in dat field to wuk and dey shof did have to wuk. "Marster had a carriage driver to drive him and Ole Miss fround and to take de chillun to school. Be overseer, he got de Niggers fore day and dey had done et deir breakfast, f stock, and was in de field by sunup and he wuked f up f tended to de em ftil sundown. De mens didn't do no wuk atter dey got through tendin1 to de stock at night, but Mammy and lots of de other fomans sot up and spun and wove f til 'leven or twelve o'clock lots of nights. *My pappy was a man what b'lieved in havin1 his fun and he would run off to see de gals widout no pass. Once when he slipped off 4dat way de patterollers sicked dem nigger hounds on him and when dey eotched him dey most beat him to death; he couldn't lay on his back for a long time. *If dey had jails, I didn't know nothin* f f bout em. De patterollers wid deir nigger hounds made slaves bfhave deirselfs widout puttin* f em in no jails. I never seed no Niggers sold, but Mammy said her and her whole fambly was sold on de block to de highesf bidder and dat was when Ole Marster got us. "Mammy, she was de cook up at de big house, and when de white chillun come back from school in de atternoon she would ax fem to show her how to read a little book what she carried f round in her bosom all de time, and to tell her de other things dey had larnft in school dat day. Dey lamed her how to read and write, and atter de War was over Mammy teached scnool and was a granny foman (midwife) too* *Dey made us go to church on Sundays at de white folks church fcause dere warnft no church for slaves on de plantation. School too. Us went to Sunday Mammy jined de white folks church and was baptized by de white preacher. He larnt us to read de Bible, but on some of de plantations slaves warnrt f lowed to lam how to read and write. I didnft have no favorite preacher nor song neither, but Mammy had one song what she sung lots. Sound*1 It was f bout f Hark from de Tombs a Doleful I never seed nobody die and I never went to no buryinf durin* slavfry time, so I cainft tell nothinf f bout things lak dat. 43 -5*l,ordy Honey! How could dem Niggers run off to de North when dem patterollers and deir hounds was waitin1 to run *em up? f em down and beat Now some of de slaves on other places might have found some way to pass news f round but not on Ole Marater's place. shof had to have a pass You f fore you could leave dat plantation and he warnft goinf to give you no pass jus1 for fooliahment. I never heared tell of no uprisings twixt white folks and Niggers but dey fussed a-plenty* Now days when folks gits mad, dey jus* hauls off and kills one another. ff Atter slaves got through deir wuk at night, dey was so tired dey jus* went right off to bed and to sleep. Dey didn't have to wuk on Sadday atter dinner, and dat night dey would pull candy, dance, and frolic f til late in de night rollin's. Dey had big times at cornshuckin1 s and log My pappy, he was a go-gitter; he used to stand up on de corn and whoop and holler, and when he got a drink of whiskey in him he went hog wild, ^ere was alius big eatinfs when de corn was all shucked. "Christmas warnft much diffunt from other times. heap of fun a-lookinf for Santa Claus. Us chillun had a De old folks danced, quilted, and pulled candy durin1 de Christmastime. Come New Yearfs Day, dey all had to go back to wuk. "What for you wants to know what I played when I was a little gal? Dat was a powerful long time ago. Us played in de sand piles, jumped rope, played hide and seek and Old Mother Hubbard.* -6- 44 At this time a little girl, who lives with Alice, asked for a piece of bread. She got up and fed the child, then said: "Come in dis here room. I wants to show you whar I burned my bed last night tryin' to kill de chinches: dey most eats me up ewy night." In the bedroom an oil lamp was burning. The bed and mattress showed signs of fire. The mattress tick was split from head to foot and cotton spilling out on the floor. "Dat's whar I sleep," declared Alice. The atmosphere of the bedroom was heavy with nauseous odors and the interviewer hastened to return to the front of the house desiring to get out of range of the chinch-ridden bed. Before there was time to resume conversation the terrier grabbed the bread from the child's hand and in retaliation the child bit the dog on the jaw and attempted to retrieve the bread. Alice snatched off her stocking cap and beat at the dog with it. "Git out of here, Biddy. I done told you and told you 'bout eatin' dat chile's somepin 'teat. I don't know why Miz. Woods gimme dis here dog no how, 'cause she knows I can't feed it and it's jus' plum starvin'. Go on out, I say. "Lordy! Lady, dar's one of dem chinches from my bed a-crawlin' over your pretty white dress. Ketch him quick, 'fore he bites you." Soon the excitement was over and Alice resumed her story. "Dey tuk mighty good care of slaves when dey got sick. Dey had to, "cause slaves was propity and to let a slave die was to lose money. Ole Miss, she looked atter de 'omans and Ole Marster, he had de doctor -7for de mens. I done forgot most of what dey made us take. dey made us wear assfiddy (asafetida) sacks eat gumgoo wax. #id whiskey. 45 I know f round our necks, and Dey rubbed our heads wid camphor what was mixed f Old folks used to conjure folks when dey got mad at Dey went in de woods and got certain kinds of roots and biled spider webs, and give em. f em wid f em de tea to drink. * One day us chillun was playin1 in de sand pile and us looked up and seed a passel of yankees eomin*. a flock of bluebirds. more lak blue devils. Dere was so many of fem it was lak f Fore dey left some folks thought dey was My mammy was in de kitchen and Ole Miss said: Look out of dat window, Milly; de yankees is comin* for shof and deyfs goinf to free you and take you and your chillun leave me! yard. Please donft leave me, Milly!1 f way from me. Donft Dem yankees swa'rmed into de Dey opened de smokehouse, chicken yard, corncrib, and evvything on de place. Dey tuk what dey wanted do what us pleased wid. and told us de rest was ours to Dey said us was free and dat what was on de plantation bflonged to us, den dey went on off and us never seed f ea no more. n When de War was over Ole Miss cried and cried and begged us not to leave her, but us did. Us went to wuk for a man on halves. I had to white wuk in de field 'til I was a big gal, den I went to wuk for rich/folks* I ainft never wuked for no pore white folks "It was a long time f in my whole life* fore diggers could buy land for deirselfs dey had to make de money to buy it wid. f cause I couldn't rightly say when -8schools was set up for de Niggers. 46 It was all such a long time ago, and I never tuk it in nohow* *I donft recollect when I married George Huff or what I wore dat day. Didnft live wid him long nohow* sot f round and watched me wuk. I warnft goinf to live wid no man what Mammy had done larnt me how to wuk, and I didn't know nothin* else but to go ahead and wuk for a livinf# donft know whar George is. he ought to be. He might be dead for all I know; if he ain't, I got three chillun. Lila, and one is a boy. Two of f em is gals, Lizzie and My oldest gal, she lives in Atlanta.n ignored the question as to where her other daughter lives wuks at de Georgian Hotel. chillun* away. I She My son But understand now, dem ainft George Huff's I)eir pappy was my sweetheart what got into trouble and runned I ainft gwine to tell his name. "Honey, I Jus' tell you de truth; de reason why I Jined de church was f cause I was a wild gal, and dere warn't nothin1 too mean for me to do for a long time. Mammy and my sisters kept on begginf me to change my way of livinf, but I didnft f til four years ago. I got sick and thought I was goinf to die, and den I begged de good Lord to forgive me and promised Him if He would let me git well 'nough to git out of dat bed, I would change and do good de rest of my life* up I jined de church. said I would. *0h-h-h! When I was able to git I didnft mean to burn in hell lak de preachers I thinks evvybody ought to jine de church and live right. Lady, I shof do thank you for dis here dime. buy me some meat wid it. I ainft had none dis week. Ifm gwine to My white folks is mighty good to me, but Niggers donft pay me no mind# -9"Has you axed me all you wants tot nothin' feat yit** 47 I sho* is glad 'cause I ain't had She pulled down her stocking to tie the coin in its top and revealed an expanse of sores from ankle to knee. string was tied above each knee. A "A white lady told me dem strings soaked in kerosene would drive out de misery from my laigs," Alice explained. "Goodbye Honey, and God bless you*" 00.176 ^ AH 0PINI0H OF SLAVERY BY ISIAH GREEN - EX SLAVE As ,) . > .y . .- J-JS*.^. , ~ ' ... .A~% Submitted by Minnie B. Ross Typed by J. C. Rassell 1-25-37 ' Jor-l/25/37 . wx -,/> jOCH*6 Opinion of Slavery By , Isiah Gvetn - Ex^Slave 1. 49 M.B.Ross AS EX-SLAVES OPIHION OF SLAVERY Isiah Green, an ex-slave, still has a clear, agile mind and an intelligent manner. With his reddish brown complexion, straight hair, and high oheek bones, he reminds you of an old Indian Chief, and he verifies the impression by telling you that his grandfather was a fall blooded Indian Isaiah Ore en was born in 1856 at Greensboro, Ga. Cleary Marlory Willis and Bob Henderson were his parents, bat he did not grow ap knowing the lore and eare of a father, for his father was sold from his mother when he was only two years. Years later, his mother lost track of his father and married again. Share were eleven children and Isaiah was next to the youngest. Hi8 master was Colonel Dick Willis, who with his wife (Hiss Sally" managed a plantation of 3,000 aeres of land and 150 slaves. Col. Willis had seven children, all by a previous marriage. Throughout the State he was known for his wealth and eoltare. His plantation extended ap and down the Ooonee River. His slave quarters were made ap of rows of 2-room log cabins with a different family occupying eaeh room. She fireplaces were built three and foar feet in length purposely for cooking. The furniture,consisting of a bed, table, and chair, from pine wood and kept clean by scouring with sand. was made lew mat- tresses and pillows were made eaeh spring from wheat straw. Old Uncle Peter, one of the Willis slaves, was a skilled carpenter and would go about building homes for other plantation owners. Sometimes he was gone as long as four or five months. Ex-slave Ts opinion of slavery Jcr-l/25/S7 2. Every two weeks, rations of meal, molasses and bacon were given each slave family In sufficient quantity. She slaves prepared their own mea|s, bat were not allowed to leave the fields on til noon* A nursing mother, however, eoald leave between times* Large families were the aim and pride of a slave owner, and he quickly learned which of the slave women were breeders and which were not. A slave trader eoald always sell a braiding woman for twice the usual amount. J A greedy owner got rid of those who 'didn't breed* First, however, he would wait until he had accumuI of undesirables j la ted a n amber/, including the aged and unruly. .. There was an old slave trader in Louisiana by the name of Riley who always bought this type of slave and re-sold them* When j ready to sell, a slave owner notified him by telegram, './hen Riley j arrived, the slaves were lined up, undressed and closely inspected* Too many sears on the body meant a "bad slave" and no one would \ be anxLous to purchase him* Green related the story of his grand mother Betsy Willis* /'My grandmother was half white, since the master of the plantation on which she lived was her father." He wished to sell her, and when she was piadad on the block he made the following statement: " I wish to sell a slave who is also my daughter* Before anyone can purchase her, he mast agree not to treat her as a slave bat as a free person* to you. She is a good midwife and can be of great service Col. Sick Willis was there, and in front of everyone signed the papers* ^ workers. The Willis plantation was very large and required many There were 75 plow hands alone, exoloding those who were required to do the hoeing* Women as well as men worked in the fields. Isaiah Green aeolares that his mother could plow . 'jer-l/25/37 Ex^-slave's opinion of slavery as well as any man. 3, He also says that his work was very easy in the spring. He dropped peas into the soft earth between the cornstalks, and planted them with his heel. Cotton, wheat, corn, and all kinds of vegetables made up the crops. A special group of women did the carding and spinning, and made the cloth on two looms* All garments were made from this home span cloth. Dyes from roots and berries were ased to produce the various colors. Red elm berries and a certain tree bark made one kind of dye. Besides acting as midwife, Green's grandmother Betsy Willis, was also a skilled seamstress and able to show the other women different points in the art of sewing. the slaves as often as they were needed. Shoes were given to Green's step-father was afflicted and could not help with the work in the field. Since he was a skilled shoe maker his job was to make shoes in the winter. In summer, however, he was required to sit in the large garden, ringing a bell to scare away the birds. ,y^ Col. Willis was a very kind man, who woald not tolerate cruel treatment to any of his slaves by overseers. If a slave re- ported that he had been whipped for no reason and showed soars on his body as proof, the overseer was discharged. On the Willis Plantation were 2 colored men known as "Bigger Drivers." One particularly, known as "Uncle Jarrett," was very mean and enjoyed exceeding the authority given by the master./ Green remarked, "I was the master's pet. didn't whip me himself. He never""*llowed anyone to whip me and he He was 7-ft. 9 in. tall and often as I walked with him, he would ask, fIsaiah, do you love your old master?1 Of course I would answer,yea, for I did love him." Col. Willis did not allow the "pattarrollers" to inter- fere with any of his slaves. He nejver gave them passes, an* if jBUH^auuhk oat ithoat on. th. >Mta ill > -MJ^J 3cr-l/25/37 Ex-slave's opinion of slavery 4. to whip them. Mr. John Branch was considered one of the meanest slave owners in Green County, and the Negroes on his plantation were always running away.J Another slave owner know for his cruelty was Colonel Calloway, who had a slave named Jesse who ran away arn stayed 7 years. He dog a cave in the ground and made fairly comfortable living quarters. Other slaves who no longer could stand Col. Galloway's cruelty, would join him* Jesse visited his wife* Lettie, two and three times a week at night. Col. Calloway could never verify this, but became suspicious when Jesse's wife gave birth to two children who were the exact duplicate of Jesse. When he openly accused her of knowing Jesse's whereabouts, she denied the charges, pretending she had not seen him since the day he left. When the war ended, Jesse came to his old master and told him he had been living right on the plantation for the past 7 years. Col. Calloway was astonished; he showed no anger toward Jesse, however, but loaned him a horse and wagon to move his goods from the cave to his home. There were some owners who made their slaves steal goods from xJc*7plantations and hide it on theirs. They were punished by their master, however, if they were caught. frolics were held on the Willis plantation as often as desired. It was customary to invite slaves from adjoining plan- tations, but if they attended without securing a pass from their master, the "patterrollers" could not bother them so long as they were on the Willis plantation. they were often caught and beaten. On the way home, however, 5g! jor-l/85/37 / Ex-slave's opinion of slavery 5. 03 In those days there were many Hegro musicians who were always ready to furnish music from their banjo and fiddle for the frolics. If a white family was entertaining, and>aeeded a musician but didn't own one, they would hire a slave from another plantation to play for them. Col. Willis always allowed his slaves to keep whatever money they earned. There were two stills on the Willis plantation, but the slaves were never allowed to drink whiskey at their frolics. Sometimes they managed to "take a little" without the master knowing it. On Sunday afternoons, slaves were required to attend white churches for religious services, and over and over again the one sermon drummed into their heads was, "Servants obey your mistress and master-, you live for them. How go home and obey, and your master will treat you right." If a slave wished to join the church, he was baptized by a white minister. The o on sent of both slave owners was neoessary to unite a couple in matrimony. Ho other ceremony was required. If a either master wished to sell the slave who married, he would name the price and if it was agreeable to the other, the deal was settled so that one owner became master of both. The lar- ger and stronger the man, the more valuable he was considered. Slaves did not lack medical treatment and were given the best of attention by the owner's family doctor. Sometimes slaves would preterd illness to escape work in the field, i quick examination, however, revealed the truth. Home remedies such as turpentine, castor oil, etc., were always kept on hand for minor ailments* Green remembers hearing talk of the war before he actually saw signs of it. It was not long before the Yankees visited Jer-l/25/S7 Ex-slave's opinion of slavery Greensboro, Ga., and the Willis plantation. 6. Dn one occasion, they took all the best horses and males and left theirs which were broken down and worn from travel. They also searched for money and other valuables. /During this period a mail wagon broke down in the creek and water soon covered it. When the water fell, Hegroes from the Willis plantation found sacks of money and hid it. One unscrupulous Negro betrayed the others; rather than give back the money, many ran away from the vicinity. Isaiah's Uncle managed to keep his money but the Ku Klux Klan learned that he was one of the group. One night tjpey kidnaped and carried him to the woods where they pinned him to the ground, set the dry leaves on fire, and left him. group he recognized his master's son Jimmie. In the As fate would have it the leaves burned in places and went out. By twisting a little he managed to get loose, but found that his feet were badly burned. Later, when he confronted the master with the faots, Col. Willis offered to pay him if he would not mention the fact that his son Jimmie was mixed up in it, and he sent the man to a hospital to have his burns treated. In the end, all of his toes had to be amputated. Another time, the Yankees visited the Willis plantation and offered Green a stick of candy if he would tell them where the master hid his whiskey. mation. Isaiah ignora&tly gve the infor- The leader of the troops then blew his trumpet and hi8 men came from every direction, sear eh for an underground cellar. well-stocked hiding place. fie gave orders that they Very soon they found the The troops drank as much as they wanted and invited the slaves to help themselves. Later, when Col* Willis arrived and the mis trass, who was furious, told him jcr-l/25/37 Ex-slave's opinion of slavery 7, told him, she said, "If it hadn't been for that little villain, the Yankees would never have found your whiskey." She master understood, however, that Isaiah hadn't known what he was doing, and refused to punish him. , The Yankees came to the Willis plantation to notify the /negroes of their freedom. One thing they said stands out in Green's memory. 'Sally.' more. "If your mistress calls you 'John,' call her You are as free as she is and she can't whip you any If you remain, sign a paper so that you will receive pay for your work." Mrs. Willis looked on with tears in her eyes and shook her head sadly. The next day the master notified each slave family that they could remain on his plantation if they desired and he would give each $75.00 at Christmas. Looking at ] Isaiah's step-father, he told him that since he was afflicted he would (ffly^pay himV$50.00, but this amount was refused. Wishing to keep the man, Col. Willis finally offered him as much as he promised the able bodied men. Some slave owners did not let their slaves know of their freedom, and kept them in ignorance as long as six months; some even longer. Green's family remained on the Willis.plantation until they were forced to move, due to their ex-master's extravagance. As Isaiah remarked, "He ran through with 3,000 acres of land and died on rented land in Morgan County." / /office /< Directly after the war, Col. Willis was nominated for the of legislator of Georgia. Realizing that the vote of the ex-slaves would probably mean election for him, he rode through ! his plantation trying to get them to vote for him. He was not ' successful, however, and some families were asked to move off 55 3or-l/25/37 Ex-slave's opinion of slavery 8. his plantation, especially those whom he didn't particularly like. Years later, Green's family moved to Atlanta. Isaiah is now living in the shelter provided by the Eept. of Pablie Welfare. He appears to be fairly contented. 50 O^ JZIScc^e (^CJL(A\K) G^e./7 ***** iarUtaOl ^ 1. 5? TEE KSPSilltflCIS 0? AN EX-S1ATB Following is the account of slavery ^s told by Mr, Isaac Green, WHO spent a pert of his childhood as a slave. "I wuo born in Greene County f Georgia, eighty-one year ago* named Gclonel illis* seventy-five or ^ora# younges* chile. My ma rater wuo He wus a rich man an' ho had a shole lots of slaves - - 'bout Besides my mother anf me I had nine sisters* I WUB do I didnft know fbout aey father 'till after surrender, 'cause olf narster sold him 'way fum my mother when I wus two ye rs old* *; hf-;n I wua big enuff I had to go to de flelf wld de resf of de chilltm anf drap corn anf pe^s. e'd take our heals an' dent a place in de grotm* an1 in every dent *e had to drap two peas* Sometimes we9d make a mistake anf drop three seeds irstead of two en9 if we did die too often it meant da strap fun do overseer. On our plantation we bad a colored anf a white overseer* *i%r olf marstc-r never did wioxp me anf he didnft 'low none of do overseors to ishup no eitiur. coulda saved him He always says 'Dot's my nigger ~ - I sol* his father when I he wus do bes9 man I had on do plantation.' De rest of do slaves uster git whutrpins sonetimes fer not sorkin* like Cef should. **nen dey didn9t *ork or some oth-r little t Ing like dat doy would git twoaty-five or fifty lashes but de marster would tell de overseer: f Do *t you cut my nigger's hide or soar hinu You see if a slave wuo scarred he wouldn't brin^ as much as one *ith a smooth hide in crse de marst r wanted to sell im, 'cause de buyers would see do soars an' say dat he wus a bad nigger* "'ooftetimes ae women uster git whunplno for fight in'. Ol9 marster uster tell rsy mother all de time dat he wus gain1 to -dvo her one-hundred lashes if she didn't stop fightin9, but he never did do it though* lay grandmother never did git a. 58 wimpped Colonel Black, her first rater, wus tier tether an1 when he west broke he had to sell her* .(hen he went broke he pmt her on de block ~ in dam days day pat slaves on de block to sell 9*a jeef like day do horses am9 mules new - he say to de gentlemen gathered 9rouas 9Dla is my nigger an9 my ehilef she is a aldwlf* an9 a extraordinary weaver an9 whoever buys her has got to promise to treat her like a white chile.9 My oarster bought her an9 he treated her like she wu white, lie never did try to hit her an9 he wouldn9t let nobody alee hit her. too. rr iVe always had a plenty to eat an9 if we didn9t we9d go out in somebody9s pasture an9 kill a hog or sheep an9 ale an him by a branch an9 den hide de xseat in de woods or in de loft of de house, how to steal fum other folks* ooae of de white folks would learn you sometimes ol9 xoarstor *ould say to one o9 ust 9 31ast you - you better go out an9 aunt me a hog tonight an9 put it in my snake- house - - dey can search you niggers9 houses but dey ean9t search mine.9 "Once a week de marster give us three pounds of pork, a half gallon o9 eysrap, an9 a peck o9 meal. vegetables. You bad to have a garden connected *id yof house fer yo9 De marster would let you go out in de woods an9 cut you as large a spcce as you wanted. If you failed to plant, it wue jes9 yo9 bad luck. If you wanted to you could sell de corn or de tobacco or anything else dat you raised to de aairster an9 he would pay you. 9Course he *usnft goin9 to pay you too uoh fer it, "All de slaves lad to weak - - my mother wus a plow ban9. All de aged ** aa9 women had to tend to de hogs an9 de cows an9 do de weavia9 an9 de sewin1. Sonetiae* olf marster ^Duld let us bave a frolle an9 we could dance all night if *e wanted to as long as e wue reedy to go to de flei9 when de overseer blowed de bugle 9fo day nex9 mornin9* De fiel9 ban's had to git up early enuff to fix dey bre&kfbs9 befof dey mmi% to de fiel9# #e chillun took dinner to 9aa at twelve o9clock. baskets to take de dinner in, an9 large pails to take de milk in* fer dey selves when dey leff de fiel9 at dark* *e used Dey bad to fix suppi . "All de clothes we wore wus made on de plantation* 59 De women ted to said, spin anf weare de thread an* den wnen de cloth wus made it wur dyed wid berries* My step-father wus de shoemaker on de plantation an1 we always had good shoes* He beat ol9 laarster out o9 9bout fifteen years work* ahen he didn9t feel like workim9 he would play like he wus siok an9 ol9 master would git ds doetor fer Mm* #hen axybody got sick dey always had de doctor to tend to to*** Regarding houses Mr* Green says* "We lived in log houses dat had wood floors* Dere wus one window an9 a 1 rge fireplace where de oookin9 wus done in de ashes* De ehinks in de walls wus daubed wid sod to keep de weather out* by hacd an9 de mattresses wus big tiekln9s Continuing he sayst De beds wus made stuffed wid straw*" "Yo9 actual treatment depended on de kind o9 aarster you had* A heap o9 folks done a heap better in slavery dan dey do now* on our plantation wus glad when de Yankee soldiers tol9 us we wus fares*99 Everybody .+> 77tJT=: *_ . t0010? * J7 (/ ~ '6ft 0. ^ *-; (Mrs.) Kargaret Johnaon-Edf toj District 2 Augusta, Georgia m*ste&E .urtsigriiar Margaret Green, I43O Jonas Street, Augu sta, (Je 0rgia (Rictus and County) Margaret Gfreen, 1430 Jones Street was born in 1855 on *k plantation of Mr. Cooke McKIe in Bdgefield County, South Carolina* Margaret*s house was spotlessly clean* her furniture of the golden oak type was polished, and the table cover and sideboard 3carfs were beautifully laundered. Margaret is a small, Frim little figure dressed in a grey print dress with a full gathered skirt and a clean, starched apron with strings tied in a big bow. She has twinkling eyes, a kindly smile and a pleaeant manner. *Yes,mam, I remembers slavery times vary well. I wuz a little girl but I could go back home and show you right where I waz when the sojers come through our plaae with their gray clothes and bright brass buttons. They looked Edghty fine on'their hoeses ridin* * round* I could show you right where those sojers had the can * . largsret described *the charters*, and told of the life. fam*ly had a garden patch, and coftld raise cotton. *Saeh. Only Marse Cooifce raised cotton} what we raised we -et*. Margaret were the slaves on your master's plantation mistraated?* "tfhat you say? Mistreat? Qfet you mean wMfigedl Xes, man, tome* + iroe Marse Cooke whig us when we need it, but he never hurt nobody* He just give rem a lick or two to sake *m mind they businesi Jfera* v* r Wf^^^ ^^ ss ~a* Cook was a good isant and he nivtr let a o?ers tr lay a fiiiggr te one of his niggers!1* Margaret were you ever whipped?* Margaret laughedj with her eyes twinkling merrily shg replied, "Mars.e Cooke say he wuz gonna whip roe *cause I was so miscferevious. He was on his horse* I broke arid run, and larse aln*t give me that whippin* till yet!" "Yes, mam,. I hearn stories of ghosres and hants, but I never did b*lieve in none of fem. all the work I could. I uster love to play and to get out of The old folk on the plantaahrn uster tell us younguns if we didnft hurry back from the spring with the water buckets* the hants and buggoos would catch us. yet, and I never see a hant. I ain* t never hurry tiU I wished I could, *causf I don*t bf lieve I would be seart*,* ""Margaret, did you learn to read?" "Ohf no mam, that wua sumpin* we wuzn* t could have lessons. Church* lowed to do; nobody But we went to Church to the Publican Baptist Yes, mam. Ifse sho* dat wuz the name - ~ the Publican Baptist Church - - ainft J been there all my life carried? f f till I OQen grown and We uster go mornin* and evenin*t and the white people sat on one side and the slaves on the other." Margaret said her mother was a seamstress s.nd also a cook. Three other seamstresses worked on the plantation. There was a spinning wheel and a loom, and all the cotton cloth for clothing was woven and then made into clothes for all the slaves. There were three shoe rakers on the place who made shoes for the slaves, and did all the saddle and harness repair. largaret was asked who attended the: i'laff . whan they were sifelc* *Bfarse Cookers son was a doctor*, she replied, and he anybody who was bad sick- r tenied Granny Phoebe was the midwife at mr plantashun and she birthed all the babies* a little gal, and she lived to be 105* She Was old when I was larse (Tooke never let any of his slaves do heavy work 'till dey wuz 18 years old.-* largaret* s father went to the war with *larse Cooke* as his bx>dy servant, and her rrother went also, to cook for hi ! *To tell you the truth, man,* said the old woman, *I * member irore r bout that war back yonder than I member fbout the way we had a few years ago** jj olklore Alberta Stnor Re-search Worker .0JL45 s? ^ (34 Minnie Green * Interviewed Minnie is not an ex-slave, for she was "Jes walkin1* when the war was over* Her parents were given their freedom in May but stayed on with Judge Green until fall, after the wheat cutting. The family moved to a two story house "out Meriwether Road" but didnH get along so well, Minnie was hungry lots and came to town to grt scraps of food* \7hen she was a "good big girl11 she came to tovm one day with her hair full of oukle-burrs, dressed in her motherTs basque looking for food, when she saw a man standing in front of a store eating an orange, She wanted that peeling* Ho one kept their cows and pigs up and when the man threw the peeling on the ground a sow grabbed it. Minnie chased the pig right down Hill Street, was hollering and making plenty of noise, when a lady, "MLs1 Mary Beaks*, came out and asked her n whatfs the matter?11 "Right then and there I hired myself out to Miss iiary, and she raised me." Minnie played with white children, went to the "white folks" Church, and did not "associate with niggers" until she was grov/n. Every summer they went to the Camp Grounds for two weeks * They took the children, Kinnie for nurse, a stove, a cow and everything they needed for that time. She was nearly grown before she went to a colored church and "baptisin*" and it frightened her to see a person 65 immersed ,and come up tt sheutin,n. Minnie thought they was "fightin* the Preacher" so she didn't go hack anymore. Minnie firmly believes if a woman comes in your house first on Hew Tears Day, it will bring you bad luck, and she has walked as far as 10 miles to get a man in her house first. If she meets a cross eyed person, she crosses her fingers and spits 022 them to break the bad spell. "Hooten1 owlsn are sure the sign of death and she always burns her hair oomhins because if you just throw them a?/ay and the birds get them to put in their nests, youTll have a "wanderin1 mind." Minnie is 72 years old, very active physically and nentally, lives among the Negroes now but greatly misses her "v/hite folks." Minnie Green 505 East Chappell Street Griffin, Georgia August iil, 1936. J00181 m v$ %* WHEELEB GHESHAM of WILKES COUNTY GEORGIA by Minnie Branham Stonestreet Washington-WiIke s Georgia Dee* 14, 1936. i 00.184. 6' WHEELEB -GHESHAM of WILKES COUNTY GEORGIA Wheeler Gresham, 82 years old, tall, very erect, has white hair and beard, a quiet dignified manner, and faded old eyes that seem ever to be gazing baek on those happy days he told about "when we war' in slavery." He is uneducated, having gone to school only one week in his life - gave up "tryin1 to larn out er books." Wheeler claims the distinction of having had three masters and loving them all equally well; he belonged to one and lived with the other two. It all happened in this wise: His mother, Barbara Booker, belonged to "Marse Simmie and Marae Jabie Booker** - ("Marse Simmle wuz the one what named me") his father, Franklin Gresham belonged to "Marse George Gresham." The Bookers and Greshams lived on adjoining plantations and were the best of friends and neighbors. They would not sell a slave no matter what happened, so when Barbara and Franklin wanted to marry they had the consent of their owners and settled down on the Booker plantation where Barbara continued her work and Franklin spending all his spare time with her, although he belonged to the Greshams and kept up his work for them. He had a pass to go and come as he pleased* Wheeler tells of his life on the plantations for his time was spent between the two where he played with the other little slaves and with the white boys near his age. He enjoyed most 68 page - 2 playing marbles, hunting and fishing with the little Gresham hoys* He never has had a punishment of any kind in all his whole long life, and said with much pride - "An* I ain't never been in no court scrape neitherJ!jNotm, my Ifersters didn't 'low nobody ter 'buke dey nan's. Ef a overseer got rough an' : wanted to beat a nigger, he had to go right den and dar." **e \ added: "Dent overseer fellows wuz rough anyhow, dey wam't our I sort of folks. An' de owners what wuz mean to dey niggers wuz looked down on by *spectable white folks lak dam what I ___balonged to." "All us little niggers on the Booker plantation at in de white folks' kitchen, a big old kitchen out in de yard, De grown slaves cooked and et in dey cabins, but our Kistess wouldn't trust 'em to feed de little ones, my Gramma wuz de cook an* we had plenty of good victuals, we'd all set er round an' eat all we wanted three times er day." Wheeler said that the Doctor who lived near by was always called in when the negroes were sick and they had the best of care; their owners saw to that. Of course there were simple home remedies like mullein tea for colds, Jerusalem Oak seed crushed up and mixed with syrup, given to them in the Springtime, and always that terrible "garlic waiter" they so despised to take. When death came the slave was buried on the plantation in 69 page - 3 the negro burial ground, a white preaeher conducting the last rites* When a negro couple wanted to marry the consent of the owners was ceremony enough and they set up a home as man and wife and lived on n, thout all dis TOCI^ lak dey has terday*" Cfcriataias was a big time with three or four days holiday on the plantations* Santa Claus found his way to the Quarters and left the little negroes stick candy and "reisens", and "dar wuz er plenty of pound cake fer everybody.n Fourth of July was a big holiday and all the little boys white and black went a-fishing together that day* Sundays were kept holy - no work was done on the Sabbath* On "meetin* days" everybody attended the neighborhood Church, white and black worshiped together, the darkies in the gallery built for them* On all other Sundays they went to Church and everybody sat in one big Bible Class* Wheeler said his lUstess called up all the little negroes on the plantation on Sunday afternoons and taught them the catechism and told them Bible stories* There was plenty of fun for the darkies in the Gresham and Booker community* They had dances, eornshuekings, picnics and all kinds of old time affairs. These were attended by slaves for some distance around, but they had to have passes or "de patter jollers would sho' git *em* Us little niggers wuz feared to go 'bout much *kase we heered so much erbout de patter rollers." Wheeler enjoyed the eornshuekings more than anything else, or page - 4 rather he talked mere freely about them. \ He said that the corn was piled high in the barn and the sen and boys, after a big supper of "fresh neat and all kinds of good things, and plenty ofsbot noujghpound cake" t (that pound cake he ean*t seem to forget) - would gather aroundand to the tune of an old fiddle in the hands of a plantation musician, they would sing and shuek corn until the whole pile was finished* Many races were entered into and the winners proclaimed amid much shouting and laughter* This merriment and work lasted into the night* Wheeler was quick to say that the happiest time of his life was those days of slavery and the first years immediately after* Be was happy, had all that anyone needed, was well taken care of in every way. Be spoke of their family ms being a happy one, of how they worked hard all day, and at night were gathered around their cabin fire where the little folks played and his mother spun away on her "task of yarn". "good warm ones, too." His Mi at ess made all his clothes, All the little negroes played together and there "wuz a old colored lady" that looked after them "an* kept *em straight." There was little talk of the war, in fact some of the slaves didn't know what "de white folks wuz er glghtin* 'bout." Wheeler's two Booker masters, "llarse Simnde and Marse Jabie, went to de war, llarse Jabie wuz kilt dar." Very little difference was noticed in the plantation life - of course times were harder and there was a sadness around, but work went on as usual*\ When the war was over and the slaves called up and told they were free: "Sum wuz r"V '1 page - 5 \ glad an* sum. wuz sorry, day all wuz at a wonder - at de row's en', didn't know whar ter go. Be most of *e stayed on lak we wuz, workin' fer our white folks* Dat's what my pa an' Ma done, dey stayed on fer sometime after de war." wheeler tells about a, few Yankees coming through the country after the war: 'His niggers wuz all 'feared of 'em an* we run frum 'em, but dey didn't do nothing to nobody. I dunno what dey cum er 'round \ldown here far*" Wheeler said he "nuver paid signs no vind - nuver paid no 'tention to all de* 'stitions an' si eh lak." Be didn't have any superstitions to tell only he did hear *ef a screech owl fly cross yo* do* hits er sign of a death in dat house, an* af a whippowlll ealls at de' do' hit's er sign of death* Dat's what folks say, I don't know nothin* 'bout hit." / "I'm glad I knowed slavery, I had er better living in dem i days dan I aber had since* Ho talk 'bout money in dea days - no aamj^an * ef a doetor wuz needed he wuz right dar. 1'se livin' ter day 'kase I got sieh a good start, an* den too, I'se livin' on de days of my Pa and Ha, old. Dey wuz good folks an' lived tar be An' den too, I'se allus lived on a farm, ain't nuver knowed no t'other kind of life, an' dat*s de healthiest and freest way ter live." And, maybe, this gray old son of the soil is right who knows? 100232 4 * FIRST COTT OF ARTICLE ENTITLED: AN INTERVIEW WITH HEARD CRISPIN," EX-SLATE. by Minnie B. Ross Typed by A. M. Whitlsy 1-89-37 Page 1* '3 Minnie B* Ross* Whltley, 1-29-37 HEARD GRIgFIN^BX^aLAVE In order to catch Mr* Heard Griffin, the writer prepared herself for an early morning interview* His daughter previously informed her that it would be the only possible chance of seeing him* Why? because even at the age of 86 years he is still restless; and is forever in the streets* He can walk much faster than a young person; but memory and hearing are a little dimmed by age* By careful and tactful questioning, te-*&th ample time far thinking the writer was able to learn a few facts of slavery which are as follows: Mr* Griffin was born May 19 9 1850 in Waldon County Page 3* Minnie B# Ross* Whitley, 1-29-27 n Patter-Hollers were busy, too looking up slaves and whipping them for the flimsiest of excuses* Slaves often outran them to the woods and managed to return to their plantations unobserved* If a pass had a certain hour marked in it, for the slaves return and he failed to return at the designated houses, this was an offense for which they were punished by the patter-rollers "Yes, remarked Mr* GriffinjfJfe were not even allowed to quarrel among ourselves* to fight not yout* Our master would quickly tell usV^I am the one Wien a slave visited his relatives on another plantation the master would send along one or two of his children to make sure they did not attempt to run away* Discarded bed clothing was given to slave families on the Griffin Plantation and often it was necessary, to keep a big log fire in the winter, in order to sleep comfortably. Clothing for individual needs consisted of one pair of brogan shoes a year and hcmeQaade cotton garments, shirts, pants, dresses, 4etw^p Every person went bare footed in the suxmaer and saved their one pair of shoes for the winter* Food consisting of meal, bacon meat, and syrup was given the slave families once a week* Occasionally "short^* a second quality of flour was given them for their Sunday meals* The Griffins were not liberal in feeding their slaves, but would not object to thgr raising a little corn, and a few vegetable s* ^^weve^Jthey had to work their gardens at night, by the light of ^a^Tburni^ wood* slaves! Real coffee was an unheard-of luxury among o scorched or corn meal served the purpose just as well* On Christmas Mi. Or iffin the master, called each slave and gave him a dram of whl^Key* We ifcthwr fried ap~ftflmttr wa rfw* Tin/Jfens served as plates for the families. forks were unheard of; "Many Spoons, knives, and a day X have eaten mashed bread and milk from a trough and thought It was goodt* remarked Mr. Griffin. 'O Page 4* Minnie B* Boss. Whitley, 1-29-37 Occasionally on other plantations^/slaves were allowed to earn money by selling vegetables, cMckens.^etcjfcfroweveg^gn the Griffin Plantation they could only sail home made "gingereakes* for which a fire-cent/ piece of paper money was received in return* There were three pieces of paper money used in those days;the five-cent^, ten-cent/rf, and fifteen-cent^ piece" Although the eolcnwd did not have separate churches, they were expected to attend the white churches and occupy the benches placed in the back, purposely for them. After the coachman drove the white family to church he unhitched the horses from the carriage and carried them to the pasture where they remained until the services were over# Marriages were very easily performed on the Griffin Plantation : JJL-Ahttfcf %Xter securing the consent of both owners the rest consisted only in having the couple jump the broom* of the ceremony In the event, the bride and groom lived on separate plantations the grwcm was given a pass to visit her cm week ends, beginning Saturday afternoon and ending Sunday^tfvening* "Our master was too mean to let us have frolics,"remarked Mr* Griffin; jfe never knew anything, but wcri^> of course when we got sick we were given the best medical care possible* People didn't die, they always got wellT; ^ Home remedle^made frcm various roots were used for minor illnesses* "When the Civil War broke out our master located his horses with his most valuable possessions and refugeed forty miles from his hone, "remarked Mr* Griffin. "On one occasion the Tanks came to our plantation and stole three of our best horses* I never saw a battle fought but often watched the confederate Soldiers drilling* We continued to work long after freedom was declared, not knowing that we were free* One day our aaste^tiP son-in-law called us together and told us we were free* Most of us didn't know what 'u Page 5# Minnie B. Ross* Whitley, 1-29-37 to do but we were glad to get off of that plantation and away from old man Griffin#* With a broad smile he continued;well that is all I can tell you Miss, but ccme back to see me againg)" ^Wlth the above remark Mr* Heard Griffin and I closed our interview. He reminded me^however, that he had been married five times and was the father of fifteen children, four of whom are still living. His daughter cares for him and tries to make his old age as happy and comfortable as she can without the aid of relief* j I-^-H ' * 100028 V" ,,4. # '* SUBJECT REMINISCENCES OF SLAVERY DAYS DISTRICT NO. 1 W.P.A. EDITOR AND RESEARCH SUPERVISOR RUTH A CHITTT .....J.E. JAFFEE y October 16, 1936. / 79 R2MINISCENCBS OF SLAVERY DAYS It was a beautiful brisk morning in October when I turned into main street to call on one of the most unique and interesting characters that we have among our colored citizens* Upon arriving at the house where Uncle Dave lives, I made my way through a (gate afr ~tftr g frr of Ms "Baffle 9 and the first thing that greeted my flaluii in his back yard was a sign, "No Truapassing." I called to a tenant who rents his home to inquire where I might find Uncle Dave. We looked about the premises, and called him, but no response. I was just about to leave in despair,when the colored girl said "maybe he can be found inside," whereupon we called him forth. rEe greeted me with a deep peal of laughter, saying "now you done taught me sho, Mists&ss." I told him the story of my mission, and,after making various excuses he finally, with a studied reluctance, consented to talk to me a while. He called the colored girl and asked her to bring mm a chair into the yard, which he placed near his favorite out-door lounging place, and Invited me to sit down. Then, with a hearty laugh he A* said, "now Hiss, just what is it you want me to tell you?" *I want you to tell me all about yourself back in slavery days and since, Uncle Dave. "Miss, if I tell you all I know, then you will know as much about me as I know." Again he burst into laughter, and constrained by a high sense of propriety, but with ef perfect ease, he began to relate to me in a manner and style all his own, some of the facts, -5while I waited anxiously to know the secret. Then, throwing his head back, he came forth with great emphasis-* why, he was what we called 'Big Nigger'. Then we both laughed.c!Uncle Dave what were the duties of your mother as a slave? ^Every slave had his task, and my mother was cook for the family and the weaver. All of the clothing was made on the plantation from cotton and wool. The cotton was carded, spun and woven into cloth and died. Likewise, woolen garments was made from the wool clipped from the sheep raised for this purpose. All these garments were made right on the plantation. Uncle Dave what did you do when you were a little slave? Well, there was a whole drove of us little niggers of chickens, cattle, hogs, sheep, etc. We had lots I had to help get up the eggs, drive cattle, open gates, go on errands for Marster, and Marster most always took me on trips with him,letting me ride in the foot of his buggy. I was his favorite little pet nigger. You must have been the Little Big Nigger, Uncle Dave.