SLAVE NARRATIVES A Folk History of Slavery in the United States From Interviews ivith 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 XIV SOUTH CAROLINA NARRATIVES PART 1 Prepared by the Federal Writers1 Project of the Works Progress Administration for the State of South Carolina INFORMANTS Abrams, M. E. Adaras, Ezra Adams, Mary Adams, Victoria Adamson, Frank Andrews, Frances Arthur, Pete 1 5 9 10 13 17,18 19 Bacchus, Josephine 20 Ballard, William 26 Barber, Charley 29 Barber, Ed 34 Barber, Millie 38 42 Bates, Anderson Bates, Millie 46 Bees, Welcome 48 Bell, Anne 51 Bevis, Caroline 55 Black, Maggie 57 62 Bluford, Fordon Boulware, Samuel 65 Boyd, John 70 74 Bradley, Jane 75 Brice, Andy 80,89,93 Briggs, George Bristow, Josephine 98 104 Broome, Anne 107,112,115 Brown, Hagar 118,122 Brown, Henry 127 Brown, John C. 131,134 Brown, Mary Frances lbv.Ml Brown, Sara Bryant, Margaret Pk> 149 Burrell, Savilla 152 Burton, C. B. 153 Butler, George Ann 155 Butler, Isaiah Butler, Solbert 161 Cain, Granny Caldwell, Laura Caldwell, Solomon Cameron, Nelson Campbell, Thomas Cannon, Sylvia Caroline, Albert Chisolm, Silvia Chisolm, Tom Cleland, Maria Clifton, Peter _ Coleman, Henry Coleman, Rev. Tuff Collier, Louisa Collins, John Corry, Bouregard Craig, Caleb Cunningham, Dinah 166,168 169 170 172 176 180,187 197 199 201 204 205 210 216 218 224 227 229 234 Daniels, Lucy 238 Davenport, John N 240 Davenport, Moses 244 Davis, Charlie 245 Davis, Charlie 250 Davis, Heddie 254 Davis, Henry 260 Davis, Jesse 263 Davis, Lizzie 267,288,293 Davis, Louisa 299 Davis, Wallace 304,306 Davis, V/illiam Henry 308 Dawkins, Elias 313 TU11, Will 319 Dixon, Thomas 324 Dorroh, Isabella 326 Downing, Laurence 329 Dozier5 Washington 330 Duke, Alice 336 Durant, Silva (Sylvia) 337,342 Project 1885 - 1 Prom field Notes, District No. 4. April 27, 1937 ^Q^A'j^ OSW^J Edited by: '<* Elmer i'urnage * IOLK LORE: IOLK TALES (Negro). f . ..I j c V "Marse Glenn had 64 slaves. On Sat'day night, de darkies\ would have a little fun on de side. A way off from de big house, down in de pastur' dar wuz about de bigges' gull^what I is ebber seed. Dat wuz de place whar us collected mos* ev'ry Sa'day night f er I our 111' mite o fun frum de white folks hearin'. Sometime it wuz so dark dat you could not see de fingers on yo' han' when you would \ raise it fo' your face. Dem wuz sho' scheechj nights;-de sbhreech- . \ iest what I is ever witnessed, in all o' my born natu'al days. Den of cose, dar wuz de moon-light nights when a darky could see; den he see too much. De pastur' wuz big and de trees made dark spots in ! it on de brightest nights. All kind o' varmints tuck and hollered at ye as ye being gwine along to reach dat gully. Cose us would go in droves sometime, and den us would go alone to de gully sometime. When us started together, look like us would git parted 'fo we reach de gully all together. One of us see som'tin and take to runnin'.Maybe de other darkies in de drove, de wouldn't see nothin' jas den. Dats zactly how it is wid de spirits. De mout (might) sho de'self to you and not to me. De acts raal queer all de way round. Dey can take a notion to scare de daylights outtin you when you is wid a gang; or dey kin scare de whold gang; den, on de other hand, dey kin sho de'self off to jes two or three. It ain't never no knowin* as to how and when dem things is gwine to come in youj?_,_ path right fo y ur very eyes; specially when you is partakin' in some raal dark secfetw^ar you is planned to act raal sof' and come in dat room. Brother Wallace up and lit out dat house and he never went back no mo1. " Another preacher tried stay in' dar._ He said he gwine to keep his head kivered plum up. some'tin unkivered lit and he deed a white goat a grinnin' at him. But as he wuz a brave man and trus' de Lawd, he lowed, 'What you want wid me nohow?' The goat said, 'what is you doin' here. Raise, I knows dat you ain't sleep.' De preacher say, 'I wants you to tell me what ole Marse don tuck and hid dat money?' De goat grin and low, 'How come you don' look under your pillar, sometime?' Den he run away. De preacher hopped up and looked under de pillar, and dar wuz de money sho nuf. Peers like it wuz de one on de lef end o' de back porch, but I jes remembers 'bout dat." SOURCE: Mrs. M.E. Abrams, Whitmiee, S.C.; told her by old "uncle" "Mad" Griffin, Whitmire, (Col. 82 yrs. ) Interviewer: Caldwell Sims, Union, S.C. 2/25/37. Project #1655 Henry Grant Columbia, S# C# 390400 REFLECTIONS OP EZRA. ADAI& EX-SLAVE 85 YEARS OLD Ezra Adams is incapable of self-support, owing to ill health* He is very well taken care of by a niece, who lives on the Canghman land just off S* C* #6, and near Swansea, S# C# "% mamray and pappy bflong to Marster Lawrence Adams, who had a big plantation in de eastern part of Lancaster County He died four years after de Civil War and is buried right dere on de old plantation, in de Adams family burying grounds* I was de oldest of de five chillun in our family* I fmembers I was a right smart size plow boy, when freedom come. I think I must of been bout ten or eleven years old, then* Dere's one thing I does know; de Yankees didn't tech our plantation, when they come through South Carolina* Up in de northern part of de county they sho1 did destroy most all what folks had* "You ainft gwine to believe dat de slaves on our plantation didn't stop workin1 for old marster, even whop they was told dat they was free* Us didn't want no more freedom than us was gittin' on our plantation already* Us knowed too well dat us was well took care of, wid a plenty of vittles to eat and tight log and board houses to live in De slaves, where I lived, knowed after de war dat they had abundance of dat somethin1 called freedom, what they could not wat, wear, and sleep in* Yes, sir, they soon found out dat freedom ain't aothin1, 'less you is got somethin' to live on and a place to call home* Dis livin1 on liberty is lak young folks livin' on love after they gits married* It just don't work* No, sir, it las' so long and not a bit longer* Don't tell mei It sho1 don't hold good when you has to work, or when you gits hongry# You knows dat podr white folks and niggers has got to work to live, regardless of U&w&f, lav*, 2* and all them things* good* I believes a person loves more better , when they feels I knows from experience dat poor folks feels better when they has food in deir frame and a few dimes to jingle in deir pockets* to be a nigger, wid nothin1 a bite to eat* X knows what it means Many times I had to turn every way I knowed to git I didn't care much "bout clothes* What 1 needed in sioh times was food to keep my blood warm and gwine flong* "Boss, I donft want to think, and I knows I ainft gwinerto say^ a word, not a worc^of evil against deir dust lyin1 over yonder in deir graves* I was old enough to know what de pas sin 'way of old marster and missus meant to me* De very stream of lifeblood in me was dry in1 up, it 'peared lak* dat was sy fust real sorrow* of my second sorrow* in November* Tfhen marster died, Three years later, missus passed fway, dat was de time Then, I fminded Herself of a little tree out dere in de woods Wid every sharp and cold wind of trouble dat blowed, more leaves of dat tree turnt loose and went to de ground, Just lak they was tryin* to follow her* It seem lak, when she was gone, I was just lak dat tree wid all de leaves gone, naked and friendless* It took ms a long time to git over all dat; same way wid de little tree, it had to pass through winter and wait on spring to see life again* *I has ffcismed fiwst all xry life and, if I was not so old, I would be doin1 dat same thing now* If a poor man wants to enjoy a little freedom, let him go on de farm and&toriefor his self It is eho1 worth somethinf to be boss, and, on de farm ydu can be boss all you want to, fless de man flow his wife to hold dat 'poiyfcant post* A man wid a good wife, one dat pulls wid him, can see and feel some pleasure and experience some independence* But, bless your soul, if he gits a woman what wants to be both husband and wife, fare-you-welland goodbye, too, to all love, pleasure, and independence} f cause you sho* is gwine to ketch hi&l here and no mild climate whenever you goes fway* & bad man is worse, but a bad woman is almost terrible "White man, ddre is too many peoples in dese big towns and cities is more of them than dere is jobs to make a livinf wid Dere When some of them find out dat they can*t make a livin1, they turns to mischief, de easy way they thinks, takin1 widout pay or work, dat which bf longs to other people If I understands right, de fust sin dat was committed in de world was de takin1 of somethin1 dat didnft bflong to de one what took it* Adam, back yonder in de garden. he would be guilty of crime. say is dis: De gentleman what done dis was dat man If what Adam done back yonder would happen now, Datfs how fciety names sin. Well, what I got to If de courts, now, would give out justice and punishment as quick as dat what de Good Master give to Adam, dere would be less crime in de land I believes. But I fspose de courts would be better if they had de same jurisdiction as de Master has. Yes, sir, they would be gwine some then. n I tells you, dis gittin* what donft bfloag to you is de main cause of dese wars and troubles fbout over dis world now. I hears de white folks say dat them Japanese is do in1 dis very thing today in fightin9 them Chinamens. Japan say dat China has done a terrible crime against them and de rest of de world, when it ainft nothin* but dat they wants somethin1 what donft belong to them, and dat somethin' is to git more country. I may be wrong, anyhow, dat is what I has heard. "What does I think de colored people need most? to say dis. If you please sir, I want I ainYt got much learning 'cause dere was no schools hardly !round where I was brung up, but I thinks dat good teachers and work is what de colored race needs worser than anything else. If they has learnin1, they will be more ashame to commit crime, most of them will be; and, if they has rork to do, they a&^t ^s|ie %o have tia* to do so mach wrong. Course dere is gwine to be black sheeps in mat flocks, aai it is gwine to take patience to git them out, but they will corns out, just as shof as you is born. f, Is de colored people superstitious? Listen at dat* You makes me laugh* All dat foolishness fust started wid de Mack man* De reason they is supersti- tious comes from nothin1 but stomppdown ignorance De white chillun has been nursed by colored women and they has told them stories 'bout hants and sich lak# So de white chillun has growed up believin' some of dat stuff ftil they natchally pass it on from generation to generation* Here we is, both white and colored, still believin' some of them lies started back when de whites fust come to have de blacks fround them* "If you wants to know what I thinks is de best vittles, Ifs gwine to be obliged to omit (admit) dat it is cabbage sprouts in de spring, and it is collard greens after frost has struck them* After de best vittles, dere come some more what is mighty tasty, and they is hoghead and chittlings wid 'tatoes and turnips. Did fon see dat? Here I is talkin1 'bout de joys of de appetite and water drap- ping from my mouth* I sho1 must be gittin1 hongry* I lak to eat* I has been a good eater all a$r life, but now I is gittin1 so old dat 'eordin' to de scriptures, f De grinders cease 'cause they are few1, and too, 'Those dat look out de windows be darkened' % old eyes and teeth is 'bout gone, and if they does go soon, tUaey ain't gwine to beat dis old frame long, 'cause I is gwine to soon follow, I feels* I Itope vAen I does go, I can be able to say what dat great Gen- eral Stonewall Jackson say wa n he got kilt in de Civil War, 'I is gwine to cross de river and rest under de s&ade of de trees' * Project 1885 - 1. Folk Lore District Ho. 4. May 27, 1937. OOnnQQ OOUUOO Edited by: , j. j, Murray. q EX-SIAVE STORIES "Aunt" Mary Adams was swinging easily back and forth in the porch swing as the writer stopped to speak to her. When questioned, she replied that she and her mother were ex-slaves and had belonged to Dr. C. E. Fleming. She was born in Columbia, but they were moved to Glenn Springs where her mother cooked for Dr. Fleming. She remembers going with a white woman whose husband was in jail, to carry him something to eat. She said that Mr. Jim Milster was in that jail, but he lived to get out, and later kept a tin shop in Spartanburg. "Yes sir, Dr. Fleming always kept enough for us niggers to eat during the war. He was good to us. You know he married Miss Dean. Do you know Mrs. Lyles, Mrs. Simpson, Mr. Ed Fleming? Well, dey are my chilluns. "Some man here told me one day that I was ninety years old, but I do not believe I am quite that old* I don't know how old I am, but I was walking during slavery times. I can't work now, for my feet hurt me and my fingers ainft straight .n She said all of her children were dead but two, that she knew of. She said that she had a room in that house and whiteb people gave her different things. As the writer told her good-bye, she said, "Good-bye, and may the Lord bless you". SOURCE: "Auntw Mary Adams, 363 S. Liberty Street, Spartanburg, S.C* .Interviewer; F* S* DuPre, Spartanburg, S* C Project #1655 Everett R* Pierce Columbia, St C Ai\ XU QQfiOQQ OaU^OO VICTORIA ADAMS EX-SLAVE 90 YEARS OLD, !, You ask me to tell you something fbout myself and de slaves in slavery times? Well Missy, I was borned a slave, nigh on to ninety years ago, right down here at Cedar Creek, in Pairfield County* tt % massa's name was Samuel Black and missus was named Martha* She used to be Martha Kirkland befo1 she married* There was five chillun in de family; they was: Alice, Manning, Sally, Kirkland, and de baby, Eugene* De white folks live in a great big house up on a hill; it was right pretty, too* !t You wants to know how large de plantation was I lived on? Well, I don!t know 'zackly but it was mighty large* There was forty of us slaves in all and it took all of us to keep de plantation goin' De most of de niggers work in de field* They went to work as soon as it git light enough to see how to git fround; then when twelve o1 clock come, they all stops for dinner and don't go back to work 'til two* All of them work on ftil it git almost dark* No ma1 am, they ain't do much work at night after they gits home* "Massa Samuel ain't had no overseer, he look after his own plantation* % old granddaddy help him a whole heap though* He was a good nigger and massa trust him* "After de crops was all gathered, de slaves still had plenty of work to do* I stayed in de house wid de white folks*. De most I had to do was to keep de house clean up and nurse de ohillun* clothes to wear, f I had a heap of pretty cause my missus give me de old clothes and shoes dat