^E was always pushing an investigation, so when Marse Map pin take me on trips with him that was my favorite time to ask questions. I remember one hot August day we were driving along, and I had already asked numerous questions, and Marse had already told me to shut up. I remained quiet for a time, but the temptation was too great, and while Marse was wiping the perspiration off his bald head, I said, 1 Marster, may I ask you one more question?* Yes, what is it David?' If a fly should light on your head wouldn't he slip up and break his neck? When Marster shouted * hut up? I did shut up. He used to tell his wife, Miss Elizabeth,'you know Elizabeth, my little nigger, Dave, drives me nearly crazy asking questions about the stars, moon, sun, and everything.' 84 -6My family lived continuously on the Mappin plantation until after the war. Perhaps the most grievous fault of slavery was its persistent assault upon the home life. Fortunately, none of our family was ever sold, and we remained together until after the war. Marster Mappin was far above the average slave owner; he was good to his slaves, fed them well, and was a very humane gentleman. We had such quantities of food- good rations, waiofr was raised on the plantation. We had cattle, goats, hogs, sheep, chickens, turkeys, geese, all kinds of grain, etc. Very often a beef was butchered, we had fresh meat, barbecued kids, plenty vegetables, in fact just plenty to eat, and the slaves fared well. On Sundays we had pies and cakes and one thing and another. special cook did the cooking for the single slaves. rations were 150# fit. A 1*11 say our Everyone had certain tasks to perform, and all that was done above certain requirements was paid for in some way. We always had meat left over from year to year, and this old meat was made into soap^ <9y using grease and lie and boiling all in a big iron pot, lifter the mixture become cold, it Wuuiue a solid mass, which was cut and used for soap. Those were good old days. Everybody had plenty of everything. There were strict rules governing slavesa but our master was never brutal. I being a child, never received any punishment from any one except my mother and my Mistress. Punishment was inflicted with a raw cow hide, which was cut in a strip about three inches wide, one end being twisted. weapon. This made a very powerful and painful There were unruly slaves, what we called desperadoes. There were 'speculators', too, who would get possession of these, and if a slave come into possession of one of these specula ors, he either 85 -7had to come under or else he was sure to die. used extensively. The Lynch law was Those slaves committing crimes against the state were more often considered unworthy of trial, though some were brought to trial, punishment being so many licks each day for so many days or weeks, or capital punishment. It is true that many Ho crimes put upon the slaves when the white man was guilty. We had plenty of amusements in those days, such as corn shuekings, dances, running, jumping and boxing contest. Saturday was the big frolicking time, and every body made the most of it. Slaves were allowed to tend little patches of their own, and were often given Saturday afternoons off to work their crops, then when laying-fy by time came, we had more time for our patches. We were allowed all we could make over and above our certain tasks. Marster used to buy me candy when he take, with him, but I can't remember him giving me spending money. We were not compelled to attend church on Sundays, but most of the slaves went from time to time. I was a Baptist, fat my family being Baptist, but I have long since put Christianity above creeds. I learned too, many years ago, that we can find in the contents of that old book we call the Bible, a solution to every problem we run up against. -Uncle Dave is a learned theologian, t/,. and has served many years as a minister, or Doctor of Divinity. f" He is very modest, and says that he wants no titles on his name. fte- Bays that lie believes that ereTy man and every woman gets all Y the credit they deserve in this world ./Going back to the church services, we slaves attended the white folks churches. There were galleries built for the slaves in some of the churches, in others, there was spaoe reserved in the back of the church for the colored worshippers. It was a custom to hold prayer meetings 80 -8ln the quarters for the colored/ sick. One of the slaves named Charity has\ been sick a long time, just wasting away. One beau- tiful spring morning they came running for my mother saying that Charity was d>ing. I was a very small child, and ran after my mother to Charity's house. It was a very harrowing experience to me, as it required three women to hold Charity on the bed while she was dying. ness I became so frightened, I slipped into unconscious- They took me home, and after hours went by I still was un- conscious, and Marster became so alarmed about me that they s* nt for Dr. Cogburn. He said that it was a thousand wonders, that I ever came back, but he gave me some medicine and brought me around. About a year later, my hair turned white, and it has been white ever since. They used to gather herbs and one thing and another from the woods for simple maladies, but Marster always send for the doctor when things looked serious to him. In 1863, Miss Elizabeth was going to have big company at her house, sttd she was saving her strawberries for the occasion. I spied all these nice, ri$e strawberries through the paling fence, and the whole crowd of us little niggers thought they needed picking. We found an opening on the lower side of the fence and made our way in, destroying all of those luscious ripe strawberries. When we had about finished the job, Mistress saw us, and hollered at us. Did we scatter! In the jam for the fence mole I was the last one to get through and Mistress had gotten there by that time and had me by the collar. She took me back to the house, got the cow hide down, and commenced rubbing it over me. through,she cut me all to pieces. whelps on me today. Before she got I still have signs of those In ttae fight I managed to bite her on the 8 -9wrist, causing her to almost bleed to death. I finally got away and ran to a hiding place of safofcyTj They used soot and other things trying to stop the bleeding. %Cisn liarster come home he saw Miss Elizabeth with her hand all bandaged up, and wanted to know what the trouble was. look for me. He was told the story, so he came out to He called me out from my hiding place, and when he saw me with those awful whelps on me, and how pitiful looking I was, he said, *Elizabeth, you done mint my little nigger, David." wouldn't have him in this fir for all the strawberries." "I I was very fond of strawberries in those days, but that experience put an end forever to my taste for them. Even a dog kind treatment. So much for the strawberry business! Some days Mistress was good and kind to us little niggers, and she would save us the cold biscuits to give us when we brought in the eggs. Sometime, she would go two or three days without giving us any biscuits then she didn't get no eggs. We rascals would get up the eggs and go off and have a rock battle with them. Every effect has a cause- then Miss would wonder why she didn't get any eggs and call us all in for cold biscuits, then the eggs would come again. Of course we had our game of "tell". If one of the gang threatened to tell, then we all would threaten to tell all we knew on him, and somehow we managed to get by with it all. After the war;my father stayed on with Marster Mappln as a cropper running a two horse farm for himself. In the early 70*8 my father bought 12 acres of land from Judge Lawson near Eaton ton, which was later sold in lots to different colored people, and became to known as Gullinsville, and is still /called by thtw namn by some. In 1876, 26 day of November, I left my folks and came to Mi 11edgeville to live. I worked for Mr. Miller S. Bell in the livery 88-10/stable for $7.00 per month. parents. Of this amount I sent $3.50 home to my The next year I went on a farm with Mr. John Wall for #8*00 per month. The next year I had a better offer with Mr. R.N. Lamar to farm and act as general handy man for $9.00 per month. I saved my money and worked hard, and I would lend Mr. Lamar my yearly income at interest. In 1882, Mr. Lamar negotiated a trade with Mr. Samuel Evans for this piece of property right here. When they found out a gggro wanted to buy the property, there was more or less argument, but I sat right still and let Mr. Lamar handle the trade for me. I have owned other property, but I have sold everything else I had. My health failed, and I just settled down here to be quiet.' I owned property on Chestnut Street in Atlanta and in Putnam County also. I have been saving all my life, everything) aflH n looking about me, I concluded he was indeed a thrifty person. Sfcteh On accumulation of every con- ceivable thing (junk) that had been discarded by others, Uncle Dave had brought home and carefully and neatly stored it away for subsequent use* Uncle Dave tell me something about your education. pWell, when I was a boy back in Putnam County I went to night school. time I was the only negro in the class. For a long My foundation work I got under a Mr. Whitfield, Mr. John Nix, and we had a Yankee teacher, Miss Claudia Young. In September 1885 I went to Atlanta and- entered the academic department of what is now Morehouse College. I was graduated in acp^ demies in 1889 as valedictorian of the class- my subject being "We Are Coming", which was a theme on the progress of the negro race. In 1891 I was graduated from the theological department as valedictorian, my subject then being "Why Do Nations Die". 1 Now Miss, you ask me if I am superstitious I show am. When I hear these owls at night I just get up and get me some salt and a news- 89 -lipaper and burn this, and I don't never hear that same owl again. folks say tie knots in the sheet, but I burn salt. Some I think the bellow- ing or lowing of cows and oxen or the bleating of sheep is a bad omen. Then Uncle David took me way back in the Bible and recited how the king was commanded to slay all the cattle and everything and they kept out some of the oxen and sheep. I believe you should turn a clock face to the wall when a person dies. I believe in signs, yes mamt n Marster was good to his niggers, but they had to have a pass to 'leave the plantation. There were patrolers to look after the slaves and see that they did not run around without a pass. If they found one without a pass, he was strapped then and there by the patrolers* Of course I was too young in those days to run around at night, and my mother always had us in bed early. I did my courting. It was long after the war that I was to have married a girl before I went to Atlanta in the 80*s, but she died>^I later married a Yankee nigger In Atlanta. ^i She belonged to the *4^00, and some how, she never could / I l : get used to me and my plain ways. and one girl. We had four children, three boys Two of the boys died, and I have living today, one daughter married and living in Washington, D.C. and my son and his family live in Alabama. My Marster did not go to the war, but we all worked at home preparing food and clothes and other things for those who did go. Some of the sives went as helpers, in digging ditches and doing manual A labor. J The Yankee soldiers visited our territory, killing everything in sight. They were actually most starved to death. broken after the war. Marster was all He had planned to buy another plantation, and increase his holdings, but the war sorter left us all like the yellow fever had struck. After a number of years in Mission work and in the ministry I 90 -12I was compelled to retire on account on my broken health. long life to my mother's training in childhood. I owe my There are four things that keep old man Gullins busy all the time- keeping out of jail, out of hell, out of debt, and keeping hell out of me. I learned to put my wants in the kindergarten, and if I couldn't get what I wanted, I learned to want what I could get. I believe it is just as essential to have jails as to have churches. I have learned too, that you can't if substitute anything for the grace of God. *rx&,^ V? / imitley, 1-E5-37 . ^ Page 1# Minnie B# Ross, m 100161 EX SLATE HELTON HAMMOND. ? & ,^T After explaining the smiled and remarked object of the visit to Mr, Hammond he f, I think that is a good piece of work you1 re doing; and 1*11 tell you all that I can remember about slavery, you see I was only a small boy then; yesterday though, I wa3 83 years old." way up a dark stairway down a dark hall to a door. Mr, Hammond led the After unlocking the c'oor, he turned on a light which revealed a very dark room commonly furnished and fairly neat in appearance. The writer took a seat and listened to the old man relate the following incidents* A slave boy by the name of L3_lton Hammond was born in Griffin,. Georgia, October 20, 1853, His parents, Mily and Jemes Hammond, had 10 children 8 boys and 2 girls of whom he was oldest. His mother, sisters and brothers used the name Hammond as this was their fath rfs name, Although every number of his family vath the exception of his father, belonged to Bill freeman they always used his name, Mr, Hammonds family always lived in the town of Griffin and belonged to a class known as "Town Slaves", 7&en Llr, Hammond reached the age of 6 year3 their old master, 2ill Jreeman died and all the property money, slaves, etc*, had to be resold at en administrations sale. Among his four children a plan was made to re- purchase their favorite slaves; but many were sold to owners in different statas particularly i2.ssissippi and Louisiana. iir, Hammonds father, de- siring to keep his family near him, spoke to his master and asked that he appeal to the young mistress to purchase hi3 family, lf I remember the auction o sale quite well" remarked 3a*, Hammond? side. &1 They stood us on the blick side by The mistress held my baby brother in her arms; and they began to to flhitley, 1-25-37 Page 2# cry us off just as they do now* Of course my mistress came forward and bought us, and we returned home the same day we left*1* Slaves were al- ways sorted and placed into separate groups or classes. For instance, the heavy robust ones were placed together and sold for large sums of money* The light weights were grouped and sold accordingly* Although the Freemans owned a large plantation several miles from Griffin and had a large number of slaves, who lived on this plantation to do the work, they resided in town with only the Hammond family as their servants* Mr* Hammonds* grandmother acted as the cook for the household and his mother assisted her* the house spotlessly clean* His sister was the chamber-maid and kept Smiling, Mr* Hammond remarked," Until I was older my job was that of playing, later I became my young mistress1 s carriage driver"* Miss Adeline. Freeman was the young mistress whom Mr, Hammond continued to speak of; and during the war period she did welfare work; that is, Mr. Hammond drove her and her mother around through different counties, soliciting medicines, rags for bandages, etc., which were sent, to the hospitals* ' Mr* Hammond related the following experiences while driving through the country* ^wWe always visited the richest slave owners, those who owned 2 and 3 hundred head of slaves, and often would remain in one community over night and probably the next day# jafter putting up the horses an and carriage I would follow my mistress into the dining room* saw to it that I sat at the same table with her* She always I never could drink milk OK eat butter, so on more than one occasion! other people would try to influence my mistress and tell her that if I Belonged to them they would make me dr^ink milk or beat me* She never noticed any of their remarks; but always gave me the same food that 3he ate. ' Often while driving, I would almost drop off to sleep and my Page 3. old mistress would shout Milton aronft you sleepy*. reply, m $hkyes you are'I'll slap your jaws*1* 93 No ma'am^, I would My young mistress would then take the reins and tell me to go to sleep*? Mr. Hammond continued - w Many a morning I have known the overseers on the plantation where we were stoppingI to blov; the horn for every one to get up, long before sunrise prepare their breakfast and get to the fields. The old women were required to care for the young children while their mothers worked in the fields. look after. Sometimes there would be s many as ten and fifteen for each to Around noon they were fed from a trough which was about ten or fifteen feet in length. Pot liquor by the buckets isras thrown in the trough until they were filled. The children with spoons in their hands would then / line up on each side no sooner was the signal given than they began eating like a lot of pigs* The smaller ones would often jump in with their feet*11 After the work in the fields was completed for the day, women were then required to work at night spinning thread into cloth* had a task which consisted of making som aany cuts a night* remarked, Each woman As Mr* Hammond tT You couldn't hear your ears at night on some plantations, for the old spinning wheels"* At 9 of clock the overseer would blow the horn for every one to go to bed* The cloth woven by women was used to make men clothing also, and was dyed different colors frcm dye which was made by boiling walnut hulls and berries of various kinds* to the kind of berry used. Color varied ^recording One pair of shoes, made to order was given each person once a year. One and two roomed log cabins were found on practically all the plantations. The number of rooms -depended upon the number in the family. oometimes one roomqwould contain three and four bed scaffolds, so called by Lir. Hammond because of their peculiar construction* Seme beds were nailed to the walls and all 6f them were built with roped bottcms. and benches completed the furnishings of a slave home* Home made tables There wre ox no stoves Whitley. 1-25-37 n PaSe 4 * large fireplaces , five to six feet in length, served the purpose of stoves for cooking. Cooking utensils including an oven and very large pots were found in every home* Wooden plates and spoons were used on seme plantations* The rations for the next week were given each family on Saturday nights , amounts varying according to the number in each family. Usually a small family received three lbs. of bacon, one peck of meal, and one quart of syrup. Slaves on the Freeman plantation never knew anything but kind treatment. Their mistress was a religious woman and never punished unless it was absolutely necessary. treated cruelly. rid of* On other plantations however, some slaves were When a slave resented this treatment he was quickly gotten Many were sent to Mississippi and Texas, White offenders were sent to chain gangs, but there were no gan^s for slaves'1 Tatter rollers* v/ere knovm more for their cruelty than many of the slave owners and would often beat slaves unmercifully", I remember one,"remarked Mr. Hammond, "The Patter i rollers fot after a man on onr place "Booker went to see his wife and took along an olly mistress becone frightened, and locked me in the closet until late in the evening* She then fixed a basket of food and instructed me as to the direction in ?tiich to travel back to the field. It was a coramon sight to see soldiers marching on to Maconf GJa#, in the mornings and in the evenings see the same group on their v/ay back running from the Yanks* Mr* Hammond made the following statement concerning the end of the war* fOur Kistress told us we were freej however, I was too young to re- alize just what freedom would mean to us, but somehow I knew that We would t have to be responsible for our own upkeep. Doctor A bills, medicines, clothing, (etc) would have to be paid by us from then on. After that we 95 V&itley, Page 6 , 96 1-25-37 worked for anyone who would hire us and never earned over 25 or 30 cents a day*^ ^Sometimes our pay consisted of a peck of meal or a piece of meat.11 " a a close to the interview Mr* BsmMA stated he married at the age of 23 and was the father of 7 children* past 65 years working at various jobs* He has lived in Atlanta for the At one time he owned a dray* age is the result of taking care of myself and not being exposed*n this Mr. Hammond attends Bethel A.M.E* church regularly. ^$y old Besides As xxtjdc writer pre- pared to leave, Mr. Hammond remarked*" I never knew much about slavery you seeil've always been treated as a free 97 JAKE SMITH HILL HAKMOU of MSHINGTOMILKES by Minnie Branham St ones tree t Was hingt on-Wilkes Georgia 98 JANE SMITH HILL HARMON of WA3HINGT0N-1ILKES A comical little old black woman with the happy art of saying and doing as she pleases and getting by with it, is Jane Smith Hill Harmon of IVashington-Wilkes. She lives alone in her cabin off the Public Square and is taken care of by white friends. She is on the streets every day carrying ker long walking stick which she uses to lean on and as a "hittin* stick" She doesn*t fail to use it vigorously on any "nigger" who teases her. She hits hard and to hurt, but it seems they had rather hear what she has to say, and take the penalty, then to let her alone. Her wardrobe consists of out-of-style clothes and hats given her and it is her delight on Saturday afternoons to dress up in her finest and fanciest creations and come strutting along down town proud of the attention she is attracting. Unlike most old people, Aunt Jane doesn*t like to talk about the past. She enjoys life and lives in the present. It was hard to get her to tell anything much of her early life, finally, however, she grew a.bit reminiscent and talked of the past for a little while. "Yassum, I*se 88 years ole last gone May, an* I been in Washington, G-eorgy fuh 53 years an* I ain*t been in no Council scrape an* no 99 page - 2 Oote nor nothin* "bad lak dat, kase I haves myself an1 don't lak niggers anf don't fool 'long wid 'em. got no use fuh niggers 'tall. huh! No'm, I sho' ain't In' as fuh yaller niggers - I jes' hates 'em - dey's de wust niggers de're is, dey's got dirty feets, an' dey's nasty an' mean, I hates 'em, I tells yuh! "I wuz borned an' raised on de Smith plantation out here a piece frum town. 10th 'un. I wuz one of fourteen chillun, I think I wuz de We wuz well took keer of by our Marster an' his fust wife, she wuz jes' as good ter us as she could be, my fust Mistess wuz, but she died an' Marster married agin an' she wuz mean ter us little niggers. She'd whup us fuh nothin', an1 us didn't known what ter do, kase our fust Mistess wuz so good ter us, but dat last 'oman, she sho' wuz mean ter us. n My Marster had lots of slaves an* us all had work ter do. Be fust work I done wuz churnin' an* I loved ter do 'hit kase I loved milk an' butter so good. I'd dance an' dance !round dat ole churn, churnin' an' churnin' 'till de butter wuz come. I allus could dance, I cuts fancy steps now sometimes when I feels good. At one o' dem big ole country breakdowns (dances), one night when I wuz young, I danced down seben fcig strong mens, dey thought dey wuz sumpin'! Huh, I danced eb'ry one down! 10() page - 3 W I aster play dolls wid de overseer's chillun, an' look fan aigs, an' tote in wood an' pick up chips. Us had good times togeder, all us little niggers an' de little white Chilians. Us had two days at of a Sunday. Ohris'mus, an no work wuz done on de place Everybody white an' black had ter go ter Ghu'ch. De overseer piled us all in de waggin an' took us whether us wanted ter go or no. Us niggers set up in de loft (gallery), an de white folks wuz down in de Ohufch too. "Atter er while dey s'lected me out to be a housegirl an1 den I slep' in de big house. All de little niggers et in de white folks' kitchen out'n er big tray whut wuz lak a trough. De Book put our victuals in de tray an' gib as a spoon an' pone er bread a piece an' made us set 'roun' dat tray an' eat all us wanted. 'Hit wuz good eatin', too. W A11 durin' of de War my Marster wuz off fightin' an' de overseer wuz hard on us. ".Ve wuz glad when Marster cum home er gin. De Yankees wuz a-cominT an' Daddy Charles, he wuz a ole black man on de place, know/ed 'bout Marster's money, anT he took hit all an' put it in er big box an' went out in de night time an' buried hit 'way down deep in some thick woods an' put leaves all over de place an' dem Yankees couldn't fin' hit nowhar, an' dey went on off an' let us 'lone. 101 page - 4 "My la wuz a fspert spinner an* weaver, anT she spun anr wove things ter "be sont ter de Soldiers in de War. I Members dat, her ar spinnin' an' dey say hit wuz fer de soldiers. "Atter we wuz free I went ter school er mont'. de chillun I quit. I fit so wid all Dey said I mustnTt fight anf I knowed I couldn't git er long widout fightin' so I jes' quit an* ainTt never been ter no mo' schools. $ Marster said he I.TIZ goin' ter have a school on de place fer all his niggers, but freedom cum anT he didn't do hit. n I mari' ed in my white folks' kitchen, atari%<3 de fust time when I wuz 19 years ole. husbanfs. "Doctors? I been mari* ed two times an' had good Dey wuz good ter me. Doctors? I don't know nothin' 'bout no doctors! ain't never been sickly. I Ms year (1936) I done had to have mo' ter do wid doctors dan ever in my life.- I'se gittin1 now to whar I kain't walk lak I uster, all crippled up in my lai&s wid sampin'. "Ain't nobody lef now but me an1 one o' my six chillun. He lives up in dat Phillerdelma (Philadelphia) an' I 'cided onst three er fof year ergo, to go up daTre an1 live wid 'im. Lawdy, Lawdy, I ain't been so glad o' nothin' in my life as I wuz ter git back ter Washington, Georgyl I ain't goin' f way frum here li)2 page - 5 f till I dies. Son is mari'ed, an! sich er 'oman as he's got! She's un o' dem smart No'th'n niggers. de white folks down here all de time. She 'bused de So'th an' I'd er beat her wid my stick ef'n I'd er had 'tection, but I wuz way off up da're in de No'th an1 didn't know nobody. But I did found a gal what use ter live here an* went an' stayed wid her 'till I worked an' got 'nough money ter git home on. Jes' soon as I got here I went straight ter Mr. Sheriff Walton an' Mr. Sturdivant (Chief of Police) an' tole dem 'bout dat sassy hateful nigger up da're ialkin' 'bout de So'th an' de white folks lak she done, an dat she say she wuz comin' down here ter see me. I axed dem when I got er letter sayin' she wuz a-comin' would dey take me ter Augusty ter meet her an' when she stept off'n de train ter let me take my stick an' beat her all I wanted ter fer talkin' bout my white folks lak she done. Dey said: "Aunt Jane, jes* you let us know an' we sho' will take you to Augusty ter meet her, an' let you beat her all you want ter." But she ain't never come - she skeered, an she sho' better be, kase I'se home down here an got all de 'tection I needs. Ef'n.she ever do come, I'm goin' ter beat her wid dis stick an sen' her back to her country up da're in dat Philleruelma. She ain't got no sense an' no raisin, neider, talkin' 'bout de So'th an' my white folks what lives here." And from the wicked flash from Aunt Jane's eyes, it will be well for her "sassy" daughter-in-law to stay tt up No'th"* ,00098 103 PLANTATION LIES As viewed by Ex-Slave DOSIA HARRIS 159 Valley Street Athens, Georgia Written by: Edited by; Sadie B. Hornsby Athens .Sarah H. Hall Athens Leila Harris Augusta and John N. Booth District Supervisor Federal Writers* Project Residencies 6 & 7. 100098 104 DOSIA HARRIS Ex-Slave - Age 78, Dosia lives in a red painted frame house* Her very black skin, thick lips, and broad nose are typical of her African ancestry. She is tall, thin, and a little stooped, and her vr?oly hair is fast fading from gray to almost white. When she greeted the interviewer, she was wearing a blue striped dress whieh displayed a large patch of blue print on the front of the skirt over her knees. Over her dress a black silk blouse, lavishly trismed with black beads, was worn for a wrap, and a pair of menfs brown shoes, sans laces, com* pieted her costume. Due to illiteracy Dosia has retained the dialect of the old southern darky. Asked to relate her experiences as a slave, she replied: *0o, Miss! What does you want to know fbout dat for? anyhow I was horned in Greene bounty. and Pa. Mary and Auss Downs was my Ma I cain*t tell you whar dey come from. *I played f round de yard wid de rest of de chillun end picked a little cotton up and down de rows. chile my Mammy had. chile. Well, I was de onliest My Pa was married two tiaes, and I was his fust I had four half sisters: Fannie, Clara, Daisy, and Martha Ann, but I never had no brothers. All de houses in de slave quarters was log cabins f ce?t two. down. Dey was Bade of boards what was put on straight up and All de houses had chimblies made out of mud and sticks. De beds -2- l()5 had high posties and some of fem was nailed to de wall of de cabin* Dey didnft know nothinf f bout no wire springs den, and dey strung de beds wid heavy cords for springs. Bey made mattress ticks out of coarse home-wove cloth; some was striped and some was plain unbleached white. Atter de wheat was thrashed evvy year de f omans tuk deir ticks and emptied out de old straw and went and filled fem wid new wheat straw* now. Wisht I had a nice fresh made wheat straw mattress Us had plenty of good quilts for kivver. *Some of de slave chillun slept on de flof, but me, I slept wid my grandma. She was Crecia Downs, and she done raised me, f cause my Mammy died when I was three days old, or come to think of it, was I three weeks old when dat happened? lots of things lak dat. catchinf. Mammy died of some kind of fever dat was mighty Twenty-five Niggers died on dat one plantation fbout de same timef from dat fever. Atter grandma got too old to wuk in de field, she didn't do nothinf but piddle nogs* Ifse done got so old I forgits f round de yard and bile slops for de Grandpa Joe Downs, he was de carpenter, but he done most any kind of wuk dat come up to be done; he wuked in de fields and driv cows, or jusf anything. "Money! No Mafam! All dey ever give slaves was a belly full of somepin tfeat, de clofes dey wore, and de orders to keep on wukin1. Now come to think of it, I did see |8f000 of Jeff Davis fodder what de white folks thfowed f way atter de War. Us chillun picked it up and played wid it. "What did us have tfeat? rood victuals. Dere was bread and meat; Oo-oS Dey give us plenty peas, greens, and other vege- tables; all de milk us wanted, and sometimes dere was good old ginger- cakes made wid sorghum syrup. As for me, I laked fried fat meat and corabread cooked in de ashes better dan greens and sweet things any old time. All de cookin' was done in great big open fireplaces dat was plum full of ovens, skillets and all sorts of long handled pans and things. Gentlemenl Dat pot would bile down wid dem peas in it 'fore you knowed it if you didn't watch it close. Bere never was no other bread good as what us baked in dem ovens and in de ashes. "Possums! 'bout 'possums. You jus' makes my mouth water, talkin* Folks thought so much of deir 'possum dogs dem days dey fed 'em 'til dey was jus* fat and lazy. Bey cotched de 'possums, singed and scraped de hair off of *em, finished dressin' 'em and drapped *em in de pot to bile 'til dey was tender. in bakinf pans and kivvered Den dey put 'em f em over wid strips of fat meat and baked f em jus* as nice and brown, and if dey iiad good sweet f roasted wid de em in de ashes, pealed f possums good day* f em, and put f tatoes, dey f em on de big old platters Babbits was plentiful too and I loves feim ftil dis Most of de young tender rabbits what dey cotched was fried, but if dey brung in some old tough ones dey was throwed in de pot wid a piece of fat meat and biled 'til dey was done. jus* lak rabbits, Bfere was plenty of fish down dar in Greene County whar us lived, but I never did eat f em. Slaves would wuk all day and fish all night, but you never did ketch Dosia foolin1 Slave famblies was f em Squirrels was cooked f round no fish ponds* f lowed to have little gyarden patches if dey wanted I ricollect how I used to go to de gyarden in de winter and cut down collards atter frost had done hit to be biled down for dinner f em and fetched fem to de house -4"What us wore in summer? 107 Well, it was lak dis - little Nigger chillun didn't stay out of de branch long 'nough to need much clothes in hot weather, but in de winter dey give 'us dresses made out of coarse cloth wove on de loom right dar on de plantation. Some of dem dresses was red and some was blue. De cloth was dyed wid red oak bark and copperas, and dey used indigo what dey raised on de place to dye de blue cloth. De waisties was close fittin* and sorter skimpy skirts was gathered on to 'em. De underskirts was unbleached white cloth made jus* lak de dresses only some skimpier. Old Marster raised plenty of cattle and saved de hides what he sont to de tannery to be got ready for my uncle, Moses Downs, to make our brogan shoes, Dem shoes had brass toes to keep 'em from wearing out too quick. Uncle Mose was sho' a smart shoemaker. He had to make shoes for all de slaves on de whole plantation. Marster Sam Downs owned us, and his wife, Miss Mary, was a mighty good somebody to belong to - "Old Mist'ess" us called her. I don't 'member nothin' 'tall 'bout Old Marster, 'cause he died 'fore I was knee high to a duck. had five chillun. Old Marster and Old Mist'ess Dey was: Miss .alien, Marse Sam, Marae James Kelsey, Merse Tom, and Marse William. Old Miss sho* was good to us Niggers, 'cause she was raisin' us to wuk for her. "When Marse William went to de War, he tuk my pappy vid him, Dey come b*ck home on one of dem flyloughs, (furloughs) or snmepin lak dat, and you Jus' ought to have seed de way us chillun crowded 'round pappy when he got dar. One of bis fingers had done got -5- 108 shot off in de fightin', and us chillun thought it was one of de funniest lookin* things us had ever seed, a man wid a short finger* He said dem yankees had done shot it off. "Atter Old Marster died Old Mist*ess moved to a town called Woodstock, or was it Woodville? It was Wood-soaepin* or nother. She hired old man John Akins to oversee de plantation, and she evermore did oversee him and de plantation too. wouldn't throw her for nothin*. rid out to her plantation. She had a fine pacing mule what Evvy mornin' she got on dat mule and She allus fetched us somepin* feat; most of de time it was a gingercake apiece. T couldn't rightly say how big dat plantation of hers was. Oo-o! But it sho* was one more big place, and diggers was scattered all 'round dar lak blackbirds. was mean to de slaves. Dat old overseer, he sho* He whupped 'em and he kept on whuppin* 'em, 'til sometimes it seemed lak he jus' beat on 'em to hear 'em holler. It warn't long atter midnight when he got 'eia up to go to wuk and hef kept 'em at hard labor 'til way atter sundown. De biggest things he whupped Niggers for was for runnin* 'way and for not doin*..deir wuk> right. JailsI Did you say jails? Yessum, dey had jails. You know slaves warn't civilized folks den - all dey knowed was to fuss end fight and kill one 'nother. Dey put de Niggers in dem jails 'til dey hung 'em. "Grandma was sold on de block to coarse Sam's Fa, Msrse Kelsey Downs, soon atter she was brung over to dis country from de homeland of de black folks. She never did larn to talk dis language -6right plain. 109 Us used to git her to tell us 'bout when she was sold* De sale was in December but it was so far off dat corn was in tassel fore my pore grandmammy got to Greene County, She said dey camped at night and got up long 'fore day and was driv lak cows, a man in front and 'nother one back of 'em to keep 'em from branchin* out and runnin*. "Niggers never had no chance to larn to read and write dem days. Dey went to meetin' at Shiloh - dat was de white folks church nigh Penfield - and Bethesda was 'nother of de white folks churches whar slaves was brought to listen to de preachin'. One thing sho', Niggers couldn't read de Bible, but dey jus* lumbered down 'bout de Lord from deir heads. "Slaves didn't run off to no North dat I ever knowed 'bout. I heared tell 'bout one man named Si what run 'way wid dem yankees when dey cane through and dey made a black yankee soldier out of him atter he jined up wid *em. I heared tell of patterollers what cotched Niggers 'way from home 'thout no pass. Folks said dey brushed you off and sont you home if dey cotched you. *A11 I knowed Niggers to do at night atter dey come in from de fields, was to eat supper and fling deirselfs on de beds and go right off to sleep, 'cept when dey wanted to hunt and fish, and most of dat sort of thing was done atter de crops was laid by or atter ley had done been gathered into de barns. On Saddy nights, de older 'omans ironed and fixed up for Sunday whilst de men was busy gittin' de harness and tools and things ready for de next week's wuk. folks never had nothin* but good times on deir minds. frolicked, and cut de buck in gen'ral. niusic, but dey sho* could sing it down. Young Dey danced, Dey didn't have no sho* *nough One of de dance songs -7- 110 went somepin* lak dis: f 0ht Hiss Liza, Miss Liza Jane! Axed Miss -MLza to marry me Guess what she said? She wouldn't marry me, If de last Nigger was dead,* Christmas was shof one grand time. no big heap of good things lak dey has now* Dar warn't Old Mistfess give de Niggers a little flour and syrup for to make sweet cake. i>ere was plenty of fresh hog meat and chickens and all sorts of dried fruits. I was allus plum crazy fbout de rag doll grandma would make for my Gome New ^earfs Day, it was time to go back to Christmas present* wuk and ewy slave was made to do a heap of wuk on dat day to start de year off right. "Slaves had a big old time at cornshuckinfs. Dey didnft care so much fbout de somepin1 tfeat jus* so dey got plenty of whiskey to drink, and when dey got all het up on dat you could hear fem a mile away a-wiioopin* and hollerin*. Sometimes dey kilt a cow and throwed it in a pot and biled it down wid dumplin's, seasoned hot wid red pepper.* Asked what games she played as a child, Dosia replied: *Gentlemenl wuth knowin1 no how. Mollie Bright What de giverfment donft want to know, ain't What I played? Well, now, let me see: Mollie, was one of our games; Hiding de Switch was de one whar ycu counted rem out; dat countin* run lak dis: forty-five, fifteen** Gentlemen! f Ten, ten, double-ten, I could run lak a snake. 111 -8*Hafnts? Why, I kin see dem things anytime Dis hyar place whar I lives is full of ha'nts, but dese folks would git mad wid me if I told 'bout fem. Now, back in Greene County, I kin talk fbout dem hafnts all right. Thaxton had a mighty pretty flower yard. Back dar Mrs. Babe She used to tell me dat if I let anybody git any flowers from her yard atter she was she would shof hafnt me. daid, She had done been daid a good while when I was git tin1 some flowers from her yard and a gal come along and I started cuttin1 flowers for her. axed me to give her some. At dat Miss Babe, she riz up over me lak she was gwine to burn me up. She looked at me hard and went off and sot in a tree whar she could look right down on me. no more. I ain't never cut no flowers out of dat yard Now fbout Raw Head and Bloody Bones, Honey, donft you know dat ainft nothin' but a cows head what's done been skint? Old folks used to ax us: 'Has you seed Raw Head and Bloody Bones?f Us would run over one f nother tryin1 to git dar fust to see him, and it allus turned out to be jus1 a old skint up cow head. us would have wild dreams Den in de nighttime f bout dem old skint cow heads* M De onliest song I ever heared de diggers sing in ce fields run somepin lak dis: 'Tarrypin, Tarrypin, (terrapin) when you comin* over, For to see your wife and fam-i-lee.f Dey must a been wantin1 to eat turkle (turtle), when dey was a-singinf dat song. *01d Mistfess was mighty special good to her slaves vwhen dey was sick. Fust thing she done was send for de doctor. I kin ii a- -9- see him now* bags. He rid: horseback and carried his medicine in saddle- He used to put some kind of powders in a glass of water and give it to de sick ones* Dere was three old 'omans v&at Old Mist1 ess f kept to look atter sick slave a heap about yarbs (herbs). omans. Dem old granny nurses knowed May apple and blacksnake roots, king of de meadow, (meadow rue) wild asthma (aster) and red shank, dese was biled and deir tea give to de slaves for diffunt ailments.* to describe king of tte meadow, she continued; seed none? Asked "Honey, ain't you never Well, its such a hard tough weed dat you have to use a axe to chop it up, and its so strong and pow'ful dat nothin' else kin grow nigh 'round it* Back in dem days folks wore tare (tar) sacks f round deir necks and rubbed turpentine under deir noses. When deir ailments got too hot, lak when Manmy died, dey made 'em swallow two or three draps of turpentine* I ricollects dat when de news come dat dem yankees was on de way towards our plantation, Old Mist'ess tuk her eld pacin' mule and all her money and made Uncle Moses go down on de river wid her to help hide 'em* I told her I was gwine tell dem yan- kees she had done stole my uncle and hid him so he wouldn't hear 'bout freedom. And when dem yankees finally did git dar, dey was singin' some sort of a song 'bout freedom. I lit out to runnin', and it was way atter midnight 'fore Old Mist'ess found me. skeered to death. I was pretty nigh Dey called all de slaves together and told 'eia dey v;as free as Jack rabbits, and f deed dat was de truth. Us stayed dar for .10years* 113 It looked lak us warnft never gwine to leave* *@randma started out to wuk for herself as a granny 'oman, and Old Mistfess give her a mule to ride on to make her trips from one farm to another* could git It was a long time 'fore Niggers f nough money together for to buy land of deir own, and it seems lak it was a long time ffore schools for Niggers was sot up. When me and Oscar Harris got married, us had a big weddinf wid ewything good to eat what us could git, and plenty of wine to drink. De dancin' and good time went on most all night I had a regflar wed&in1 dress made out of pretty white swiss trimmed wid lots of lace and it had a long train. Tucks went I wore long white gloves* f round my petticoat from de knees to de lace what aidged de bottom, and my drawfs was white cambric, gathered at de knee wid a wide ruffle what was tucked and trimmed up pretty. I married on Saddy night and dat called for a second day dress, 'cause I jus* had to go to church next day and show dat man off. Anyhow, my second day dress was blue cotton wid white lace on it, and I wore a big white plumed hat draped down over one eye. Wid de second day dress I wore dem same draw's, petticoat, and gloves what I was married in. Me and Oscar's five chillui* was Mary, Annie Belle, Daniel, Cleveland, and Austin* "I!y old man and all my chillun is daid and I don't know whar he is. f cept Daniel, I wants to git married again, but dese hyar jealious Niggers 'round hyar says if I does de giver'ment is gwine li- 114 to eut off my old age pension, and I shof donft want to loose dat money* Mo Sir! . *I didnft take in nothinf f bout Lincoln, Davis or Dem days chillun had to take a back seat* dat man Washington* old folks wanted to talk, dey jus* sent chillun on One thing I does know: When f bout dey business. Ifd shof ruther have times lak dey is now* Yessum, I shof had*. "I jined Randolph Baptist Church in Greene County f cause I felt de urge and knowed it had done got to be my duty to Jine up. Ifse been a Baptist ever sinoe, and will be one so was all my folks f fore me. f til I die; Folks when dey jine de church ought to live right so dey kin see de good Lord and have a rest in1 place atter dey is done wid dis sinful world. Yessum, I jined dat Randolph Baptist Church way down in Greene County a long time ago.* . w&r*:" ^^^p^w^^w:^^F:^wzy^ 100032 ^ ^ Henderson Harris - Ex-Slave Henderson Earria was born August 19, 1858f in Talbot County* . His parents were Frederiolc and Adeline Harris of Jones County, but Keiiclerson remembers nothing about them because they both were Bold on the block and left him when he was Just a few months old* Mr. Bill Adams, wkff iraq Hender30nfs ownerf lived on a large plantation on the old stage road between Hacon and Columbus. Ihere were about three hundred acres in this plantation and . between thirty and fifty slaves* Mr.. Adams was just a straight out farmer, and as good amarster as ever wore shoe leather. f Marse Bill* was a putty hard man about business, and. meant 'skat.1 when he said f akat?*n He had a white preacher and a white doctor on his plantation, and expected all the Fegroas to go to f preachin? on-Sunday afternoon, and if eny of them were elck enough to nea you mighty fat'. He talk and he talk and by. dat time de yard was full o' Yankees. 'Lemme ask you sumpin', he say, $b.ere's de horses?' ?/id dat, he shot off a pistol - B&MI "My boss had done took 'em off. I say, 'I don* know nuttin' bout 'emu* "All dey got from our house was a big sack o'- flour. Dey 121 Page 6 - Bell didn't burn nuttin' o' ours. 1'82 Dey say, 'You all feelin' so good, iiavin' a good time - we won't take nuttin.' "De calvary was here 'fore de Yankees was. coats, too. Dey had on blue Dey make de boss hual.com all day a-Sunday to fed dey horses. - "Dey try to git de niggers to go back North wid 'en, and dey had a big crowd o' colored goin', but I wouldn't go.r A fust cousin to my Dad left 'cause dey beat him so. well in de 'Torth. I think he done But I didn't want to go. "After freedom was, some de marsters wouldn't tell you. our marster tole us. He said, 'You free as I is. to stay wid me, all right. "Mistis warn't like de But If you want If not, you know where to go..' DOSS," (mimicking a precise, slightly acid voice), "She say, 'I don't want to hear of no fightin* now. You'll git your arms cut off if you fight.' "But de boss keep her cooled down. _Ee say, 'Arms cut off-hum You git yo's broke off if you don't hiush** "After freedom, we didn't work for no regular wages - Jes' knock about like chillen 'round de house. old I was den, but I warn't no chicken. I don't know how After while I worked on de railroad, de fust one here, what used wood burners. helped build it. I Bey's great tall pines growin' now where dat fill was made* "Ihi-fce folks nuse to travel in wagons way back in time. m dey "fcuk de otfcon to New York dey went to Athens in de Fag ? - Bell 123 wagons wid oxen or mules, and den to Hew York on de train. De ladies rid 'round town in carriages - Roekaways - dem low onehosfc things. De driver sat on top. He wore a big beaver hat . and good clothes and heavy gloves. "White folks had lots o* dances and everything went well. People was mighty nice in dis country. "One my young bosses was a doctor. Dey didn't give dem little pills you have now, what don't.do no good. Dey made tea out or devil's shoestring, and yerbs out de woods, and blue mass pills. Tfheii babies come, dey, had mid-wives. Dey didn't do nuttin' to cut de pains - you got to have dem. "Yes, mam, I knows 'bout cunjurs - plenty o* cunjurs. Dem oun^ur - folks takes weeds and yerbs, and fixes you so you can't \ sleep and can't eat and bark like a dog. One man told a girl i he'd fix her so green flies *ud follow her all de time - and \*' dey didI "One of *em gin me some stuff once. de* old papi Yes, mam, like to killed I had done found some money in Alabama, and another man wanted me to gi' it to him so he put sumpin' in my coffee. jnhen-I tasted dat coffee I started cussin' (I was wicked den) - 1/ \ I wouldn't sleep - couldn't rest. /hurt youi' / MJr nephew said, 'Somebody done Sfy father-in-law tuk it off. ' He made some tea out .. / o' rattle-snake raster, and I drunk dat and swallowed a silver filae* Dat "tufc & exiafur off. Some says it's good to take nine Page 8 - Bell 124 "I knows sumpiri' 'bout ghoses, too, but my foots got temper in 'em and when I sees anything, I runs. People say dey ain't no seen thing, but dey is ,s^^ "Dey wais a house - people couldn't live dere, but a fellow \ said lie could go dere, so he-went. Fust thing he seed a cat i rarin' and pitchin' in de fireplace. Den dey was a kickin' up / ,' in de loft, and here come a big old dog a-spittin', and fire all spranglin' out. Ke rared and growled. Den in come a woman. lie say, 'What'11 you have, lady?' She say, 'Dey's ten thousand dollars / buried right where I'm a-staiidin'. \ "Ee stayed dere till he got it too. \ De devil was trying to . " \ scare him off, but she wanted him to have it. "people nuse to bury lots o* money 'way back in- time, and lots o' folks is found it. /"" "Good-luck and bad-luck signs, you say? T/ell, leraae see , " \ ,The old man paused to reflect and scratch his head, 'I /bes* luck sign is to git in wid de Lawd. K keep you. sweet in yo' soul. I I seen dat one time. "tf-ell, de Keep wid Kim; He'll God's goin' to come down" de mid-air. Jesus come to me - you never seen de lik of t ! / it - de chariots - oh, glory.* - and de purtiest singin' you ever [ Leered. \ ' ^ $-oh - g-lory, hallelujah! " "I had a good life. Dat was jes' last year. I "been enjoyin' myself. now, but I so old now I jes' staggers over de place. #0*k bat chop wood once in a while. ! I enjoys mysfelf Can't do! no I enjoys myself in prayer;, "then de relief folks fus* oome here, dey wouldn't give " ," ' ''. - - ' miitin* hut I been prayin' and glory to Jesus I been gittirj' i: : ! ^^'S:.i;*Si^^^ Page 9 - Bell 125 little sumpin* ever since dat time* fr De way tilings is goinf now, it's better dan in slavfey times, f cause dey ainft no knockin* and beatinf for dat now. Tilings is gone too fur If e^e'ybody would be of one mind and serve de Lawd, (Ley wouldn't be no troubles. f 'I donft know whether Ifll get through dis winter or not* Kit was nighty cold last year, and dey warnft much fuel* But I thanks de Lav/d for all lie's done for me, and Ifse ready to meet Ilin when he comes .n 1.00(5! <$> 186 PIAHTATION LIEE as viewed by Ex-Slave TOM HWSKHTS 163 Bremen Street Athens, Georgia, Written by: Sadie B. Hornsby Athens - Edited by: Sarah H. Hall Athena Leila Harris Augusta, Ga# i00090 ^ TOM HA-TCIES Sx-Slave - Age 75. Tom was nowhere to be seen when the interviewer mounted the steps of his cabin. Daisy, his wife, was ironing on the back porch and when she learned the object of the proposed interview, she readily agreed to induce Tom to talk. ment door and called: She approached a base- "Tom,, here*s one of dem giverf2nent ladies whatfs come to hear you talk *bout sir very days*11 "All right, Miss Daisyr Ifse a-GOBiin*.11 Tom replied: The old man soon appeared feeling his way with his cane carefully before each hesitant step. Tom is blind. Established comfortably in his favorite chair, he talked freely* "I was borned on Marae Johnny Poorefs plantation fbout four miles ffum Belton, South Callina. iferse Johnny ov/ned mj Ma, Mornin1 Poore, and all three of her chillun. and Mollie. Dey was me and Johnny, K&r Pa was Tom Hawkins and he was named for his owner. De Hawkins plantation was * bout a mile ff urn de Poore place* ^tter Ma married Pap, dey each one had to stay on wid deir own Jferster. Dey couldnft stay on de same plantation together. much fbout Gramma Jennie Poore house. I don11 fmember f cept dat she was de cook at de big Gran1 pa Wade Poore was de blacksmith and Marse Johnny got a big price when he sold him to Dr. Chandler. Some of de slaves made demselfs corded beds and others jus1 had makeshifts. De beds and cabins was good fnough for de Niggers den, * cause dey never had knowed no better. Gangs of slaves slept together lak hogs in dem dirt- floored log cabins. Fage 2. 128 Ghilluns what was big fnough to do anything had to wuk. I was a moughty little chap when dey started me in as houseboy. I slept on a trun1 le (trundle) bed in Miss Annie* s room. In de daytime my little trunfle bed was rolled back out of sight under Miss Anniefs big old four poster teester "bed. v/inter and summer. I kep1 a fire burnin1 in her room Night times she would call me. times I was so soun* asleep I didn't answer. me on de head wid her long stick. up her pipe. f TomS Tom!* Some- Ben pop, she would hit Den I knowed hit was time to fire She smoked dat pipe a powfful lot atter Marse Johnny died. *Grown slaves made a little money, but I nerer got none ! til atter de war. I didn11 have no cause to want no money. Miss Annie, she give me evvything I needed. H 0h, but us had plenty of good things to eat on de Poore plantation - meat and bread wid lots of turnips and ftatoes* once a month dey give us lallyhoe. f Bout Dey calls dat flasses now. et our breakfast and dinner out of v/ooden bowls. built next to de kitchen was a long trough. Us Under a long shed At night dey crumbled cornbread in itf and poured it full of buttermilk. Grown folks and chilluns all gathered roun1 dat old trough and et out of it wid deir wooden spoons. No Ma1 am, dere warn!t no fightin1 'roun1 dat trough. Dey all knowed better'n dat. rl Us got 'possums and rabbits de best ways us could - cotch f em in traps, hit 'em wid rocks, and trailed f em v/id dogs. Us lakked f possums baked wid ftatoes, but most of de rabbits was stewed wid dumplinfs. All our cookin1 was done on big open fireplaces. Dey didn't fry nothin1 dem days; leastwise dey never give de slaves no fried victuals. Grown folks seined for fish in Big Crick and Saluda River at night, day. r cause dey couldn't git away f'um field wuk in de Chillun cotch a heap of fish wid hook and line. De river and crick bofe run thoo1 Miss Annie*s plantation so us didn't have to ax for a pass ewy time us went a fishinr Us allus had to have a pass if us left de plantation for anything or de patterollers was apt to git you and look out den, for you was sho* to git a larrupln1 if dey cotch you off ffum home widout no pass. tt Dere warn11 hut one gyardan on de Poore plantation, and it was hig enough to feed all de white folks and slaves too. Two whole acres of dat gyarden was sowed down in turnips* *CJiilluns didn11 wear hut one piece of clothes in summer; dat was a shirt. In winter dey doubled up an us wid two shirts I Members how dem shirt tails used to pop in de v/ind when us runned fast. Us chillun used to tie up de f hacco, what us stole ffurn Miss Annie, in de under-arm part of de long loose sleeves of our shirts* Us didn't git no shoes for our foots, winter or summer, f til US was ten years old. *lferse Johnny Poore, he was kilt in de war and den Old Mistfess, she was our Miss Annie, looked atter de plantation only child, young Miss Ann, married Marse Toia Dean. Miss Ann ftend to her business. done her own overseein1 f til her Den he helped Dey was moughty good to us. Miss Annie She rid over dat plantation onct or twict a day on her hoss* *Our white folks lived in a hig old two-story house what sot off f1 urn de road up oa a high hill in a big oak grove. own room was a shed room on dat house. compfny. Miss Annie*s De upstairs room was kept for Unkle Wade Norris Poore was Miss Annie*s crarfiage driver. car1iage was called a surrey den. * De Page 4. 30 Bar was.fbout four or five hunderd acres in our plantation* Hiss Anni6 kept r bout a hunderd slaves* She was all tise sellin1 *en for big prices atter she done trained fem for to "he cooks, housegals, houseboys, carriage drivers, and good wash 'oaans* She wukked 7$ slaves in her fields* Her Niggers was waked by four o1clock and had to be in de field by sunup* Dey cotne in fbout dark* Atter supper, de mens made up shoes, horse collars, and anything else lak dat what was needed; de f o ans spun thread and wove cloth* "Kiss Annie was her awn whuppin1 boss* for most anything. She beat on * em She had a barrel wid a pole run thoo* it, and she would have a slave stretched out on dat barrel wid his clothes off and his hands and foots tied to de pole* Ben Miss Annie would fire up her pipe and set down and whup a Nigger for a, hour at a time* Kiss Annie would pull my ears and hair when I didnft do to suit her, but she never whupped me* slaves. Miss Annie didnft need no jail for her She could irrnage *eia widout nothin1 lak dat, and I never did hear of no jails in de country frounf whar us lived* Yes Mafa2Q, I seed Old Miss sell de slaves what she trained. She isade f em stand up on a block, she kept in de back yard* whilst she was a-auctionin* f eia off. I seed plenty of traders go by our place in wagons what dey had deir somepin1 deir slaves was walkin1 ttsstt ar *d beddin1 in, and f long behind de wagon* gwine on to be sold, but dere warn11 none of *ea in chains* *Dere warn11 no schools whar slaves could git book larnin1 in dec days* Dey warnft even f lowed to larn to read and write* When Page 5 131 Dr. Gannon found out dat his carriage driver had larned to read and write whilst he was takin1 de doctor1 s chillun to 'and f!um school, he had dat Niggers thumbs cut off and put another boy to doinr de drivin1 in his place ^Washin* ton Church was de name of de me tin1 house whar us Niggers on de Poore plantation went to church wld our white folks. Couldn11 none of us read no Bible and dere warn11 none of de Niggers on our plantation ever converted and so us never had no baptizin1 a. De preacher preached to de white folks fust and den when he preached to de Niggers all he ever said was* fIt* s a sin to steal; don* t steal Marsterfs and Mist*ess;chickens and hogs;* and sech lak. How could anybody be converted on dat kind of preachin1? helped none to listen to dat sort of preachin1 kept ,goin* right on ervvy night. And * sides it never f cause de stealin1 1 never did see no funfrals in dem days. *Niggers didn11 run to no North* 1 Day run to da South, cause dem white folks up North was so mean to 'em. One Nigger, naned Willis Earle, run off to de woods and made hisself a den in a cave. He lived hid out in dat cave f bout 15 years. ^Old Miss give de dat wanted one a cotton patch and she didnft make her slaves wuk in her fields attar de dinner bell rung on Saddays. De mens wukked in dem patches of deir own on Sadday evenin1 whilst de for de next week. f omans washed de clothes and cleaned up de cabins Sadday nights day all got together and frolicked; picked de banjo, and drunk whiskey. Didn11 none of fem git drunk,fcause dsy Page 6. 182 was used to it. Bar was barrels of it whar dey stilled it on de place. On Sundays us went f*um cabin to cabin holdin* prayer meetin's. Miss Annie %pointed diff'unt ones to look atter de stock ewy Sunday. tt Big times was had "by all at Chr-is'mas time. De eats warn11 no difffunt *cept dey give us sweet bread and plenty of lalljrhoe (molasses) what was made on de plantation. Us had two weeks vacation from field wuk and dey let us go rabbit and fpossum hunt in1 . Us had a gran1 time clear up to New Year1s Day. rt Qh, us did have one more big time at dem cornshuckin1 s. De corn was hauled to de crib and de folks was fvited in de atternoon *fore de cornshuckin1 started dat night. When de mens got to shuckin1 dat corn, de fomans started cookin* and dey got thoo* bout Den us et, and dat was de best part of de cornshuckinf de same time. fun. f Cotton pickin*s was held on moonshiny nights. Dey picked cotton f til midnight, and den dey had a little shakin* of de footses 'til day. n Mens had good times at de quiltin1 s too. allus give fem a little somepin1 extra Deir white folkses tfeat at dem special times. 3ut de fomans what was cooks at de big house tied sacks f roun* deir waisties under deir skirts, and all thoo1 de day dey would drap a little of dis, and some of dat, in de sacks. When dey poured it out at night, dere was plenty of good somepin1 t*eat. De mens kept de fire goin1 and if dey got hold of a tallow candle dey lit dat to help de f oiaans see how to quilt. f nearly all of Most of de quiltin1 s was at night and em was in winter time. u De best game us had was marbles, and us played wid home- made clay marbles most of de time. bothered us, f No witches or ghosties never cause us kept a horseshoe over our cabin door. Page 7. *l iss Annie doctored us. 133 In summer, she made us pull up certain roots and dry special leafs for to make her teas out of* Horehoun1 '*, boneset, and yellow root was de main things she used* She made a sort of sody out of de white ashes ffum de top of a hiakfry fire and mixed it wid vinegar for headaches* De black ashes, left on de bottom of de hickfry fire, was leached for lye, what was biled v/id grease to make our soap. *I never will forgit de day dey told us de war was over and us was free. One of de romans what was down by de spring a washin1 clothes started shoutin1t f Thank God-a-Moughty Ifse free at lasti1 ife-rse Tom heared her and he come and knocked her down. It was *bout October or November ffore he ever told us dat us was free sho1 r nough* Dat same foman fainted dead away den 'cause she wanted to holler so bad and was skeered to make a soun1 De yaakees come thoo1 soon atter dat and said us was free and fvited all de Niggers dat wanted tot to go flong wid dem. treated Old Miss. I never will forgit how bad dem xankees Dey stole all her good hosses, and her chickens and dey broke in de smokehouse and tuk her meat. house and tuk her nice quilts and blankets. Dey went in de big She stood all of dat wid a straight face but when dey foun1 her gold, she just broke down and cried and cried. lasted. I stayed on and was Miss Annie1s houseboy long as she I was 21 when she died. *Dem night riders done plenty of whuppin1 on our plantation* Hit was a long time f fore Niggers could git v/id and it was a good 20 years in our settlement. f f nough money to buy Ian1 fore no sc&ool was sot up for Niggers Page 8. 134 *I thinks Mr. ^efferson Davis and Mr. Lincoln was bofe of f em doim* deir best to "be all right* Booker Washin1 ton, he was all right too, but he sho* was a 'maybe man.1 He mought do right and den he njoughtn't* *Yes lfetfam, if Old Miss was livin1 Ifd ruther have slavery days back, 'cause den you knowed you was gwine to have plenty tfeat and wear, and a good place to sleep even if Mist1 ess did make you wuk moughty hard* can be sho' f How you can wuk your daylights pluia out and never bout git tin1 nothin1 . *De fust time I married me and Ad1 line Hogers stood up by de side of de big road whilst de preacher said his marryin1 words over us, and den us went on down de road. chillun* Me and Ad1 line had six Mary, Lucy, Annie, Bessie, John and Henry Thomas. njy Adfline died, I married Daisy Carlton. needer time* Atter I didnft have no weddin* Me and Daisy just got a hoss and buggy and driv1 up to de house whar de Justice of de Peace lived, and he jined us in mattermony. Den us got back in de buggy and went back down de big road.* Tom began telling why he joined the church, when Daisy interrupted* Now Tarn, she said, you just tell dis white lady what you told me 'bout how come you jined de church*11 Daisy,11 pleaded Tom, rt I don11 want to do dat*.* *tfow,, Miss Daisy snapped* "I donft keer what you don't want to, you is gwine to tell de trufe* Tom Hawkins.* was lak dis* At that, Tom giggled and began* *Well, Miss, hit I went to church one night a feelin1 moughty good. I went up and kneeled at de altar whar dey was prayin1 for converts, and Fags 9* a good llbokin* yaller gal was kneelin* right in front of me* accident1ly tetohed her on de laig. I I shof didn't mean to do it In dat 'cited crowd most anything was apt to happen. kicked me in de eye, and bruised up my face. started drippin* and I hollered out real loud: Den I staged a faint. 135 Dat gal, she Hy nose and eyes *Ofe, Lord have mussyl De brother1 s of de church tuk me outside Dey was sho1 I had got fligion. By dat time I was so f shamed of myself, I went back inside de meetin1 house and jined de church, cause I didn11 want nobody to know what had done happened* f cided den and dar to change my way of livin* I ffext time I seed dat yaller gal I axed her why she kicked me in de face and she said* f Bext tiiie you do what you done den, Ifae gwine to kill you, Nigger.1 *Yes Ma1 am, I thinks evvybody ought to be 'ligious.* j,&2*s 13G SX-SLAVB INTSRV1SW BILL HEARD 475 Reese Street Athens, Georgia Written by: Hiss Grace MoCune Athens - 3dited by: Mrs. Sarah H. Hall' Athens - and John N. Booth District Superrlsor Federal Writers Proj Residencies 6 & 7 Augusta, Georgia. Sept. 12, 1938 13? BILL HSARD Bx-Slave - Age 73. Bill Heard*s blacksmith shop, a sagging frame structure, in the forks of Oconee Street and Lexington Highway, is conveniently located for both looal and traveling clientele. An old voice singing Swing Low Sweet Chariot in a low tone but with a fervor known only to Negroes led the visitor through the shop, where there was no sight of the singer. Bill was eventually discovered seated on a cushion-covered nail keg beneath a large water-oak at the rear of the building. A large hymn book was plaoed across his knees, and the old Negro was happily singing away all by himself. His gray hair was partly covered by an old black cap, and his faded blue work shirt and pants showed evidenoe of long wear. As the song ended Bill discovered that he was not alone. Off came his cap, and he scrambled to his feet with a smile/ "Good avenin*, Missy, how is you? you have a seat and rest? Won't Dese nail kegs makes a mighty good place to set when you is tired out, and it's powerful nice and cool under dis old tree." After his guest was comfort- ably seated on another cushioned keg, the aged smith resumed his perch. "I didn't hear you come into my shop, and I think 2. m Jiad about a hunnard and Uwanty*fiva slaves on Ms place. fieddy was mighty littia when Jfauesa Tom got ihini, and he ua^er bojftght none of Baddy's other ..kinfolks, so iti&3 right hajrd- for^e li ttie boy &1 1 by biasalf, \oa se 3de O/feher sla,ve s on Ae plantation was awful mean to him. . ey- wouldn't.,-Jbet him sleep in dair garters, so ha, stayed up at .da big house,;^hd place to keep warm, treated him better. jitter ,ha got big enough to wuk, day i &. 3. 139 "Bwybody eooked on fireplaces dem days, cause dere warn't no sto'-bought stoves. Marse Tom fed all his slaves at de big house; he kept *em so regular at wuk dere warn't no time for 'em to do deir own cookin*. "Slaves lived in one-room log cabins dat had rock ohimblies, and each cabin had one little window wid a wooden shutter dey fastened at night and in bad weather. Deir beds was made out of pine poles fastened to de sides of dem old beds 'teesters,' 'cause de posties was so high. Hopes or cords was criss-crossed to hold 'em together and to take de place of springs. Nobody hadn't ever saw no iron springs on beds dem days. Dem big old ticks was generally filled wid wheat straw, but sometimes slaves was 'lowed to pick up waste cotton and wash, dry, and card it to stuff deir bed-ticks wid. But Missy, dat was jus* too much trouble when a good old straw tick slept so fine. Cheers was made out of oak splits, and cane and rye plaits was used for de cheerbottoms. Dem old cheers sot mighty good and lasted a lifetime. "Folks sho 'nough did live at home den; dey raised all sorts of vegetables sich as corn, 'taters, wheat, rye, and oats, and what's more, dey raised de cotton and wool to make de cloth for deir clothes. Cows, hogs, goats, sheep, chickens, geese, and turkeys was runnin' all over dem pastures, and dere warn't no lack of good victuals and home-made clothes. * 140 When hogs and cows was kilt to put meat in de smlkehouse deir hides was tanned for leather to be used for harness and shoes, and a heap of times a pieoe of hide was used for a cheer-seat, "Daddy said dey had a powerful hard time gittin' things lak soda, salt, sugar, and coffee durinf de war times. He said dat sometimes corn and okra seeds was parched right brown and ground up to be used for coffee, but it warn't nigh as good as sho 'nough coffee. When de salt had to be used if folks and critters was to keep well. Dey dug up de dirt under old smokehouses and biled it to git out de salt. Surree! Nobody didn't waste none of dat salt. It was too hard to git. No When it got so dey couldn't buy no soda, dey saved nice clean corncobs and burned dem into a fine powder what dey used for soda. makin'? Was it fit for bread- Why, Missy, dem biscuits made out of corncob soda and baked in dem old dutch ovens was fit for anybody to eat and enjoy. De onli9st trouble 'bout it was gittin* 'em to bake enough of it. "Slaves clothes was all made at home. Gals spun de thread and old 'omens wove de cloth on home-made looms; my Mammy was one of dem weavin* 'omans. Clothes for summer was jus' thin cotton, but cotton and wool was mixed for cold weather, and don't think dem wool and cotton clothes didn't 5. Ill keep out de cold; dey sho did. Deir clothes was 4yene been wukin* in de hogkillin* dem cold days you was ready for victuals dat would stay by you. "De fust place I ever went to school was in a little house on de old Bert Benyard place nigh Winterville, Georgy, and let me tell you, Missy, schoolin* warn't nothin* lak what it is now. Dem what lived nigh went home to dinner, "cut ohillun dat lived a fur piece off fotch deir dinner to i school in a tin bucket* Us jtas still livin' dar when Mr* John UcCune moved from Whit field County to dat old Pittner place. My Daddy wuked for him and I played 'round wid his boys. i "Daddy moved closer to town and opened up a i blaoksmith shop on Broad Street at what was called Wood's i corner den. I holped him in de shop and went to school some* Folks had to wuk so hard to iiake enough to keep alive dat dey didn't git to go to school much. Athens was a heap diffunt den to what it is now; it was: mostly woods, and de roads was awful. Dere warn't no paved streets, no street-lights, and no streetcars den. I 'members dem fust street-lights. Lawsey, Missy, folks was sho proud of dem lights and, when dey got dem 9. 145 little streetcars what was pulled by little mules, Athens folks felt lak dey lived in a real city. Dey had a big old town hall whar dey had all sorts of shows and big 'tainments. "Times has changed, folks has changed, and nothin' ain't lak it used to be. When I was little it warn't no sight a t*all to see traders wid big droves of hogs, horses, cows, sheep, and goats, bringin' *em to town to sell or trade for somepin dey needed. Daddy said dat durin' slavery time dey drove slaves *long de road de same way and sold 'em jus' lak dey sold deir cattle. "It was mostly woods and fields 'round here when I opened dis little shop 'bout 40 years ago. Johnson's store was sot up whar de Garitiler's Wagon Yard used to be, and soon paved streets was laid, and den fillin* stations, other stores, and de lak, sprung up in a hurry 'long here* Soon dere won't be no need of a blacksmith shop here, but I wants to stay on at wuk in my shop jus* as long as I kin, hera in dis world of trouble whar I has had good times and hard times jus* lak de others. No other place wouldn't seem right. "lie and my wife jus* runned away and got married widout havin* no big weddin* and atter us has done wuked together dese long years, us hopes to go to de heavenly home together. Our oldest gal is all us has left of our five chil- lun; she lives off some whar in Washington, and us don't never itear from her no more. Us still has de boy us 'dopted long years ago; him and his wife lives wid us and dey keeps us from bein* too lonesome. 10. 146 "I has made a good livin* right here in dis old shop, wuked hard, and saved my money, and now us is got a right nioe little home out on Reese Street. De Good Lord has been wid us in all our troubles as well as in our good times, and I knows He is gwine to stay wid us de rest of de time and den He will take us home to Glory. I se mighty glad you hunted me up, for I 'members dem old days, playin* wid your Daddy, down on de Pittner place. Atter us had all moved to Athens, he was still my friend. Come back to see me again, and just trust in de Good Lord; He will take keer of you." As the visitor went down the street Bill's quavering voice was heard again. Comin* Home. He was singin* Lord I'se -r- 3 , un UUJ'Jtt'gUl IJI.II NIL . I ) PJWW^WpW^pWWWPpiWIWWi 27/3.7= *si ^&7W' *# 100169 147 ^ ^ A STORY OF SLAVERY * AS TOLD BZ EMMALIKE HEARD - EX-SLAVE A paper submitted by Minnie B, Ross Ravision of original eopy and typing by J.C.Russell 1-26-37 4 r-l/25/37 Story of slavery by ex-slave 1. 148 Emmaline Heard Ex-Slave M.B.Ross Emmaline Heard is a small, dark brown skinned woman who appears to be about 67 but is probably older* Her mind seems to be active, however, as she responds quickly to questions and expresses herself intelligently. Henry County, near McDonough, Ga., is Emmalinevs birthplace* Judging from her earliest childhood memories and what she learned from her mother, her birth must have occurred four or five years before freedom* Her parents, Lewis and Caroline Harper had eleven children, of whom she was the second youngest* Mr. Roger and Mrs. Frances Harper were the owners of the Heard family. The large /plantation was located near McDonough, bordering the McDonough highway. The Harper home, a large 2-story frame dwelling, faced the highway* The family consisted of twin boys and two girls, in addition to the father and mother. They also owned a large number of slaves, who occupied two rows of cabins, built close together, at some distance behind the "big hou.se." In those days before the War, slaves were moved from place to place and from State to State in droves, known as "speculators1 droves," and sold at public auction* Emmaline Beard's father was born in Virginia, but was brought to Georgia and sold to the Harpers as a plow boy, at the age of eleven* The slave's cabins were constructed of rough-hewn logs, with the craoksdaabed with mud and, as Emmaline recalled it, were very warm; warmer, in fact, than many of their houses are today* The furniture consisted of a "corded" bed, wooden tables and benches* This "carded" bed was constructed by running rope or cord from the head to the foot and then from side to side* A wooden peg was jer-l/25/37 Story of slavery by ex-slave driven into the holes to hold the cord in place. Pegs were a household necessity and had to be eared for just as a key is today. Most homes also included a guilt slab, a sort of table used to place quilts on, as a necessary part of the furniture, aaa^fat, Every woman had a certain amount of weaving and spinning to do at home after coming in from the fields. Emma line says her mother had to card bats at night so that the two older sisters could begin spinning the next morning. A loom was almost as large as a small kitchen and was operated by hands and feet. Until midnight, the spinning wheels could be heari. humming in the slave cabins, it the hour of twelve, however, a bell was rung, which was the signal for the slaves to cease their spinning and go to bed. Dye for coloring the cloth was provided by collecting sweet gum,dogwood bark, and red clay. produced different colors of dye. Mixing these together Sweet gum and clay produced a purple; dogwood, a blue* (Two dresses a year were allowed the women, while two cotton shirts and two pair of cotton pants were given the men. Everyone received one pair of shoes. Emma line's father was a shoemaker by trade and made shoes for both slaves and the Harper family. The slaves shoes were called "nigger shoes," and made from rough horse and male hide. made from soft calf leather. The white folks' shoes were Mr* Harper had a tanning vat on his plantation especially for the purpose of tanning hides for their shoes. Emmaline said these tanning vats reminded her of baptismal holes. The water was very deep, and once her sister almost drowned in one. Barks of various kinds were placed in Z. 149 ^cr-l/25/37 Story of slavery by an ex-slave 3. ^ '' the water in these vats to produce an acid which would remove the hair from the hides. Layers of goat, calf, and horse hides were placed in the vats and,after a certain length of tim% removed and dried. Meals on week days consisted principally of syrup and bread and they were glad, Emmaline stated, to see Saturday come, because they knew they would have biscuit made from'seconds"on Sunday. Butter seems to have been a delicaoy but little known. "The only butter I remember eating before we were freed," Emmaline declared, "was that which my little mistress Fannie would slip to me." This led her mother to say, "Hiss Fannie is so crazy about 'Em1 I am going to give 'Em' to her for a cook." Besides working as a plow hand, Emma line's mother assisted Aunt Gelia Travis in preparing the meals for the Harper family. Four or five pots^eontaining a different kind of food hung over the fire along the long fireplace. Just before dinner, the mistress would come in to inspect the cooking. If the food in any of the pots was not cooked to her satisfaction, she would sometimes lose her temper, remove her slipper and strike the cook. Slaves on the Harper plantation arose when the horn was sounded at four o'clock and hurried to the fields, although tfcey would sometimes have to wait for daylight to dawn to see how to work. The overseer rode over the plantation watching the slaves at work and keeping account of the amount of work performed by eaoh. Any who failed to complete their quota at the close of the day were punished. On the Harper plantation, a brash arbor was used for the ^or-l/25/37 Story of slavery by an ex-slave slave's church. 4. The trees and underbrush were cleared away to provide a sufficient space to accommodate the slaves and the trees evened off at a good height and the brash and limbs piled on top to form a roof. In rainy weather, of course, church services could not be held. Sometimes the slaves would slip behind the trees beside the white folks' church and listen to the singing and preaching. Ihey woald then go back to their brush arbor church and preach the same gospel and sing the same songs they had heard in the white people's church. Frolics were often given on the Harper plantation. Ihey usually consisted of dancing and banjo playing. Slaves from ether plantations sometimes at tented, but it was necessary to master . secure a pass from their/and mistress in order to do so. * prize was given to the person who could "back Dance" the steadiest with a tumbler of water balanced on the head. A cake or a quilt was often given as the prize. A marriage ceremony was performed after both owners had given their consent, when bride and groom did not belong to the same master. Often neither owner would sell their slave to the other, in which ease it was necessary for the husband to be given a pass in order to visit his wife. Slaves were given treatment by the doctor when fehey became ill, but if the doctor stated that the slave was well enough to work, they had to go to the fields. Si ok babies were left at home while the parents were at work in the field. Ho matter what sickness the child suffered, castor oil was the only remedy ever given. Slaves who chanced to be visiting away from his plan- 151 Jor-l/25/57 Story ot slavery by an ex slare 5. tation without a pass from his owner would be severely handled if caught by the Ku ELox Kian or "patterrollers" as they were more commonly called. Fear of the "patterrollera" was invoiced to frighten children into good behaviour* A few Civil War incidents impressed themselves upon Emmaline'a memory although she was a very young child at the time* One day, she recalls, as she and her little mistress Fannie sat on the front fence facing the highway they saw a cloud of dust in the distance down the highway and soen a troop of soldiers in blue and silver uniforms marched by* The children, frightened by the sight of these strange soldiers, ran to the house to tell the mistress* Mrs* Harper instructed Emmaline's mother to run to the smokehouse, lock the door and bring bar the key* In a few minutes the soldiers tramped into the kitchen and ate all of the food they could find* When they found the smokehouse loe&Hhey demanded the key from Mrs* Harper, and when she refused proceeded to break down the door and appropriated ail the meat they oould conveniently carry* They also robbed the cellar of its store of jellies and preserves, hitched the buggy mare to the wagon.and drove off with the best of the mules tied behindt as Mrs* Harper and the family looked on in tears* When the Harpers learned that the slaves were free, they offered Emoallne's father and mother a house, mule, hog, and oow if they would remain on their plantation, but they thought they might fare better elsewhere art hired out to a plantation owner in an adjoining county* A few years later, when she became old enough to obtain Jor-1/26/37 Story of slavery by an ex-slave 6. on her own account, she cane to Atlanta where she has lived ever since. She is now being eared for by a grand-daughter and a son. She is an ardent admirer of President Franklin D. Roesevelt and declared she woald like to vote for him a hundred times* 153 Whitley, 10016? 2-4-3? 8*** Iflg.il 154 ,i3Qt 239 dsin :ti\:^ *&a writer had vlsltod ?Jrs# Hoard prsrioualy, o&d it us it hsr Q*H roqoast that aaath.;? Tie It \*aa aaAs* wills viait waa suppoasd t> bo oas tj ^bfc la Infos**..Uoa &:4 3terlos oa ths praotios of ocmjur** a t*o prorioue ;> 0 si bog in that aha had *>3athiag T*TJ good to tali aa# ;.ho a@&u "Ohtl#t tals stjry sss toid tor * tSQr W fafcJwwr mid 3 kaos ;** oho Kouida't l s+ v.ry sard of it is ths truf*$ faotf ovaryt ..l3g 1 a** 1 tald you sus the trufia* o :^ tcr *xta as* hor sad give har saeaa &dlol ** ?iua old ma said s&o hod huga la , ho&d, asd &ft :& rio id ty;;ir^ t^r ^o:id yru t^r the gps^s** 3ho wtiff t:-;at twg dri^> mat !ier oar nd rienf si^ ^>lifflradf and old UaoXo J^surtia rsa ia tho itKA, s^iatoi^d tl^ bod cJLoth.?6 off imt t,c?y J^T^ did fJUid ia* soos s:-:0 ilod* uiat Joxi&a*@ HOT^ did gat bottor ?&& Viio o^:.Juror said if thoy h^d s oaught the bug sho m>iild a 1TG4* he next story is a tms : to^y* ;ho ftiots as told W ;tr^ : osrd ^sro also ifitaosssd by hoar; as it doals sit;; tho >njuriag of -^ns of har soos* > - oxaot It isrelatod s^os as ae^rly ^ po^aihls* ; got a son o&-3ad -albtart Ho^sBL* ha ia llTiag J^d all; but ebilot t:ars viua u ttn whaa ho ^aa alraoct tor his graw* I sua liTiag in town tbaa^atid Alh^t sad -13 sifa mz ll75hg in tho ooont^ 4tt tliair t*o oblUinu oll^ ^Ibort got do*m It siek and ho auld go ter 4aetGrefaati go tar doctor*, b-ut t ^y dife't do his* asy >od. 1 wua aarried Mr deatti oa use T had tat* ran bMterte tm& fbr'asde and it ,;i.'. ^ strain on aa* Be mz suffering ****& a &aa* #a ^ie tfigfet aid* and he cov*ldt*ft ov^a faaton his e&>ee eauae it pei&ed htet aof and it mm eo bad ho eotilda't atea f button up hie ip^sala* *a&a t-eeeljad ee&oel oat there fey the neg of ** Yancri die*3 dead so* feat aha iiire each aad sueh a aiiabsr* K.aoo,v on the 4oer and a *mat& by the mam of J3rs 'irehpett Tsiiloosse ter the dx # ^oare eh** tot yea ia aha a mk tfeo eeat you there} 4:\m you tall *ar aieUl let y-au la* Soar la sse tail you aha ^capa tw q^rta of ^ iaky all t>3 ti&a and you have tar <2rta^ a littla ^Ith harj aidaa th. t aha ausaaa aaarly erary -'*opft *na a^eaiai .^ut d^'^t let -^.at soero you| aha will eho get yoisr son x*p it it -eta se ..ioai * s:i ^foula &># ^;-^o rff tv.at old *onaa 415 Jert lak Kra. Yanayr aaM .;:io :;.r>d ^ ij>arah *oio* aad a^a apoto right *a&p?y Than a'^a iat sao in a-ia sai-itsit &> m You i^k a'slaiy?* I asidf aallf I triito a littla daaei aaraatinaa# ? all, h vm taka MSO of tiilaS ahe ^id* I p >orad a little bit and draak it feiaaa iuk i wua afraid* Jha eu aad aaa aaSd fI aiaft gp oemjura r>'.^ .artak lt f ttj aarda aad told ^o to out f a, a^ 1 4id# ixialcift.: at the earde,she said: Rha got f Yeu iico tergalt te?a loag; tb y ,^ot hi^ ^^r^ ing to the aaasBatei7m He poor thlagl lflt fia: those davila*i profaae v^ord ^aa uaod laatea4 c datila}* Ha $>t a kaot on * 162 his aid*, ala*t ! ?* Taa, Ha* I Mid* faat *aa*ataM taa eaaryiS&as t t aa sroag *itl* ilbart and sa*&ly &* & aataa* Ml. at one* aba aaid; nt ttaat d , ^ d thiaga had aataaad la ^is it aaaU a ataa too lata* If you 4b aaokly Safe I tall yoa I'll gat hia up fra tka*a ' i a&o 1U, I tola bar. *sall* t& r *a a ataa&a aata aet of Mill houaa. Hla ho<-ta got tfcraa roooa and a safe go straight to taa staMa, . see 1$ there whare ho baaga Ma karaeaa. Yen, i '..>t my aaaa*? Taa, mm* a Uttia, 2 aaid* M it all, taa davttst Her* you M1 right thaa.'ahe nU. *0o to tha drag atsra and get i^ aorth of blue stoat; 5* trfeaat arafti tdgof ra flab .asriest aai oai *a tar gi*a you a Utila fiati arlaaf thaa go is tfee *ooda sad got Qom poka-roo* barxiea* sa*, ftfeara** t a Jcin&s or poita-root barrfea, the raft a&l& and tha stilt* aki* aarrj* P * all t&la la a set* aix ilfe it thagat* f*3 * grwm gourd aad 9 pasta of red pappar. ; & a poultioa aad jwt to b a aid* as tbat isaot, o Uataa* y>ur son sill ba afraid aad % ink you a*a trying tar do anmathang tar hii bat be ganti* sad persuade &fca t&at it* far hla goa& * Child, Ua tfio 4141 oat f-jiaay A m I told Ma I aaataft to traat hia aide, 1 had tar tail hat I wm oarryiag ont doetora raa* ao a oamld gat -all* Ha wared aad ffeaaai end aaid aa a out sad i**de tss ftret graw taaSer f& fig bush la 1fe# garden. I aaea pat ^p kadi boards, to*. fa t night .lfcart aeid, *Haaa, fis aaot&er oa . I feel so jatoft better.' I aha *U1, 2 said, i'ii&ak Sod yw'?e betters so f three at^tn I fixed poultioee &ad pat tar his aide aad eaea aorolag lie mould tell &e how suck bettor h& fait. ;&ea tha ism% aaaratag I z fixing breaicfast aad 3*e eat la the next soon. -salle Albert jasaped q? and iaellored, MaS ^at* snot i* gpoe It dropped dona la ay ^aat*** .';aat ia it, X said, After mane* th^t i ftl 1 aried. bora is It? Chile, m lacked but aa dlda*t flad eayt -l^j, bit the iaaat baa alto goa** 3er *aasa baft to.d 3ft tor eoaa beak **ea tea toot aered aad b* ae&d tell a that else ter do. riiat aaisa da? I aeat far aaa bar aaa ba I told her aba Just etemted, *x fixed *ea the dattlel Sow, aeye aba* * f** ***e yoa aaa ^t ft far laataa off a yellae peaehtrse* It vmt be a yalle* aeaob tree, thoagb* Yea, am, 1 aaya to her. X hate a yella* peaehtreo n#*t taa*a la sa; yard. Jail, be eeya, get a h&adfal at leaves, thea tab* a kalfe aad Bampe the barb tip, then safe* a tea esd git* hi* aa It sill heal aa the peiaea froa fb -.-* baot la bl* aid*, eieo nix a fa* Jloaoa aaada it5i it. I eoa* biMae aaa tala his& I taatea tax gite iOs a tea* He got soared aaA said, *t far, liat i 2tad tsr tall his X aaa rtill ecarsyine c*it tlie Oofttor^a ^dara. rail, ae let & ci^o Ma the tea sad tkst boy gat isall, X west fcaofc fa rs. Rir3b.patii esid told iur ay a a as eil aad I wanted to pay hor. Oo oa, she aaS&, keaa the collar aad aaad your ehlllva. tar eahool. rhis aho l^^&aed tor ae mi I zoo* poopla a! fix yea. tea elr. 