Missy Sally throw 'way*) "De massa and missus was good to me but sometime I was so bad 11 they had to whip me* I 'members she used to whip me every time she tell me to do something and I take too long to move 'long and do it* One time my missus went off on a visit and left me at home# When she come back, Sally told her that I put on a pair of Bubber's pants and scrub de floor wid them on* Missus told me it was a sin for me to put on a man's pants, and she whip me pretty bad* datj She say it's in de Bible 'A man shall not put on a woman's clothes, nor a woman put on a man's clothes' I ain't never see that in de Bible though, but from then 'til now, I ain't put on no more pants "De grown-up slaves was punished sometime too# Yftien they didn't feel like taking a whippin' they went off in de woods and stay 'til massaJs hounds track them down; then they'd bring them out and whip them* might as well not run away* They Some of them never come back a-tall, don't know what become of them* We ain't had no jail for slaves; never ain't see none in chains neither* There was a guard-house right in de town but us niggers never was carried to it* ed off? Yes ma'am, one time* to a soldier man* You ask me if I ever see a slave auction- I see a little girl 'bout ten years old sold Dis soldier man was married and didn't had no chillun and he buy dis little girl to be company for his wife and to help her wid de house work* w, White folks never teach us to read nor write much* ed us our A, B, C's, and teach us to read some in de testament* They learnDe reason they wouldn't teach us to read and wtite, was 'cause they was afraid de slaves would write their own pass and go over to a free county* One old nigger did learn enough to write his pass and got 'way wid it and went up Worth* "Missus Martha sho* did look after de slaves good when they was sick* Us had medicine made from herbs, leaves and roots; some of them was catrnip, garlic root, tansy, and roots of burdock* burdock soaked in whiskey was mighty good medicine* De roots of We dipped asafetida in turpentine and hung it 'round our necks to keep off disease* "Befo1 de Yankees come thru, our peoples had let loose a lot of our hosses and de hosses strayed over to de Yankee side, and de Yankee men rode de hosses back over to our plantation* we want to be free* De Yankees asked us if I never say I did; I tell them I want to stay wid iny missus and they went on and let me alone* They 'stroyed most everything we had *cept a little vittles; took all de stock and take them wid them* They turned all de buildings f cept de one de massa and missus was livin1 in* "It wasnft long after de Yankees went thru dat our missus told us dat we don't bflong to her and de massa no more* ftone of us left dat season* I got married de next year and left her* I like being free more better* Any niggers what like slavery time better, is lazy people dat don't want to do nothing ft I married Fredrick Adams; he used to b'long to Miss Teony Graddick but after he was freed he had to take another name* Mr* Jess Adams, a good fiddler dat ay husband like to hang 'round, told him he could take his name if he wanted to and dats how he got de name of Adams* Us had four chillun; only one livin1, dat Lula* and got several chillun* Home Address: Colonial Heights, Columbia, S# Co She married John Entzminger % gran1 chillun a heap of comfort to me*11 12 Project #1655 13 390315 TU W# Dimon vwv/w J.V^ Winnsboro, S* C* FRMK ADAMSGN EX-SIAVE 82 YEARS OLD. n I 'members when you was barefoot at de bottom; now X see you a sett in1 dere, gittinf bare at de top, as bare as de palm of ay hand* tt I's been fpossum huntin* wid your pappy, when he lived on de Wateree, just after de war* you* One night us got into tribulation, I tells f Twas fbout midnight when de dogs make a tree* Your pappy climb up de tree, git fbout halfway up, heard sumpin' dat once you hears it you never forgits, and dats de rattlin1 of de rattles on a rattle snake's tail* Us both 'stinctly hear dat sound* him up de tree, but where de snake? What us do? Me on de ground, Dat was de misery, us didnft know* Dat snake give us fair warnin1 thought Marster Sam (dats your pa) 'low: tPrank, ease down on de ground) I'll just stay up here for a while*1 lay on them leaves, skeered to make a russle* to go up or down* I Your pa up de tree skeered Broad daylight didn't move us# Sun come up, he look all 'round from his vantage up de tree* then come down* not 'til then, do I gits on my foots* "Then I laugh and laugh and laugh, and ask Marster Sam how he felt* Marster Sam kftnda frown and says 'Damn I feels like hell I Don't you see dat 'possum up dare?' He say: I sayi Git up dat treei 'But where de snake, llarster?' 'Dat rattler done gone home, where me and you and dat 'possum gonna be pretty soonl* n I b'longs to de Peays* De father of them all was, Kershaw Peay* marster was his son, Nicholasj he was a fine man to just look at* was always tellin' him 'bout how fine and handsome-like he was* Ify % mistress He must of got use to i%; howsomever* marster grin every time she talk like dat* 2.14 n $fy pappy was bought from de Adamson peoplesj they say they got him off de ship from Africa* He she1 was a man) he run all de other niggers 'way from my mammy and took up wid her widout aekin1 de marster* Her name was Lavinia* name us would go by* was: When us got free, he f sisted on Adamson was de He name was William Adamson* Yes sir* say "brothers Justus, Hillyard, and Donald, and ay sisters was* Martha and Lizzettie* nf Deed I did work befo1 freedom* What I do? Hoed cotton, pick cotton, 'tend to calves and slop de pigs, under de *vision of de overseer was? First one name Mr* Cary, he a good man* Another one Mr. Tim Gladden, burn you up whenever he just take a notion to pop his whip* round in our shirt tails* widout techin1 de skin* Who he Us boys run He lak to see if he could lift de shirt tail Just as often as not, though, he tech de skin* Little boy holler and Marster Tim laugh* "Us live in quarters* Our beds was nailed to de sides of de house* Most of de chillun slept on pallets on de floor* Got water from a big spring* tt De white folks 'tend to you all right* Us had two doctors, Doctor Carlisle and Doctor James* "I see some money, but never own any then* Had plenty to eat: Meat, bread, milk, lye hominy, horse apples, turnips, collards, pumpkins, and dat kind of truck* "Was marster rich? How come he wasn't? miles square akd he had a thousand slaves* He brag his land was ten Them poor white folks look- ed up to him lak God Almighty; they sho* did* They would have stuck their hands in de fire if he had of asked them to do it* He had a fish i pond on top of; de house and terraces wid strawberries, all over de place* % sw See them big rock columns down dere now? grandness and greatness* de backyards D$.ts all dats left of his They done move de whippin1 post dat was in Yes sah, it was a 'cessity wid them niggers* It stood up and out to fmind them dat if they didn't please de master and de overseer, they'd hug dat post, and de lend of dat whip lash gwine to flip to de hide of dat back of their1 s* "I ain't a complaining He was a good master, bestSst in de land, but he just have to have a whippin' post, 'cause you'll find a whole passle of bad niggers when you gits a thousand of them in one flock* "Screech owl holler? Women and men turn socks and stockings wrong side out quick, dat they did, do it mow, myself* a crow but I's got a white folks heart* wid niggers in radical times* in a pod* I's black as Didn't ketch me fool in* 'round I's as close to white folks then as peas Wore de red shirt and drunk a heap of brandy in Columbia, dat time us went down to General Hampton into power* I 'clare I hollered so loud goin' 'long in de procession, dat a nice white lady run out one of de houses down dere in Columbia, give me two biscuits and a drum stick of chicken, patted me on dt shoulder, and say: 'Thank God for all de big black men dat can holler for Governor Hampton as loud as dis one does*1 Then I hollers some more for to please dat lady, though I had to take de half chawed chicken out dis old mouth, and she laugh 'bout dat 'til she cried* She didt ' Well, I'll be rockin' 'long balance of dese days* a hollerin1 for Mr* Roosevelt, just as loud as I holler then for Hampton*. 