'j?he aaat t>ty -m* told to :,ra. Heard ay Mrs. ESrat^atb, the aooea i oured :iar soa. 164 1 used to * a s that *aaa& quite bit aad f n s*at s*ae of agr frleaO % bojf 0a& dny Aite I *w thaara sb tola rw *fcout this pieo of oefe eiio did* *?& * m e jhsuag mat mA iiia wif *aa ttioy warta*! f r soise hit folk*. They fea4 J st mxriad &a 3 tufriag tsr set* n m stomp tar feyy ft has* !%& 11 at aa*i th& jpttsg saa w at &lis4 end It alajost tm, "him. sal his wifa oresp e&ue t:x y d &&*t feaa* what ia *& aorld tor 4o a'&out & Ei**kpa*li so tliey me&% ttv n r U, &a;a body ta04 fcla and h r JO d r, wy4 :& ;iijf hp tait a &ig floe warljsgs #r* is tis&nt of fesr door end ike ea&ahass hf3p & &* to is? < & 3h* &sk. y-ra 0> }WJS ilt this jssa gate ha* 0^ anil a :o tftlfesd tar hia. ,,ho $** boy, &&&. & a't y^a -at that ea$ a ssa tao? * iast oqft ba * $ That eap yau aware tar oleau tap *& rt&bi 3 it&, aause aoisabody dorxo Jareawd 1fes* es$ f r you, Dad N y tia* yo** ^ewotr* sad it ?aa & 3a tor yaor *y* ft gsieea you &U&4U Icm Jaet et that ap aad ferlsg it t * & * I il fix * a$ tliey's S*?i8g tar safes ?ou &Iladt but 1 go Its % you * * T)w boy tna a-wrjoyod, aaft sho auff !ic ;^jxt ba k aad br jugot !>-- ? that, (wgp, -i.ati it mtSB*t iMg fore b could a # ood :.= y>a &^ 3e is 'isa-oo^t t:^et 'otaoa -SO, bwt ^i ite t tai toot 25 sa4 give tlia otl^r ;8& feaei tor -ia* " v:*t l 4cm told yaa i tti Somesnakes lay ergs -a mother snake always protects her baby snakes by swallowing t'.em if danger comas around*" Grandma told me once that they were cleaning out a large hole for a baptizing pool; an^ saw a mother snake swallow about ten baby snakes, ^fter they killed the mother snake they pulled out the 10 babies* Page 3* !(>' FCIVLS tfe had a roaster that was raised from a biddie and for 5 years this rooster practically lived in the house and would not sleep any place but on the foot of the bed* Chickens get used to certain people feeding them and you canft get them used to others that is, it was true concerning my cousin* of chickens and he used to feed them every day* Ha had a lot My cousin took sick and died and after that his chickens would not eat anything given them by any one else* One by one the chickens died* ISy Aunt said his spirit came back for the chickens"* Bees* This is a true story concerning bees that belonged to my aunt Caroline Hooper* Aunt Caroline died and left 10 hives of bees* going away and would not return* We noticed they kept One day a lady named Mrs* Jordan asked it anyone had told the bees that Caroline was dead; and we told her no, "Well" she said go out to the hive and say to the bees Caroline is dead anci that they will have a new owner, that Caroline was dead* lly uncle told the bees that they belonged to him now After that none others left the hive*" iuildred Heard continued giving short facts concerning different animals* - "If you run a rabbit out of his bed and shoot at him I don't care if you run him five or more miles he will come right back to the same place** Buzzards are born as white as snow but turn darker as they grow older* Another fact concerning buzzards is that they v:ill eat any. carcass except that of a mad dogf he will walk around the body of a dead mad dog and their fly away*'" I remember once we had a cat that vras the pet of every one in our house so v.rhen she gave birth to kittens she went in the cbifforobe and when we let her out we didnft know she had left kittens in there* we buried them in the back yard* Naturally they died and Everyday this mother cat would go to their ^rave and whine, finally 3he left home*" Page 4. 168 The following stories relate to Birthmarks As previously mentioned Mildred Heard has two small daughters and the story of birthmarks begins with her own experience concerning them. ,T My oldest Child Tina is marked by crying* I don't care how Jfoich you whip or beg her to stop crying she will not stop until she gets ready. ruring the time I was pregnant my eunt died and I went to the funeral .and before I knew it I found myself crying and unable to stop. My youngest child Georgia is marked by a monkey. This mark is the re- sult of a visit to Grants Park during the time I was pregnant. As I stood with the white baby I was nursing at the time a monkey fell and when he got up he started scratching his back. It all looked so funny I began to laugh. VJhen Gloria was born her bead resembled a monkeys in shape and on the lower part of her back she had red marks and was very hairy. I was afraid she would never change but as she grew older the marks and the hair disappeared." note - I glanced at the child and it is quite true that the shape of her head slightly rasembles that of a monkey.*1 The next stories were related by Mrs. Heard. Tt I know a white a horse. Mildredfs grandmother. f oman that lives in Thomasville now that marked her child by This fcnian got tickled, at a horse with his tongue hanging out. IThen her baby was born he had feet and hands jest lak a horse and she nebber would let any one see this child1 s feet. v Another oman, .alberta Turner, got scared of a turtle while she wuz fishing and right now her child got feet that spreads out just like a turtles and he Walks with his feet straight out that way. vN Aunt Eattie Coffee who lives in Macedonia, Ga.;had a baby born with 4 teeth that looked jest like pearls. shed those teeth and if she lost The doctor told her that the baby would f em the baby would die* ; He told her to be sure and watch the baby and to give him the teeth Page 5. when they came out, Sho nuff them teeth came out but they never knowed where they went and that baby sho diedM 159 /w?y i i )010l - ^ A? . 17t) ROBERT HEARD - PORTRAIT OF AH SX-SIAVE Jr>J-+^fe-^ As v;e approached the little dilapidated, one-room cabin on the Jackson County hilltop, the aroma of frying bacon smote our nostrils* Uncle Robert Heard welcomed us and stopped tending his ash-cake, peas, and fat back long enough to squint over the top of the * specks dat Ole Mis had give him back in '70"* then he took a long look at the mahogany clock that had "sot on her parlor fiah boafd% In spite of his ninety-six years his memory of the old days is still resh a&d his body surprisingly active for a person of his age* "Course I f members all fbout Mar star and Mist is, * he asserted witii an indignant air* n I wuz grown an1 big nuff to pick out a 'Oman fer myse'f in de fust year ov de war* Dey wuz 120 niggers on de place whar I wuz Hit belonged to ole Gen'1 Heard an1 hit wufe clost to Washin'ton*1* borned* n my mammy died when I nam't nothin' but a little trot-about* wuz name1 Susan, an1 my pa wuz name1 John* She De Gen'l went to Tfirginny anf bought fem anf had 'em sont home in boxes wid cracks big nuff to feed 'em through* IJistis give us our fust names an* us tuck dey lasf "Us didn't have no overseer on our plantation* un*1* Genii Heard allus looked arter his niggers hisssef til he got too old anf den his son, Mars Tom, seed arter 'ecu I ainft never sed'd fem beat but one slave anf dat wuz caze he got rowdy drunk* Dey allus gite us a note to de patty rollers (patrollers) when us wanted to gp somewhere 11 rt Us went to work fbout a half hour by sun an1 quit at dusty dark* De mens done fielf wuk eaf de winmins mostly hepped ilistis fbout de house* Dey washed, milked, made candles, an* worked in de spinnin1 room* Us didn't have to buy no thin* caze dey wuz evathing us needed on the plantation* * "On some places de bosses kepf nigger mens at stud but Gen'l Heard an* liars Tom didn't low nobody to live in sin on d^y plantation* Us wuz all H0B2RT HEAHD - KJKERAJ3? OF AN EX-SUV! married by a itfiite preacher, just lak white follosu church ever Sunday an1 sot in de gal'ry. in Genfl Heard1 s house. He said: * 171 Us 'tended de white folk's Dey warnft no dancin* or cyard playin1 f If you serve the Lord you have no time to fiddle and dance.fw "Old Marster wuz too old to go to de war but liars Tom want an1 1 hyeard Hifltis say he got kilt at de second Manassas. wid Mars Tom an* he come back wid only one arm. 1& Uncle Chris went to de war He say de blood on* same uv dem battle fiel's cone up to de top uv his boots. "Gen1! Heard died ifciles de war wuz ragin1 an* Ole Mistis come out on de po'ch an1 tolt us v/e wuz all free# arter de war anf worked far fo'ths. Host all de niggers stayed on wid Mist is Us used her mules an1 tools an1 she give us rations just lak liars ter had been a do in1' afore dey wuz any war. uv bean powerful rich ef Confederacy She would money hadn't uv been so wuthlesa. She had four loads uv it hauled outen de house an1 dumped in a ditch. "At Cliristmus ti..;ef us allus had a 3IG frolic wid nusic an* dancin1. danced de cotillion SLn* beat on buckets wid gourds fer music. Us Marster give us a little toddy now an1 den anf us had plenty uv it at Christmas. De frolic allus had to bust up at uidnight caze Llarstsr would git out his horse pistols an1 start shootin* ef it didn't. fishin' or havd a frolic. Sometimes us ud have a Satidy off an- us ud all-go Candy pullin's wuz allus de bestes kind of fun* "I ain't lak mos1 ob dese yere flibberty-ffibbat niggers. I don1 believe in hants an* ghostes, but they's some things which I does think isjsigna of death. Ef somebody brings a axe in de house hits a sho sign. Yer better watch w|ien a cow lows arter dark, or a dog barks at de moon in front uv yer do1, or ef yer sneezes whiles eat in*, caze hit mout mean dat de death angel is hang in1 roun1. Ef somebody in de house dies yer better stop de tickin' uv de clock anf kiver all de lookin1-glasses wid white cloth or else dey's liable to be another death in de family. ROBERT HStfRD - PCRTR4U OF AH EXH3LA.VE 3# "Yer can take dis or leave it, but whutever yer dcxes, donf never take ashes out doors arter dark, caze bi'te sfoo to bring yer bad luck* Now I done tol* yer all I knows so let rae finish cookin1 dis yere mess of vittals so I kin git back to de cotton patch* * Thus dismissed, we took our departure, gingerly picking our way dom the rickety steps* The last we heard of Uncle Robert was a snatch of negro ballad sung in a high-pitched, nasal voice* ITS * Vhitley, 1-22-3? ^ to* M. B. Ross. 100162 Sac-Slave Benjamine Henderson. # informed the writer that he would be very glad to give as much information as he could concerning the period: of ,! I was only seven years old when freedom was declared, but I can remember a few facts, sajrd Benjamin^ Venr^prfinnp-^-Jteavy built wafi 61' fa reffflisn PrwiP"flflBipi6!m > Eis speech is well chosen and after a short talk one is much impressed with his Intelligence and youthful appearancec Lenjsmin^ Henderson was born September 8, 1858 in Jasper County, Llonti cello, Ga., the youngest of three children. His father was Ur0 Sam Henderson master and owner of the Henderson plantation and his mother was ;.Ljidy Henderson, a slavey Ur. 3&m Henderson never married but operated his farm with the heln of his mother,L2rs. *dlie Henderson. The Henderson plantation comprised 250 acres and owned only five slaves to carry the necessary work. Besides Benjamin|fs immediate family there was one other man slave, named Aaron^ and vegetables were the chief products of the farm. as follows: at nightl Mr. Henderson Cotton, fllattle The work was divided Benjamirfe job was to keep the yards clean and bring up the calves JHLs older sister and brother together ?ri.th iiaron did the field work* and hfcs mother worked in the house as general servant a The same routine continued from day to day each person going about his or her particular job. Plenty flour was raised on the plantation and the A muster had to buy very little. The Henderson slave houses were of the one room log type^one v;indow and one door; each cabin was furnished with a bed, chair, and table. Lar^e fiyeTpl&ces took the jjlace of stoves for cooking. These were constructed four or five feet in width so that one or two pots or a side of meat could be "*- ' Page 7/hitley, 1-22-37 174 M. B Hoss# suspended from a hook which was fastened on a rack in the stick and dirt Chimney. Each f jnily was given a spinning wheel and loom, After the day's work each slave home was the scene of spinning and weaving cloth for the occupants clothes and bedding. The Master gave each slave a pair of shoes; 3enjamini received his first pair of shoes when he was five years old*. All slaves JMV+ barefoot in summer quartera. Summer on the Henderson plantations never varied from bacon and x k-L V;,,-- V . '-1 "V- A I corn breacU na 3L /all "Ass: each family was free to eat as many of the fiif- ferent vegetables, as they wanted Wooden spoons bowl^s, and traysf were kept clean by scouring regular^ with san^) t Christmas^/those who asked for whiskey given an ample amount % Somotins each faiiily was given a cake baked by 12r0 Henderson1 s / A mother. The master of the Henderson plantation as well as other plantation owner/s.allowed theye slaves to work individual cotton patches; when the cotton was picked he paid them their price for the amount they had raised. Slaves often earned money,too, by splitting rails at night and selling them to different plantation owners* i*lthough Mr. Sam Henderson was a kind master and hardly ever punished his slaves, there were some masters who were known for their crueltyQ Stne in particular was an old man by the name of Shir levy ynho would pick up anything from a stick to a brush brocny to punish hie slaves* Benjamin^ heard from his elders that some masters constructed stocks like those of old, and sometimes slaves were whipped v/hile fastened in the stocks. One slave owner named Gay kept wristbands of iron, and also a gag" made to fit into the mouthy and fastei^tf around the neck, which prevented Page 3. Ross. Tfflaitley, 1-22-37 rolling while being whipped. 175 BesidesA,drsobedience,a slave was often punJ ished because he failed to complete the required amount of work. certain amounts of work specified for each slavei There were 150 rails had to be split a day by the rail splitters; cotton pickers were supposed to pick 150 pounds of cotton a day. v;hipping was given. Should anyone fail to complete his daily task, a sound Slaves were mini shed by Matter Rollers" or the govern- ment patrol, somotimo fqp olavoo caught off their plantations without a pass. A ~ Often slaves were cunning oaeugh ta outran the fatter Rollers'1 and escaped the 75 lashes which they v;ere in store for them if they were caught~f,Patter Rollers11 carried a crooked-'handle stick which they xvould try to fasten around > it the slaves neclg or armS^j However, the slaves soon learned that the 'patter-rollers \i stick v;ould slide off their bare arms and backs, so they left their shirts if 1 planning to make a visit without a pass. O^K'viU \ The second Sunday of each month w&& the slaves ftsk religious services. \ Since there were no separate churches provided, they were al- lowed to use the white churches with the white minister in charge. Benjamii^ Henderson remarked*" It was my job to ride behind the mistress to church and while the services were going on I took care of her riding skirt and tended the horse.]) A slave desiring marriage vtith a slave on another plantation must +, ^ get his/lasterfs consent after which he went to "see the o^fcopfg master/ both agreed, the marriage was set for the following Saturday night. marriages usually took place on Saturday nights. If All The master of the bride- groom would then pick a straw broom or a pole and give two plaves the job of holding the ends of it. To be devilish they often held the stick too high and would not lower it until the master asked them to. After the bride- groom made the jump over the stick, the knot of matrimony was considered tied. y Page 4i Whitley, 1-22-3? * Ross. Without any more ceremony the bride became his legal wife. 170 If it so happened that the bride and groom lived on different plantations the groom would be driven two JOCK passes a week, one to visit her on Wednesday nisrhts and another which permit/ him to remain over the weekendf from Saturday until Monday morning. Following the marriage there would take place the usual frolic ending up with several members drunkjf^) fckeye- were throim into the seed house where they remained all night. Slavs owners guarded car.fully against illness among their slsves. Home remedies such as certain oil, turpentine, teas of all sorts were usadjty&f these die no good the doctor was called in} he usually brought along all varieties of medicine in his saddle bags^ gave what was needed. Benjamin^ Henderson considers that people were much healthier in those days and did not need doctors often. He tells this storyJ ^Jy mistress had a daughter who was married and had three sonsy who were confederate soldiers. I rememoer the day they rode up on their grey horses/ to take dinner and say good-bye to the family* '.Then they were ready to leave their grandmother gave them an old testament and told them to take i it and read it and make good soldiers of themselves. One son replied *(5h grandma it wonft last long, wefre goin^r to bring old Lincoln's head back and set it on the gate post for a target^but they didn't come backj all three were killed. The master of the plantation also en- listed in the army; he w&c able to cane home every week or two. ^?ter the war Benjamin^ fs mother married and moved with her husband to another farm/ "ISeesTT 3he spent the rest of her life. Some families/ moved to other plantations! during the first year after the war they were forced to work for one-sixth of the crop raised. The next year plantation owners^ Page 5* Ross* Whitley, 1-22-37 realized this amount was unfair^ agreed to 1|% the ex-slaves \^ork for onethird of the crops raised* on halves This kopt on ua*il finally they bogan to worl^A Even now. working on halves is common in rural villages* Benjamini Henderson believes he has lived long because lived a clean useful life/ filled with plenty of hard work* he has He married at the age of 28 years and was the father of five children, none of whom are living* His physical condition prevent^ him from working at present, but he has not given up/ hope that he will soon be able to take care of himself agiiin* 17? 100216 1/8 PLANTATION LIi''jila &S YI&WD BY Afl -3LAVii; Written By: Mrs. Sadie B. Hornsby Athens - Edited By: Krs. Sarah R. nail Athens and Jonn Is. Booth District supervisor Federal writers1 Project Residencies 6 oc 7 Augusta, Georgia September 2<3, 1938. 179 JSFFSRSQN FRANKLIN HBNBY Ex-Slave - Age 78 Athens, Georgia The widespread branches of a white mulberry tree formed a canopy for the entire yard before Jefferson Henry's gray-painted cottage. Luxuriant hydrangeas in wooden tubs, August lilies in other containers on the old-fashioned flower steps, and a carefully pruned privet hedge gave the place an air oi distinction in this shabby neighborhood, and it was not surprising to learn that a preacher, a man highly respected by his race, lived there. A rap on the door brought quick response from a rumbling bass voice inside the house. you here already?1' "George, is In another moment a short, stocky Negro man appeared in the doorway, a collar clutched in one hand, and a slightly embarrassed look on his face* "Good niornin1," he said* "Yes, mam, tnis is Jeff Henry. I thougnt you was George done come to take me to Atlanta. One of my good church members is to be buried thar today, and I'se got to preside over the funeral. I can talk to you a few minutes if you ain't got'too much to ax me about." Though Jeff used some dialect, it was not so noticeaole as in the speech of most soutnern Negroes. A scant fringe of kinky ^ray hair framed his almost -2- bald head, and he was dressed in his Sunday-best clothes; a gray suit, white shirt, and black shoes, worn but carefully polished. "This old Negro has been here many a day," he began. "I f members when all this side of town was in farms ana woods with just a few houses scattered about." Just then George drove up and Jeff suggested that the interview be postponed. At the appointed hour Jeff was waiting to resume his narrative. "I sho is done oeen wukin* this old brain of,mine to bring back them old times he announced. f fore freedom come," "Anyhow, I was born in fsuilding County. 3am and Phyllis Eenry was my pa and ma, and they was field hands. Me and James, William, John, Mittie, and kary was all the chillun they had. f round the yard mostly, Us just played f cause thar warn't none of us big enough to do no field wuk wuth talkin1 *bout f fore the! end of the war. "Slave quarters was off from the big house a piece, and they was built in rows lak streets. Most of the log cabins had one room; some had two, but all of them had plain old stack chimblies maae of sticks and red mud. Our beds was just home-made makeshifts, but us;didn't know no diffunce 'cause us never had seed no 180 -3- better ones. They sawed pine posts the ri$ht height ana bored noles through tnem and through the slabs they haa cut Tor the railin's, or side pieces, They jined the oea together with cords that they wove back and forth and twisted tight with a stout stick. Them cords served two purposes; they held the bed together and was our springs too, out if us warnH mighty keerful to keep T em twisted tight our beds would fall down. Lak them old beds, the mattresses us had them days warnft much compared with what we sleeps on now. Them ticks was made 01 coarse nome-wove cloth, called 'osnaburg,1 and they was filled with straw. MyI How that straw did squeak and cry out when us moved, but the Blessed Lord changed all that when he gave us freeaom and let schools oe sot up for us. Yfith freedom l*egroes soon got more knowledge of how a home ought to be. "GrcJidnia Cafline is the oniiest one of my grandparents I can 'memoer. V/hen she got too old for field wuk, they tuk and used ner as a cook up at txie big nouse, ana sne done the weavin1, spinnin1 , and iniikin1 too, and Kept a eye on xhe slave chiilun whilst trie in&iomies was off in lae iield. 11 No, mam, slaves Wcirnft paid no iuoney "onem days, and it's mighty little Ifse got holt of since. 18: -*- 182 Anyhow I warn't big enough then to do no wuk, even if folks had been payin1 wages to slaves. The most f I ever done fore the war ended was to fetch water to the kitchen and pick up chips to kindle up the fire when it got low. Matches was so scarce then that fires warnft 'lowed to go slap out, but they did burn mighty low. sometimes in summer and us had to use fat lightwood splinters to git f em started up again. w Us et home produce them days. know nothin1 Folks didn!t f bout livin' out of cans and paper sacks lak they does now. Thar was allus plenty of hog meat, syrup, milk and butter, cornbread, and sometimes us chillun got a biscuit. Thar was one big old garden on the place that had evvything in the way of vegetables growinf in it, besides the patches of beans, peas, Haters, and the lak that was scattered 'round in the fields. The orchards was full of good fruit sich as apples, peaches, pears, and plums, and donft forgit them olackberries, currants, and figs what growed f round the aidge of the back yard, in fence corners, and off places. Sho, us had 'possums, plenty of Tem, 'cause they let us use the dogs to trail 'em down with. 'Possums was biled f til they was tender, then baked with sweet 'taters, and thar ain't no better way been found to fix fem to -s- this good day, not even it they's barbecued, dho, sho, us had rabbits and squirrels by the wholesale, and fish too if us tuk time to do our fishin1 at night. never did lak to see slaves settin1 They f round fishin1 in the daytime. "All the cookin1 was done in a log cabin what sot a good little piece behind trie big house The big old rireplace in that icitcnen held a four-foot log, and when you was little you could set on one end of that log whilst it was a-burninf on t'other. They biled in pots .nangin1 from hooks on a iron bar tnat went all the way 'cross the fireplace, and the bakin1 was done in skillets cOid ovens, but sometimes bread was wropt up in cabbage or collard leaves ana baked in hot ashes; that was ashcake. Tnick iron lids fitter tight on them old skillets, ana most of Tem had three legs so not coals coulu oe raked under 'em. The ovens sot on trivets over the coals. "Our clothes warnft notnin1 to i& & about. In summer boys wore just one piece and that looked lak a ion : nightshirt. //inter clothes was jean pants and homespun shirts; they was warm but not too warm. Thar warnft no sich things as Junuay clothes in them days, and I never had a pair of suoes on my foots in slavery 183 -6- time, 'cause I warn't big enough to wuk* Grown Negroes wore shoes in winter but they never had none in summer "Marse Robert Trammell and his wife, Miss Martha, was our marster and mistess. . Miss Ada, Miss Emma, and Miss Mary fLiza was the young misses, and the young marsters was named George Washinfton and William Daniel Marse Robert and his fambly lived in a log and plank house with a rock chimbly. He was buildin1 a fine rock house when the war came on, but he never got it finished. "Robert Scott, one of the slaves, was made foreman atter Marse Robert turned off his overseer Gilbert was the carriage driver and 'sides drivin' the fambly fround, ne tuk Marse Robert's taa, Miss Betsey, to her church at Powder Springs. Miss Betsey was a Hardshell Baptist, and Marse Robert and his wife wouldn't go to church with her# "That old plantation was a large place all right enough; I 'spects thar was 'bout four or five hunderd acres in it* Marse Robert warn't no bi^ slave holder and he didn't have so awful many slaves. His foreman had 'em out in the fields by daylight and wuked 'em 'til dark. The women had a certain stint of thread to spin and cloth to weave 'fore they could go to bed at night The menfolks had to shuck corn, mend horse-collars, make baskets, and all sich jobs as that ( -7- at night, and they had to holp the women with the washin1 sometimes. Most or that kind of thing was done on days when the weather was too hot for 'em to work in the fields. "Marse Robert done his own whippin' of his slaves and, let me tell you, they didn't have to do much for him to wnip fem; he whipped 'em for most anything. They was tied, hand and foots, to a certain tree, and he beat 'em with a heavy leather strop. whip I'se seed him f em heaps of times, and it was 'most allus in the mornin's 'fore they went to wuk. Thar warn't no jail- house nigh whar us lived and Marse Robert never had no place to lock slaves up when they got too bad, so he just beat the meanness out of 'em. Thar was one slave he never tetohed; that was nis foreman and his name was Robert too, lak 1 done toxd you. "I never seed no slaves sold on tue block or auctioned off, and if any droves of slaves for sale passed our plantation I'se done forgot about it. No, ma HI, a slave warn't 'lowed to take no book in his hand to larn nothin1 ; it was agin' the law to permit slaves to ao that sort of thing. If us went to any churches at all it had to be our white folks' churches, 'cause thar warn't no cnurches for Negroes 'til the war was over. Not a slave on our place could read a word from 185 -a- the Bible, but some few cou^d repeat a verse or two they had cotch from the white folks and them that was smart enough made up a heap of verses that went with the ones larned by heart. f long Us went to Poplar Springs Baptist church with Marse Robert's flambly; that churcn was 'bout 3 miles from whar us lived. Miss Betsey, she tuk Grandma Ca'line with her to the Hardshell Baptist churcn aoout 10 miles further down the road, dometimes Grandma Cafline would go by ner- self wnen Marse Robert's ma didn't go. Us just had cnurch once a month. "When a slave died evvybody on our plantation quit wuk 'til atter the buryin'. The home-made coffins was made of unpainted planks and they was lined with white cloth. White folks' coffins was made the same way, only theirs was stainea, but they never tuk time to stain the ones they buried slaves in. Graves was dug wide at the top and at the bottom they was just wide enough to fit the coffin. They laid planks 'crost the coffins and they shovelled in the dirt. They never had larnt to read the songs they sung at funerals and at meetin' Them songs was handed down from one generation to another and, far as they knowed, never was writ down. A song tney sung at trie house 'fore they left for the graveyard oegun: 186 -9- 187 f Why do we mourn departed friends, Or shake at deathfs alarm*f At the grave they sung, Am I 3orn to Die. To Lay this Body Down? "Slaves on our plantation nev^r thought about runninT off to no North. Marse Robert allus treated T em fair and square, and thar warnft no need for 'em to run nowhar. That foreman of his, Robert Scott, did go off and stay a few days onoe. Marse Robert had started to whip his wife and he had jumped ftwixt ! em; that made Marse ricbert so mane he run to the house to git his gun, so the foreman he got out of the way a day or two to keep from git tin1 shot. When he come back, Marse Robert was so glad to git nim back he never said a word to him Tbout leavin1. "On Saa&ays the women wuked in the field ftil ainnertime, but the menfolks wukea on !til a nour frore sundown. The women spent that time washin1, cleanin1 up the cabins, paichin*, and gittin1 ready for the next week. Ohl How they did frolic^ 'round Sadday night when they could git passes. Sundays they went to church but not without a pass for, if they ever was cotch out without one, them paterollers would beat f em up something terrible. "Sho, Christmastime was when slaves had their own fun. rhar warnft notnin1 extra or diffunt give 'em, lo- 188 only plenty to eat and drink; Marse Robert allus made lots of whiskey and brandy* He give his slaves six days holiday and Tlowed fem to have passes. They frolicked, danced, and visited fround and called it havin1 a good time, Wuk begun again on New Year's Day and thar warn!t no more holidays f til the next Christmas. No, mam, not many slave chillun knowed what Santa Glaus was or what Christmas was meant to celebrate 'til they got some sehoolin1 atter the war was over. "Sho, sho, us had cornshuckin's, all right enough. Sometimes Marse Robert raised so much corn us had to have more than one cornshuckin' to git it all snucked. The neighbors was fvited and such a time as us did have atter the wuk was done. I was too little to do so much eatin1, drinkin*, and cuttin* the buck as the older ones done. 'Cuttin1 the buck1 is what I calls the kind of frolics they had atter they got full of liquor. rt Yes, mam, they had dances all right* how tney got mixed up with the paterollers. Thatfs Negroes would go off to dances and stay out all night; it would be wuk time when they got back, and they went to the field and tried to keep right on gwine, but the Good Lord soon cut f em down. You couldn't talk to folks that tried to git by with things lak that; they warnft gwine to do no dlffunt, nohow. When they ain't 'cepted at St. Peter's gate, I's.e sho they's gwine to wish they had heeded folks that talked to 'em and tried to holp 'em< "Weddin's? Didn't you know slaves didn't have aho'nough weddin's? If a slave man saw a girl to his lakin' and wanted her to make a home for him, he just axed her owner if it was all right to take her. If the owner said 'yes* then the man and girl settled down together and behaved theyselves. If the girl * : lived on one plantation and the man oh another that was luck for the girl's marster, 'cause the chillun would belong to him. "Right now I can't call to mind nothin1 us played when I was a chap but marble games* them marbles out of clay and baked Us made f em in the sun* Grown folks used to scare chillun fbout Raw Head and Bloody Bones, but that was mostly to make chillun git still and quiet at. night. I ainft never seed no ghost in my life, but I has heared a heap of sounds /> and warn!t able to find out what made them noises. "When slaves got sick Marse Robert was good enough to fem; he treated fem right, and allus sont for a doctor, f specially when chillun was borned* Oil, tur- pentine, and salts was the medicines the doctors give the most of to slaves* More they was sick enough to *i*w send for th^ doctor the homefolks often, give sick folks boneset and life-everlasting teas, and f most evvybody wore a little sack of asafetida 'round their necks to protect f em from diseases "When* freedom come I was down in the lower end of Clarke County on Marse George Veal's plantation whar Marse Robert had done sont Miss Martha and the chillun and part of the slaves too* was fleein1 from the Yankees* come f long My white folks Marse Robert couldnft f cause he had done been wounded in battle and when they sont him home from the war he couldn't walk. I don't know what he said to the slaves that was left thar 'to 'tend him, but I heared tell that he didn't tell f M nothin1 'bout freedom, leastwise not for sometime* Pretty soon the Yankees come through and had the slaves come together in town whar they had a speakin' and told them Negroes they was free, and that they didn't belong to nobody no more* Them Yankees said orders for that pernouncement had come from the President of the United States, Mr* Abraham Lincoln, and they said that Mr* Lincoln was to,be a father to the slaves atter he had done freed Tem# "It warn't long then ffore Marse Robert sont my pa to fetch Miss Martha and her chillun, and the slaves too, back to the old plantation* Pa wuked for him ftil June of the next year and then rented a farm -13- on shares* "I heared 'bout night-riders, but I never seed none oi f em. It was said they tuk Negroes out or their cabins and beat eni up jusT f cause they belong- Negroes was free but they warnft ed to the Negro race. 1 f lowed to act lak free people. Three months atter the war, schools was opened up here for Negroes and they Was in charge of Yankee teachers. I canft call back the name of the Yankee woman that taught me* tf It was several years before no Negroes was able to buy land, and thar was just a few of it to start with. T em done Negroes had to go to school fust and git larnin1 so they would know how to keep some of them white folks from gittin1 land f way from fem if they did buy it. "Slavery time customs had changed a good bit when I married Slla Strickland. Us had a common little home affair at her mafs house. I never will for- git now Slla looked that day in her dove-colored weddin1 dress; it was made with a plain, close-fittin1 waist that had pretty lace f round the neck and sleeves. Her skirt was plaited, and over it was draped a overskirt that was edged with lace. The Good Lord gave us seven ciiildren, but three of ?em Ke has taken from the land of the livin1. Us still has two boys and two girls. -14- Sam wuks at a big clubhouse in Washington, D. C., and nis four chillun are the onliest grandchillun me and Ella's got, so far as us knows* the Pennsylvania Station. Charlie's job is at Both of our daughters is teachers; one of fem teaches at the Union Baptist School, here in Athens, and the other's at a school in Statesboro, Georgia. Yes, mam, Ella's still livin1, but she is bad off with her foots. If the Lord lets us both live 'til this comin' December, us will celebrate our 53rd. V/eddin' anniversary. ft 2Jow that its all been over more than 70 years and us is had time to study it over good, I thinks it was by God's own plan that President Abraham Lincoln sot us free, and I can't sing his praises enough. Miss Iviartha named me for Jeff Davis, so I can't down him when I'se got nis name; I was named for him and Benjamin iranklin too. Ohl Sho, I'd ruther be free and I believes the Negroes is got as much right to freedom as any other race, 'deed I does believe that. "Why aid I jine the church? 'Cause I was converted by the power of the Hoiy Spirit. I thinks all people ougnt to be 'ligious, to be more lak Christ; He is our Saviour, I'se been in the church 5'6 years and 'bout 52 or them years I'se been a-preachin'. went one year to the Atlanta Baptist College to git I MJ- my trainin* for the ministry, and I would have gone back, but me and Ilia got married. I'se been pastor of the Friendship Baptist Church 48 years. In all, I'se been pastor of eight churches; I'se got thre regular churches now.* A Negro boy came to the door and asked Jeff to tell him about some work. said; As Jeff aros he "If you is through with me, I'll have to go now and holp this boy. I'se 'titled to one of them books with my story in it free, 'cause I'se a preacher, and I knows I'se give you the best story you has wrote up yit." 193 on^^V^r "1 J- r^pr^ -^ ^ & v* ** -i f'*^ .GOUW ,,7^ J&fa*^ DISTRICT: W, P. A. NO. 1 RESEARCH WORKER: JOSEPH E. JAFFEE EDITOR: JOHN N. BOOTH SUPERVISOR: < . .JOSEPH E. JAFFFEE (ASST.) op s /. *;: ; 195 100102 PLANTATION LIFE.AS VIEWED BY AH EX-SMVE Uncle Robert Henry, an active 82, now Itives with his daughter on Billups Street in Athens. At the time of our visit he was immaculate in dark trousers, a tweed sack coat, and a gayly striped tie. Naturally the question came to mind as to whether he found life more pleasant in his daughter's neat little cottage, with its well kept yards, or in the quarters on "Ole Marster's plantation." He seemed dellakwl ighteel to have an opportunity to talk about slave'y days; and although he could not have been more than 11 years old at the time, he has a very vivid recollection of the "year de war broke and freedom came. His parents, Robert and Martha Henry, were born in Oglethorpe County and were later purchased by P.W. Sayles, who owned a 1, OCX)-acre plantation about 18 miles from Washington, in Wilkes County. I^,,"1 "Marster didn't have many niggers, not more'n 70," he stated. Ur Jncle Robert was the oldest of 8 children, 5 boys and 3 girls. "Pa wuz de butler at de big house," he declared with pride in his voice; and he went on to tell how his mother had been the head seamstress on the plantation and how, at the tender age of 8, his father had begun training him to "wait on Page - 2 Marster's table". The picture of "Old Mar&ter's* household, as the old man unfolds it to his listeners, is one of almost idyllic beauty. There was the white-HP ill ared "big house" in a grove of white oaks on the brow of a hill with a ^commanding view of the wfcole countrywide. A gravelled driveway led down to the dusty public road where an occasional stagecoach rattled by and which iateifrechoed with the hoof^beats of Confederate Gayalry. The master's house contained twelve rooms, each about 16x16 feet. The kitchen was in the back yard and food was carried to the dining room in the high basement to the big house by means of an underground passage. Two servants stood guard over the table with huge fans made of peacock feathers which they kept in continuous motion during meals to "shoo de flies away." The slave quarters were on the banks of a creek down the hill behind the big house. Nearby were the overseer's cottage, the stables, and the carriage houses. In the family were: "Marster, Mistis, M is' Fannie, Mis1 Sally, Mars1 Thomas, Mars' Hiokey, and Mars' Wyatt.*" Dey all 'tended a school on de plantation." Two of the boys went to the war but only one of them came back. After the war the "Yanks" came by and took nearly all the stock that the servants hadn't hidden in the swamps and all the silver that "Ole Mistis" hadn't buried under the curramt bushes. Yes, in spite of the hard work required, life hacHaeen very pleasant on the plantations. The field hands were at work at auri^up and were not allowed to quit until dark. Each slave had Page - 3 an acre or two of land which he was allowed to farm for himself. He used Saturday morning to cultivate his own crop and on Saturday afternoon he lolled around or went fishing or visiting. Sat- k urday nights were always the time for dancing and frolicing. The master sometimes let them use a barn loft for a big square dance. The musical instruments consisted of fiddles; buckets, which were beaten with the hands; and reeds, called "blowing quills, which were used in the manner of a flute. There were two churches on the plantation, "one for de white folks and one fer de niggers. forth in both congregations. The same preacher held When there were services in the white church there w$s no negro meetings? but negroes were allowed to sit in the gallery of the1white folk^church. The master regarded his slaves as * valuable pieee of property and they received treatment as such. When they were ill the doctor would be sent for or "Old Mlstis" would come to the cabins bringing her basket of oil, pills, and linament. Pood was always given out to the slaves from the commissary and the smokehouse. There was flour and com meal, dried beans and other vegetables, and cured pork and beef in the winter. In season the servants had access to the master's vegetable garden and they were always g3,yan as much milk as they could usef Life haJjTTncieoa been very pleasant in those times; but. Uncle Robert, at ease in a comfortable rocker, would not agree that it was more to his liking than hls present-day existence. When the subject of signs and omens was broached he waxed voluble in denying that he believed in any such "foolishment." ; Page - 4 However, he agreed that many believed that a rooster crowing in front of the door meant that a stranger was coming and that an owl screeching was a sign of death. He suggested that a suc- cessful means of combatting the latter ontn is to tie knots in the bed sheets or to heat a poker in the fire. In case of death; Uncle Robert says>to be on the safe side and prevent another death in the family, it is wise to stop the clock and turn its face to the wall and to cover all the mirrors in the house with white cloths. Uncle Robert's highly educated daughter smiled indulgently on him while he was giving voice to these opinions and we left him threatening her with dire punishment if she should ever fail to carry out his instructions in matters of this nature. icroio^ 1 * l* 199 WRITERS' PROJECT W. P. A. OFFICE 737 COBB STREET ATHENS,GEORGIA OCTOBER 16,1936 H'EDERAL Mr. John L. Peters, Director Attention: Y/.P.A. District No. 2 708 Telfair Street Augu s ta,Ge orgia Mrs. Carolyn P. Dillard State Director Federal Writers' Projects Atlanta,Georgia Dear Mr. Peters: Attaching herewith story of an ex-slave prepared by Mr. John Booth from my notes and is in accordance with the instructions contained in your letter of October 13. The snap-shots are by Jaffee. We have located a former slave of Dr. Crawford W. Long in Jackson county and we plan to interview the'darky1 in the very near future. We are anxious to get a very intimate picture of Dr. Crawford W. Long from the eyes of one of his personal servants. Very truly yours, osepfi E. Ja Asstv Distr; Federal Wri W.P.A. District No. JEJ:H ^ 4t\f\riQ.tz 3LUUU5D 200 * ^ V JOHN HILL 15E5 Broad Street Athens, Georgia PLANTATION LITi. Ad VIEWED BY AN EX-SLAVE V written By: Grace kcCune Research "worker Feaeral V/riters' Project Athens, Georgia Waited By: Leila Harris Editor Federal -Tritsrs* Project Augusta, Georgia 100085 jomHILL Ex- lave, Age 74 1525 1. Broad St. Athens, Georgia John Hill, an old Negro about 74 years old, was seated comfortably on the front porch of his little cabin enjoying the sunshine. He lives alone and his pleasure was evident at having company, and better still an appreciative audience to whom he could relate the story of his early days. *My pa wuz George Washin'ton Hill. His old Marster wuz Mr. Aubie Hill, an' dey all lived on de Hill nlantation, in de Buncombe district, nigh whar Monroe, Georgia is now. My ma wuz Lucy Annie Garter, an1 she b'longed to de Carter fambly down in Oglethorpe County, 'til she wuz sold on de block, on de ole Tusk plantation, whar dey had a regular place to sell * em. Dey put 'em up on a big old block, an' de highest bidder got de Nigger. Ilarse George Hill bought my ma, an' she come to stay on de Hill plantation. Dar's whar my pa married her, an' dar's whar I wuz borned. "When I wuz just a little tike* I toted nails for 'em ta build de jailhouse. Dey got 'bout two by four planks, nailed 'em crossways, an' den dey drived nails in, 'bout ewy inch or two apart, just lak a checkerboard. When dey got it done, dat jail would evermo' keep you on de inside. Dere wuz a place wid a rope to let dbwn, when de jailbirds would need somethin', or when somebody wanted to send somethin' up to 'em. No Ma'am, dat warn't de -2 ~ mm rope dey used to hang folkses wid. "My pa stayed on wid old Marster 'bout ten years atter de War, den us moved to de farm wid de Walkers at Monroe,. Georgia* Dat wuz Governor Walker's pa. Dere wuz a red clay bank on de side of de crick whar us chilluns had our swimmin1 hole, an1 us didn't know when us wuz a frolickin1 an1 rollin' young Marse Clifford, down dat bank, dat someday he would be gov'ner of Georgia* He evermo1 wuz a sight, kivered wid all dat red mud, an1 Mistfess, she would fuss an' say she wuz goin' to whup evvyone of us, but us just stayed out of de way an' she never cotched us* Den she would forgit 'til de nex' time. "When I wuz 'bout eight years old, dey 'lowed it wuz high time I wuz a larnin' somethin', an' I wuz sont to de little log schoolhouse down in de woods. old blue back speller, De onliest book I had wuz just a us took corn an' 'tatoes 'long an' cooked 'em for dinner, for den us had to stay all day at school. Us biled de corn an' roasted 'tatoes in ashes, an' dey tastea mighty good. "Us had corn pone to eat all de time, anf on de fust Sunday in de month us had cake bread, 'cause it wuz church day. Gake bread wuz made out or shorts, but dem biscuits wuz mighty good if dey wuz dark, 'stead of bein' white. "Us had big gyardens, an1 raised all sorts of vegetables: corn, peas, beans, 'tatoes, colla'ds, an' turnip greens. plenty of milk an' butter all de time. Us had An* Marster made us raise lots of cows, hogs, sheep, an' chickens, em' tukkeys. m 3 * t "Dey warn1t no ready made clofes or no vittuls in cans at de stofkeepersf places, anf us didnft have no money to spend, if dey had, a been dar. raise an1 make up* Us didnft have nothin1 what us didnlt Cotton had to be picked offen de seed, an1 washed an1 cyarded, den ma spun de thread an1 wove de cloth an* sometimes she dyed it wid ink balls, clofes out of* T fore it wuz ready to-make De ink Marster used to write wid wuz made out of. ink balls* f, I wuz still little when my ma died. De white folksT preacher preached her funfral from de texf of Isaiah fifth chapter: fust verse, anf dey sung de old song, "Goinf Home to Die no Mof." i Den dey buried her on de place, an1 built a rail fence ! roun? de grave, to-keep de stock from trompin1 on it. Sometimes several owners got together an1 had one place to bury all de 'slaves, an1 den dey built a rail fence all frounf de whole place. "Hit wuz just lak bein1 in jail, de way us had to stay on f cause if us went off an1 didnft have no ticket de paddy- de place, rollers would always git us, an1 dey evermore did beat up some of de Niggers* !t I 'members de Klu KLux Klan good. Dey kept Niggers skeered plum to death, an1 when dey done sump in1 brash dey sho1 got beat up if de Kluxers cotched 'em. "One time de Kluxers come by our place on de way to beat a old Nigger man. I begged f em to lemme go wid fem, an* atter a while y m dey said I could go. 4 '*.' A Dere wuz horns on de mask dey kivvered up my head wid an1 I wuz mighty skeered but I didn!t say no thin1. Atter us got dar, dey tied de old man up by his hands to de rafters in his house* He wuz beggin* *0 Lordy, have mussyl1 f em to let him off aiif yellin1 Dere wuz a little gal dar an* I wanted to skeer her, so I started atter her, anr de old man tole her to hit me on de head. She picked up a shovel anT th'owed it an1 cut my leg so wide open de blood just spilt down on de floor, I got so bad off dey had to take me back to old Marster, an1 he fix me up. Hit wuz six months ffore I could use dat leg good, an1, I neb- ber did wanter go wid dem Kluxers no more. "Us went to de white folkses church, but onct a year on de fust Sunday in Augus1 de white folkses let de Niggers have dat day for camp meetin1. ^.Dey fixed good dinners for us, an1 lejb us go off in de woods an* stay all day. Dem chicken pies an1 dem good old 'tato custards,, 'bout one an' a half inches thick, made wid sea sugar, dey make your mouf water just to talk 'bout 'em. What wuz sea sugar? Why it wuz dat crawly, kind of grayish, look- in' sugar us used den. I wuz grown 'fore I ever seed no sho1 'nough white sugar. "My pa hired me out to Mir. Ray Kempton to tote cotton to de gin on his plantation, when I wuz 'bout 16 years old. I wuz - wukkin' dar when de fust railroad wuz laid, an' dey named de place Kempton station fer Marse Ray Kempton. I wuz paid five dollars a month an' board for my wuk, an' I stayed dar 'til I married. 5>S "I wuz 'bout eighteen when I rode on de train for de s*" fust time. Us rode from Social Circle to Washin'ton, Wilkes, to see my ma's folkses. Ma tuk a heap of ginger cakes an' fried chicken along for us to eat on de train, an' de swingin' an' swayin' of dat train made me so sick I didn't want to ride no more for a long time. "Soon atter I wuz twenty years old, I married a gal from Washin'ton, /ilkes, an' us moved to Athens, an' I been livin' right here ever since. house wuz open. Us got here de last day de old whiskey Dey closed it down dat night. I wukked a long time wid de Allgood boys in de horse tradin' business an' den I wukked for Mr. an* Mrs. Will Peeples 'bout ten years. Dey runned a boardin* house, an' while I wuz dar, Dr. Walker come to board, an' I wuz mighty glad to wait on him, * cause he wuz from Monroe an' had done been livin' on de old Walker place dat I stayed at when us wuz down dar. "My uncle, Ambus Carter, wuz a. preacher on Marse Jim Smith's place. He b'longed to Marse Jim durin' de War, an' he never did leave him. Atter freedom come, most of Marse Jim's Niggers lef him, an' den he had what dey called ohaingang slaves. He paid 'em out of jail for 'em to wuk for him. An' he let *em have money all de time so dey didn't never git out of debt wid him. Dey had to stay dar an' wuk all de time, an' if dey didn't wuk he had 'em beat. He evermore did beat 'em if dey got lazy, but if - dey wukked good, he wuz good to 'em. run away. Sometimes dey tried to Dey had dogs to trail 'em wid so dey always eotehed 'em, an* den de whippin* boss beat fem mos' to death. awful to hear fem hollerin' an' beggin1 for mussy. lered, 'Lord have mussy!* It wuz If dey hol- Marse Jim didn't hear *em, but if dey cried, 'Marse Jim have mussy!' den he made 'em stop de beatin' He say, 'De Lord rule Heb'en, but Jim Smith ruled de earth. "One time he cotched some Niggers down at de Seaboard Station, what had runned away from his place. He got de police, an1 brung 'em back 'cause he 'lowed dey still owed him money? I wuz mighty sorry for Vem, for I knowed what dey wuz goin' to git when he done got 'em back on his place. Dat whippin' boss beat *em 'til dey couldn't stan' up. "But he wuz good to my uncle, an' treated him just lak one of de fambly. He iielped him wid all his- sermons, an' told him to always tell 'em to be observerant an' obejent to de boss man. provided good fer his help an' dey always had plenty to eat. He He used to try to git me to come an' stay wid him, but I didn't want to stay on dat place. "Marse Jim used to have big 'possum hunts for his Niggers, an' he would sen' me word, an' I most always went, 'cause dem wuz good times den, when dey cookea de coons an' 'possums, an' eat an' drunk mos' of de night. Goon meat is most as good as lamb if you is careful to take out de musk sacs when you dress 'em to cook." *. , my? - 7 Smithsonia, the Jim Smith plantation, covered thousands of acres, but the words of the feeble old Negro showed that he could not imagine it possible for any farmer to own more than one hundred acres* w Marse Jim had a hundfud acre farm, anT he had to keep plenty of Niggers to look atter dat place, but I wuz ffraid to go dar to stay, for it wuz sho1 just lak de jailhouse. "Dey ainft but four of our nine chilluns livinf now an1 deyTs all up Nawf. Dey done sont atter me when deir ma died, an* tried to git me to stay wid fem, but its too cold up dar for dis old Nigger, so I just stays on here by myself. much for me to live on. It don't take In crop times I wuks in d$ fiel* a chop- pin1 cotton, anf I picks cotton too. 1*11 just wait on here an1 de waitin1 won't be much longer, 'cause Ifse a living right, an1, 'Praise de Lawd,1 Ifse a gwine to Heb'en. wfen I die." Mary A. Crawford Re-searoh Worker >ir-u A- $r O # Laura Hood - Ex-Slave Laura wns born in Griffin December 23, 1850 on Mr. Henry Bank's place. Her mother, Sylvia Banks (called "Cely Ann" by the darkies) married her father, Joe Brawner, a carpenter, who ivss owned by ,VIr# Henry Brav/ner. Joe and Sylvia were married in Mr* henry Bankfs parlor by this white preacher. Mr. Banks, L*ura(s -inster, ovmed a tannery in Griffin and had n around fifty slaves" according to Laura98 memory* Most of the slaves worked at the tannery, the others at ?!r. Bank's hone* Laura9s mother was the cook in the Bankfs home for over forty years Joet Laurafs father, was a carpenter and the four little darkies of the family helped about the house and yard coin*: such work rs ft? ding the c! ickens, sweeping the yards and waiting on the Mistress* Laura, herself was a "house girl", that is, she nade the bsds, swept the floors and sewed and helped the Hi stress do the mending for the family* vAien asked if the Master and Mistress were good to the slaves, Laura replied tl nt they certainly were, adding, "Marse Henry was as good a nan as ever put a pair of pants on his legs** 2 209 Aa to the punishments used by the Banks, Laura was almost indignant at such a question, saying that Marse Henry never whl-nned or punished his darkies in any way, that he did not Relieve in it. The only whipping that Laura herself ever had w s one lick across the shoulders with a srtall switch used by her Mistress to keep h^r mother, Celie Ann, from whipping her. Laura relates that the darkies worked all the time except Sunday. On 3unday they could do as they pleased so long as they went to church. All the Bank's darkies attended service in the "cellar" (basement) of the First Baptist Church and had a colored preacher. ,/hen emy of the fiarkios were sick if 'ole Jfarster' and'ole Miss* could not "set them straight" they called in "ole Marse's" white doctor. Mr. Banks, himself, nna too old "to fight the Yankees" but young ;torse Henry1 fought but did not "get a scratch" and when he came home all of them were tuld leave if they wanted to, but if they would stay 'till Christmas and help him that he vwuld pay them wages. All of them stayed except one ftegro named "Big John" who left with a bunch of Yankees that oame r long soon after. As to what ha opened at the Bank's home ?/hen the Yankees cane through, Laura does not remember, but she does recall that the Banks family "refugeed to Florida to get out of the pnth of the Yankees," "Ho, raara," said Laura in reply to the question "Did your master h^ve his slaves taught to read snd write?* "We never hsd any school of sny kind on the Bank's place, 'Marse Renry did not believe we needed that," Laura has lived in h^r present home since 1867 and recalls when Griffin wns "mostly a big woods full of paths here and there," She recalls the "auction block" which was on or near the site of the present Court House, The old woman is very feeble, in f ct, un ble to walk but is cared for by a niece, Laura Pood 432 S. Solomon Street Griffin, Georgia September 23, 1936 '! M 100095 PIANTATIOF LIKE as viewed by Bx-Slave CARRIE HUDSON 258 Lyndon Avenue Athens, Georgia. Written byt Sadie B. liornstay Athens - Edited by: Sarah H. Hall Athens Leila Harris Augustaand John H. Booth District Supervisor Federal Writers' Project Residencies 6 & ? .00095 ' g,., CAK&IE HBDS( Bx- Slave- Age 1%. GEarrie was asked to relate her memories of childhood days on the old plantation. *Ifse done most forgot 'bout dem days,* she replied, *but if you ax me some questions hit mought come back to me. Hit*s such a fur way back dat I don*t never think fbout dea times no more** After a few reminders, the old Negress begaast eagerly volunteering her recollecticmst *Slave traders fotched w ?a> he was Phil Hucker, fu Richmond, Virginsy, and sold him to Marse Joe Squire Sucker.- -Ba, she was Stances Hucker, was borned on Jlarse Joe*s place nigi* Ruckersville, up in Albert County, and all 10 of us chilluns was born oil dat plantation too* Hester Ann, Loke Ann, Sliaabetbt, Hary, Minnie Bright, Dawson, Ant*ony* Sqpiire and PMlip was mj sisters and brothers. Grandma Bessie done de cookin* at de big house* Grandpa Ant* any had done died long *fore I got big enough to know nothiri* *bout hin. *l iss. chilluns what was knee high to a duck had to wuk. 'Til dey was big and strong enough for field wuk, little triggers done all sorts of piddlin* jobs. Dey toted water to de big house and to de hands in de fields, fotched in chips and wood, and watched de cows. Me? I nussed most of de time. If dere.was any money give out for slaves' wuk de grown folkses got it all, for I never seed none and I never heared 'bout no Niggers gittin1 none in slavery times. *Us lived in log cabins scattered * round de plantation. biggest of 'em had two rooms and ewy cabin had a chimbly made out of sticks and red mud. Most of de Chilian slept on pallets on de De Sage ' . floor, but I slept wid my Fa and la * cause I was so pettish. de be da was made out of poles, dis a-way; 21$ Most of Day bored two holes in de wall, wide apart as; dey wanted de bed, and in dese holes dey stuck one end of de poles what was de side pieces. Dey sharpened de ends of two more poles and driv1 *em in de floor for da foot pieces and fastened de side pieces to *era. Planks was put acroat dis frame to hold a coarse cloth tick filled wid wheat straw. Ma had a ruffle, what was called a foot bouncer, 'round de foot of her bed. at de big house was a sight to see* tains over de top and f Beds up Dey had high posties and cur- round de bottom of deir beds. . Dem beds at de big house was so high dey had steps to walk up so dey could git in 'em. Oh, dey was pretty, all kiwered over widbob*.ngt to keep flies and skeeters off de white folkses whilst dey slept*. Warn't nothin* short fbout de eats. b!lieved in good eatin1 s. Our white folkses Dey give us bread and meat wid all de cabbage, colla*d and turnip greens us wanted, and us had *raatoes, tatoes, chickens and ducks. Yessum, and dere allus was plenty possums and rabbits cooked 'bout lak dey is now, only dere warn* t no stoves in dem days. Pots for biling swung on racks dey called cranes, over de coals in big open fireplaces. ovens and skillets. Baking was done in Dere was allus lots of fishes in season, but I didn't do none of de fishin', * cause I was too skeered of de water when I was a chap. "All de cloth for our clothes was wove in de loom rooa tap at de big house. Little gal's dresses was made just lak deir Ma*s, wid full skirts gathered on to plain, close fittin1 waisties. Little boys just wore shirts. clothes ia summer. Bidin* t no Chilian wear hut one piece of Winter time us wore de same only dey give us a warm underskirt, and rough red brogan shoes. Didn* t no Niggers wear shoes in warm weather durin* slavery times. Harse Joe Squire Rucker was de fust liarster of our plantation* Atter him and Miss Peggy done died, his son, Harse BTbert Rucker tuk up where his Pa left off. I can* t call to mind nothin* 'bout Harse Joe and Miss Peggy *eap.t what old folkses told rae long atter dey done died, hut I does 'member Harse Elbert and Hiss Sallie and dey was just as good to us as dey could be. De onliest ones of dier chilluns I ricollects now is Miss Bessie, Hiss Cora and Harsters Joe, Guy, Harion and Sarly. Bey all lived in a big fine house sot back f*uja de road a piece* Harse Elbert' s overseer was a Mr. Alderman. He got de slaves up early in de mornin1 and it was black night * fore he fotched 'am in. Harse Elbert didn't 'low nobody to lay hands on his Higgers but his own self* If any wh.tipp.ia* had to be done, he done it. Hy brother * Squire, was de carriage driver and he was all time a-drivin* our white folkses to Ruckersville, and sometimes he driv* r em far as Anderson, South Callina. To tell de truth, Missy, I don't know how many acres was in dat big old plantation. Dere just ain't no tellin*. was scattered over dat great big place lak flies. Higgers iThen day come in f urn de fields at night, dam slaves was glad to just go to sleep and rest. JBage 4. *Dey didn't do no field wuk atter dinner on Saddays* 215 De 1 omans washed, ironed and cleaned up deir cabins, while de mens piddled lrounf and got de tools and harness and things lak dat ready for de next week1s wuk# tt I heared fem say dere was a jail at Ruckersville* but so far as I knows dere warn1t no slaves ever put in jail* Niggers didn't have no chance to git in devilment, fcause de overseers and patterollers kepf close atter fem all de time, and slaves what stepped aside allus got a whuppin*. Dere warn1t no time for to larn readin1 and writin1 an Marse Elbert1s plantation. Bible Dem slaves knowed what a was but dey sho* couldnft read de fust line. Us went to whits folkses church on Sundays, and while I never tuk in none of dem songs us sung, I sho1 ly do ricollect moughty well how de fteverend Duncan would come down on dat preachin1 "Lordy, Missl Dere you is a-axing me fbout folkses dyinf, and If se nigh dead myself! Brother flisha done prophesied you was a-comin* here for to v/rite a jedgment, and hit makes me feel right creepy. Anyhow I seed a heaps of folkses died out and git put in dem home-made coffins what was "black as sin. changed de color of coffins. I sho1 is glad dey done I 'members how us used to holler and cry when dey come to de part of de funf ral whar dey sung: f Hark I^um De Tomb, A Doleful Sound.1 wDere was a heap of baptizin1s dem days and I went to most all of !em, but I sho1 warn1t baptized !til long atter I got grown, ! cause I was so skeered of de water. I kin see dem folkses now, a- marchin1 down to de crick, back of de church, and all de aan-i-dates dressedl in de whites* white clothes* what was. de style den. Ivvybody jined in de singin', and de words was lak dis$ Marichin' for de water For to "be baptised. De lord done lit de candle 0& de other side For to see his chilluns When dey gits baptized.* diggers on Harse Albert's places never knowsd nothin* 'bout no fforthj if dey did dey wouldn't tell it to chilluns little as I was den. Dere was some sort of uprisin' a good piece fust Buckers- ville, "but I can*t tell you *bout it * cause I just heared de old folkses do a little talkin', what warn't enough; to lam de whole tale. Chillun "back dar didn't jine in de old folkses business lak dey does now. Sadday nights de young folkses picked de banjo, danced and cut de buck * til long atter midnight, but Christmas times was when. chilluns had deir bests s' good times, ferse Slbert * ranged to have hog killin* close enougii to Christmas so dere would be plenty of fresh meat, and dere was heaps of good chickens, tukkeys, cake, candies, and just evvything good. Endurin* de Christmas, slaves visited 'roun* f UB house to house, but Few Tear's Bay was wuk time again, and dere was allus plenty to do on dat plantation. Host all de IFiggers loved to go to dem cornshuckin*s, 'cause atter de corn was all shucked dey give 'em big suppers and let 'em dance* Be cotton pickin's was on nights when de moon was extra bright 'cause dey couldn't do much lightin' up a big cotton field wid torches lak dey did de places where dey had de cornshuckin's. Atter cornshuckin's, dey mought be danein' -**.' 2m by de light of torches, but us danced in de moonlight when de cotton was picked and de prize done been give out to de slave what picked de most* Logrollings was de most fun of all* would roll dem logs and sing and dey give whiskey by de kegs, at logrollin1 s. % De men and tomans em plenty of g;ood eats, and De Harsters, dey planned de oornshuakin1 s, and cotton pickinrs, and logrollin1 s and prervided de eats and liquor, but de quiltin1 parties V longed to de slaves. ranged Dey f em deir own selfs and done deir own fvitinf and fixed up deir own eats, but most of de Marsters would let fem have a little somepin1 extra lak brown sugar or f lasses and some liquor* De quiltin1s v/as in de cabins, and dey allus had %em in winter when dere warn11 no field wuk. Dey would quilt a while and stop to eat apple pies, peach pies, and other good things and drink a little liquor. *Us had to tote water and nuss chillum games* Us didn't know nothin* f stid of playin1 no f bout ghosties, hants, and sich lak* Our white folkses would whup a Bigger for skeerin* us Chilian qmick as anything, Dey didn11 *low none of dat. ever seed was just t1 other day. hollered out* fWho dat?1 De onliest ghost Irse I seed somebody pass my door* Dey didn11 say nothin1 said it was a sperrit passin1 by* I Brother 'Lisha here Ee must be right, * cause whoever it was, dey didn11 say nothin1 'tall* *Marse Slbert and Miss Sallie was sho1 moughty good when deir Niggers tuk sick. f em most of de time* Castor oil and turpentine was what dey give Horehound tea was for colds, and elderberry tea was to help babies teethe easier* Yes sum* us wore beads, but dey was just to look pretty. fa|*-f - i & "All I knows *bout how come us was sot free is dat folkses said Mr. Jefferson Davis and Hr. Abraham M no o In got to fight in1 f bout us, and Mr. Lincoln1 s side got de best of Mr. Davis* side in de quarrel. De day dey told us dat us was free dere was a white man named Mr. Bruce, *What you say?1 what axed; free* more. Dey told him fgain dat all de Higgers was He bent hisself over, and never did straighten his body no When he died, he was still all bent over. Mr* Bruce done d,is to sho* de world how he hated to give his Higgers up atter dey done been sot free. *Whe& dem Yankees come thoo* dey stole evvything dey eould take of f wid f Dey tuk Sue, my brother1 s nice hoss, and left him em. a old poor bag-of-bones hoss. Us stayed on wid our white folkses a long time atter de War. *Bdwin Jones was my fust husband and I wore a pretty dove colored dress at our weddin'. Jenny Ann was our onliest child. All but one of our eight grandchillun is all livin' now, and I1 se got 24 great grandchillun. Atter Edwin died, I married dis here Charlie Hudson what I1 se livin1 wid now. tainft long since us got married. Us didn't have no big weddinf and Me and Charlie ain't got no chillmn. *I jined de church * cause I got 'ligion and I knows de good Lord done forgive EQT sins. Bwybody ought to git ! ligioa and hold it and jine de church. *De way us is a havin* to live now is pretty bad ' cause us is both too old to wuk. Don11 give me dem slavery days no more 'cause I would have to wuk anyhow if I was a slave againt 'roua' and smoke our pipes and do as us please. Us couldn't set I'd ruther have it &*ge a* B19 lak it is now* fl I oanrt Member no more to tell you, but I sho* has * Joyed dis talk* Yessximf dem days was a fur piece bask** ' _ 100094 230 PLANTATION LIES as viewed by Bx-Slave CHAKLIB HUDSON 258 Lyndon Avenue Athens, G-eorgia Written by: Sadie B. Hornsby Athens - Edited by: Sarah E. Hall Athens Leila Harris Augusta and John H. Booth District Supervisor lederal Writers' Project Hes. 6 & 7 Augusta, Ga, 100094 CHABLIB HUDSOff gx-Slave - Age &Q Gharlie listened with eager interest to the story related by Carrie* his wife, and frequent smiles played over his wrinkled black face as her remini scenes a awakened memories of younger days* His delight was evident when the interviewer suggested that he tell his mm impressions of slavery and the period following the War "between the States. Kiss,* he said* *I been takin* in what de old oaian done Dat was de beginnin1 way back yonder and de end is nigh* told you. Soon dere won't be nohody left livin1 tfhat was a sho1 *nough slave * It1 s somepin* to think about* ainft it? *Anyhowf I was bora March 27* l85& in Elbert County* Ma lived on de Bell plantation and Marse Matt Hudson owned my Fa and kept him on de Hudson place. Dere was seben of us ohillun* Will* Bynam. John and me was de boys* and de gals was Amanda. Liza Ann* and Gussie. *?il us was big enough to wuk* us played f round de house 'bout lak chillun does dese days* "Slave quarters was laid out lak streets* cabins. Beds? pine poles. Us lived in log Bey was jus1 makeshift beds, what was made out of De side of de house was de head of de beds. De side rails was sharpened at both ends and driv* in holes in de walls and foot posties. Den dey put boards * eross de side rails for de mat- tresses to lay on. feathers.1 Don't you know what Georgy feathers was? was Georgy feathers. quilts. Ds coarse oloth bed ticks was filled wid 'Georgy Wheat straw Our kiwar was sheets and plenty of good warm Now dat was at our own quarters on Marse David Bell* s plantation. Page 2. *Didnf t evvybody have as good places to sleep as us. members a white fasfoly named Sims what lived in 3?latwoods. v/as de porest white folks I ever seed. 222 I Dey Dey had a "big drove of chillun and deir Pa never wukked a lick in his life - He jus* lived on other folkses1 labors. Deir little log cabin had a partition in it, and !hind dat partition dere warn1t a stitch of nothin1. Dey didn11 have no floor but de ground, and back hind dat partition v/as dug out a little deeper dan in de rest of de house. Dey filled dat place wid leaves and dat1 s whar all de chilluns slept. Ewy day Miss Sallie made fem take out de leaves what dey had slep1 on de night before and fill de dugout wid fresh leaves. On de other side of de partition, Miss Sallie and her old man slept flong wid deir hog, and hoss, and cow, and dat was whar dey cooked and et too. I ain1t never gwine to forgit dem white folks. *i$r grandma Patsy* Pappy1s lfef knocked fround lookin1 atter de sheep and hogs, close to de house, f cause she was too old for Mafs Mammy was my grandma Rose. field wuk. Her job was drivin* de oxcart to haul in v/ood from de new grounds and to take wheat and corn to mill and fetch hack good old home-made flour and meal. did hear nothin1 f hout my grandpas. I nearer Ife. done de cookin1 for de white folks. tt I don11- know ix I was no pet, but I did stay up at de big house most of.de time, and one thing I loved to do up dar was to follow Miss Betsy fround totin1 her sewin1 basket. When wuk got tight and hot in crop time, I helped de other chillun tote water to de hands. De bucket would slamp f gainst my laigs all along de way, and most of de water would be done splashed out field. f fore I got to de Fage 3- 223 *lfe.rse David and his fambly most allus sont deir notes and messages by me and another yearlin* "boy what was f lowed to lay f round de big house yard so us would be handy to wait on our white folks. Dey give you de note what dey done writ, and dey say: if you lose dis note, youfll git a whuppin11 f Boy, All de time you was carryin1 dem notes you had your whuppin* in your hand and didn*t know it, lessen you lost de note. 1 I never heared of no trouble to mount to no thin1 twixt white folks and Uiggers in our settlement. *Us et good, not much diff!unt ffuia what us does now# Most times it was meat and bread wid turnip greens, lye hominy, milk,and butter. All our cookinf was done on open fireplaces. Qhl I was fond of fpossums, sprinkled wid butter and pepper, and baked down f til de to gravy was good and brown. You was lucky if you got/eat fpossujB and gnaw de bones atter my Ma done cooked it. "Dey cotch rabbits wid dogs. Now and den, a crowd of Niggers would jump a rabbit when no dogs was f tho1 rocks at him and run him in a hollow log. him out wid hickory wisps (withes)* round. Dey would Ben dey would twiss Sometimes dere warn11 no fur left on de rabbit time dey got him twisted out, but dat was all right. Dey jus1 slapped him over daid and tuk him on to de cabin to be cooked. Rabbits was most gen1 ally fried. "Grown boys di&n11 want us chillun goin1 f long fpossum hunt in1 wid fem, so all right, dey tuk us way off crost de fields f til dey found a good thick clump of bushes, and den dey would holler out dat dere was some moughty fine snipes fround dar. Dey made us nt hold de poke (hag) open so de snipes could run in. Ben day flowed out deir light* ood knot torches, and left us chillun holdin* de poke whilst dey went on huntin* 'possums. "Atter dinner Saddays all of us tuk our hooks, poles, and lines down to Dry Fork Crick, when it was de right time of de year to fish. Sometimes dey stewed fish for old folksea to eat, hut young folkses loved 'em fried best. "Winter time dey give cbillun naw cotton and wool mixed shirts what come down most to de ankles. By de time hot weather come de shirt was done wore thin and swunk up and '' aide a dat, us had growed enough for *em to "be short on us, so us jus* wore dem same shirts right on thoo' de summer. On our place you went bar foots 'til you was a great big yearlin* 'fore you got no shoes. What you wore on yo' haid was a cap made out of scraps of cloth dey wore in de looms right dar on our plantation to make pants for de grown folks. Mr. David Bell, our Mars tar, was bora clubfooted. His hands and foots was drawed up ewy which a way long as he lived. was jus' lak a old ton cat, he was such a cusaer. He? All he done was jus* set dar and cuss, and a heap of times you couldn't see nothin* for him to cuss 'bout* Be tuk his crook-handled walkin' stick and cotch you and drug you up to him and den jus' he It you tight and cussed you to yo* face, but he didn't never whup nobody. Our Mist*- ess, Miss Betsey, was allus moughty kind at times lak dat, and she used to give us Chilian a heap of ginger cakes. Deir as ban chilluns was Dr. Bynam, ferse David and *ittl# Kisses A#:tine> Bliaatoeih, Bary and Kildred. Bey lived in a "big old two-story house> but I dona forgot how it looked. "Dat overseer, he was a clever man, but I can't rieollect his name. He never paid no head to what sort of slothes slaves wore, but he used te raise merry caia if dey didn't have good shoes to ditch in. Marsa David was da cusain* boas, but da overseer called hisself de whuppin* boss. for de 'omans. He had whuppin*s all time saved up speeial He made 'en take off deir waistes and den he whupped 'am an dair bar backs 'til he was satisfied. atter supper by candle light. He done all de whuppin' I don*t * member dat he ever whupped a man. Ha jus* whupped 'omans. i "Bvvybody was up early so dat by sunrise dey was out in de fields, jus* a whoopim* and hollarin* . and come back to da cabins* At sundown day stopped In wheat harvestin* time dey wukked so hard dey jus' fell out f'um gittin* overhet. ins and under trees if de weather was warm and nice* Sometimes wham dere was a jmMlee comin* off, slaves was 'lowed to go to deir larsters' churoh. Ma? I used t ride 'hind Miss Betsey on her hoss what she called Puss, and away us went jiggin1 dowm de road to jubilees at Millstone and Slam ehurches* I was a rich feelin' little Higger den. Be chillun had to take a back seat whilst de old folks done all de singin' so I mrer larned none of dem songs good ' nough to 'member what de words was* or de tunes neither. How and den us went to a fun'ral, not often, but if dere was a baptizin' inside/ of 10 miles 'round f'um whar us lived, us didn't miss it. Is knowsd how to walk, and went to git de pleasure. *Atter slaves got in fum de fields at night, de ' omans cooked supper whilst de mens chopped wood. Lessen de crops was in de grass moughty bad or somepin' else awful urgent, dere warn't so wuk done atter dinner on Saddays. Be old folks ironed, cleant house, and de lak, and de young folks went out Sadday nights and danced to de music what dey made beatin1 on tin pans. Sundays, youngsters went to de woods and hunted hickernuts and muscadines. Be old folks stayed home and looked one anothers haids over for nits and lice. Whenever dey found anything, dey mashed it twi t dey finger and thumb and went ahead sear chin'. Ben de ' omans wropt each others hair de way it was to stay fixed 'til de next Sunday. ^Chris'mas us went ffuin house to house lookin* for locust and persimmon beer* bread* Chillun went to all de houses huntin1 ginger- Ma used to roll it thin, cut it out wid a thimble, and give a dozen of dem little balls to each chile* gingerbread! Persimmon beer and What big times us did have at Chris1 mas* Few Year's Day, dsy raked up de hoss and cow lots if de weather was good* liar- ster jus* made us wuk enough on Hew Year1 s Day to call it wukkin1 , so he could say he made us start de New Year right* ^Marse David had cornshuckin1 s what lasted two or three v/eeks at a time. Dey had a gen1 ral to keep dem brash boys straight* De number of gen1 rals fpended on how much corn us had and how many slaves was shuck in1 corn* Atter it was all shucked* dere was a big celebration in store for de slaves* Dey cooked up washpots full of lamb, kid, pork, and beef, and had collard greens dat was wuf th lookin1 at. Dey had water buckets full of whiskey. When dem Niggers danced atter all dat eatinf and drinkin*, it warn11 rightly dancin*; it was wrastlin1 * *Dem moonlight cotton pickin1 s was big old times. prizes to de ones pickin1 de most cotton* Dey give De prizes was apt to be a quart of whiskey for de man what picked de most and a dress for de 1 oman what was ahead. Dem Niggers wouldn1t take no time to empty cotton in baskets - jus1 dumped it out quick on baggin1 in de field. "Dey v/ent ffum one plantation to another to quiltin's. Atter de f omans got thoof quiltin1 and et a big dinner, den dey axed de mens to come in and dance wid fem# "Whenever any of our white folks1 gals got married dere was two or three weeks of celebratin1 What a time us did have if it was one of our own littlemissesgittin^marrif0. | it was some pin' else. Iffkes da 4ay ^riTei^ Be white folks was dressed up to beat da band, and all de slaves was up on deir toes to do ewything jus* rig&t and to see all dey could. Atter de preacher done finished his words to de young couple, den dey had de she* ' nough weddin' feast. Bare was all sorts of meat to choose f'ua at weddin* dinners - turkeys, geesa, chickens* peafowls, and guineas, not to mention good old ham and other meats. "Pitehin* boss shoes and play in1 marbles was heaps and lots of fun when I was growls1 tig* Atter while, de old folks ' cided dea games was gamblin* and wouldn't let us play no sore* know no thin* t*all *bout no ghosties. I don't Us had 'nough to ha akeered of widout takin* up no time wid dat sort of thing. "When Marse David changed me f'um calf shepherd to cowboy, he sont three or four of us boys to drive de cows to a good place to graze.* cause de male beast was so mean and bad 'bout git tin!1 atter chillun, he thought if he sont enough, of us dere wouldn't he no trouble. Bern days, dere warn*t no fence law, and calves was jus* turned loose in de pastur to graze. Be fust time I went by myself to drive de eows off to graze and come back wid ' era, Aunt Vinnie 'ported a bunch of de eows was xaissin' ,. 'bout 20 of em, when she done de milkin' dat night, and I had to go back huntin1 den cowa. Be moon come out, bright and clear, but I couldn't see dem cows nowhar didn't even hear de bell cow. Atter while I was standin' in de may* berry field a-lookin' croet Dry fork Crick and dere was dem cows. Be hell was pulled so clost on de bell cow's neck whar she was caught in de bushes, dat it couldn't ring. I looked at dem cows - den I looked at de erici whar i couldseei s*i&3S as thick as de fingers oi your hand, but I knowed I had to git dea cows back home, so I jus* lit out and loped *eross dat crick ad'fait'dtta- ^^Wv''''^^er: IA large windmill Reside the highway, on the Houston load near SeTen Bridges, draws the attention of a traveler to a tw -story house, recently remodeled, which was the colonial home of ICr. Travis Euff, now occupied Tiy Mrs. Rosa Melton, his grand-daughter* During the days of slavery the master and an indulgent mistress with their twelve slaves lived on this property. Mr. Huff's family was a large one, all of whom were well educated and very religious. Several of his daughters Tieoame teachers after the close of the Civil War. ' Among the ''quarter* families were Annie Kufe and her daughters, liary "teing the elder. 1'he mother cooked and the small children learned to sweep the yard and to do minor jolis in the field at a very early age. At -uhe'age of twelve, the girls were taught to card and spin as well as to knit and were required to do a certain task'each day until they were large enough to assist with the heavier work, fhe adult females did this type of work after sunset, when their la*or in the field was over. On rainy days they shucked and shelled -& m- or did some other kind of indoor lafcor. Generally, this group was humanely treated, lut occasionally one wHs unmercifully Tieaten. In spite of the fact that there was only one male among his slaves, Mr. Hufff8 outTiursts of temper eaused him to * e so crue^ that his daughters would frequently iieg hinf to end his punishment. . an Frolics were mostly given at corn shuckings, cane grindings, hog; killings, or quiltings. At hog killing time, huge containers of water were heated in the yard. When it reached the desired tempera- ture, the hogs were driyen to a certain spot where they ? i't was said, that he hated the thought of a Hegro ^eing a ale to wear a starched shirt. spread the news. Slaves from neighboring plantations A few days later llrs. Euff returned from a trip to I.tacon and called all the children tot*eth?r to tell them that, even though they were free, they would have to remain with her until they were twenty-one. free! Little Mary exclaimed loudly - - w f I m I wonTt stay here at all!" V/lien the Emancipation Proclamation was made pu&li% the Yankee soldiers gave a dinner in I.!acon for all Uegroes and poor Whites who cared to come. A line was formed on the outside of the *uil3ing in which the dinner v;as served and no one was allov/ed to enter unless he was in poor circumstances. Food of every description m. ON ? was serTed in abundance and all admitted were allowed to sat as much as they desired. Annie Kuff moved to Mac on. when she ?/as freed and her daughter, Mary, now ei hty-seYen years old, was reared here. She attriVuteS her long life to the excellent care she has always taken of herself, Huff, Mary, 561 Cotton irenue, Macon, Georgia ^ WMtley, 4-28-37 ^ Bx-Slav 01, 100229 * \ V a, *2? , HDFF BR1AMT . .1,4 i ! J Old EH7e Story ^ ^ Bryant Huff was the sen of Janle and Daniel Huff who were born on neighboring plantations between Camack and Augusta* They were married while they still belonged to separate owners 9 but when t, Iarseft Jesse Rigersan, to whom Janle belonged, decided to move, he bought Daniel in Order that he niig^t live with his wife and family. was here that Bryant was born. They moved to Warren County and it He was one of twelve children* Bryant1 s early life was not one to inspire pleasant memories for his Blaster, a highly educated teas; ardent church workers* had a cruel nature and a teaper that knew no bounds* Owning 800 acres of land in a fairly level section, he ruled his snail kingdom with an iron hand* Bryantfs father, Daniel, was the only man who did not fear *Marse* Rigerson* The quarters consisted of poorly constructed cabins with worse interiors* There were no bed, only bunks made of two poles balancing sides nailed to the walls Rage and old clothing served as a mattress and the other furniture was squally bad* Food was cooked on an open fireplace and the frying pan was the most important utensil; vegetables were bfcilid In a swinging kettle* three small pegs* The griddle^ stood several inches from the floor, pa Through the middle a *pln* was placed so that the griddle might revolve as the bread etc*, cooked on the side near the hottest part of the fire* Matchesf a luxury, were then sold in small boxes the sine of the average snuff bom at tea cents per box* All the slaves worked from sunrise to sunset; the majority did field work* Women9 aa well as men, shared farm work* asall hoys net old enough to be sent te the field* minded horses, drove sows to and from the pasture, and did chores around the *big house19 A few women prepared meals and super- vised a group of younger girls who did general work to the Mg house* Sunday *as the only day of rest and usually all the adults attended church* On this plantation a church with a colored Sinister was provided and services, while conducted on the seme order as those of the white churches, were much longer* Generally children were not allowed to attend church, but occasionally this privilege was granted to erne. his first visit to Sunday services* "Huff recalls vividly Being very small and eager to attend he sat quietly by his mother's side and gazed with wonder at the minister and congregation. An emotional outburst was part of the services and so many of the "sisters* got "happy" that the child, not having witnessed such a scene before, was frightened; as the number of shouters increased, he ran from the building screaming in terror* Of the 12 children in his family, Z were sold* The eldest child, Harriet, owned by a Judge who lived on a neighboring plantation, returned to the family after Baancipation* The father left hone in a fit of anger be* cause one of his children had been whipped* The master, knowing how de- voted he was to his wife, placed her and her Infant child in jail* Shortly afterward, the father returned and was allowed to visit his wife and to go unmolested* A few weeks later he came baok to the jail, and was aliened to enter, as before, but when ready to leave, was told that he was there for safe keeping* The next day, he end his son, Johnie, were sold to some speca- lators who premised to carry then so far away that they could not return* As Daniel left, he told his wife to wait for him to return, whether it be months or years marry again* She grieved over his departure end refused, although urged, to A few months before the close of the Civil War, her husband appeared and remained on the plantation until emancipation* dently killed shortly after his departure* Johnie was acci- page 3* 240 While most of the punishment was given by the "patty-roller* and the Master, in seme instances overseers were allowed to administer it* Seme of these overseers were Negroes and occasionally there was trouble when they attempted to punish another slave* Huff recalls having seen one of these "bosses" approach his mother as she toiled in the field and questioned her regarding her whereabouts on the previous evening* She refused to answer and as he approached her in a threatening manner, she threw piles of twigs upon him* (She was loading a wagon with small limbs cut from trees on "new ground")* He fled in terror* That night* as the mother and her children were seated in their cabin* the same man accompanied by their Master entered* tied her hands and led her from the home* She was carried quite a distance down the road and severely beaten* Food was provided by the IP yraster who gave it out in regular weekly allotments* Collard greensf peas* smoked meat and corn bread were the cftief items on all menus* On Sundays a small amount of flour for biscuits and some coffee was given; buttermilk was always plentiful* Holidays were usually synonymous with barbecue when large hogs and beeves were killed and an ample supply of fresh meat was given each person* As all food was raised on the plantation* everyone had plenty* Cloth spun from cotton produced at home was woven into the material under the watchful eye of the mistress, afterwards being cut, into dresses for the women* shirts and trousers for men* from home raised sheep* Some of this home-spun material was colored with dye made from powdered red rocks* nails) Winter garments were made of wool With a shoe hammer, last , pegs (Instead of and a standard pattern slave robbers fashioned shoes from the hides of their masterfs cattle* They were no models of beauty* but strong, durable shoes designed for hard wear* Bryant was not superstitious, although he did sometimes wonder when * signs" proved true* life* Superstition, however, had a strong grip on slave A fellow slave named Andy was a seasoned runaway and the overseer Page 4. 