15 1Q "Ify young marsters was: Austin, Tom, and Nicholas; they was. all right fcept they tease you too hard maybe some time, and w&fct to mix in wid de f fairs of slave 'musements* tt Now what make you ask dat? knows I did* Did me ever do any courtin1 ? You Every he thing from a he king down to a bunty rooster gits cited fbout she things* Ifs lay wake many nights fbout sich things* It's They do say dat a he angel ainft de nature of a he, to take after de she* got dis to worry 'bout* W I fust courted Martha Harrison* Us marry and jine de church* had nine chillun; seven of them livin' lak a man* Us A woman can't stand Jiavin' chillun, Carryinf, sucklin', and 'tending to them wore her down, dat, wid de malaria of de Wateree brung her to her grave* "I sorrow over her for weeks, maybe five months, then I got to thinking how I'd pair up wid dis one and dat one and de other one* Took to shavin1 again and gwine to Winnsboro every Saturday, and different churches every Sunday* I hear a voice from de choir, one Sunday, dat makes me sit up and take notice of de gal on de off sid# in front* Well sir* a spasm of fright fust hit me dat I might not git her, dat I was too old for de likes of her* and dat some no 'count nigger might be in de way* to nygSlf * In a few minutes I come I rise right up, walked into dat choir, stand by her side, and wid dis voice of mine, dat always tracts sung them all* f tent ion, jined in de hymn and out It was easy from dat time on* n I marry Kate at de close of dat revival* what you reckon? Don't know? De day after de weddin*, Well, after gittin' breakfas' she we^t to de field, poke 'round her neck, basket on her head and picked two hundred pounds of cotton* Dats de kind of woman she is*tt project 1885-1 \1 ty" JOBKLORE 390117 Spartanburg Disti4 June 10, 1937 Edited by: Elmer Turnage* STORIES IROM EX-SLAVES *I was born in Newberry County,S.C., near Belfast, about 1854. I was a slave of John Wallace. I was the only child, and when a small child, my mother was sold to Joe Liggins by my old master, Bob Adams. It is said that the old brick house where the Wallaces lived was built by a Eichleberger, but Dr. John Simpson lived there and sold it to Mr. Wallace. In the attic was an old skeleton which the children thought bewitched the house. None of them would go upstairs by themselves. I suppose old Dr. Simpson left it there. Sometimes later, it was taken out and buried.. Marse Wallace had many slaves and kept them working, but he was not a strict master. "I married Allen Andrews after the war. He went to the war with his master. He was at Columbia with the Confederate troops when Sherman burnt the place. Some of them, my husband included, was captured and taken to Richmond 7a. They escaped and walked back horns, but all but five or six fell out or died. "My young master, Editor Bill Wallace, a son of Marse John, was a soldier. When he was sick at home, I fanned the flies from him with a home-made fan of peacock feathers, sewed to a long cane. . "After the war, the bush-whackers % called Ku Klux, rode there. Preacher Pitts' brother was one, They went to negro houses and killed the people. They wore caps over the head and eyes, but no long white gowns. An old muster ground was above there about three miles, near what is now Wadsworth School.* Source: frances Andrews (eol, 83), Newberry, S.C. Interviewer: G. Leiand summer, Newberry, S.C* Project 1885-1 FOLKLORE Spartanburg Dist.4 Sept. 22, 1937 ** **+ 390241 \) UVJ ^ Edited by: 4Q Elmer Turnage AO STORIES FROM EX-SLA7ES n I live in a comfortable two-room cottage which my son owns I can't do much work, except a little washing and ironing. My grandchildren live with me. My other children help me a little when I need it. I heard about the 40 acres of land and a mule the ex- slaves would get after the war, but I didn't pay any attention to it They never got anything. I think this was put out by the Yankees who didn't care about much 'cept getting money for themselves. "I come from the Indian Greek section of Newberry County. After about 1880 when things got natural, some of the slaves from this section rented small one-horse farms and made their own money and living. Some would rent small tracts of land on shares, giving the landlord one-half the crop for use of the land. "Everything is changed so much. I never learned to read and write and all I know is what I heard in old times. But I think the younger generation of jiegroes is different from what they used "1ST* to be. They go where they want to and do what they want to and don't pay much attention to old folks anymore. "My mother's mother come from Virginia and my mother's father was born and raised in this county. I don't remember anything about the Nat Turner Rebellion, and never heard anything about it. We never had any slave up-risings in our neighborhood." Source: Frances Andrews (82), Newberry, S.C. Interviewer: G.L. Summer, Newberry, S.C. 8/11/37. \ ^Wv\Av^^'V\ K] 390084 Project 1886-(1) Folklore Spartanburg, S#C District No. 4 May 27, 1937. Eiited by R*V Williams u s i)T \^VV^ Folk Lore: Folk Tales (negro) 11 1 was *bout nine year ole when de big war broke loose*> Ify pa and ma 'longed to de Scotts what libbed in Jonesville Township* When I got big fnough to work, I was gib to de youngest Scott bay* Soon atter dis, Sherman come through Union County* No ma!m, I nebber seed Sherman but I seed some of his soldiers* Datfs de time I run off in de wood and not narry a soul kaowed whar I was till de dusf had done settled in de big road* "Every Sunday, Marse Scott sent us to church in one of his waggins* TWhite folks rid to church in de buggy and Marse went on de big saddle hoss* f Bout dis time, Marse Scott went to Columbia to git coffee and sugar* He stay mos* two weeks, kaise he drive two fine hosses to de buggy flong wid a long hind end to fetch things to and fro in* De roads was real mud^y and de hosses haf to res1 ever night* Den in Columbia, he would have a little f joyment befo1 he come back home*11 SOURCE: Miss Dorothy Lambright, W* Main St*, Union, S*e* (Story told her by "Uncle Feterft Arthur* Information by Caldwell Sims, Union, S*C* Code Ho* Project, 1SS5-(1) Prepared by Annie Ruth Davis Place, Marion, S.O. Date, January ^, 193$ No. Wfte&sRedueed from Rewritten by words e l. 20 ; JOSEPHINE BACCHUS Ex-Slave, 75-SO Years 390413 "No, my mercy God, I don1 know not one thought to speak to you bout. Seems like, I does know your face, but I been so sick all de year dat I can1 hardly remember nothin. sweetheart, I sho