241 usually set the hounds after him. f Going to a fortune teller Andy secured a "hound* which caused all dogs to be friendly with him* There after when the hounds were set upon him, he played with them, turned their ears inside out, and sent them back to their owner. -) The attitude of the slaves toward freedom varied and as they were not allowed to discuss it, their hope was veiled In such expressions as the "LORD willlprovide** Some were even afraid to settle any statement and silently prayed that their release would come soon* Seme feared that something might prevent their emancipation so they ran away and joined the Yankee Army, hoping to be able to destroy their former master. During this time masters suffered as well as their slaves. for many of their sons went gaily forth to battle and were never heard of again* Rigerson, son of "Marse* Jesse Rigerson, was lost to his parents- Simpson A younger son, who lost his right hand while "helping" feed cane to a grinder, is the only member of the family now living* Sorrow did not break this slaves group and they soon learned to sing away their troubles* One song which gives some light on their attitude toward the government went as follows: I* Jeff Davis rode the gray horse Ole Lincoln rode the mule Jeff Davis is the gentleman Ole Lincoln Is the fool Chorus: I'll lay ten dollars down I111 count it one by one* Ifll give ten dollars to know the man Who struck Peter Butler9s son* II. I lay down in my bed I lay down in no dread Conscript come and took xae And dragged me from my bed III# I went down a new cut road She went down the lane I turned my back upon her And flong come Liza Jane* Bag* 5* After freedom was declared, Bryant Huff fs family moved several miles from the Rigerson plantation to one owned by an elderly wcman* They ran from a mean master hut their flight was a "leap from the frying pan into the fire*, for this waaan proved even worse than their former master. At the close of the war the K*K#K* was very active and their fearful exploits made them the terror of the slaves# attempt to curb the K*K K* activities* A hand of the latter was organized to Neither gang knew who was a member of the other, but their clashes were frequent* One night the K*K* K# ap- peared at the Buff cabin and when admitted took the father, an uncle, and a man named Mansfield from the house* After forcing the father to break a gun which he had borrowed from Mr* Rigerson, they beat him so brutally that his arm was broken* The uncle9 a minister who preached a type of doctrine that they liked, was unharmed* Mansfield, accused of being a member of the anti-K K*K* gang, was beaten unmercifully* While this was being done, two members of the gang returned to the house where they searched the hack room (men slept in the front room, the women and children in the rear) to see if any adults were secreted there* The small boys under the bed said "Don't harm us, we9re only children"* After this outrage, done at the request of the mistress, the Huff family moved back to the Rigerson plantation* Mr* Rigerson *s harsh disposition was broken after the Civil War ended and he repented of his severe treatment of his former slaves* Daniel Buff whom he had despised and feared, became his best friend who nursed him until death* Hufff s wife received three acres of ground and two houses from her former master Mto also gave her an apology for his past meanness and stated that he wished to provide her *ith ft home for life* During this period martial law prevailed in the South* The Yankee troops, placed in every town, were the only police present and all cases from the county were presented to them for settlement* A few years after emancipation,* Bryant then a young man, ran away from home and apprenticed himself to a physician who beeame Interested in his thirst for **m &* knowledge and gave him an opportunity to attend l&heel* After several years of hard study, he went before the board of examiners in order to teach. After 2 examinations he was immediately appointed to teach at the school where he had once been a pupil* Huff* now an aged man, is dependent upon loeal relief for his sustenance* He is able to do light work like sweeping yards and is a very good umbrella mender and shoe repairer, but is not able to go in search of work* He has smoked since he was a young man and has never taken especial ee3te of his health, so his long life may be attributed to a strong constitution. 2&t - j.00098-.. ' ' " " ' 2M- \- PLANTATION LIFE as related "by Sx-Slavet EASTER HUFF 125 Hockspring St., Athens, Georgia. Written "by: Sadie B. Hornsby Athens, Georgia Edited bys Sarah H. Hall Athens Florence Blease. John H. Bootfa. Augusta, Georgia. 11)0092 ,.- EASTER HUFF ax-Slave - Age 80 Easter eagerly complied with the request for the story of her life, !t I done forgot a heap I knowed, but I allus loves to talk 1 oout de old times." She declared solemnly. n Dis young race lives so fas1 dey needs to knov/ what a hard time us had.11 MI was borne d in Ogle thorps County on Marse Jabe Smith's I donf t fzactly knov/ how old I is, but I was jus1 a chap plantation. when de war ended. Easter is my right name, but white folkses calls me Esther. Mammy was Louisa Smith, but I donft knov/ nothin* my grain1 ma, f cause she died f bout f ore I was born, and she done de cookin1 I can1 t tell you nothinf in de v/hite folkses house. f f bout neither one of my gram1 pas. H Us slep1 on corded beds v/hat had high postes and ruffled curtains *round de foot. De beds v/hat had curtains all !round de top of dem high postes was called teester beds. V/hen all dem curtains was fresh washed and starched, de beds sho1 did look grand* Chilluns slep1 on pallets on de flof. "Mammy was a plow hand, but us chillun didn1t do nothin1 much fcept eat and play and sleep in de -grass ftil she got in from de fiel1 evvy night. De big old cook house had a partition *crost it, and on one side Aunt Peggy done all de cookin1 for Old Marster1s household and for de slaves too. On de udder side of de partition v/as de loom room v/har Aunt Peggy v/eaved all de clotii and Mrs. Lacy Hines, what lived on another plantation not far ff um us, made all our S 6 age 2* oloth.es* *Chilluns didn11 know nothin1 ~*bout gittin* no money of dey own r til atter de war. Mammy, she made her little money knittin* socks, and patchin1 clothes at night, and she had done saved up nigh $40.00 in Confederate money* de war f Dey called it Confederate shucks atter cause it warn11 no good no more den, and she let us chillun play wid it. Be shin plasters was Confederate money for as low as 25 cents* ^Victuals dem days warn11 fancy lak dey is now, hut Marster allus seed dat us had plenty of milk and butter, all kinds of greens for bilein*, ftatoes and peas and sich lak. Chilluns et eornbread soaked in de pot liquor what de greens or peas done been biled in* Slaves never got much meat. Dey mixed butter wid home-made syrup and sopped it up wid cornbread* Dere warn11 Much wheat bread for slaves* ^Bere was a good f possum hound on de plantation what was a-fine rabbit dog too, and Marster let us use him to ketch us lots of ! possums and rabbits* De mens went seinin1 at night in Buffalo Crick what run thoof Marse Jahe*s place* Bey used to put back all de little fishes and de turkles and tarrepins. *Possuras was baked wid sweet !tatoes and rabbits was parbiled in a big old open fireplace in big pots and skillets* Marster lma one big gyarden whar enough v/as growed for ewybody on de whole plantation, but some of de slaves was 'lowed to have deir own little gyardens and cotton patches what dey wukked on moonlight nights* *Be gal chillun in dem days wore little slips, and de boys had shirts split up de sides* drawers or no thin*. Day jus1 wore one piece in summer, no In de winter us had good warm clothes, made out of coarse ausenburg (o&naburg) clotfe. Us wore de same clothes Sundays as evvyday, only us was. sf posed to put fam on clean on Sunday mornin1 A colored man named Clark Dogget made our shoes out of rough red leather what never had been dyed or colored up none Sometimes Ifenuel would have to help him wid de shoemakin*. rr On Sundays Mamiqy would comb my hair and put a clean dress on me, and den take me to de white folkses1 church at Salem:, what dere was two rows of benches in de back for slaves. Hev. Braritley Galloway was da pastor, and Rev* Patrick Butler preached too# "I never seed no baptizin*s or funfals in slavery days, but atter anybody was burled SCamnQF tuk us to de graveyard and let us look r ,t de grave* grave. Dey allus put a fence made wid pine poles *roupd de Some few of de slaves might have read de Bible a little, but dar v/arn11 none what could write tt I jined church ray way of livin* ! cause I was converted and had done changed I think folkses ought to be *ligious so dey can help others to live lak de Bible says. *lffarse Ja.be Smith was a good white man. He was* a grand fiddler and he used to call us to d big house at night to dance for him. tired. I couldnft do nothin1 f cept jump up and down and I shof did git Marse Jabe warnft married. He raised his brother1s chillun, out dey was all grown when de war come on. fage 4* & 91, done clean forgot de name of Starsterf $ oirerieet and 1 don't ricollee1 how Kiany acres was in dat plantation, but it- Shof was a "big one. Be re was *bout 2J> grown slaves, and a lot of Sigpr chillun rompin* round. De oYerseer got *emup *bQut three 'clock and dey stayed in de field 'til sundown * fore dey started for de house. When dey got f'um de fields at night, de ' omans spun, mended, and knit, and de mens wukked in deir gyardens and cotton patches. Winter nights dey plaited baskets and made hoss eollars. All de slaves knocked off at twelve o'clock Sadday. Bare was allus somepin* to do on Sadday night - frolics, dances, and siGh lak. Bey picked de banjo and knocked on tin pans for music to danee by. Sunday was a rest day. Slaves visited'each other or went to church if dey wanted to, but dey had to git a pass. *I seed dem patterollers on hosses jus* gain1 it down de big road. I seed *em axin' Niggers dey met if dey had passes. 7 Attar dey looked at de passes, dey would let *em go on. But if a slave was cotched widout no pass dey would beat him mos* nigh to death. If us had patterollers to keep Niggers f'um gallivantin* 'round so much now days, dar wouldn*t be so much devilment done. "Some of de slaves jus* had to be whupped 'cause dey wouldn11 behave. On our plantation, de overseer done de whuppin*i Harse Jabe never totched 'em. Mammy told us/'bout seein* slaves put on de block in Virginny and sold off in droves lak hosaas. "Didn* t none of Marse Jabe's Niggers run off to de North dat I knowed *bout. One Nigger named Barlow what was too lazy to wuk in Bage 5 de field slipped off to de woods and made hisself a den to live in. He rna.de baskets, footmats, and brooms, and used to come out at night and Bell renu Dey said He would steal de white folkses* hogs, chickens, and jus1 anythin* he could put his hands on. cotched him, I don*t know nothin* *bout it. pretty nigh If dey ever Mammy used to skeer-us to death at night when she wanted us to go on to bed* She said if us didn1 t go to sleep Barlow shof would git us. ,f Oht us did have a time at Christmas. Dey would have plenty to eatj eggnog and all sorts of good things, and sometimes mens and f omans got drunk and cut up. cheese to eat Christmas time. de big house for a council. Harme Jabe allus give us a little On Hew Year's Day all de slaves went to Marse Jabe would talk to fem and counsel ! em for de New Year and tell *em how to live* "Cornshuckin1sS Yassum,! rlcollecta cornshuekin* s folkses corned ffum all de plantations close ^round. De Atter dey was thoo* wid shuckin1 de corn, dey gathered fround a long table in de yard. Marse Jabe had de prettiest level yard you ever seed* it was swept so nice and clean. De victuals was piled on dat table, and dey give us gre&t kegs of apple and peach brandy. "Mammy used to tell us *bout E&w-head an1 Bloody-bones if us didn1 t go to bed when she wanted to goout. Us sho* would pile in in a hurry den, and duck under dat kivver and most nigh die 'cause us v/as skeered to look out lessen he rapught be dar atter us* *Harsa Jabe was mighty good to his slaves when dey got sick* I seed Mammy sick once. Dr. Lumpkin Landon was sont atter. De Page 6. 250 slaves would git fever weeds and sweetgum bark, bile -f em together, and take de tea for colds, coughs, and fever* Dey wore little sacks of assfidity (assafoetida) rround day necks to keep off disease, and strung hollow treadsass (treadsalvej roots on strings lak necklaces and hung 'em fround de babies1 necks to make * em teethe easy. "Soon atter de surrender, Marse Jabe told his Niggers dey was free as he was, but dat he didn1t want nary one to leave him, lie wanted ! em to stay wid him he said, and he offered to pay rem Bere warn1 t nary one what left* wages. right on lak she done before, Mammy wukked and plowed ^tter I v/as big enough, I went to Lexinfton to wuk for Mrs. HcWhorter. IIT *7hen I married Bob Willinfham, I sho1 had a nice weddin1 I v/as married in a blue merino dress. snow v/id trimrrdn1 s on it. at de bottom. My underskirt v/as white as* I v/ore long drawers what was trimmed fancy Our white folkses give us lots of cake, turkey,' ham, and sich lak for de weddin"1 feast* Our only child was named Minnie, and dere was five of our grandchillun, but dey1 s all dead now but two* One lives in Cincinnati, Ohio, and I lives wid de udder one what wuks at de chapter house here, -attar Bob died, I married Lumpkin Huff, but us didn't have no weddin1 dat time. to my house and married us. so mean I didn't live v/id f De preacher jus1 come I went to Slberton wid fim, but he was im but eight months before 1 come back to ^thens. !t Dey used to have a song fbout Mr. Lincoln when I was a littla chap* but I done forgot it. Ho Ma'am, I don't know nothin1 'bout Mr. Page 7.251 Javis and .Booker Washin* ton. Dem days I never heard much rbout folkses away off f'urn here. *I b' lieve I*se done told you all I knows 'bout back days. livin*. I don't know nothln* 'bout dese fas' present-day ways o* When I was a chap and got a whuppin* and Mammy heerd 'bout it I got another one. Now dey takes you to de law. Yes Ma'am, for my- self I'd rather have de old days wid good Old-Marster to take keer of me." PLANTATION LIES, AS VIEWED BY AN 1X-SLAVS SJL Written By: Miss Grace McCune Athens - Edited By; Mrs. Sarah H. Hall Athens and John N. Booth District Supervisor federal Writers* Project Residences No. 6 & 7 Augusta, Georgia Sept. 21, 1938. ;f':>::*f;V.,^;:: Lina Hunter Sx-Slave:, Age about 90 870 Bailey Street Athens, Georgia Lina Hunter*s weather-beaten house nestles at the foot of a long hill, and several large ehinaberry trees furnish shade for her well-kept yard. As the visitor hesitated before the rickety front steps someone called from inside the house, "Chile, do be keerful on dem old steps 'cause dey might fall wid you; dey done went through wid some of dese chillun here." The tall mulatto woman who came to the door had tiny plaits of white hair that covered her head in no apparent design. Her faded print dress was clean, and she wore badly scuffed brogan shoes several sizes too large on her stockingless feet. In answer to an inquiry she replied: "Dis is Lina's house, and I is Lina. Have a cheer out here on ae porch, please, mam, 'cause de gals is ironin' in de house and dem fire buckets sho make it hot in dar." of Lina readily agreed to tell/her life in the ante-bellum period. I 'members all 'bout slavery time," sue laugned, "cause I was right dar. Course I warn't ^rown-up, but I was big enough to holp ^reat-granny Bose look atter all dem otaer slave chillun whilst deir mammies * ** and daddies was in de field at wuk. n Anne and Peter Biliups was my mammy and daddy, and my granddaddy and gr&ndmammy was Washing on and Tiller Biliups; all of fem belonged to Old Marster Jack Biliups'. Marse Jack stayed in Athens, but his plantation, whar 1 was.borned and whar all my folks was borned and raised, was 'way down in Oglethorpe County# I don't rightly know how old I is, f cause all Marster1s old records is done got lost or 'stroyed, evvy blessed one of 'em, but Ifse been here a mighty long time. "Honey, dat old plantation was sho one big place Back of de big house, whar de overseer lived, was just rows and rows of slave cabins. Dey stacked 'em up out of big logs jus1 lak dey made hog-pen fences. All de cracks 'twixt de logs was chinked up tight wid red mud and, let me tell you, Honey, dey was keerful to lay on so much red mud over dem sticks dat chimblies on our place never did ketch fire lak dey did on some of de places whar dey done things sort of shiftless lak. Dem cabins had two rooms and a shed room 'crost de back whar dey done de cookin' Two famblies lived in evvy cabin. "Dey allus had plenty to cook, f cause dere was plenty of victuals raised on Marse Jack's place Ghillun was all fed up at de big house whar Marse Garner, de overseer, lived. v Deir mammies was 'lowed to come in TS*' from de fields in time to cook dinner for de menfolks, but dey didn't git deir chillun back home 'til atter supper. Granny Rose had 'em all day, and she had to see dat dey had de right sort of victuals to make chillun grow fast and strong. Chillun et out of wood- en trays, and, Honey, dey shp was some sight; dey looked jus' lak pig troughs. Dey poured peas, cabbage, or whatever de chillun was to eat right in dat trough on top of a passel of cornbread. lor supper chillun jus* had milk and bread, but dere was allus plenty of it. Marse Jack had lots of cows, and old Aunt Mary didn't have no other job but to churn enough so dere would allus be plenty of milk and butter, 'cause Marse Jack had done said milk was good for chillun and dat us was to have it to drink any time us wanted it. "Ivvybody cooked on fireplaces deni I jus" wish you could see dat big old fireplace in de big house kitchen; you could stand up in it. It had long racks clear acrost de inside for de pots what dey biled in to hanj on. Bakin' was done in thick iron skillets dat had heavy lids. You sot 'em on coals and piled more coals all over 'em. Us had somepin dat most folks didn't have; dat was long handled muffin pans. Dey had a lid dat fitted down tight, and you jus' turned 'em over in de fire 'til de muffins was cooked on both sides. I., I had / '''mm* dem old muffin irons here, but de lid got broke off and dese heue boys done lost wid fem. f em diggin1 In de ground Dem victuals cooked, on open fire-places was mighty fine, and I wishes you could have a chance to see jusf how nice day was "Evvy kind of vegetable us knowed anything * bout was raised right dar on de place and dey had big old fields of corn, oats, rye, and wheat fruit trees on de plantation too* Us had lots of Dere warn*t no runnin1 off to de store evvy time dere was a special meal to be got up* pepper W^LS victuals. Coffee, sugar, salt, and black de most Marse Jack had to buy in de way of Course dey was hard to git in war times* Parched corn and okra seed was ground together for coffee, and us had to git up dirt under old smokenouses and bile it down for salt* Dere was allus a little sugar fround de sides of de syrup barrfls, and us had to make out wid dat hot red pepper ftil atter de war was done over a good long time, any more black pepper shipped in* f fore dere was pite of all dat, Honey, dem was good old days* "Marster raised enough cows, sheep, hogs, cnickens, and turkeys for us to have all d^^eat us needed* of mules and oxen too. He had lots Day used de mules for *inos't of de "" @fli . plowin1 and for goln* tomill,, and dontt forgit it took plenty of goin' to mill to feed as many Niggers as our Marster had. Lordy, LadyI how many slaves he owned. I neverknowed Oxen pulied dem twe^wheeled carts dey hauled in de craps wid, and I has rid to town in a ox^-cart many a time. Dem old oxen was enough to make a preacher lose his best 'ligion, Dey had a heap of mean ways, but de wust thing dey done was to run spang down in de water evvy time dey corns to a oriqk. It never mattered how deep it was, and you might holler all day, but dey warn't coming out of dat water *till dey was good and ready. Dat happened evvy time dey saw a crick, but dere warn't nothin* us could do 'bout it, for Marse Jack sho never 'lowed nobody to lay deir paws on his stock. "Folks wove all deir cloth at home dem days. Dey mad up plenty of cotton cloth for hot weather, and for de cold wintertime, dere warn't nothin' warmer dat us knowed about dan de cloth dey made out of home-saised wool and cotton. Marster kept a slave dat didn't have nothin* else to do but make shoes for ewybody on de plaee. Yes, mam, Honey, dey tanned de hide evvy tirae dey kilt a cow. Leather was tanned wid whiteoak bark. Chillun's shoes was finished off wid brass knobs on de toes, and us was sho mighty dressed up Niggers when us got on dem shoes wid deir shiny knobs. Little gals* dresses -6- was made wid long skirts gathered on to plain waisties. Dere warn't no showin' de legs lak dey does now. ^Little boys had red and black jeans suits made wid waisties and britches sewed together in front but wid a long buttonedup openin1 in de back. Most of de other places jus1 put long shirts on little boys, but dat warn't de way dey done on our place, folks* T cause us didn!t belong to no pore Our Marster had plenty and he did lak to see his Niggers fixed up nice. Course in summertime none of de chillun didn't wear nothin' but little slips, so dey could keep cool, but in winter it was diffunt. fioney, dem old balraoral petticoats was some signt, but dey was sho warm as hell. I seea a piece of one of mine not long ago whar I had done used it to patch up a old quilt. f 0mansf dresses was made jus1 about lak dis one I got on now, f ceptinf I didn't have enough cloth to make ue skirt full as dem old-time clothes used to be.ft The old woman stood up to snow just how her dress was fashioned. The skirt, sewed to a plain, close-fitting waist, was very full in the back, but plain across the front. Lina called attention to an opening on the left side of the front* "See here, Chile," she said, "here's a sno 'nougn pocket* Jus' let me turn it wrong-side-out to show you how big it is. Wny, I useci a whole 5 pound flour sack to make it 'cause I don't lak none if dese newfangled littie pockets. I lak things de way I was raised. hangs down inside and nobody don't sea it. Bis pocket De chilluns fusses 'bout my big pocket, but it ain't in none of deir dresses, and I'se sho gwine to wear *em 'til dey is wore out to a gnat's heel. "Ghiilun never had to wuk on our plantation 'til dey was big enough to go to de fields, and dat was when dey was around 12 to 14 years old. Dey jus' played 'round de yards and down by de wash-place dat was a little ways off from de big house on a branch dat run from de big spring* On wash days dat was a busy place, wid lots of 'omans bending over dem great big wash pots and de biggest old wooden tubs I ever seed. Dere was plenty racket 'round de battlin1 block whar dey beat de dirt out of de clothes,'and dey would sing long as dey was a-washin' "Marster was sho good to his Niggers all de time. Course he made 'em wuk 'less dey was sick. Chillun never had nothin* to do 'cept eat, sleep, and play. Ewy time Marse Jack come out to his plantation he brung candy for all de pickaninhiea^. and, Honey, it warn't in no little sacks neither; dere was^allus plenty for 'em all, and it was a mighty big orowd of us. Marster loved to come out on Sundays to see us chillun git our -s- 260 heads combed. Honey, dere sho was hollerin* on dat place when dey started wukin1 on us wid dem jim crow combs what was made lak a curry comb fceppinf dey warnft quite as wide acrost. When dem jim crow combs got stuck in dat tangled, kinky wool, damn if1 dem chillun didnft yell, and Marster would laugh and tell Granny Rose to comb it good* "Granny Rose larnt me to keep clean and fix myself up nice, and, Honey, I ainft got too old to primp up now. One thing dia old Nigger ainft never done is to put hair straightener on her head, f cause de 31essed Lord sont me here wid kinky hair, ana I!se gwine way from here wid aat Itfs wnite now, out dat ainft no same old Kimcy hair. fault or mine. f Honey, I sho do trust dat Good Lord. Why, I member wnen I used to pull out my own teeth; I jus1 tied a string fround f em, laid down on my bed. and said, ! Lord, I is in your hands,1 and den I would give dat string a hard yank and out come dem damn teeth. "Yes, mam, Ifse seed slaves sold. Dey jus1 put dem Niggers up on de block and bid fem off. worker brought a Dig price, ana a good breedin' sho did fetch de money, A smart f oman ! cause all de white folks did lak to xiave plenty chillun 'round. Dem oreedin1 'omans never done no wuk a fall; dey made other slaves wait -9- on 'em ftil atter deir babies was borned. Slave f omans what had babies was sont back from de fields in de mornin1 and atter dinner so dair babies could suck ftil atter dey was big enough to eat bread and milk; den dey was kept wid de other chillun for Granny Rose to keer for* "Slaves didn't even git married lak folks does now* Dere warnft none of dem newfangled licenses to buy. dey had to do was tell iviarster dey wanted to marry up. All If it was all right wid him he had fem jump over a broom and dey was done married. Slaves couldn't git out ana do no courtin1 on other plantations widout deir marsters knowed it, 'cause dey had to have passes to leave de place whar dey lived. If dey was brash enough to go off widout no pass de pateroilers would cotch 'em for sho, and dey would nigh beat 'em to death. Dat didn't stop courtin', 'specially on our place, 'cause dey jus' tUK anybody dey laked; it aian't matter whose man or 'oman dey had* "Marster haa a oig old ginhouse on de plantation aoout miles from de oig h^use, but I never seed in it, 'cause dey didn't 'low 'omans and chillun 'round it* De menfolKS said dey hitchea up mules to run it, and aat aey had a cotton press inside de ginhouse. bey said it was a heap of trouble to git rid of all dem old cottonseeds dat piled up so fast in ginnin' time. Dere was a great big wuk-snop on de place too, whar dsy fixed evvy- 261 '" rX-ffi* thing, and dat was whter defy made coffins i^ died* Yes, mam, evvything was made at home, e#aii down to de ooffins "Dere didnH many -folks die out back in dam good old days, * cause dey was made to take keer of deirselfs Dey had to wuk hard, but dey et plenty and went to bed regflar evvy night in wuk time. When one of f em did die out, deir measure was tuk and a coffin was made up and blackened ftil it looked right nice* Whenever dere was a corpse on de place Marster didnft make nobody do no wuk, de buryin1 f eept jus1 look atter de stock,- ftil atter Dey fixed up de corpses nice* Yes, mam, sho as you is borned, dey did; dey made hew clothes for 'em and buried fem decent in de graveyard on de place* Marse Jackfseed to dat* Dey put de coffin on a wagon, and de folks walked to de graveyardf Dere was crowds of 'em; dey come from jus* ewywhar. A preacher, or some member of deir marster's fambly, said a prayer, de folks sung a hymn, and it was all over. Bout de biggest buryin* us ever had on our place was for a *oman dat drapped down, in de path and died when she was comin* in from de field to nuss her baby. Yes, mam, she was right on de way to Granny Rose's cabin in de big house yard. "No, mam, I ain't forgot when de Yankees come'to our place. Dat was right atter de end of de war, not long atter us had been told 'bout freedom. When us II- heared dey was on deir way us tuk and hid all de stuff us could, but dey sho tore up dat place* Dey tuk all de meat out of de smokehouse and give it to de Niggers, but deir bellies was already full and dey didn't need it, so dey give it back to Marse Jack soon as dem sojers was gone* 'Fore dey left dem Yanlcee sojers tuk Marse Jack's mules and horses slap out of de plows and rid f em off, and left deir old wore-out stock right dar* "Freedom didnft make so many changes on our place right at fust, 'cause most of de slaves stayed right on dar, and things went on jus1 lak dey had ffore dere was any war* Marse Jack had done told fem dey was free, but dat aem what wanted to stay would be tuk keer of same as f fore de war* Dere warnft many what left neither, 'cause Marse Jack had been so good to evvy one of f em dey didn't want to go 'way. "Honey, back in dem good old days us went to church wid our white folks. Slaves sot in de gallery or in de back of de church. I'se been to dat old Cherokee Corners Church more times'dan I knows how to count, "but de fust baptizin1 I ever seed was at de old St. Jean church; dere was jus* three or four baptized dat day, but Lordy, 1 never did hear such prayin1, shoutin', and singin1, in all my born days* One old 'oman come up out of dat crick a-shoutin| 'bout she was walk- * *.' " "'"' ^if: in' through de pearly gates and wearin' gulden slippers, but I looked down at her foots and what she had on looked more lak brogans to me. I kin; still hear our old songs, but it's jus' now and den dat dey come back to my mind. For a moment Llna was quiet, then she said, "Honey, I wants to smoke my old pipe so bad I kin most taste it, but how in hell kin I smoke when I ain't had no 'baccy in two days? Chile, ain't you got no 'baccy wid you, jus' a little 'baccy? You done passed de nighest store 'bout 2 miles back toward town," she said, "but if you will pay for some 'baccy for Line:, some of dese good-for-nothin* chillun kin sho go git it quick and, whilst dey's dar, dey might as well git me a little coffee too,, if you kin spare de change." The cash was supplied by the visitor, and Lina soon started the children off running. "If you stops airy a minute," she told them, "I'se gwine take de hide offen your backs, sho' as you is borned." As soon as they were out of sight, she returned to her chair and started talking again. "Yes, mam, Honey, -things went on 'bout de same old way atter de war." Suddenly the old woman leaped to her feet and began shouting, "Bless God A'mightyl I knows de key to prayers. Praise de Lordi I'se done prayed jus' dis mornin* for de Lord to send me some 'baccy and coffee, and God is done sont Missy wid de money to answer my *!%! prayer. Praise de LordI 1*89 glad Use here, 'cause I coulda been gone and missed my 'baccy and coffee. Praise God I I'se gwine to smoke one more time." dat damned old pipe She seized the visitor by the shoulder as she shouted, "I sho laks your looks', but you may be de devil for all I knows, and you may be flila' to put me in de ohaingang wid all dis here writin', but" here she gave the startled "visitor a shake that almost pulled her out of the chair, "Damn, if I don't lak you anyhow." Her granddaughter, Gallie, cam out on the poroh to see what was wrong with Lina. "Granny," she said, "I wouldn't talk lak:;dafc*v .Missy will think you is dat way all de time." "Git back to ycrar ironin*, gal," said Lina.' "I knows I talks right smart ugly. Didn't my Miss'Fannie , tell me one time she was gwine to put potash in my mouth to clean it out? you." Now, Nigger, I said git, 'fore I hits Her grandmother started toward her, and Gallie lost no time going inside the house. Lina went back to her chair, and as she sat down started singing. With each note her tones grew louder. The words were something like this: "God A'mighty, when my heart begins to burn And dat old wheel begins to turn, Den, Oh, Lordl Don't leave me here." ^l^to It seemed from the length of her chant that the wheels would turn indefinitely, but no sooner had she fin* ished that song, than she started another, "When my old mammy died a~shoutin*, All de friend I had done died and gone. She died a-*prayin*, she died a-prayin'. "In dat day dat you died, dat you died, Gwine to be a star risin' in dat mornin'. Didn't you hear 'em say, 'gwine to be a v. Star risin* in de mornin'. "De Christians all will know in dat day, Dat my old mammy died a-shoutin', died a-shoutin*, Cause dat star sho gwine to be dar. "Oh, Lord! Don't leave me now, Oh, LordI But guide me all 'long de way, 'long de way. 'Cause I'se in trouble, ca t I am. Lordl Oh, LordI don't leave me now." "Honey, I jus' feels lak prayin* and cussin' too, at de same time, but it's 'cause I'se 00 happy. Here I is, I'se nigh 'bout crazy. If Old Marster could jus' come oack I'd sno have plenty of evvything I needs. "I 'members dem old frolics us had, when harvest times was over, and all dat corn was piled up ready for de big cornsnuckin'. Honey, us sho had big old times* Us would cook for three or four days gittin' ready for de feast dat was to follow de cornshuckin'. De fust thing dey done was 'lect a general to lead off de sing* in' and keep it goin' so de faster dey sung, de faster -is- dey shucked de corn. J&vvy now and den dey passed de corn liquor frouna, and dat hoiped fem to wuk faster, and evvy Nigger dat found a red ear got :a.-extra swig of liquor* Atter de sun went down dey wuked right on by de light of pine torches and bonfires. Dem old pine knots would burn for a long time and throw a fine bright light Honey, it was one grand sight out dar at night wid dat old harvest moon a-sninin', fires a-burninf, and dem old torches lit up. I kin jus1 see it all now, and hear dem songs us sung. Dem was such happy times When all de corn was shucked and dey had done et all dat big supper, dey danced for de rest of de night f! Dey had logroilin's when dere was new ground to be cleared up* De menfolks done most of dat wuk, but de T omans jus* come along to fix de big supper and have a good time laughin1 and talkin1 whilst de menfolks was doin1 de wuk. Atter de logs was all rolled, dey et, and drunk, and danced 'til dey fell out. lfll bet you ainft never seed notain1 lak dem old break-downs and dragouts us had dem nights atter logrolling . Dey sho drug heaps of dem Niggers out. "When de harvest moon was 'most as bright as daylignt us had cotton pickinTs. Dem big crowds of slaves would clean out a field in jus1 no time, and you could hear ? em singin1 a long ways off whilst dey was a-pickin* dat cotton. Dey fmost alius nad barbecue wid all de 26? ^^^rrf^^^'^^tpi^ier^j^r^jv- -16- fixin's to enjoy when dey finished pickin1 out de cotton, and den lots of drinkin1 and danoin1. Honey, I could sho cut dem corners* 'Bout dat danein', Danein' is one thing I more'n did lak to do, and I wish I could hear dat old dance song again. Miss Liza Jane, it was, and some of de words went lak dis, Liza Jane* f Steal fround dem corners, Miss Don't slight none, Miss Liza Jane# your partner, Miss Liza Jane*' Swing Dere was heaps and lots more of it, but it jus1 won't come to me now* "One nighti not long atter dey sot us free, dere was a big old Nigger breakdown on our plantation, and such a lot of Niggers as you never seed was at dat dance* Whilst us was havin' de bestest time, takin1 a drink 'twixt dances, us heared a !oman screamin' lak murder* JSwybody . run, but us jus1 heared a horse runnin1 and dat foman still hollerin1 De menfolks got on horses and rid all night but dey never did find 'em* One of our gals was gone; a real young one named Rose Billups* Nigger haa done stole 'er. Some damn, no fcount Us didnft larn nothin1 f bout her for nigh onto a year, den she writ to Marse Jack to come atter her. He went. donft 'member now whar it was# It was a fur way off, and I Dat mean man had done most kilt Rose, and had left her wid a baby* No, mam, dey didn't never cotoh 'im* ft Norman Green had two wives and dey didn't live fur from our plantation* I knows 'bout dat, 'cause in 268 -u* years to come I lived on de same farm whar dey was. It was dis way: his fust wife, Tildy, was sold off from him in slavery time. He got married again, and atter freedom come Tildy come right back to him* He kept both his wives right dar in de same one*-room cabin. beds sot right feide each other. Deir One wife's chilluns was all boys and de other didn't have nothin' but gals. "Yes, Chile, us wuked hard. Ifse seed my mammy plowin1 in de fields many a time, wid her skirt pinned up to keep it out of de dirt. Yes, mam, us did wuk, but us had a good place to stay, plenty somepin tfeat, and plenty clothes to wear; dere warnft nothin1 else us needed* "Missy did you ever hear dat old sayin1 folks gittin1 speckiedy when dey gits old? Well, f bout f cordinf to dat old sayin', I'se sho been here a mighty long time. Jus' look at my legs." She raised her skirts to her knees to display the white specks that stood out in clear contrast on her dark skin. "Dat's a sho sign of bein' old folks,11 insisted Lina. She stood up and,peered down the road, impatient for the return of the children, who were to bring her tobacco and coffee. Finally she saw them come over the hill and could hardly restrain herself until they arrived in the yard. Snatching the parcels, as the children came up the steps, Lina called out, } 69 **** n Callie, come here, gal, fix my pipe quick, and put dat coffeepot on de fire bucket, f cause Glory to Godl Ifse gwine to smoke my old pipe and drink me one more good cup of coffee#" When Callie finally succeeded in filling and lighting Linafs pipe to suit her, and the old woman had inhaled with an exaggerated air of satisfaction for several moments, she indulged in a few more shouts of n Praise de Lordl" then , she said, "Honey, Ifse ready to talk some more now. Damned if I ainft gwine to git right on talkin1 for you, 'fore I starts off singin' again* lf 0h, it's 'bout my marriage you wants to know now, is it? Well, me and Jeff Hunter got married up whilst I was still stayin1 OR Marster Jack's place. , Jeff went to de courthouse and got us a license lak de white folks, and us had a nice weddinf. My dress was mighty pretty; it was white lawn, made long waisted lak dey wore dresses den. Mrs. Lizzie Johnson made it, and it had long sleeves, and. a long full skirt wid lots of ruffles. De two petticoats she gimme to wear wid my weddin' dress was ruffled to beat de band and had trimmin1 on evvy ruffle. My weddin' drawers even had rurfles on *emj I was really dressed up. two dances. Us had a big fine supper and 3hot mam, dat ain't no mistake. have two dances, one was at home, and Us did den us went H?i) -19- over to my brother1 s house whar he give us another one and served cake and wine to de weddin1 party* Atter us drunk dat wine, it warnft no trouble to dance for de rest of de night* "Me and Jerf moved on de Johnson place, and Jeff wuked some for Mrs. Johnson's daughter, Mrs. Dannie Dean, but for de most part he wuked in de wagon shop wid Mr* Tom Anthony* "Ifse still got one or my old weddin1 petticoats; I wore out four bodies on it*" Lina excused herself and went inside the nouse for a moment* She returned to the porch with an old-fashioned suitcase or as she called it. she said* rt grip,'? ff Dis here's older dan old Lina is," "It belonged to kiss Lizzie's daddy, but I sewed it back together atter dey throwed it away, and Ifse gwiue to keep it long as I lives." Sae opened it and took out a petticoat that was yellow with age* It was several yards wide and was encircled by numerous embroidered ruffles. The skirt was sewed on to a tight, straight oody-waist that was much newer than the skirt and this waist was topped by a rose-colored crocheted yoke. "Mrs. tfannie Bean made dat for me," Lina. "Look ao dis old olacK shawl, is? f declared 6ee now oig it Lat's what 1 used to wear lor a wrop on caurcn aays rore 1 ev^r haa a coat. 271 Z^M&: M l'se still sleepin1 on one of Miss Lizzie's beds. Come inside, I wants you to see it." Apart of tiie tall headboard iiad been removed so the bed could be used in a low-ceiled room* The footboard was low, and Lina insisted on showing the small double locks that joined the side pieces to the head and foot boards* These are rarely seen now. She was using the original old wooden-framed wire fabric springs, and a straw mattress As she displayed the latter, she said, *Yes, Chile, I still sleeps on my straw tick, f cause dat's what I was raised on and dere ain't ^0^1^ sleeps as good as dat old tick when itfs full of good fresh wheat straw " Linafs coffeepot on the charcoal bucket was steaming and the visitor prepared to depart so that ttk9 old woman could enjoy her drink while it was fresh and hot. Lina followed her to the veranda and said with much enthusiasm, "God bless you, Lady. You sho is done made me &&ppy> &&<* Ifse gwine to pray for you ewy day and ask de Lord to take keer of you all de ti^e. do dat, Ifse gwine to f cause I wants you to come back and let me sing some more of our good old songs for you sometime*n After the house was no longer in sight, Linafs high pitched voice could be heard singing My Old Mammy Died a-Shoutinf. 100231 r ' & $ ^ SUBJECT: . EMMA HtJKLET OF WASHIHGTOH-WILKES RESEARCH WORKER: HINNIE BRAHHAH STONE3TREET EDITOR:................ JOHN H. BOOTH SUPEKYI SOS: HISS VELMA BELL DX5TRXCT! . % W Jr A* NO% X DATE:..... MARCH 22, 1937 EMMA HUKLEY OF WASHINGTON-WILKES With snow white hair peeping from underneath a spotless "head rag" and wearing a big white apron, Emma Hurley reminds one of the plantation days of the long ago. She is eighty- odd years old, but does not know her exact age. From all she remembers she is sure she was at least ? or 8 at the beginning of the war for she clearly recalls the talk of war and all the excitement of those anxious days. Unfortunately, Aunt Emma was born of parents belonging to a family that bought and sold slaves as they did cattle and thought of them only in terms of dollars and cents. The story she tells of her childhood would make a Simon Legree turn pale with envy. She Is not resentful, but is honest in telling of those early years of her life, years of suffering and great hardship. Although she has never been to school, she mses very little dialect: "No mam, honey, the folks I belonged to said it wouldn't do fer niggers to learn out'n books; that schools warn't^er them. Ihey said learnin' would git us so they couldn't do nothin' wid us. After freedom I wuz nussin' here in l/ashin' ton. The mother of the chillun was a good lady an' she let me look on the books when she read to them an' larned me the lessons 'long with her chillun. She said it wuz a pity J. couldn't ov went to school, cause I wuz a apt pupil. what she said."* I larned easy, yassum, that's Stonestreet-Booth Page - 2 n My Ma wuz name Margaret an' she had thirteen chillun, six of 'em twins. I wuz the oldest one, but l ain't a twin, i wuz born on a plantation in Wilkes County right on the line of Oglethorpe. In the white family I belonged to there wuz a mother, four boys, an' two girls, all grown. Wilkes County from Maryland. They come to All four of the men went to the war an' three of 'em died of sickness caught in the war." Aunt Emma told of how the slaves had to live on the plantation and an unpleasant story it was. There were no neat cabins all in a row making up the "quarters" where the slaves lived. Instead they were made to live around in any in. old hut they could find shelteijC Her mother and three other women stayed in one room of the house the white family lived in. The little slaves were fed pig-fashion in the kitchen, but they were given just so much food and no more. They were alloted two garments at the time, summer and winter: "Why^ honey, I never had no shoes 'til after freedom come. I've walked on snow many a time barefooted with my feet so cold my toes wuz stickin' straight up with no feeling in 'em. The white folks had a trained shoe-maker slave an' he made shoes fer them, but us little niggers didn't have none. The first shoes I ever remembers had wooden bottoms an' sich a sound as they made when the folks walked 'round with 'em on." Stonestreet-Booth > Page - 3 The slaves did plenty of hard work done on the plantation. The women labored all day in the fields and then spun at night. Each one was given the task of spinning six broaches a week. On Saturday "a white lady" reeled off the spinning and if one of the women had failed in her task she was severely beaten. The men worked all day and until ten o'clock at night shucking corn or doing other chores by lamp light. Every Wednesday night the slaves had to go to the spring and wash their clothes by torch light. They did have ail day Sunday as a resting period, but they were not allowed to go to church and no religious services were held for them. There was one day holiday at Christmas, "but I never heard of a Santa Claus when I wuzr a child," said Emma. When a slave died on the place he was wrapped in a sheet, put into a pine box, and taken to a "burying ground" where he was put in the ground without any services, and with only the immediate family attending. All other slaves on the place had zo keep on working just as though nothing had happened. There were no marriages. over the broom stick." The slaves being told to "step Many families were separated by sale. "I recollects good when Mr. Seaborn Callaway come over to the place an' bought my Grandma an' some other slaves an' took 'em away. We Jest cried an' cried an' Grandma did too. Them white folks bought an' sold slaves that way all the time." "Honey, there wuz one time when them white folks wuz good to us slaves," said Aunt Emma, "an' that wuz when we wuz sick. Stones treet-Booth. Page - 4 They would give us homemade remedies like tansy tea, comfort root tea, life everlasting tea, boneeet tea, garlic water an' sich, 'cordin' ter what ailed us. sont fer the doctor. Then if we didn't git better they If we had a misery anywhere they would make poultices of tansy leaves scalded, or beat up garlic an' put on us. Them folks wuz sho* 'cerned 'bout us when we wuz sick, 'cause they didn* t want us ter die.tt When asked about the war and what she remembered of those terrible times, Aunt Emma slowly shook her head and said: never wants to live through sich. sad times no more. the hardest an' the saddest days I ever knowed. 