caught on to what you want. Yes, Oh, I wishes I did know somethin bout dat old time war cause I tell you, if I been know anything, I would sho pour it out to you. I got burn out here de other day en I ain' got near a thing left me, but a pair of stockings en dat old coat dere on de bed. Dat how-come I stayin here wid Miss Celia. My husband, he dead en she took me in over here for de present. I haven't never had a nine months child. ailin me now. Ho1urn, Reckon dat what Bein dat I never had no mother to care for me en give me a good attention like, I caught so much of cold dat I ain* never been safe in de family way. Yes,mam, I bad my leg broke plenty times, but I ain' never been able to jump de time. Lord, I got a misery in my back dere. I hope it ain1 de pneumonias.M "Well, you see, I couldn1 tell you nothin bout my mother cause I never didn know nothin bout my mother. My Jesus, my brother tell bout when dey had my mother layin out on de ooolin board, X went in de room whe* she was en axed her for somethin to eat en pushed her head dat way. You know, I wouldn1 touch my hand to do nothin like dat, but I never know. Dat it, de Ho. Words Reduced frotn. Rewritten by" Oode No. Project, 1SS5-(1) Prepared by Annie Ruth Davis Place, Marion, 8.0. Date, January k, 1938 words Page 2. 21 coolin board, dat what dey used to have to lay all de dead people on, but dis day en time, de undertaker takes dem en I tellin you, I ain1 had fixes dem up right nice, I say. no sense since I lost my people. Sometimes, I axes de Lord what he keepin me here for anyhow. to me often times in de night. Yes,mam, dat does come Oh, it don* look like I gwine ever get no better in dis life en if I don , I just prays to God to be saved. Yes, Lord, I prays to be lifted to a restful home." M Just like as I been hear talk, some of de people fare good in slavery time en some of dem fare rough. Dat been accordin to de kind of task boss dey come up under. Now de poor colored people in slavery time, dey give dem very little rest en would whip some of dem most to death. Wouldn1 none of dem daresen to go from one plantation to another widout dey had a furlough from dey boss. Yes,mam, if dey been catch you com in back widout dat walkin paper de boss had give you, great Jeruseleum, you would sho catoh de devil next mornin. My blessed a mercy, hear talk dey spill de poor nigger.*s blood awful much in slavery time. Hear heap of dem was free long time foxe dey been know it cause de white folks, dey wanted to keep dem in bondage. Oh, my Lord, dey would cut dem so hard till dey just slash de flesh right off dem. Yes,mam, dey call dat thing dey been whip dem wid de cat o' nine tail. No, darlin, I hear talk it been made out of pretty leather plaited No. Words Reduced froni Rewritten by" Code No. Project, 1SS5-(1) Prepared by Annie Ruth Davis Place, Marion, S.C. Date, January k-, 1938 words Page 3. A 22, most all de way en den all dat part down to de bottom, dey just left it loose to do de cuttin wid. Yes, honey, dem kind of whips was made out of pretty leather like one of dese horse whips. Yes,mam, dat been how it was in slavery r time." ' Yankees* Oh, I hear folks speak bout de Yankees plunderin through de country plenty times. Hear bout de Yankees gwine all bout stealin white people silver. Say, everywhe dey went en found white folks wid silver, dey would just clean de place up. Dat de blessed truth, too, cause dat exactly what I hear bout dem." "Lord, pray Jesus, de white people sho been mighty proud to see dey niggers spreadin out in dem days, so dey tell me. Yes,mam, dey was glad to have a heap of colored people bout dem cause white folks couldn' work den no more den dey can work dese days like de colored people can. Reckon dey love to have dey niggers back yonder just like dey loves to have dem dese days to do what dey ain1 been cut out to do. You see, dey would have two or three women on de plantation dat was good breeders en dey would have chillun pretty regular fore freedom come here. You know, some people does be right fast in catchin chillun. Yee'um, dey must been bless wid a pile of dem, I say, en every colored person used to follow up de same name as dey white folks been hear to." Code No. Project, 16&5-(1) Prepared by Annie Ruth Davis Place, Marion, S.C. Date, January k-, 1938 No. Words Reduced from Rewritten by words _____ Page 4-. i t "No'um, I never didn' go to none of dem cornshuckin en fodder pullin en all dem kind of thing. Reckon while dey was at de cornshuckin, I must been somewhe' huntin somethin to eat. Den dem kind of task was left to de men folks de was most of de time cause it been so hot, dey/force to strip to do dat sort of a job." "Lord, I sho remembers dat earth shake good as anything. When it come on me, I was settin.down wid my foots in a tub of water. Yes, my Lord, I been had a age on me in de shake, I remember, dere been such a shakin dat evenin, it made all de people feel mighty queer like. It just come in a tremble en first thing I know, I felt de difference in de crack of de house. I run to my sister Jessie cause she had been live in New York en she was well acquainted wid dat kind of gwine on. She say, 'Josie, dis ain1 nothin but dem shake I been tellin you bout, but dis de first time it come here en you better be a prayin. En, honey, everything white en colored was emptied out of doors dat night. Lord, dey was scared. De people was scared everywhe1. of it. Great Jeruseleuni Didn' nobody know what to make I tellin you, I betcha I was 30 years old in de shake." "Now, I guess time you get done gettin up all dem memorandums, you gwine have a pile. I tell you, if you keep on, you sho gwine have a bale cause dere a lot of slavery people is spring up till now. I ought to could fetch baok more to speak to you bout, but just like I been tell you, I wasn' never No. Words Reduced from_ Rewritten by" Oode Ho. Project, 1S85-(1) Prepared by Annie Ruth Davis Place, Marion, S.O. Date, January k, 1938 words Page 5. 24 cared for by a mother en I is caught on to a heap of roughness just on account dat I ain1 never had a mother to have a care for me.M M0h, de people never didn' put much faith to de doctors in dem days. Mostly, dey would use de herbs in de fields for dey medicine. Dere two herbs, I hear talk .of black snake root en Sampson snake root. Dey wa6 Say, if a person never had a good appetite, dey would boil some of dat stuff en mix it wid a little whiskey en rock candy en dat would sho give dem a sharp appetite. See, it natural cause if you take a tablespoon of dat bitter medicine three times a day like a person tell you, it bound to swell your appetite. Yes,mam, I know dat a mighty good mixture." w 0h, my Lord, child, de people was sho wiser in olden times den what dey be now. Dey been have all kind of signs to forecast de times wid en dey been mighty true to de word, too. Say, when you hear a cow low en cry so mournful like, it ain' gwine be long fore you hear tell of a death.n wDen dere one bout de rain. Say, sometimes de old rain crow stays in de air en hollers en if you don1 look right sharp, it gwine rain soon. Call him de rain crow. mostly like dis, 'Goo-oop, goo-oop.1 He hollers Like dat." M De people used to have a bird for cold weather, too. Folks say, tOon* you hear dat cold bird? tomorrow.