'round like this: "I Them wuz Everybody want (here she took up her apron and buried her face in It)- they kivered their face with what-somever they had in their hands that would ketch the tears. side. Sorrow an' sadness wuz on every The men all went off to fight an' left the women an' chillun an' niggers behind to do the best they could.'*" "Times wuz so hard, why, honey, in them times folks couldn't git so much as some plain salt to use on their victuals. The white folks had the dirt dug up from out'n their smokehouses an' hauled it up to Mr. SissAn's an' he run it an' got what salt he could out'n it. I 'members one day I went over there fer sumpthin' an' the dirt what he had run wuz piled way up high like sawdust these days. There warn't no soda neither, so the white folks took watermelon rinds, fixed * em keerful like we does fer perserves, burned 'em an' took the ashes an' sifted 'em an' used 'em fer soda. Coffee giv' out an Stonestreet-Booth ^7H Page - 5 none could be bought so they took okra seeds an' parched 'em good an' brown an' ground 'em an' made coffee out'n 'em. made coffee out'n parched ground wheat too. Some folks Everybody had to do the best they could in them times. *^ "Durin1 the war," continued Aunt Emma, "the mother died an1 all her property wuz divided 'mongst the chillun. My Ma an' all her chillun fell to Miss Mary what had married an' wuz livin' in Lexington, over in Oglethorpe County. She moved us all up there an1 we wuz there 'til freedom, then we moved down to Washington where we have lived ever since. Miss Mary's husband's Ma had over two hundred slaves an' she sho' did take on when they wuz all freed. 1 'members how she couldn't stay in the house, she Jest walked up an' aown out in the yard a-carrin'-on, talkin' an* aravin'. Word ceae one day that the Yankee soldiers wuz comin' an' all us niggers went down to the road to watch 'em go by. a sight. They all marched by singin'. It wuz 'Fore they come, though, the white folks had all the niggers busy hldin' everything they could. Stock wuz tied out way down in thick woods, an' silver, money, an' good clothes wuz burled deep in the ground an' leaves put all over the earth so they couldn't see where it had been dug. When the Yankees did come they called all the slaves up an' went into smokehouses an' throwed out the meat to the niggers an' said: 'Here, take all this, we knows it's yours anyhow, you worked fer it.' But most of the niggers give it all back to the white folks it belonged to. The Yankees poured out all the syrup an' 'stroyed Stonestreet-Booth - : < J Page - 6 everything they could. I tell you, Jioney, them wuz bad times an1 us all wuz skeered 'most to death." Aunt Emma had only one sign: "No maa, I ain't 'tall super- stitious, I never thinks of things like that. But I does know when it's goln' to rain hard, an' that's when my haid itches an' itches up under my haid rag." When aaked about the amusements of her day Aunt Emma said: "I ain't never danced a step nor sung a reel in my life. My Ma allus said we shouldn't do them things an' we didn't, She aajd if we went to the devil it wouldn't be 'cause she give us her mission.1*" "How come I done lived so long? I dunno, only I allus been truthful an' honest an' tried hard to treat people good as I want them to treat me. I wuz goin' to die. Once I wuz so sick they all thought I thought so too. But I lay there sufferin' an' the Spirit seemed to come 'round an' reasoned that I would be spared days longer in this low ground of sorrow. That*s been long ago an' here I is llvln' ytt. Wot even the faintest smile crossed Aunt Emma's wrinkled face while she was diking. Although she lived to marry and have a home of her own. with good children, she is sad when she thinks of her childhood with all its injustice and suffering. "I'se glad my raee aon't have to suffer now what we did on that plantation. Some of my old friends tells me they had good homes an' wuz took keer of an' all that, but from my own 'sperience, I'se glad my chillun never knowed slavery." 280 COHSULTAHT: Eama Hurley Washington, Oeergla W:-W .00124 V PIANTA.TI0S LIFE as Yiewed by ex-slave ALICE HUTCHBSOK 165 Hocksgring Street Athens, Georgia Written by* Grrace McGune Athens Edited by* Sarah H. Hall Athens and John H. Booth Mstriot Supervisor Jederal Writers' Project Augusta, Georgia. 100124 * 282 ALICE HUTCHESOH Ex-Slave - Age 76 As the interviewer approached the house she could hear Alice singing, *Good mornin* to yout Howdy you do?*1 and through the open window the old woman could "be seen "busily engaged in household duties. Her broo , moving in rhythm with the song, did not miss a stroke when the tune changed to, *Lord I1 se a comin1 Home.* At the first sound of rapping, the singing ceased and Alice promptly opened the door. "How is you?* ^Grood mornin* Missy,* she said. Asked for the story of her early life as a slave, she smiled and urged the visitor to *have a seat in dis here rockin1 cheer out here on de porch in da sunshine.*/ *My Ma and Pa was named Harfiet Bell and William Hanson, and dey bf longed to Marse Cal Robinsom down in Konrpw* County. married two times, and de fus* man was named Bell. my half brother. Ife was He was de Pa of Only one of rny three sisters is livin1 now. born in June 1862 durin1 de war. I ^ras Mafs two brothers, Taylor and Bob Smith, b1 longed to de Robinson1 s in Morgan County. Dem ELobinisons v/as kin to our white folkses, and us was still all Robinson Niggers. Ma* s four sisters is all done died out long years ago. *I jus* kin * member one time de Yankees come to our plantation. Dey ramsacked de place, tuk all de victuals t*vm de white folkses and give 1 f em to de slaves. Us chillun sho* hid out whilst dey was dar, cause dem was skeery times, and dem sojers sung old songs I heared lots of times atter I got bigger. De captain would start de song. Page 2*. 2B3 Ifember 1866, boys, de rebels in hell of fixes, but we'll drink and eat deir bones yit.f Atter de Yankees lef1 de Higgersbrung back de white folkses Tictuals 'cause dey was our own white folkses and dey had allus done give us plenty of evvything. ' Us chillun didn11 hare to do no hard wuk, jusf played * round de yards wid de white chillun iaos' of de time. One of our little jobs was to git in plenty of wood for de fires. Che&tnmt and hick'ry wood made de bes' fires and dere was allus plenty of good kindlin1 to git ! em started. make de pot bile in a hurry. Oak and pine bark was good to. Dem ovens would bake lak evvything wid heaps of hot coals piled 'round fem# "Dere warn*t no Kigger schools den, but Miss Jane larnt us * long wid de white chillun, and us sho1 had to mind dem lessons or she'd tear us up. *Be slave quarters was jus' log cabins, and dey cooked on fireplaces jus' lak at de big house. Marster didn't have many diggers, but us had plenty somepin* tfeat. he raised mos1 evvything* He had a big gyarden whar corn, Haters, cabbages, peas, onions, collard greens, and lots of punfkins. When da mens plowed up de ' taters us chillun had to go 'long and put 'em in baskets. times was hog killin' times. Bs chillun wukked den. De bestes' Dey hung up de hogs all night and nex' day us cut 'em, put *em down in salt, and cooked up de lard. Us chillun got some of dem good old skin cracklin's when dey got brown. "Atter llarster tuk de meat out of de salt, he put brown sugar and f f lasses on de hams and shoulders, sacked 'em up, and hanged em in de smokehouse. Den he say for us to git de fire ready. Us Page 3. made a fire wid cottonseed to smoke de meat. and it didn' t git old tastin'. 284 Bat kep' it good* It was sho' good satin' when you got some of dat meat. When de time come rround to gather in de corn us wukked mighty peart lak, r cause us couldn't hardly wait for de cornshuckin' s dat Marster was gwine to let us hare atter dat corn was hauled in f* um de fields. Marster 'vited all de other white folkses and dey brung deir ffiggers * long;. Shueks would jus* fly off of dat corn while dem Niggers was a-singin* 'Old Liza Jane1 and * Susan Jane'. When de cornshuckin* was all done, us had a "big supper - chicken pies, "barbecue, and plenty of evrything good wid lots of liquor too. Stter supper dey started up playin' dem fiddles and "banjoes, and de dancin* begun. White; folkses danced de twistification up at de big house, but us had reg1 lar old "breakdowns in a house what Marster let us hare to dance in* Wid all dat toddy helpinf *effi flong, sometimes dey danced all night, and some of fem fell out and had to be dragged off de dance flo1 *Harse had log rollin*s and fvited ewybody. and "brung deir Niggers. Dey all come Marster had big dinners for 'em, and atter dey done rolled dem logs all day dem Niggers evermore did eat. When dey was wukkinf dey sung some thin1 lak dist f I\se wukkin1 on de buildin1 And hits a sho1 foundation, And when I git done Ifse goin1 home to HeVen.1 All de neighbors corned to de guiltin1 sf and when de quilts was finished, dey throwed it over de head of de house* luck* Dat brung good Page 4.. "Us had to cyard, spin and reel cotton, 285 ffiissy give us chillun six cuts of thread for a days wuk and if us wukked hard and fas' us got done im time to go chestnut and chinquapin huntin'. Us th*owed rocks rginst da limbs to shake de nuts down, and us had jus* de bestes' time a-gittinV * em out of de burrs and satin' 'em. Us used to string chinquapins and hang *em * round our necks. ."Harster had dese big ar'iagaa wid de high front seats; whar da driver sot. Us had buggies den too, but atter de/frar us jus1 had two-wheeled carts and dey was pulled," the old Negress modestly explained, "by male cows." "IFiggers all laked thrashin' time. Marster, he growed lots of wheat and de__thrashin' machine tuk turn about gwine f'um one plantation to another. Bey had big dinners on thrashin' days and plenty of toddy for de thrashin* hands atter dey done de wuk. Dey blowed da bugle to let 'em know when dey done finished up at one place and got ready to go on to de nex* one.-. "Missy lef us to look atter de house when she went off to Morgan Oounty to see de other Robinsons, and she mos' allus fotched us a new dress apiece when she come home. One time dey was Bolly Yardens. and dey was so pretty us kep' * e for our Sunday be a1 dresses. Dem Bolly Tardens was made wid -overskirts what was cotched up ia puffs. Svvyday dresses was jus' plain skirts and waistea sowed together. Gal chilluns wore jus' plain cheoises made long, and boys didn't wear nothin' f cep* long shirts widout no britches 'til dey was 'bout twelve or fo' teen. Bern was summertime clothes. Cold weather us had flannel petticoats and drawers. Oar bonnets had staves in de brim to make 'em stand out and had ruffles 'round de front* *Ma done de cookia' and house wuk at de big house for Mist1 ess Jane &obinson* White folkses had lots of cosp'ny* and dey Dey kilt heaps of had de cook fix de mostea' good things for * em* chickens and cooked whole hams and lots of ' tater puddin's and sicfc lak. When Ma steamed pun'kim f til it was done and den fried it, hit shof would make your mouf water. Missy1 s folkses was crazy *bout de f tater puddin1 s what Ma made, and when she went off to visit allus had Ma bake one for her to take 'long to f f em she enu *White folkses and Miggera all went to de same church and listened to de same white preacher* ewy mont1 dinner* Church day was second Sunday of White folkses went in de mornin' and Niggers atter Dem Higgers had better behave and listen to de preacher, cause if dey didn*t Marster would give fem a rakin* over sho' Us went to Mount Zion Church in Monroe County, and de Baptists and Meferdists both used de same church house* *When anybody died, dey laid 'em out on de coolin1 board' 'til dey got de coffin made up* all de coffins* A white man lived nigh us what made He charged $Q cents to make one for a chile and a dollar for grown folkses* Dey had de same kind of coffins for ewy- body, white and black, buried 'em all in de same graveyard, and built a fence 'round it* White mens preached all de fun'rals. When dey buried a Higger dey mos' ly had prayer, a little talkin1 and some songs* Parts of de songs went lak dis* "Death has been here and Tore away a sister from our side, Jus1 in de mornin* of 'er day As young as us, she had to die* mom N. *Ko t And But And long ag0 she f i lie di * er place sot wid us to larnf sfee done run ^er mortal race nevermore can she return. ^s oaa*t tell who ndx* may fall Underneath de chasen* rod, One maybe fus* but let us all Prepare to meet mxr God. *And needifUl help is thine to give For Crrase our soulav to Thee apply* To lam us hdw to serve and live. And make us fit at las* to die** *Part of another one wast *0h, come angel band Come and * round me stand, And hear me away Ofe your snowy wings, To my iiaaortal home** "Seems laic I can mos1 hear de preacher read de Scripture for his tax*, *Buy de truf and sell it not.* Sometimes our white folksas tuk us all to old Smyrna Church, and den Ma allus cooked a fine dinner to take 'long, 'cause <%ey had church all day and dinner on de grounds* gwine forgit a sermoa I heared at Saiyraa onct. I ain' t never De tex* was, *Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give you a crown of life.1 "One day Marater called all his Nigger together and said us was all free, and dat us could go whar us pleased anytime us got ready, hut he said too, dat us could stay on wid him if us wanted to. Charlie Mar-tin was de onlies* Bigger what didn11 stay. Charlie said he wanted to go somewhars else and Marater grwe him a good hoss and saddle and some money when he lef , hut I don11 know how much dat money was. 'BtaTO* t long rfore dere was plenty of Ku Kluxers **ound *bout. .'iiiy had on doughfaces and long white robes what come dowa OTPer die hosses day was a-ridiri*. Ma allus tola us dat if one of dam Kluxers tetehed a Bigger, dat Bigger was gwine to die, and us was so skeered us stayed out of deir way so dey didn't ketch none of us, but dey sho* did wuk on de hides of some of dam other Biggars what day did git a holt of. *I wukked for Miss Sally Yervin a while and den us moved here to Athens. Ky gran*pa come attar us, and Mr. Mote Robinson moved us in one of dem big, high up waggons.* the cabin door and Alice said* have nothin* lak dat dan. in da spring hiouse. An ice truck passed ^How j.ua1 look* Honey, u didn't Our milk and butter and sicfc lak was kep* Folkses what had wells used to put milk in buck- ets and let 'em down in de well wid ropes, and dat milk would keep good and cool down dar. "I got married attar us coma to Athens. Us didn't have no big weddin*, jus* went to de preacher man's, house to git married. De onlies' child us had is done been daid for years, and my old man died 'way over 16 years ago." The old Hagfang was reluctant to end the interview. "Goodbye Missy, I hopes you coma back sometime, a mighty good time a-talkin' to you. f cause old Alice has had Atter us gits too old to do any wuk dere ain't many folkaes takes up no time a -listenin' to old Niggers. * Mrs* Amanda Jackson was born a slave* She is unable to give her age but she can tell of some of the conditions, Vtc. on the plantation where she lived. Following are the things that he rememberw most vividly* "I wuz born in Glatsecock county 'bout twelve miles fum Davis* boro, Ga, Ky marster's name wuz Lowry Calhoun -he did'nt have no chillun jes * him an* his wife an' her mother. He wus a rich man ah' he had a big plantation an* 'bout fifty slaves or more I kembers de big quarters in de back o' his house,where me an1 de res' o' de slaves lived, an how we uster git up an* do 'roun? "Besides me I had two sisters an* one brother Iwuz de younges' child,1' "All of de slaves on de - lantation worked in de fie 1* even de cook -dat is 'till time fer her to cook de meals. On dis plan* tation dey raised practically everything -corn, citton, wheat, an' rye, an' a heap o' live stock, Dey wuz rusaiin' 'bout twenty-five or thirty plows all M time, Dere wuz one overseer," "Every mornin' de slaves had to git up an* by ae time it wuz light enuff to see dey had to be in de fiel' workin' '*, Whwk asked how they were awakened Mrs, Jackson repliedt "Dey knowed how to git you up a&right de overseer had a horn dat he blowed ail' dim dat did'nt wake up wiien de horn wuz blowed uz called by some of de % others in de quarters". Continuing, she saidj "Dey wuz in de fiel* fore de sun rose an' dere'till aft / dey wanted to. De fireplaces wj^ss big1, ones anr dey had racks in de inside of -em so dat de pot, ci^Lcl l*ng d^'wtei. dey wu K>fcinS i)e only light dat dey had wfB^jde firiiight4-\don't care how hot it wuz -if you wanted to see you had %Q jiake a i?e in de fireplace* De floors in all de cabins wu? made jM woojA \ v 292 V] .A "Hardly anybody evea? got eick on de plantation* when dey wuz sick de white lady would cose out once in a while to see how you wuz gittin* ' longv If ^nybod^ wuz very sick de doctor would cone on his horse an' tyring 'ifds oeJieine wid 'im when he come, Zhm you wuz sick like dis frmmfrmm <& fiel' would stay in an' do de nursin*. All de medicii^e I 'members is big blue mass pills an* salts* dey wouldggive you ^les f*r anything. When you wuz too sf&fc to go to de fiel' an' not .sick enuff to be in bed you tiad to report to de white lady at de house ~6he could tell pretty much if you wuz sick an' she would wor^ on you* if you did'nt git better den she ^ould send fer de doctor M "On des plantation d#y did'nt have no rejfi&ar church fer de slaves an' so when ue feather wuz good de slaves went to de woods an* had church in a bush-arbor, Dey'made a bufn -arbor by takin' some posts an' puttin' tea in de groun* an' de coverin' de top wid bushes. Later on dey bad i shelter covered wid boards De *& predhin* wuz done tsy a ofc' man dey called'Caesar -he vti3$$0&&*&W to do anything else an' BO prechin' wuz de bi gis* -thing he done," "Hy uarstcr never did sell any o* hie slaves* 'course if dfy wanted to go to somebodyydlse he'd let 'urn go p*vided de one dey waited to go to paid fer 'em# Ke let one or two go like dat once. Other folks ustfee put'em on de block an' sell 'em likl dey would a chicken or siaapin* like dat," "Dere wuz'nt ouch whuppln on our plantation -not by de marsten Dey usually got wnftpped fer not work In* Others got wlupped by de Paddie-foilers when dey wuz cot off'n de plantation widout a pass, Dey would cone to de plantation an' whup you if dey knowed you hod been off wid out a pass. Dee man whose plantation we wuz on did 293 *& * pretty well by us***he di4*o#r like fer de Paddie*Rollers to cem on his place to da no whuppiafe*' In reply to % qwry regarding the possibility of a slave buying his freedom !&*8.vJaeka n repliedi "De only ones I knowed to go free wuz some vhose marsters v/illed 'em enuff money to buy ddyself out an' dey ?u mighty fev/-11. C "Continuing ttre. Jackibn said: m Vhen de Yankee soldiers cose through vifc had to fit busy an' Idde all de meat an' cie other food dat u^ in de smokehouse so dat de soldiers vould'nt take. it.H "My mother an1 f vther stayed on de plantation a Ifcng time after freedom wuz declared". : V \ :'\ \ W \ \ \ 294 "MEMORIES OP HER CHILDHOOD", BY AN EX-SLAVE, CAMILLA JACKSON Submitted by Minnie S. Ross (Colored) ~i v -1- Mrs# Camilla Jackson does^t know how old she is, hut is so very old that she almost never leaves her chair. is always spotlessly clean. slow, due to her old age* She wears a white rag around her head and She speaks distinctly; but her memory is a little The events related were given oiily after she had thought them over carefully, for, as she stated, she did not wish to tell anything but the truUi. She lives in a back room of a large house and is cared for by other people in the house* She was born in Deeatur, Georgia, the daughter of Charlotte and Joe Hoyle, and the tenth child of 18 children. Her family included her mother and fatiier, a grandroother and 17 sisters and bxotiiers. As far as she can remember,her family always belonged to Mr. Peter Hoyle, who was a doctor* Dr. Hoyle's family included his wife, three boys, and three girls. He owned a very large plantation, and a large number of slaves, probably 75 or more. All of them were required to work in the fields and tend the crops, whidi consisted mostly of sugar cane and cotton. Syrup was made from the sugar cane. lira. Jackson remembers quite well that everyone was required to work in the fields, but not until Dr. Hpyle, who was a kind master, was sure that they were old enough. She was about 12 years old when she was given a job in the house, operating the fly-brush. The fly-brush was constructed so that a piece of cloth, fastened on a wooden frame with hinges, could be pulled back and forth with a cord. This constant fanning kept the room clear of flies. As she related this, she smiled to herself as if her job was particularly amusing* Dr. Hoyle did not find it necessary to hire out any of his slaves as he had enough work to keep them all busy* She frequently said that her master was a kind man and never punished unnecessarily. It was very seldom that he used the ikip. His slaves respected him for his kindness and tried to please him. As a result of ~n" 290 his good treatment Dr# Hoyle never found it necessary to sell any one of his slaves* Once she hesitated and seemed to go into a deep study over something. later she related the incident of the selling of a woman slave* A few minutes This woman gacve "birth to a baby out of wedlock and, since Dr. Hoyle was a firm "believer in marriage, he immediately sold her, to prevent further trouble. Mrs. Hoyle was not as kind as her husband, and at times was cruel to the slaves. Mrs. Jackson clearly related the method of courtship and marriage on her master's plantation. Dr. Hoyle never selected the mates for his slaves hut left it to each person to chose whomever he wished. However, the selection would have to he made from among the slaves on some of his friends plantations. anyone on their own plantation. after getting a those days. w They were not allowed to chose The person chosen was allowed to call on Sundays passw from his master. She told how courtship was carried on in A young man courted the girl in the presence of the parents. and then he would he seen looking at the clock. to the door with him. Every now When he left, the mother would go When the master was properly notified of the intended marriage, he would prepare a feast and call in his own preacher to perform the cerembny. the ceremony everybody was allowed to take part in the feast. After When Mrs. Jackson1 s oldest sister married the master roasted a pig and stuck a red apple in its mouth. She smiled over this incident. A slave1s home life was very simple. After work hours they were allowed to visit other plantations; however, they could not visit any plantation unless their master was friendly with the owner of this particular plantation. enjoyable affairs in those days was the quilting party. One of the most Every night they would assemble at some particular house and help that person to finish her quilts. The next night, a visit would be made to some one else's home and so on, until everyone had a sufficient amount of bed-clothing made for the winter. Besides, this was an excellent chance to get together for a pleasant time and discuss the latest gossip. Most friendly calls were made on Sunday, after securing a "pass". very necessary to go from one plantation to another. This pass was 29? in Slaves did not have to prepare their food during the week. brought to them in. pails from the "big house*. the "big house" ) Their food was (The master's house was called On Sundays they were given groceries to prepare their own meals Mrs. Jackson remembers the bread that was made from "shorts". was the name given to a second grade of flour, similar to whole wheat* grade was always used in the master's house. "Shorts" The first As a vahols, Dr. Hoyle gave his slaves enough food; however, on several occasions she remembers that a friend of her mother's, who lived on the adjoining plantation, handed pans of food over the fence to them. Slaves were never given spending money but her grandmother was very thrifty and iuanaged to earn a little money. This was done by collecting all the rags she could find and then carrying them to town in an oxcart to sell them. Old women used oxcarts because oxen would not run away. She smiled when asked if she had ever isorn a hoop skirt. replied, tf I have worn hoop skirts. "Yes, child11, she They were the fad in those days." She related how her sister made hoop skirts bjr cutting slits in the hem of the skirt, and running a hoop through it. wheel", she said. thread. "I can remember the cloth that was made on the spinning She told how she had turned the reel many a day and spun the She could not clearly relate the construction of a spinning wheel* Everyone, particularly the older people, was required to attend church. For Christmas everyone was given a special Sunday suit to wear to church. The slaves did not have a separate church of their own but were allowed to attend the white church and occupy the balcony. Mrs. Jackson began to laugh outright over the memory of a funny yet serious incident that occurred in church one Sunday. She had a little white girl friend with whom she played every dey. looked over the balcony and saw her in the audience below. game of looking and snatching back their heads. One Sundqr she They both began a little Finally she leaned over too far and fell over the balcony into the vfcite audience below. She hurt herself pretty badly and cried so much that the service was broken up for that day. Dr. Hoyle carried IV her home and administered the proper treatment. After this incident She didn*t look over balconies anymore. Before she could learn anything definite the Civil War had "begun and she began to see soldiers going here and there dressed in their uniforms. One event stands out clearly in her memory and that was the time the master took all of his slaves and as many of his possession as he could and went to Camp Ground, Georgia, to dodge the Yankee soldiers. After the attack on Decatur, they returned to find all of the slave quarters torn down. The master's house, which had 13 rooms, was still standing. Most of the slaves had to stay in the "big house" until their homes could be rebuilt. Many were still living in the master's house when the papers were read telling them they were free. services. Dr. Hoyle asked his slaves to remain and he would pay them for th#ir Her family remained with Dr. Hoyle1 s family one year after freedom. wards they moved to Atlanta, where she has lived practically all of her life. AfterShe married immediately after freedom and proudly spoke of being the first person to wed in the old "Big Bethel Church". She is now alone without sister, brother, or child; but even at her old age she is unusually optimistic and continues to enjoy life. She believes in serving God and living a clean honest life. and that is to enter the Kingdom of Heaven someday. She has just one desire, 299 1.00022 Life Story as Told by Aunt Easter Jackson v o Ex-Slave CO It was during the height of slavery days that Frances Wilkerson and one child came to make their home in Troup County, having been bought by Mr* Tom Dix from a Mr. Snow, of Virginia* Frances, being an unusually intelligent slave, able to weave, spin, and do all kinds of dewing, cost Mr* Dix $1500*00 She received excellent care, never once being allowed to do any field work, and was kept at the "Big House* to do the sewing for the household* Frances1 husband, Silas Wilkerson, was bought by the Wilkerson Family, who were neighbors* It was here on the Dix plantation, located about one mile from what is now the Court Square, that another child, Easter, was born, a few years before the Civil War. It is with a smile of tenderness that she described her life on the old plantation. "Yes, chile, I can see Mistus now a-ridin* up on her grey horse, ^Fat*, wid er basket on her arm plum full of biscuiti Yes, cnile, white biscuits! and ain't no short cake ever been made what could hold a light to dem biscuits. -2- /"Mistus would say, 'Where's dam chillutf, Mammy?1 "Lawdy, you never seed so many little niggers pop up in all yo' life - Just 'peared lak de come right out 6' de groun'. Sometimes dere 'ud he so many chillun, she'd have to break de biscuits to make 'em go 'roun' and sometimes when she's have an extry big basket, she'd say, 'Bring on de milk, and less feed dese cimllun.' A big bucket o1 milk would be brung and po'd in little troughs and de'd lay down on dey little stommacks, and eat Jest lak pigsl But de wuz Jest as slick and fat as yer please -- rots fatter an us is nrlsM whan wa haaird shouts of joy and praises to **da good Lawi*1 from lake as ha rod up on tha old mule. Ha had been unable to looata any tracks, bt*t ha had walked miles in the cold and sneaked around the barns and in tha chimney corners to eavesdrop at the homes of those whom he suspected of being disloyal to the Confederate cause. While hiding under a haystack late one afternoon, he heard voices and he recognized his roaster's mule as it was sold by a stranger with a decided northern brogue to the ow#ar of the place on which he was hiding. Jake almost shouted for joy, but he realised he.was on territory so he remained out of sight. Uncle rf alienft When the mule was fed .and stabled, he skipped in under cover of darkness and lad the muis away. In the excitement of getting away he forgot that he hat crossed the county line, so no excuse was taken when the sheriff of that county took him into custody. Uncle Jake was hailed into court the next morning with the "owner*1 as witness against him. rf How old are you?* asked the judge in a stern manna** f, Ifs olf enuf to know dat am de mule ?/hat belongs to Marster. I knows him by his bray*1, answered the negro, as he looked over the cro /d and saw and felt no sympathy from any of them. "You were caught with stolen goods out of your county and from all appearances you were hurt in the attempt to escape for I sea you are limping. What do you say to that?" Uncle Jake ??as trembling aB he looked down at his smelly shoes. "No, sir, Jedga. You is sho* wrong. I jeafc raeeibed a comraandaient from my heabenly Father to walk in da Truth and I was serbing ray white, fplka by ^gitting back what is derls. Bis mule, was stole by some pof sinner what don* know de scriptures" At tfls point the sheriff from Jfike*a county, who was a good friend of our Marlow family, walked into the courtroom to see if he could help Jake in his difficulties. ^i |1|J 'When the f ightened negro saw him, he forgot the dignity of the court and,shouted, "Praise de Lawd. I*s been a vessel ob His for nigh onto sixty years and He*s done fill ma full ob Grace and Glory dis very hour". And without further ado, he left the sheriff to make all explanations. As he ran to the hitching post the mule began to bray and as Uncle Jake mounted he shouted, ?Wefre shaking de dust ob dis ;, place from off our feet and goin* back to our (JFannin) county where m can con-tinue bain' vessels ob de Lawd and servin' our white folks** As long us he lived, Uncle Jake was a faithful servant to his white folks. iSvery time I slipped away to spend a little time at the log-oabin, I always asked him to repeat the story of how he returned the mule and with each repeating he praised the Lord more for being a direct instrument-in helping him prove to the countryside that he was "a clean vessel ob de Lawd", but he blamed the new shoes and his skinned heel for not getting across the county line before he was caught. BIBLIOGBAPBY. An.old negro by the name of Jake identified a mule of his master's in oourt at Morganton. The little girls in the Morris family in Fannin County were made to wear bonnets with their hair pulled through so they could not be removed These two facts told me by Mr. J. fi* Kincaid of Blue Bidge. SI; PLANTATION LIES as viewed lay Ex-Slave MAHALA J^WEL 177 Berry Street Athens, Georgia Written "by: Grace McCune Athens - Edited by: Sarah H. Hall Athens John H. Booth: District Supervisor Federal Writers* Project Residencies 6 & 7 M&HA.IA JEWEL Ex-Slave - Age 76. fflahala Jewel, known in the community as *Aunt Bailie," ll t was sitting on her tiny porch when the interviewer arrived. a-tryin1 to git my foots warm," she declared. I se "Dey was cold all last night, and didn't warm up none even when I had done walked all de way up to de courthouse to git dem cabbage what de welfare ladies had for me today. now. Yes Ma*am, hit shof is hard times wid old Hailie Our white folks warn11 I was raised whar folks had plenty. no pore white trash, and if my old Marster and Mist1 ess was a-livinr today dey shof would do somepin* for old Hailie in a hurry, f cause dey allus give us plenty of evvything dey had." 11 Aunt Hailiefs rickety chair was kept in vigorous motion as she talked and the visitor was fearful it would collapse at any moment. One rocker was broken and on top of the cushions in the low seat of the chair she was sitting on an old cheese box. Suddenly she arose to go in the house to "see if dem cabbages is a-burnin1 l% % and when she returned she carefully adjusted the box before resuming her precarious perch in the old rocking chair. When she was sure that her feet were in a sunny spot, she began her narrative. *Gracie Wright was my Ma1 s name married my Pa. f fore she tuk off and He was named Tuggle, and both of f em belonged to [ Jferse Hamp McWhorter on his plantation down in Oglethorpe County. Marse Hamp was shof a rich man and on his big old plantation dey raised evvything dey needed lak> peas, ftatoes, ingons, collards, Page 2. 817 cabbages, and turnip sallet, beans, punkins, and plenty of corn, wheat and rye# too* Marse Hamp had lots of cows, hogs, sheep, and goats Miss Liza was our Mistfess, and she raised more chickens dan dey ever could use. I just tells you, my white folks warn11 no pore folks. *I was born and raised up right dar. Ma wukked in de fields, and Mistfess brung me up in de big house 'cause she said I was gwine to hare to wait on her when she got old, Dere. was shof a moughty big lot of slave chillun a-comin1 on all de time and Marster and Mist^ss was good as dey could be to all of fem. Mist1 ess had seben chillun. Ifetck. Marster and Deir boys was William, Joe, James, and Miss Tildy and Miss Mary was two of deir gals, but I just can11 ricollect de name of deir oldest daughter. "Whilst us was little, slave chillun didn1t have much wuk to do. De littlest ones just picked up trash when de yards was bein1 cleant up and done easy jobs lak dat# "Marse Hamp never fooled wid dem little one track stores at Maxeys, de town nighest our plantation. When he needed somepin1 , he just cotch a train and lit out for fGusty (Augusta), Georgie. Mist1 ess knov/ed when he was comin1 back, and she allus sont de car1 iage to meet him, When us chillun seed ! em gittin1 out de car1 iage and hosses, us didn1 t wait, us just lit out and when dat train got to de crossin1 all of us was right dar a-waitin1 to see our Marster step off. Den us followed dat car1 iage down de big road plum back to de plantation, f cause us knov/ed Marster never forgot none of us* Dere was new dresses for de gals and clothes for de boys too, and us felt moughty proud when us dressed up in dem store bought clothes ffum !Gusty. Chilluns1 ewy day clothes was just slips cut Page 3- 318 Boys wore long shirts ftil dey all in one piece, sleeves and all. was big and strong enough for field wuk. Clothes for de grown folks v/as made out of cloth wove in de loom house right dar on de plantation* but dere v/as some beaded cloth too. w Us sho1 did have a pretty place. De big house v/as painted white, and dere was big old yards wid lots of flowers. slave quarters was white too. De Dey was one room cabins built in long rows, way off f!urn de big house. Home-made beds was nailed to de wall and had just two laigs, and de big ticks stuffed wid straw made dem beds moughty good places to sleep. *Most of de slaves et at de two long tables close by de De kitchen warn1t built on to de big kitchen up nigh de big house. house, but hit sot out in de yard a little piece. evvybody had deir kitchens built dem days. man to do de cookin1 for his slaves. I don1t fmember much fbout him* Dat* s de v/ay Uarster kept a big strong Pa v/as de boss for Marse Hamp. My brother stayed in de cabin wid Pa and Ka, but I was all time up at de oig house wid Mistfess. was good to me as she could be. never do no v/rong to nobody. She She told me to allus do right and I had a little highup_ cheer what I sot in to keep de flies off of Mist'ess. "All de slaves "went to church wid deir v/hite folks, and sot in de back part of de meetin1 house. Us v/ent to old Baard (Baird) Church, off out in de country, and sometimes I had to take de littlest v/hite chilluns out and stay in de car1 iage wid fem, if dey got too restless inside de irieetin1 house. Out dar in de car1 iage us could listen to de singin1 and it sho1 did sound sweet. Meetin1 days v/as Page 4. big days* 319 Dey fetched deir dinners and stayed all day. De McWhorter family allus carried great big baskets, and one of deir biggest baskets was kept special just to carry chickens in, and de barbecue, it was fixed right dar on de church grounds. Slave gals sot de long tables what was built out under de trees, and dem same gals cleant up atter evvybody had done got thoo* eatin1 . folks, but dere was allus a plenty for all. Niggers et atter de white Little Niggers kept de flies off de tables by wavin1 long branches kivvered wid green leafs for fly brushes. ffu2a home. Some few of 'era brung home-made paper fly brushes Most of dem all day meetin's was in July and August. Some folks called dem months de fvival season, f cause dere was more 'vival meetin's den dan in all de rest of de year. De day 'fore one of dem big baptizin1 s dey 'dammed up de crick a little, and when dey gathered * round de pool next day dere was some tall shouti#f and singin1. White preachers done all de preachin1 and baptizin1. "Somehow I don1t fmember much 'bout de celebratin1 when dey got in de wheat and done de thrashin'. Dey was so busy wid de cotton 'bout dat time on our place dat dere warn11 much frolickin1 f but de sho1 nuff big celebratin1 was in de fall atter all de corn was gathered and dey had cornshuckin1s. white folks and deir Niggers. done de wuk. a gen'ral. Marse Hamp 'vited all de De white folks visited and de Niggers De fust thing dey done at cornshuckin1s was to 'lect All he done v/as to lead de singin1 and try to git evvy- body to jine in his song fbout de corn, and as dey sung faster, da shucks dey flew faster too. Atter de com v/as all shucked, dey et de big feast what us had done oeen cookin' for days and days. Hit tuk a passel of victuals, 'cause dem shuckers could sho1 hide 'way Page 5dem good eats. 320 Den de fiddlers started up deir music wid Turkey in De old breakdown dancin1 was on, and hit was apt to go de Straw. on all night. Syrup makin* time at Marse Hamp^ was a frolic too. Us raised plenty of sugar-cane to make dat good old flasses what tasties so good wid hoecake and home-made butter. *Atter de War, Ma and Pa stayed on wid Marse Hamp a long time* % Mist1 ess died when I was just a little chile, hut she had done willed me to Miss Mary and told her to allus take keer of Hailie. Miss Mary stayed right on dar wid Ifarse Hamp. Tfy Ife, and Pa had done left, and I ain11 never heared nothin1 more ff um fem since dey went away ffuia Marse Hamp1s place. "Ban Marster he done went and got kilt* on a middle size pony He had rid off what must a runned away wid him, f cause dey found him plumb daid in a ditch. It was all so sudden lak us never could find out if he died happy* Us knowed Mistfess died happy cause she told de folks fround de bed dat de Lord was a-takinr her home out of dis old world of trouble* tt Atter Marse Hamp died, Miss Mary married Marse Pleaze Winter, and us all moved to Platwoods, what warn11 so fur ffuia Marse Jim Smith1 s place. I fmembers when dat Smith man died. Dey buried him in de graveyard on his own plantation at fust, but den dey said nobody didn't v/ant to live dar atter he was buried dar, so dey tuk him up and buried him somewhar else. "I didn't lak to live at Slatwoods, but I stayed on wid isy Miss Mary and nussed her chillun * til me and Joe Jewel got married. Page 6. Joe was named atter his old Marater> Captain Joseph J:ewel, and dey lived on de Jewel place in Oglethorpe County. I never did keer much for fine clothes and Miss Mary said what clothes I had was all right, but she just would give me a nice, white weddinr dress# She had us git married at her house, and she; fvited lots of mine and Joe's folks and our friends to a big supper she had fixed for us* Miss Mary sho* did give me a grand send off. HQT ^tter dat, I visited Miss Mary whenever I wanted to, and still helped her wid her babies when she needed me. w Miss Mary is done daid now, but if she was a livin1 old Hailie v/ould have what she needs. Ifm a gittin* moughty old now and my old man is done gone on to glory, but Hailie will soon be wid him dar. Whilst I did go and git married to a Jewel, I ain11 for- gittin* I was borned and bred a McWhorter, and Ifm here to tell you dat I'm still just de same - a McWhorter.11 $21 Driskell, ^ 7-28-37 . 100202 Qop AMW BENJAMIN JOHNSON * E&SU&E Following is Benjamin Johnson9s own account of some of his experiences as a slave and of conditions on his plantation. "On our plantation de white folks been feedin1 de slaves off fat meat, jowls, an9 heads an9 jaws* smoke house in de back yard* Day kept all de meat out in de In dis house dey kept de hams all hangin9 up high an9 above dem dey kept de sausages and de finest hams all trimmed an9 everything* an9 thought dat dey wus eatin9 pound cake* den above dem dey kept De slaves eat dat fat meat Come down to chicken - if you got it you stole it when de white folks wus sleep at night an9 den you had to be careful an9 bury all de feathers in de groun9 9 em de white folks would smell fem* f cause if you burned We boys in de fiel9 used to be so hungry 9till we did9nt know what to do* De overseer would be settin9 down under a tree an9 he would holler "keep goin9* De sweat would be jes9 running9 off you and sometimes you could smell one another* Dere wus a spring nearby an9 when we would git to it we would fall down an1 drink fum de branch, De women would be plowin9 an9 hoein9 grain an9 de Spanish needles an1 cockle burrs would be stickin9 to dere dresses fum dere knees to dere feet* diggin9 a ditch* Further down dere would be a man Every now an9 den white folks would walk over to de ditch an9 see if it wus de same width all de way*" "You go off to see somebody at night -jes9 like you an9 me want to laff an9 talk- an9 if dey ketch an9 you ain9t got no pass den dey gwine to whup you* you, you wus hit* You be glad to git away too 9 cause when dey hit I wus down to ol9 John Brady9s place one nigjht talkin9 to a lady an9 ol9 man Brady slipped up behin9 me an9 caught me in de collar anf he say: "Whut you doin9 over here? I9m goin9 to give you twenty-five lashes" an9 den he say to me: "come here". He wus jes9 bout as tall as I am an* when I got to *im he say turn *roun* and* I say to *im dat I ain*t doin* nuthin* an* den he say: **dats whut I*m goin to whup you fer * cause you ought to be home doin* sumpin9* *Bout dat time when I stooped over to take off my coat I caught *im in his pants an* throwed *im in a puddle o* water an* den I lit out fer home* If you git home den dey couldn*t do nuthin* to you* He tried to chase me but he did*nt know de way through de woods like I did an* he fell in a gulley an* hurt his armu De next mornin* when I wus hitchin* up de boss man*s horse I seed *im ccmin* an* I tol de boss dat he tried to /ihup me de night befo* an* den de boss man say **did he have you?*1 *I tol* lim dat he did but dat I got away* An* den de boss say: * He had you an fhe didfnt have you * is dat right?** Den he say **don*t worry *bout dat I can git you out of dat* **If he had you he shoulda whupped you an* dat woulda been his game but he let you git away an9 so dat wus yo* game.