* Look out, it gwine be cold De cold bird, he a brown bird. If you can see him, No. Words Reduced from Rewritten by Code No. Project, 1S85-U) Prepared "by Annie Ruth Davis Place, Marion, S.C. Date, January 4-, 193S he a fine lookin bird, too. words Page b Yesfum, right large en strong lookin, but don1 nobody hardly ever see him dese days.1' "En I reckon you hear talk bout dis one. Say, not to wash on de first day of de New Year cause if you do, you will wash some of your family out de pot. sho die. Dat right, too. Say, somebody will Den if possible, must boil some old peas on de first day of de New Year en must cook some hog jowl in de pot wid dem. to eat it all. Must eat some of it, but don' be obliged En ought to have everything clean up nicely so as to keep clean all de year. Say, must always put de wash out on de line to be sure de day fore New Years en have all your garments olean." "What my ideas bout de young folks dese days? young folks en dey ain1 young folks, I say. Well, dey Cose I don1 bother up wid dem none, but I think wid my own weak judgment, dey quite different from when I come along. en time to my notion. Folks is awful funny dis day Don' care what people see dem do no time. I sho think dey worser den what dey used to be. De way I say dey worser, I used to have to be back at such en such a time, if I went off, but now dey go anytime dey want to en dey comes back anytime dey want to. I sho think dey worser. De fact of it, I know dey worser." Source; Josephine Bacchus, colored, age 75-30, Marion, S.C. Personal interview by Annie Ruth Davis, Dec., 1937 Project 1885-1 FOLKLORE Spartanburg Dist.4 June 14, 1937 ^QniC3 waui.00 Edited by: . Elmer Turnage* STORIES IROM EX-SLAVES "I was born near Winnsboro, S.C., ^airfield County. I was twelve years old the year the Confederate war started. Ifiy father was John Ballarft and my mother was Sallie Ballard. I had several brothers and sisters. We belonged to Jim liken, a large landowner at Winnsboro. He owned land on which the towja was built. He had seven plantations. He was good to us and give us plenty to eat, and good quarters to live in. His mistress was good, too; but one of his sons, Dr. Aiken, whipped some of de niggers, lots. One time he whipped a slave for stealing. Some of his land was around four churches in Winnsboro. "We was allowed three pounds of meat, one quart oT molasses, grits and other things each week plenty for us to eat. "When freedom come, he told us we was free, and if we wanted to stay on with him, he would do the best he could for us. Most of us stayed, and after a few months, he paid wages. After eight months, some went to other places to work. "The master's wife died and he married a daughter of Robert Gillam and moved to Greenville, S.C. "The master always had a very big garden with plenty of vegetables. He had fifty hogs, and I helped mind the hogs. He didn't raise much cotton, but raised lots of wheat and corn. He made his own meal and flour from the mill on the creek; made home-made clothes with cards and spinning wheels. -"They cooked in wide chimneys in a kitchen which was away off from the big house. They used pots and skillets to eook with. Qd\ v Folklore: Stories I*rom Ex-Slaves Page Z Qjy The hands got their rations every Monday night. They got their clothes to wear which they made on old spinning wheels, and wove them themselves. "The master had his own tanfVard and tanned his leather and made shoes for his hands. "He had several overseers, white men, and some negro foremen. They sometimes whipped the slaves, that is the overseers. Once a nigger whipped the overseer and had to run-away in the woods and live so he wouldn t get caught. The nigger foremen looked after a set of slaves on any special work. They never worked at night unless it was to bring in fodder or hay when it looked like rain was coming. On rainy days, we shucked corn and cleaned up around the place. ft We had old brick ovens, lots of 'em. some was used to make molasses from our own sugar cane we raised. "The master had a 'sick-house* where he took sick slaves for treatment, and kept a drug store there. They didn't use oldtime cures much, like herbs and barks, except sassafras root tea for the blood. "We didn't learn to read and write, but some learned after the war. "My father run the blacksmith shop for the master on the place. I worked around the place. The patrollers were there and we had to have a pass to get out any. The nigger children sometimes played out in the road and were chased by patrollers. The children would run into the master's place and the patrollers couldn't get them 'cause the master wouldn't let them. We had no churches for slaves, but went to the white church and set in the gallery. After freedom, niggers'feuilt %brush'harbors'on the place. folklore: stories From Ex-slaves Page .3 po "Slaves carried news from one plantation to another by riding mules or horses. They had to be in quarters at night. I remember my mother rode side-saddle one Saturday night. I reckon she had a pass to go; she come back without being bothered. "Some games children played was, hiding switches, marbles, and maybe others. Later on, some of de nigger boys started playing cards and got to gambling; some went to de woods to gamble, "The old cotton gins on de farms were made of wooden screws, and it took all day to gin four bales o' cotton. "I was one of the first trustees that helped build the first colored folks' church in the town of Greenwood. I am the only one now living. I married Alice Robinson, and had five sons and one daughter, and have five or six grandchildren. "Abraham Lincoln, I think, was a good man; had a big reputation. Couldn't tell mnch about Jefferson Davis. Booker T. Washington --Everybody thinks he is a great man for the colored race. "Of course I think slavery was bad. We is free now and better off to work. I think anybody who is any count can work and live by himself. "I joined de church when I was 17 years old, because a big preaching was going on after freedom for the colored people. "I think everybody should join the church and do right; can't get anywhere without it, and do good." Source: William Ballard (88), Greenwood, S.C. Interviewed by: G.L. Summer, Newberry, S.C. (6/10/37) Project #1655 . w-w\Ci3C0 S. C Winnsboro, % c 390264 CHAR1BY BARBER *' ^ EX-SIAVE 81 YEARS OLD, Charley Barber Jives in a shanty kind of house, situated on a plot of ground containing two acres all his own* east of Winnsboro, S C* It is a mile and a half south- He lives with an anaemic daughter, Maggie, whose chief interests are a number of cats, about the premises, and a brindled, crumple-horned cow that she ties out to graze every morning and milks at evening* Charley is squat of figure, short neck, popeyed, and has "white hair* He tills the two acres and produces garden truck that he finds a sale for among the employees of the Viinnsboro mills, just across the railroad from his home* He likes to talk, and pricks up his ears#( so to speak ^when- ever anything is related as having occurred in the past* He will importune those present to hear his version of the event unusual* "Well sah, dis is a pleasure to have you call Tpon me, howsome^er it be unexpected dis mornin1* Shoo* Shool ( driving the chickens out of the house) Git out of here and go scratch a livin1 for them chickens, dat*s fol~ lowinf you yet > and you wonft wean a&d git to layin1 again* Pust thing you know you111 be spoil in1 de floor, when us is got company dis very minute* Scat I Maggie, git them cats out de chairs long *nough for Mr* Wood to set in one whilst hefs come to see me dis momin** tf And dat*s it? You wants me to talk over de days dat am gone? How dis come *bout and how dat come fbout, from de day ' I,was born, to dis -wery hour? Letfs light up our gaaok^staoks befo1 us begin* 0. vvg^ll^ lili^fee you wants a '- h dat 13aggie? (Rubbing his hands; his eyes shining with pleasure) look and make another guess* Seventy-five? Take another You is growin* warm but youTll have to come againI n 'Bless your soul Marse Wood, you know what old Madder Shift on say? *low dat: 'In de year 1881, de world to an end will surely come'* She I was twenty-five years old, when all de niggers and most of de white folks was believin1 dat old lady and lookin* for de world to come to an end in 1881* Dat was de year dat I jined de church, 'cause I wanted to make sure dat if de enddid come, I'd be caught up in dat rapture dat de white Methodist preacher was preachin* T bout and explainin1 to my marster and mistress at deir house on de piazza dat year* 11 1 is eighty-one years old* to Great Falls* I was born up on de Vfateree River, close % marster was Gzmond Barber* Elizabeth; her de wife of Marse Gzmond* went by de name of Jemima* % mistress was name Miss My pappy was name Jacob* %. mammy They both come from Africa where they was born* They was 'ticed ^n a ship, fetah 'cross de ocean to Yirginny, fetch to Winnsboro by a slave drover, and sold to m^ marster1 s father* me* Dat what they tell TOxen they was sailin* over, dere was five or six hundred others all to- gether down under de first deck of de ship, where they was locked in* They never did talk lak de other slaves, could just* say a few words, use deir hands, and make signs* They want deir collards, turnips, and deir'tators, raw* They lii^lfeeet milk so much they steal it* n time or any time* I learniiince* It was lK^^i#^^ti9^0'i3... and wouldnft wear shoes in de winter r ginst de law to bring them over fyere when they did, But what is de law no* and what was de law then, when bright shiny money was in sight? go* f Pappy care nothin* Money make de automdfcbile go* Money make de train Money make de mare go,* and at dat time I 'spect money make de ships go* MMik&ji 3 Yes sir, they, my pappy and mamay, was just smuggled in dis part of de world, I "bet youl . ' *.'. "War come on, ray marster went out as a captain of de Horse Marines* A tune was much sung by de white folks on de place and took wid de niggers It went lak dis: 'I'm G&ptain Jenks of de lorse Marines I feed my horse on cor& and beans Ohi I'm Captain Jenks of de Horse Marines And captain in de arrayi! tt7flien de Yankees come they seem to have special vengeance for my white folks They tbok everything, they could carry off and burnt everything they couldn't carry off* "Mistress and de chillun have to go to Chester to git a place to sleep and eat, wid?kJiyrfOBCSE De niggers just lay 'round de place 'til master rode in, after de war, on a horse; him have, money and friends and git things goin1 agin* I stay on dere 'til '76* Then I come to Wirmsboro :and git a job as * section hand laborer on de railroad* Out of de fust money, (I git paid off de pay train thenj company run a special pay train out of Columbia to, Charlotte* They stop at every station and pay de hands off at de rear end of de train in cash)* Well, as I was a sayin*: Out de fust money, I buys me a red shirt and dat November I votes and de fust vote I put in de box was for Governor Wade Hampton* Dat was de fust big thing I done* **De ne^1 big thing 1 done was f all In lov wid Mary lylie : Dat eome ':;f;ba^";on:-^ \mSa$e$; |iJi$H^ > -4M*;^W^^ .fto4ki^ 4. gonna have money in de back of her head "when her pick out a man to marry* Her gonna want a man wid muscles on his arms and back and I had them. Usin1 dat pick and shovel on de railroad just give me what it took to git Mary* Us had ten chillun* last* My wife die year befo1 Some dead, some marry and leave Maggie is puny, as you see, and us gits 'long wid de goodness of de Lord and de white folks t! I b*longs to de St* John Methodist Church in Middle six, part of Winns- boro* They was havin1 a rival (revival) meet in1 de night of de earthquake, last day of August, in 1886 de world comin1 to an end* ! bout 9 of clock* Folks had hardly got over de scare of 1881, 'bout It was on Tuesday night, if I don't disremember, De preacher was prayin1, just after de fust sermon, but him never got to de amen part of dat prayer* Dere come a noise or rumblin1, laic far off thunder, seem lak it come from de northwest, then.de church begin to rock lak a baby s cradle* Dere was great excitement* f De world comin1 to de end1* pulpit* De preacher say: Old JLun Melvina holler: r Gh, Lordy*, and run out of de Everbody run out de church in de moonlight* Yftien de second quake cone, f bout a minute after de fust, somebody started up de cry: churchl De devil under de churchi and run away wid de churchi1 court house in town* f De devil under de De devil gwine to take de church on'his back People never stop runnin' T til they got to de Dere they, *clare de devil done take St* John's Church on his back and fly away to hell wid it* Marse Henry Galliard make a speech and tell them what it was and beg them to go home* Dat Mr* Skinner, de telegraph man at de depot, say de main part of it was way down fbout Charleston, too far away for anybody to git hurt* here, bpdy^-hea^^ th #f*; 34 SD BARBER EX-SIAVE 77 YEARS QW. Ed Barber lives in a small one-room house in the midst of a cotton field on the plantation of lar* A* LI* Owens, ten miles southeast of Winnsboro, tt* C* lie lives alone and does his own cooking and housekeeping* He is a bright mulatto, has an erect carriage and posture, appears younger than his age, is intelligent and enjoys recounting the tales of his lifetime much countenance* ple His ovm race doesn't give him His friends in the old days of reconstruction were white peo- He presumes on such past affiliation and considers himself bettor than the full-blooded Negro. "It's been a long time since I see you* Maybe you has forgot but I ainft forgot de fust time I put dese lookers on you, in *76* Does you fmembers dat day? It was in a piece of pines beyond de Presbyterian Church, in Winnsboro, S* C# both had red shirts* sorrel like* You was a ridin' a gray pony and I was arLdin1 a red mule, You say dat wasn't !76? Well, how come it wasn't? another nigger, was dere, though he was a man* Ouillah Harrison, Both of us got to arguin1* 'low he could vote for Hampton and I couldn't, 'cause I wasn't 21* f 78 * stead of Us f 76, dat day in de pines when you was dere? Well I He You say it was V/elli I shof been thinkin1 all dis time it was '76* n 'Member de fight dat day -when Mr* Pole ^arnadore knock Mr* Blanchard down, while de speakin1 was a gwine on? You does? Well, us come to common 'gree- ment on dat, bless God* n Them was scary times * Me bein' just half nigger and Half white man, I know*- ed which side de butter was on de bread* Who I see dere? Well, dere was a string of red shirts a mile long, dat come into Winnsboro from vihite Oak* And another M * from Flint Hill, over de Pea Ferry road, a mile long* did a big business dat day* 35 De barrooms of de tovm Seem lak it was de fashion to git drunk all f long them days* "Them red shirts was de monkey wrench in de cotton-gin of de carpet bag I!s here to tell you* party. If a nigger git hungry, all he have to