** f Bout dat time olf man Brady had done got dere an* he tol* de marster dat I wus on his place de night befo* an* dat I got away an* when he tried to whup me an* de marster say to him: **dat wus his game if you had him you shoulda whupped *im* Dats de law. If you had whupped *im dat woulda been yo* game, but you let *im git away an* so dat wus his game*** 01* man Brady*a face turned so red dat it looked like he wus gonna bus9**9 We worked in de fiel* every day an9 way in de night we shucked an9 shelled corn* De cook done all de cookin*. When all of de marster*s 75 slaves wus in de fiel9 dey had two cooks to feed *enu At twelve o*colck de cooks would blow a horn at de stump in de yard back o* de cook house. hosses an* de mules knowed dat horn an9 dey would*nt go a step further* Even de You had to take de mule out of de harness an* take *im to de spring an* water *im an* den take *im to de house where a colored man up dere named Sam Johnson had all de feed ready fer de hosses* When you git dere all de hosses go to dere own stalls where dere wus ten ears o9 corn an9 one bundle o* fodder fer each hoss* dem hosses is eatin* you better be out dere eatin* yo9 own* While Sarah an9 Annie, de cooks had a big wooden tray wid de greens an9 de meat all cut up on it an9 you 324 pass by wid yof tin pan an* dey put yo* meat all cut up on it along wid de greens an* den you could eat anywhere you wanted to -on de stump or in de big road if you wanted to. Sometimes some of *ems meat would give out or dere bread would give out an* den dey would say: f *I*ll give you a piece of my bread for seme or yo* meat or 1*11 give you some of my meat for seme of yo** bread" Some of *em would have a big ol* ash cake an* seme of *em would have jes* plain corn bread. Dere wus usually a big skillet of potatoes at de cook house an* when you eat an* drink yo *water den you is ready to go back to work* Dey wus goin* to let you lay down in de shade fer *bout a hour but you would make de time up by workin* till dark. wus gone* Some of * em worked so *tlll dey back Dey could*nt even stand up straight"* "Sometimes ol* missus would come *long an* she would be mad wid seme of de women an* she would want to go to whuppln* on fem* Sometimes de women would*nt take it an* would run away an* hide in de woods* Sometimes dey would come back after a short stay an* den again dey would have to put de hounds on dere trail to bring dam back home. general rule dere wus*nt much whuppin* on our plantation* As a * Course if you did*nt do what dey tol* you to do dey would take you out an* put yof hands round a pole an* tie you so yo* feet would jes* touch de groun* an* den dey would go to work on you wid a cowhide. Everytime dey hit you de blood would fly wid de whip.** "De clothes den wus*nt but ol* plain white cloth* wus patched fum de legs to de waist. a quilt* Most of em* Some wus patched so till dey looked like Some of de women wore dese long striped cotton dresses an* when dey would go in de flel* de Spanish needles an* de burrs would stick all over *em* De only shoes dat you got wus red brogans. If you got anything better it wus some dat de marster give you fer brushing off his shoes at de house. You wus so proud whenever dey give you a pair o* shoes or a ol* straw hat dat dey wus through wid at de house you went back an1 showed it to everybody an1 you wus mighty proud too. I used to drive my marsterfs hoss anf buggy far 9im an9 so I used to git a lotsa stuff like dat#" "019 marster wus a judge an1 his name wus Luke Johnson, His wife wus named Betsy an9 his sons wus named Jim, Tom, Will, an9 Dora. daughters wus Janie, Mary, Catherinef an9 Lissie* His He had 300 acres of land an9 75 slaves#" "All de houses on de plantation 9cept ol9 marster9s wus built out o9 logs* 019 marster lived in a fine house. Sometimes when one o9 de slaves had a chance to go inside his house all de rest of de slaves would be wait in9 outside fer you to come out* When you did come out dey would say: "You been in de marster9s house---how did it look in dere ~whut did you see? "Dey would tell 9em: "you ought to go in dere -it's so pretty"* Whenever you got a chance to go in dere you had done pulled off yo9 hat long9 fore you got to de door. "On Sunday we would take soot out of de chimney an9 wet it an9 den go an9 borrow de marster9s shoe brush an9 go an9 brush our shoes. We wus gittin9 ready to go to church*" "At church all de white folks would sit in de front an9 all de slaves would sit in de back* De preacher would preach an9 say: "Obey yo9 master an9 yo9 missus an9 you will always do right If you see eggs in de yard take 9em to yo9 marster or yo9 missus an9 put 9em at her feet* If you don9t do dis she will needle you well or break bark over yof head an9 de bad man will git you*" "Sometimes dey would give us a dollar at Christmas time an9 if somebody did9nt take it fum us we would have it de nex9 Christmas 9cause we didn9t have nuthin9 to spend it fer*" "When de war broke out ol9 marster enlisted an9 he took me 9 long to wait on him an9 to keep his clothes clean* I had plenty o9 fun n 9f^\ f cause dere wusfnt so very much work to do* in Richmond an1 Danville, Virginia* soldiers fightin1 * I fmembers seein1 de door of de tent an1 watch fem fight* I used to stand in It wus terrible you could hear de guns firin1 anf see de soldiers fallin1 right an1 left. All you could see One day I seed one soldier git his head shot off Othees got arms an1 legs shot off. fum his body* im fightin1 I had a good time jesf watchinf de I didfnt have to fight any at all* wus men gittin1 all shot up* f Anf all de time all you could hear wus de guns goinf bam, *bam, bam it wus terrible to see an1 hear. One mornin1 as I wus standin1 in de door of de tent I had a dose of it* I wus leaninf against de side of de tent wid xay hand stretched out a load of grape shot fum de guns hit me in de hand anf de blood flew everywhere* jesf hollored* It come pretty near scareing me to death* I After de doctor got it patched up ( and he held the hand up to exibit the scar) it wus as good as it every wus#w "After de war wus over olf marster wus all shot up an1 I had to take him on back home* When we got dere all de slaves crowded froun me an1 wanted to know if dey wus gonna be freed or not an1 when I tolf war wus over an1 dat deywus free dey wus all very glad. f em dat de After de war a whole lots of 'em stayed on de plantation an1 a whole lots of *em left as soon jas dey could git away*" ? iwv* or? o or PLANTATION LIPS as viewed by Ex-Slave GEORGIA JOHITSOU 1537 W* Broad Street Athens, Georgia Written by: Grace i&cCune Athens - Edited by: Sarah H. Hall Athens Leila Harris Augusta - \ inoio UUX&y 333 GEORGIA JOHNSOF Ex-Slave - Age 74< Almost without exception the old Negroes who have given their ft ricollections,, hare had life stories centered around one plantation. Unlike these Aunt Georgia Johnson, 74 years old, of Athens, Georgia, moved about considerably during her childhood, lived in several states and had many and varied experiences* After coming back home she is of the opinion shared by all Georgians: a Darfs no place kin tetch Georgia.'1 >Mats fust name was Myra. name was. I don* t fmemb-er what her other Atter her white folkses had done died out up in Maryland, her Pa, her brudder and sister v/as sold off up dar, and a man named Jim Grisham brung de rest of de slaves from dat plantation down to Lexin1 ton* Georgie to sell fem# Ife-rse Duncan Allen bought my Ma and her Mammy dar at de sale in Lexin1 ton and tuk fem to his big old plantation in South Callina. " tt la said her didn't never see no hog meat ftil she come to dis country. Her said dey et all sorts of fishes; just went to de beach and got crabs, oysters, and swimp (shrimp) wid de hulls still on fem, but when her done et some hog meat at Marster1 s plantation, her said hit sho1 was good* Ifarse Duncan Allen give my Ma to his gal. Mist1 ess Laura, for her maid* ISy Pa, he was Charlie Allen* he bflonged to Marse Duncan Allen too. When Mistfess Laura done went and married Marse Blackwell of S'berton, Georgie, Mar.se Duncan give 1 em my Pa for a weddin* present and dey fetched my Ma and Pa wid fem to live in Efberton, Georgie. Atter dey got moved and settled, my Page 2. Ba and Pa dey got married* most of de cookin*. &09 lib, her wukked in de big house and done Pa driv1 de carriage for de v/hite folks. Jferster and Mistfess was powerful good to deir slaves. ! run a big store at E'herton, and Marster, he sides dat he had a big plantation and a heap of Niggers too* *0n de plantation dey had big gyardens whar dey raised heaps of cabbages, potatoes, colla1d,greens* turnip sallet, onions, peas, rutabagas, and punrkinsr and seek lak. Dey raised plenty of chickens, tukkeys, hogs, cows and sheep, and dey wove good wool cloth on de plantation looms out of de wool ff urn dem dar sheep. tt Slave. quarters was just one room log cabins what v/as built so de corners come together to big old chimneys. Yessum, I members dey just had one big chimney to evvy four cabins. Dey cooked on de fireplace and had pot racks for to hang de pots on, and ovens to bake in. Us shof could do fway wid a heap of sweet what had done been roasted in de ashes. f tatoes Cabins v/as planked up on de inside and de outsides was daubed v/id mud in de cracks to keep out de wind and rain. Our home-made beds, nailed to de side of de cabins, had ticks filled v/id wheat straw. White folks had nice corded beds# / Ma said hit v/as lots of trouble to keep dem cords tight. Dey had hooks for to draw lem up tight and den peg %em down wid wooden pegs* "Marster allus give his Niggers passes on Sundays so as dem paddyroller folks v/ouldn11 ketch de plantation. v/hite preachers. f em and beat fem up> if dey went off Niggers went to de v/hite folks church and listened to When SSa jined de church, dey had to break de ice in Beaver Dam Crick to baptize her. Her was so happy and shouted so loud, dey had to drag her out of de crick and take her way back in de woods to keep her from *sturbin' de rest of de folks at de baptizin'. *I was borned in de last year of de War so I don't have no shof 'nough ricollections fbout dem hard times what old folks says dey had dem days. Atter de War was over, us all stayed on wid Marster for a long time. Mist'ess was moughty good to us chillun. Us played wid de white chillun, and one day Mist'ess cotch as all afightin1 , and her switched us all, but it didn't hurt* to git my sister to shout for him. ) Iferster used I kin just see her now, a-twistinf and junpin' and hollerin' for all de world lak grown-up Niggers done at meetinfs and baptizin's, f til she done fell out. Den Marster, he say, * Take her to de kitchen and feed her good.1 MPa and Marster had a fallin1 out, fcause Marster wouldn't have no settlement wid ' im. He just wouldn1 t give my Pa no money. Marster said us younguns still belonged to fim and dat us had evvything us needed, and could git anything us wanted at his store and he thought he had done fnough for us. 3ut my Pa said he didn't wanter take up evvything he wukked for in trade, 'cause he would lak to have some money too. ,lf Bout dat time Uarse Pope Barrow was a gittin1 up lots of Niggers to go v/id him to Mis1 sippi for to raise cotton out dar, whar he said dey was nakin' heaps of money* wid 'im. water. I just kin 'member dat place. Pa tuk us all and went 'long Hit was all kivvered wid Marse Pope, he hired a lot of Irishmen to help dig ditches for to dreen de water off his land. Den dey planted cotton and Pa said hit shof was fine cotton, just a-growin1 to beat de band, v/hen j Page 4. dem Irishmens got mad f cause dey said Marse Pope hadn't paid ! 331 em for deir wuk, and dey blowed up de dams and let all dat water back on de cotton* Hit was., plumb ruint. Den Marse Pope, he left dar and tuk my Pa and all of us along wid him to Arkansas. Us made a big cotton crop out dar, but when all de cotton done been sold us Niggers didn11 git nothin* . ]fe, her had done all de cookin* for de mens what wukked for Marse Pope. His wife, Mist1 ess Sallie Barrow used to come to see him and her allus brought her maid along wid her, and de maid, her stayed wid us. Ma said us chillun used to cry to go back to Georgie wid Mist1 ess Sallie, * cause her rid on one of dem boats what was run wid steam. give f iia no pay. Pa left Jgars^J^pe f cause he wouldn't Us sold our things and come to Memphis, Tennessee a,nd went to farmin1 for Marse Partee, and us just stayed dar long f nough to make one crop. died. Just f Whilst us was out dar, our little sister fore her died her said her was goin* to see God. Her told de debbil to git away f* um dar, 'cause her warn11 gwine wid him. Dey put a little white dress on her and laid her out on de bed, dey could make up a coffin out of plain pine wood for her. f til Dey just had a prayer and sung fHark Pf urn De Tomb,1 and den dey buried her away in de groun1 . *Pa got his money for dat crop and den us come on back to de plantation in Efbertonf Georgie, a-wantin* us backc f cause Old Marster had done been He said he needed us, chillun and all, and us was sho* glad for to git back home. Ma done de cookin1 and Pa driv1 de carriage and done little jobs frounf de barns and hosses. Sometimes he wukked a little in de fielfs* Us chillun used to clean yards, git Pag* 5. 332 in de wood, feed chickens and on Sundays atter dinner when dar warn11 no company at de "big house us would go up to de "big plunder room in de attic and us would have de bestes1 times wid de white chilluns* a-dressinr up in de old clothes what Mistress had stored away up dar* Sometimes when Miarster would ketch us up dar all dressed up, he would make us come down and preach for him. f cepf one what was to do de preachin1. Den he made us all set down Sometimes it was; his own son he called on to preach to as, and dat white "boy shor told us Bfiggers f "bout our sins* Den dey would make my sister, Millie9 sing, Sinner Man, Done Gone Down Yonder1 f Paf One time when ife.rsterTs son was a preachin* he told all about a fight us done had once when I hit him wid a rock* He said I sho* was goinf to de debbil for dat. I just knowed Marster was gwine git atter me fbout dat, hut he just laughed and said hit warn11 de fust time a preacher had done "been hit wid a rock. *lbrse Deadwyler, de mayor* up at Efhertonf lived on de plantation next to ours* and he had a big old deex* what sho1 hated chillun. Hit would try to stomp fem to death, and us sho* did make tracks fast sometimes when dat old deer got out. old mule what would fight at us chillun too. And ISarster had a One time us didn* t know he was in de parstur when us went out dar to play. De gate was wukked wid draw poles and us couldnft git fem down, so us had to crawl under a old crib house and hit was plumb dark when Marster faun1 us. Us sho1 didn't go in de parstur no more lessen us knowed dat mule was fas1 ened up good and tight at de barn. \ Page 6. 080 One time, in de middle of de night, long atter us chillun had done gone to bed us heared grown folks runnin* 'roun', and day told us to git up and see Mr. Deadwyler' s house a burnin1 up. was de bigges1 fire I ever seed. dey didn11 save nothin1. Dat Blazes and sparks went way up and Us chillun got so f cited us didn't go back to bed no more dat nights diggers didn11 have no church of dey own, but dey did have prayer meetin's. Dey would kindle fem a big fire for light and to keep *em warm, off clost to de woods* whar deir racket wouldnit f sturb de white folks, and dey would gather 'roun' dat fire and pray. Sometimes slaves would just go off by deirselfs in de woods to pray. One night when Ma was out in de woods a prayin1 her heared a loud fuss back of her lak somebody was tearin1 down de woods, and hit skeered her so her quit prayin1 and run to de big house. Marster i told her, hit was de debbil atter her. Pa got mad again at Old Marster 'cause still he wouldn't have no settlement wid fim, so us left E'berton again and went back to South Callina to de old Allen place i&rhere Pa had come f'um. Den Pa bought me a doll what would dance when you wound it up* and I sho' did love dat little dancinf doll. / Soon Miss Laura come to see her Pa, Marse Duncan Allen, and her brung me a little doll too. Her said I needed somebody to play wid 'cause I couldn't go to school on account of my eyes. Dey was bad and I warn11 'lowed to read nothin', but Ma larnt me to do a little sewin1 . up soon as I could make n?y own I felt moughty big and grown dresses and chemise. Dey warn't hard to make, but I was moughty proud 'cause I had done made 'exa my own self. "llarse Duncan Allen didn't have no little chillun of his own den, but he shof seed atter us* For supper us had bread and milkt wid butter and flasses sirup* Dey says dats rnough for chil- lun at night* Us was still dar on JJarse Allen1 s place when me and Isaac McCollie got married* 1 De white folks said I was too young cause I was just 15 den, but my Ma told me I could go ahead and git married if I wanted too* same time. Isaac1 s two brudders was married at de Whilst de boys was gone atter licenses and de preacher, us three gals was a-waitinr up at Marse Tom Young1 s house whar de weddin1 was to take place. Dem other two gals was so skeered dat \ Uarse Tom1 s housekeeper gire each one of us a glass of gin to quiet / our nerves, but I warn11 skeered a bit, not me, when I had a chanst to be all dressed up lak dat, in a satin striped white weddin1 dress wid a long train a-trailin* off de back of it. All de ten ruffles *rounf dat dress was aidged wid pink and de big puffed sleeves had pink cuffs* Hit did seem an awful long time *fore dem boys got back wid Preacher Lockhart. Us was married dar at larse '^om* s and den us went back to Marse Duncan Allen1 s place whar de bigges* surprise^ I ever had was ready for us. Marster and Mist1 ess had done * lowed dat if I just had to git married dey would do de best day could for me. Out in de big house yard was long tables just loaded down wid everything good - chickens* "barbecue, pies, and a great big weddin1 / cake, what my good old Mist*ess done baked for me her own self, and den us just had de bigges1 sort of time a-dancin1 and frolickin1 atter us et all dat good supper* more year f ] Isaac1 s Pa said he owed him one cause he was just 19 when us got married, and all us got ) for dat whole yearfs wuk was a little corn and one heifer. _ / Page 8. oo5 *Qld Karse Blackwell had done died and Miss Laura was abeggin* my Pa to come back and wuk for her, but he wouldn11 go f nowhar til atter Marse Duncan Allen died, den he moved back to (ieorgie, down nigh de Jim Smith place* stockade is now* Den Pa got a farm whar de Us wukked moughty hard a-gittinf a start, and dat hard wuk made good crops and us raised most all us needed to eat - ) vegetables, hogs, cows, chickens, tukkeys, and sech lak*> In de fall atter us *ad done wukked so hard all thoo1 crop time* Pa let us have cornshuckin1 s. cornshuckin1 s f Us cooked for two or three days 'fore dezn cause dere was allus a big crowd to be fed* big day come, fust thing us done was choose a gen'ral* walked f rounf de big piles of corn and led de singin* He just Somehow, I can1 t member how dat song went, but it v/as all fbout corn* gen1 ral started de song slow and den got it to goin1 When de De faster and faster and de livelier de song went de faster de shucks would fly, and de more often dey would pass 'roun* de liquor* Soon as all de corn v/as shucked, us had de big feast wid plenty of good coffee and toddy to go wid dem good victuals us had done been cookin* up; dem chickens* ) / all dat fresh killed hog meat and a big spread of lightbread and pies ' and cakes* Dem was de good old days, and dey don1 t have no seek grand times a helpin1 each other, and a-celebratin* de harvest time no more* *Atter Isaac died, I wukked for diffHint white folks* cookin* and washinf f til I married Alec Johnson. Dis time us just went to de preacher for to git de knot tied and didn1t have no big weddin1* I did have on a nice white dress, but hit warn1t nigh so pretty and fancy as my fust weddin1 dress* A few friends come !roun1 dat night and us handed fem out a little cake and ice cream, but dere Page 9. 330 warn1! no big supper* Bofe Bjy husbands is done been daid and gone long ago,, but Ifse still got two of my chillun, my gran1 chillun and four great gran1 chillun* Bey1 s all sweet and good to me, and sees dat I has all what I needs. I done lost de sight in one eye and de other one is failin1 moughty fast. I prays and prays dat de good Lord will let me see a little, what time Ifse got left to live# One of my chillun died de fust of dis year and soon Ifm gwine to jine her. I hopes you laks what I ricollected, but somehow I can11 call dem old times back to mind since I done got so old, lak I use to. Come back to see me again, Honey. ... ... Good-bye.11 J=3'ST-~J. 33? 100225 ^ ^ ^ MANUEL JOHNSON of lASKSCTGK-dlLXES *y Minnie Branham Stonestreet 7/a s h ing t on-fi Ike s Georgia cSc;18 MANUEL JOMSOH of WASHINGTON-EILKES Se enty-four year old Manuel Johnson, "about de younges?n of the nine children of Milford and Patsey Johnson, is a tall ebony-black old man with the whitest hair and the roundest, merriest face. He lives in Washington, but even at his age he farms. Although he was too young to remember much about slavery, Uncle Manuel recalls the happy old plantation days: "My Pa anT Ma cum frum ole Virgin'y five years befo! de Wah, Jedge Harris here in V/ilkes County went up ter Tirgin'y anT boTt dem frum de Putnams an1 broTt Tem home wid him. You know, Kiss, in dem days us niggers wuz bo't an! sole lak dey does mules ter-day. I wuz homed down on de Harris place de same year i;:iss Carrie (the youngest Karris daughter) wuz - weTs de same yearTs chillun, datTs de onliesT way I knows how ole I is, Hiss Carrie tele me, yl 'Jedge Karris had er lot ov slaves - I specks I kin name er hunderd now, dey ail lived in log cabins in de Quarters an* wuz happy anT well took keer ov as dey could be. 'De white folks took me in de house when I wuz leetle anT raised me kase dey wanted me fer er house boy. I waited on de table, washed dishes, anT atter I got big Tnough, I milked de cows. I et in 339 page - 2 de kitchen out'n young Miarse Jimmie's plate. ov him I allus et out'n de same plate he did. er plenty OT eTrything good too. anT et in de eabins. I tho't so much We shoT had 411 de y'uther niggers cooked I wuz gittinr flong in years Tfof I knowed you could buy meat in a sto'. Yassum, us lived well on dat plantation - had plenty ter eat an* ter wear. Miss Cornelia < (the oldest Harris daughter) - made all my clothes. De nigger t wiromens spun an* wove, but I never paid dem much mind when I wuz er cominT on. I 'member hearinT dem talk 'bout dyin' de cloth out er bark an* things dey got out'n de woods. JesT so i had somethin' ter v/ear I never tho't how hard dey had ter,wuk ter mak hit. * I lived on de Harris plantation wid dem Ttil I wuz nineteen years ole an' I allus felt lak I belonged ter dem - dey wuz so good ter me. " "hen I fust could Tmember, lass Cornelia would git on ole Ruben, dat wuz her saddle horse, an' mak me git up behind her an den she'd go anywhere she wanted ter go. 'Nough times she took Ae ter ole Mt Zion Church wid her. n No nigger wuz ever 'lected on de Harris place. wuz sick er needed sumthin' us got hit. de horseback doctor cum. Sf we Ef we wuz real sick In dem days de doctors rid 'roun' in de country on horseback an1 took medicine wid em. Ef we warn't so sick de ole white folks cum ter see us anT 'scribed fer us. Dey use ter mak us little niggers take hoehound tea an1 fat lightwood' tea fer coles. Dat lightwood tea is er good medicine, 340 page - 3 I- takes hit lots ov times now when I has er cole, Us had ter take Garlic water - no*m, not Garlic and whiskey, but jes* plain Garlic water, anf hit wuz a bad dose too. Dey give us candy made out*n Jerusalem oak an1 sugar, dat warnft so bad.n Uncle Manuel said when he first could remember the negroes had services in their cabins at night. t, Chairback"preachers went around from one plantation to another holding services and much good was done. "On Sunday evenings, our Mistess called all us little folks up to de house anT read de Bible to us anT tole us Bible stories anf talked ter us 'bout livinT right. I 'members dat es* as good.w When asked about the funerals and marriages when, he first remembered, Uncle Manuel said: long now. "Dey keeps dead folks out too When I wuz comin' on, ef somebody died lak terday, dey wuz buried ter-morrerT. Bere wu a settin' up an* prayer service dat night, de body wuz put in er plain home-made coffin blacked wid blackin' an' speerits turpentine, an' when de waggin cum ter take de body ter de buryin' groun* ev'ybody went out behin' de corpse singin' some good ole song lak Amazin' Grace' an* 'Hark Frum de Tomb'. Den dey went on ter de grave an' had a little service tellin' 'bout how de departed 'un had gone ter peace an' rest - dere warn't no long 'iotionary lak dey has now none ov dese great long sermons an' gwines on - ev*ybody had jes* er common funeral an* hit wuz so much better. page - 4 My Marster wuz a Jedge so he married all his niggers whut got married. He married lots ov y'uther couples too. I 'members dat cey use ter cum fer him ter marry dem." Uncle Manuel said he tried superstitions and signs, but they didn't "prosper me none", so he gave up all he knew except the weather signs, and he plants his crops by the moon. rt I watches de fust twelve days ov de New Year an* den I kin tell jes* whut weather ev'y montT ov de year gv/ine ter bring. de way raens mak almanacs. Dat's T Course I ain't got no edercation - nuier been ter school in my life - but dat's my fault kase I could have went, but long bout den I wuz so mannish I wouldn't go an' ev'y day I wishes I had er went so I could read now, but I didn't have sense 'nough den ter want ter learn." About planting crops, Uncle Lanuel advises: "Plant ev'ything dat makes under de groun' lak 'taters, goobers, tunips an' sich, on de dark ov de moon; plant ev'ything dat makes on top de groun' on light nights. Plant yo' crap on de waste ov de moon an' dat crap sho' gv/ine ter waste er way, an' dat's de truf, I ain't nuver seed hit fail yit. Plant corn on de full ov de moon an' you'll have full good-mace years, plant on de growin' ov de moon an' you'll have a full growed stalk, powerful stalks, but de years won't be fulled out. I pays 'tention to dem signs, but as fer all cese y'uthers, dey ain't nothin' ter dem, 'cept cieetin' er cat, I jes' has ter turn clean er 'roun' when I meets er cat an' dat turns de bad luck dat hit means, er way." 342 page - 5 Uncle Manuel grew sad as he recalled the gfodd old days long gone. He made an unusual statement for one of his race whem he said*^ "Mistess, ef somebody had er thousan* dollars in one hanf / an* in de yfuther a pass fer me ter go back to dem ole days an* axed me which Tun I'de tak!, Pde go back to dem ole days an' live de rest ov my life. nothinT Dere aint* nothin* to dese times now - f cept trubble, peoples is livinT so fast, dey don!t takf no time ter stop an* T sider, dey jes1 resh right into trubble. I use ter drive oxen - four ov Tem - anT dey took me Tlong all right. Pse plowed oxen too, now yu nuver see *un kasedey's too slow; hit's autymobiles anT gas-run things, no'm, folks donft j 'sider on de ways ov life lak dey use ter. "Why is I livin1 so long? Dat's easy - ITse Tonest, ain't nuver stole, nuver been in no trubble ov any kinT, been nigh ter death two times, but ITse been spared kase I jes' ain't lived out my days yit. \ I'se on borrowed time, I knows da$, but dat ainTt worryin' me none. j An* I tell yu sumthin' else; I ain't botherin1 none over dis ole age pensun business fer Use gwine ter wuk on pensun er no pensun. 1 No mam, I ain't gv/ine ter set back-an* speck no govermint ter feed me long as I kinT scratch er 'roun'. I got wuk ter do - I got mo' wuk ter do -~n' 0i.ine ter do hit long as I'se able." It was easy to see from Uncle Manuel1s manner he meant every word he said about "wuk". An independent old soul, and a good example to the younger ones of his race. mnma/ -ry J-AtST^ b ,, f I.W y '-"'y;X' Mary A. Crawford * 343 Re-search Worker y > v A- ^ Susie Johnson Es-slave % ^ Susie was only four years old when The War Between the States began, hut recalls a great deal about the old days, and remembers a great deal that her mother told her* Susie's parents were Jim and Dinah Freeman who belonged to Mr. and Mrs* Henry Freeman. The Freemans* lived on a large plantation near The Rock, Georgia, and had ao many slaves they could not be counted* The old Freeman home is still standing, but is occupied now by negroes and la in a bad state of repair* Susie is around seventy-five or seventy-seven years old, as nearly as she can "figger it out". A good many years ago when she first came over here from Upaon County, she found "Mr. Frank Freeman, her young marster, away back yonder", and he tald her lots and lots about her mother and father and gave her her correct age July 4 tb. Susie says that Mr* and Mrs* Freeman were nsho** good to their slaves but they surely did control them. For instance, if any of them had the stomach ache R0le Miss" would make them take some "Jerusalem Oak tea** and if they had a bad cold it was "hoar hound tea". If you did not take the medicine "Cle Miss" would reach up and get the leather "strop" and (Susie chuckled) "then you'd take it". When asked if Mr* Freeaan whipped the slaves very much, Susie said he did not and that if he had been a mean master that z 344 "all the niggers wouldn't a wanted to stay en with him. after freedom" When asked about the negro marriage customs of slavery days, Susie stated that her mother said that "she and Jim (Susie's daddy) when they got in love and wanted to marry, Jest held each others hands and jumped over the broom and they was married". "Yes, I believe in lots o* signs'', Susie replied on being asked about that. sho' sign o' death :. For instance, the "seritch' owl is a And the reason I knows that is cause my papa's death was fo told by am owl> 'Papa was took sick like this morning at nine o'clock and about eleven, o'clock a little scritoh* owl come and set right on the corner of the roof right above the head o* papa's bed and scritched and serltched and by two o'clock that day papa was a corpseI" Susie remembers one day when she and her mother were picking cotton when all of a sudden her mother began to sing "Glory to the Dying land" and s ang &o much that "atter a while she got so happey she couldn't be still and she danced all over Haste's cotton patch and tramped down so much cotton I jest knowed Masta was gwina whup her; 01 Miss whupped me wid dat strop: Sen I laf fed at her so hard Law! Law!" Susie Johnson 232 East Tinsley Street, Griffin, Georgia September 4, 1936 EX-SLAVE INTERVIEW 3STELLA JONES 1434 Wrightsboro itoad Augusta, Georgia Written by: Louise Oliphant1 Federal Writers Project Augus ta, Ge or 25ia. Edited by: John N. Booth District Supervisor Federal Writers1 Project Residencies 6 & 7 Augusta, Georgia* ESTBILA JOMSS At least one old Augusta Negress has vivid recollections of childhood days on plantations in the pre-Civil war days. Outstanding in their memories are the methods of rearing slave children and the amusements indulged in by their mothers and fathers. 11 1 was "born and raised at Powers Pond Place," said decrepit Ustella Jones, "and, though I warn11 but nine years old, 1 'member dey had a nuss house whar dey. put all de young chillun enough to work. could work. til dey wuz old De chillun wuz put at dis nuss house so dey Ma and Pa Dey had one old brought to dis house. f oman to look atter us and our V eat wuz Our milk v/uz put on de floor in a big wooden tray and dey give us oyster shells to eat wid. gather 'round dis tray and eat. enough. f All de chillun would Dey alv/ays let us eat 'til us got I kept some of de oyster shells dey give us for spoons 'til my own chillun wuz grov/n. tt De nuss house v/uz close to de marster1s house, a wooden house wid two great big rooms. De sleepin' room v/uz furnished wid little bunk beds three or four feet apart. for a playroom and dinin' room. it wuz The other room wuz used De floor wuz bare and de seats and benches v/uz "built from undressed lumber, "Slaves on our place had a hard time. night and day* Dey had to v/ork Marster had stobs (staves) all over de field to put lights on so dey could see how to work atter dark. De mens, more so dan de womens, had to work every night 'til twelve o'clock. v:ould feed 'em good. f But dey Dey had dey supper sont out in de field to rem oout nine o'clock ,hy a cripple boy v/ho didn't do nothin' but tote water ond-do things lak dat. 2. Dey wuz always glad when de time come for rem to shell corn. Dey enjoyed dat better dan dey did Christmas, or at least jist as much. Bey always had to work durin1 de day time and shell corn at night* Be overseer wuz real good to fem and it looked lak he enjoyed corn shellinfs as much as dey did. Mdst times slaves from other plantations would come over and help fem. dey good clothes f Bey used to put on cause dey wante.d to look dey best. rt It always tuk '"bout two weeks to shell corn old inens and womens never did help. eat at dese times. f cause de real Day always had some thin1 good to Dey would pick out de "best six cooks and dey wouldn't help shell corn, dey jist looked atter de cookin1. have chicken, sometimes fish or anythin1 dey could get. Bey would How and den day had jist chit^lin's and sweet ftatoes* "Be men have even stole hogs from other people and barbecued fem, den dey would cook hash and rice and serve barbecue. The overseer knowed all fbout it but he et as much as anybody else and kept his mouth shut. He wuz real good to all de slaves. and yelled at you lak you warn't human. Everybody loved him, and would mind him better dan dey would anybody else. slaves shell corn have supper, twelve. % He never run you He always let de til fbout ten o'clock, den everybody would stop and ^-tter dat he .would let 'em dance and play games Our marster didn't say nothin* long as de overseer wuz wid f f til f bout what de slaves done so em. "When corn-shellin1 time come, everything would be tuk out of a big room, and one half of de room would be filled wid. corn. Every pusson had a bucket dat held de same amount. -Svery time a bucket wuz filled it wuz tuk to de scorekeeper to be credited to his name. Whenever 347 348 de huskin1 wuz over, de number of buckets you had filled wuz counted and de one who filled de most always got a prize "Whenever anybody wuz late gittin1 his cotton picked out, he always give a moonlight cotton pickin1 party. Dese parties wuz always give on moonshiny nights and wuz liked by everybody* Atter while dey give everybody some thin1-good to eat, and at de end of de party, de pusson who had picked de most cotton got a prize times dey had pea shellinfs f Some- stead of corn huskinfs, but de parties and frolics wuz all pretty much alike. w At quiltin1 bees, four folks wuz put at every quilt, one at every corner. Dese quilts had been pieced up by- old slaves who warn11 able to work in de field. Qjiiltin.'s always tuk place durin* de winter when dere warn11 muck to do. which finished dare quilt fust. II A prize wuz always give to de four f Freshments went f long wid dis top* Some times de grown folks all went .huntin1 for fun. At dem times, de womens had on pants and tied dey heads up wid colored cloths. !, Cake walkin1 wuz a lot of fun durin1 slavery time. sv/ept de yards real clean and set benches 'round for de party. wuz used for music makin1 Dey Banjos De womens wore long, ruffled dresses wid hoops in fem and de mens had on high hats, long split-tailed coats, and some of fem used walkin1 sticks. De couple dat danced best got a priae. Sometimes de slave owners come to dese parties 'causa day enjoyed watchin1 de dance, and dey fcided who danced de best. Most parties durin1 slavery time, wuz give on Saturday night durin1 work seasons, but durin1 winter dey wuz give on most any night. II I still fmembers some of de songs dey used to sing at frolics and at church too: * 319 The Wind Blows Bast The wind blows east and the wind blov/s west, It blows like the Judgment .Day. And all them sinners who never have cried, ill surely cry that day* Let me tell you, sure to cry that day, sure to cry that day, All them sinners who never have cried, Will surely cry that day* Youfd 3etter 3e Praying Youfd better be praying while you1re young, You'd better be praying while you're young, Youfd better be praying without waiting any longer, You1 d better be praying while you're young. You'd better seek religion while you're young, You'd better seek religion while you're young, You'd better seek religion without waiting any longer, You'd better seek religion while you're young. Gome Change My Name Bright angel, bright angel, come change my name, 0 angel come change my name. Gome change my name from Nature to Grace, 0 angel come change my name. Sv/eet Jesus, sweet Jesus come change ny name, 0 Jesus come change my name, Gome change my name from Nature to Grace, 0 Jesus coi:3e change my name. 5- 850 Vm On My Way If a seeker gets to Heaven before I do* Look out for iae, Vm on. my way too* Shout, shout the Heaven-bound King! Shout, shout Vm on ray way! If a brother gets to Heaven before I do, Look out for me, I1 in on my way too* Shout, shout the Heaven-bound King. Shout, shout I1 in on my v/ayl 351 .1. s SX-SIAYE INTERVIEW FANNIE JONES 37 - 12th Street Augusta, Georgia Written By: Emily Powell Augusta, Georgia Edited By: John N. Booth WPA Residencies No. 6 a 7 Sept. 1, 1938. 852 Fannie Jones Ex-Slave, Age 85 37 - 12th St. Augusta, Georgia Fannie Jones lives in a ramshackle!, two-story, rooming house near the banks of the Savannah River She is an old Negress with iron gray hair and a gingercake complexion* Her ill-fitting old dress was none too clean, and her bare feet exposed toe nails aLso^t a half-inch long* Fannie apparently hadnft a tooth in her head, but she was munching some bread* The old Negress thought the purpose of the visit was to see about an old age pension for her, and she was very much disappointed when she learned the real reasonJ however, she invited her visitor into a bedroom* This place was much too dark, and the interview finally took place on the back porch where an old oat was made to gei out of the only chair* Fannie' settled herself on the doorsteps, while the visitor fanned flies and gnats with one hand and took notes with the other* tf I was born on Marse Jim Dubose's plantation fbout de year 1855,rt she began* and his wife* tt My Marster and Mistiss was de overseer You see, honey, I was born in de overseer's house* When my Ma was 12 year old she was give to de overseer*s wife, Miss Becky Ann, when she married* My Marster was named Jesse Durden. I never did see Marse Jim Dubosefs house nor none of de slave quarters, and I donft know nothin' f bout dem or none of his Niggers* 353 -2I jus1 stayed in de house and waited on Marster and Mistiss* I cleaned up de house, made de beds, churned for Mistiss, and made fires for Marster. My Ma, she cooked for Marster and Mistiss, cleaned up de house, and waited on Mistiss fcause she was a invalid. "Marse Jim Dubose's plantation covered thousands of acres, and he owned hundreds of slaves You see, my Marster was de man what handled all of dese here Niggers* Svvy mornin1 Marster Jesse would git up and go out and blow his horn, dat was de way he called de Niggers to de fields n De overseer's house was a one-story buildin1 and it was furnished in de old time stuff* De beds was teestered and haa slats to hold de mattresses* When Marster would come in from de fields he would be so tired he never did go nowhar. I would say to him, f Ifse cold,1 and he would say, crawl up on de foot of my bed and git warm.1 Sometimes f Nig, you jus1 He would say fNig, what you want for supper?1 and I would say, * I wants some bread and milk and a little syrup.1 He give me anything dat I wanted to eat, and us had good things to eat. and good milk cows. used to have# Us had chickens, hogs, I kin see de big bowls of milk now dat us Us made a heap of butter and sont it to Augusta onct a month and sold it for 25# a pound. n Atter freedom come, Marster said to me and Ma, *you all is free now to go wharever you wants to.1 Ma, she wanted to go, but I jus1 cried and cried fcause I didnft want to leave Marster and Mistiss; dey was too good to me. So Ma tuk me and 354 -3us went to her grandma1s down at Barnett. den us lef' and went to Thomson. Us stayed dar awhile, Us stayed at dat place a long time, and I was married dar to a man by de name of Claiborne Jones. Us had fleven chillun, but dey is all daid now fcept two. I lives here wid one of my daughters. "My husband bflonged to Marse John Wilson. Durin1 de war Marse John wuz a captain, and he tuk my husband flong to cook and to wait on him. He said one night de Yankees was atter 'em and him and Marse John jumped in a big ditch. Later in de night it rained and dey couldn't git out of de ditch, so de rest of Marse John's company leff 'em alone. De next mornin1 when dey got out of de ditch, day didn't know which way dey had went, but Marse John got a hoss and dey got on and rid f til dey caught up wid de company. ft At Christmas dey give us anything dat us wanted. Dey give me dolls, candy, fruit and ewything. Mistiss used to git a book and say, 'Nig, come here and let me larn you how to read.' I didn't pay no does wish I nad. f tent ion to her den, but now I sho' My Mistiss didn't have but one chile, Miss Cornelia. " At this moment Fannie, tired of sitting on the doorsteps, abandoned the back porcii for her room. The place was very untidy, but she explained this by saying that she was not able to clean it up. On one side of the room hung a picture of the Sacred Heart and on another a reproduction of the Lord's -4Supper* An enlarged family portrait decorated the front wall# The symbolic pictures aroused curiosity as to whether Fannie was a church member. She answered questions on the subject by saying "Yes honey, I joined de Mount Pleasant Baptist Church 58 years ago and wuz baptized by Brother Mike Wilson* When she was asked to sing, the cracked voice broke into this song: M I am a Baptist born, And my shoes cried, And my eyes batted, And when I'm gone Dere is a Baptist gone." Fannie was now completely tired out, but when her visitor arose to leave, she sang out cordially: God bless you; goodbye." "Honey, T-X / ST=^ U '^ D 1 ,, ,.-, JAN IS 1937 /S"' alberta Minor rtf\f 240234 Bastus Jones, Ex>slave ^ Place of Birth: Chapel Hill, North Carolina Date of Birth: Apparently, between 1625 and 1830 Present residence: Bear Vauga, Georgia On Farm of Mr, W. M. Parker Interviewed: August 18, 1936 o Rasttts Jones, born the slave property of Mr* Sidney Janes, a Korth Carolina planter, is a very old nan, probably between 107 and 110 years of age* His earliest memory is that of the palling Stars,* the moat brilliant display, perhaps, of the Leonids ever recorded, that of November 12 - 13, 1833, which establishes his age as being in excess of 103 years* "Uncle" Bastus states that the Jonesjfwere good to their slaves gave them clothing each spring and fall, issued them shoes as needed, fed them well, and furnished them medloal attention when ill. The Hagro children and white children played together and the life of the slave was usually happy and care-free. At Christmas time, the slaves were always remembered by their masters with gifts* The Jones family owned about twenty-five Hegroes and, som?years prior to the Civil War, moved to DeSoto County, Mississippi, taking their slaves with them, all making the trip in wagons* 357 In both Horth Carolina and Mississippi, it was a custom of Mr* Jonas to give each deserving, adult Negro slave an acre or two of land to work for himself and reap any profits derived therefrom* While living in Mississippi, B&stus ran off with a crowd o' Niggers" and Joined tha Federal forces at Memphis. During the siege of Vieksburg, he mas employed as cook in General Grant's Army, and later marched east with the Yankees* Subsequently, he seems to have become attached to Sherman's forces* Near Marietta, Georgia, in July or August, 1864, he was captured by the Confederates under General Hood, who confined him in prison at - or near - Macon until the close of the war* After his release, in May, 1865, he had "a pretty hard time of it" for several years* Still later, he came to Spalding County and hired out to Mr. Jones Bridges* He remained with Mr. Bridges for seven years, then went to work for, and farming with, the Barker family, with whom he has since remained* He is the father of fourteen children and has a large number of grand and great-grandchildren* For a nan of his years, "Uncle" Bastus Is well preserved mentally and physically* He Is a widower and now lives with a daughter, the only one of his children that he knows the whereabouts of*