do is go to de white folk's house, bog for a red shirt, and explain hisself a democrat;* I-e might not git de shirt right then but he git his belly full of everything de white folks got, and de privilege of comin1 to dat trough sometime^ agin* u You wants me to tell you ! bout who I is, where I born, and how old I is? .veil, just cross examine me and I'll tell you de facts as best I knows how* n l was born twelve miles east of Vfinnsboro, > C* lly marster say it was de 18th of January, 18G0* tl Liy mother name Ann* Her b'long to my marster, James barber* a fair question when you ask me viio my daddy was* Dat's not Well, just say he was a white man and dat my mother never did marry nobody, while he lived* I was de onliest child my mother ever had* "After freedom my mother raised me on de iiarse Adam Barber place, up by Hocky I/bunt and Kitford* down* I stayed dere 'til all de 'citement of politics die % help was not wanted so much at de flection boxes, so I got to roamin1 'round to fust one place and then another* in1 But wheresomever I go, I kept a think- f bout ^osa and de ripe may-pops in de field in cotton pickin' time* I landed back to de Barber place and after a skirmish or tvvo wid de old folks, marry de gal de Lord always 'tended for me to marry* if she was pretty? Dat's a strange thing* a colored woman is pretty? Her name was iiosa Ford* You ask me Do you ever hear a white person say I never have but befo1 God when I was trampin' 'round Charleston, dere was a church dere called St* Mark, dat all de society folks of 36 rny color went to. Ho black nigger welcome dere, they told me. Thinkin* as how I was bright fnough to git in, I up and goes dere one Sunday. they did carry on, bow and scrape and ape de white folks feathers, pretty fans, and pretty women derel Ah, how I see some pretty I was uncomfortable all de time though, 'cause they was too ^ifalootin1 in de Trays, in de singin1, and all sorts of carryin1 ons. u Glad you fetch me back to Rosa. Us marry and*had ten chillun. Thompkins, William, Jim, Levi, Ab and Oz is dead. livin* in New York* Francis, Katie marry a Boykin and is % wife, ilosa, die ondis place of Mr. Owens. U I lives in a house by myself I hoes a little cotton, picks plums and blackberries but dewberries !bout played out* "Ivjy marster, James Barber, went through de Civil ^ar and died. I begs you,in de name of de good white folks jf !76 and Wade Hampton, not to forget me in dis old age pension business. "What I think of Abe Lincoln? I think he was a poor buckra white man, to Although, I !spects I^r. Lincoln meant well but 1 canft help de likes of me. but wish him had continued splittin1 them fence rails, which they say he knowed all *bout, and never took a hand in runnin1 de government of which he knowed nothin1 f bout. Marse Jeff Davis was all right, but him oughta got out and fought some, lak General Lee, General Jackson and !Poleon Bonaparte. Us might have won de de war if he had turned up at some o^/big battles lak Gettysburg, f Chickenmaroger*, and tApplemattox1 What you think fbout dat? n Yes sah, I has knov/ed a whole lot of good white men. Marse General i3ratton# Marse Ed . Ifcbley, Marse Will Durham, dat owned dis house us now settin' in, and Dr. Henry Gibson* Does I know any good colored men? I sho1 doesl Derefs Profes- 37 sor Benjamin Russell at Blackstock* You knows him. Then dere v/as Ouillah Harrison, dat own a four-hoss team and a saddle hoss, in red shirt days* a time de brass band at Winnsboro, 3* C* wanted to go to Ganiden, at de speakin1 of Hampton. dat day, free of charge* * He took de vrhole band from Wionsboro G to play to Camden, Ahi Defray dat band did play all de ivay to Ridgeway, dovjn de road to Longtoim, cross de Camden Ferry, and right into de town* v/as horns a blovjin* , drums a beatin1, and people a shout in1 : toni! Some v/as a sing in1: ! Dere Hurrah for Hamp- *Hang Dan Chamberlain on a Sour Apple Tree1* Ouillah come home and found his vafe had done had a boy la "by He name dat boy babj^ Wade Hampton* on dat boyfs head and say; One What you reckon? When he come, home to j&ie, he lay his hand ^Wade, 'member v/ho you name for and always vote a straight out democrat ticket1 "Which dat boy didln Project #1655 W W. Dixon Winnsboro, S* C 390217 * 38 MILLIB BARBER EX-SIAVB 82 YEARS OLD* lf Hope you flind yourself well dis raornin1, white folks f just common; yesterday, spect I eats too much yesterday* f cause it was de Fourth of July* dis 2,000 acre farm of Mr# Owens* would us old no f Ifs You know us celebrated Us had a good dinner on God bless dat white boss mant count niggers do widout him? Ihat Dere's six or seven, maybe eight of us out here over eighty years old* 'Most of them is like me, not able to hit a lick of work, yet he take care of usj he sho1 does* M Mr* Owens not a member of de church but he allowed dat he done found out dat it more blessed to give than to receive, in case like us* !, You wants to know all fbout de slavery time, de war, de Ku Kluxes and everything? My tongue too short to tell you all dat I knows* However, if it was as long as n$r stockinfs, I could tell you a trunk full of good and easy, bad and hard, dat dis old life-stream have run over in eightytwo years* I!s hoping to reach at last them green fields of Eden of de Promise Land* *Scuse me ramblin1 Ground, now just ask me questionsj I bet I can aaswer all you ask* tt My pa name, Tom McCulloughj him was a slave of old Marster John McCullough,whose big two-story house is de oldest in Pairfield County* It stands today on a high hill, just above de banks of Dutchman Creek*, Big road run right by dat house* % mammy name, Nicie* Her Vlong to de Weir family; de head of de family die durin* de war of freedom* not supposed to know all he done, so I111 pass over dat* name, Eliza; good mistress* Ifs % mistress Have you got down dere dat old marster just 2. took sick and die, fcause he wasnft touched wid a bullet nor de life 0 slashed out of him wid a sword? !t Well, my pa b1 long inf to one man and my mammy Vlongin1 to another, four or five miles apart, caused some confusion, mix-up, and heartaches* My pa have to git a J>ass to come to see my mammy* sometimes widout de pass* He come Patrollers catch him way up de chimney hidin* one night; they stripped him right befo1 raamray and give him thirty-nine lashes, wid her eryin1 and a hollerin* louder than he did* n Us lived in a log house; handmade bedstead, wheat straw mattress, cotton pillows, plenty coverin1 and plenty to eat,sich as it was* git butter or sweet milk or coffee* Us never Dat was for de white folks but in de summer time, I minds de flies off de table wid the peafowl feather brush and eat in de kitchen just what de white folks eat; them was very good eat in1 s Ifs here for to tell you* All de old slaves and them dat worked in de field,got ratioms and de chillun were fed at de kitchen out-house* "What did they git? I 'members they got peas, hog meat, corn bread, * lasses, and buttermilk on Sunday, then they got greens, turnips, taters, shallots, collards, and beans through de week* They were kept fat on them kind of rations* Tt De fact is I canft fmember us ever had a doctor on de place; just a granny was enough at child birth up and gwine f t>iave women have a baby one day, round de next day, sing in1 at her work lak nothin1 unusual had happened* w Did I ever git a whippin1 ? Dat I did* How many times? More on than I can count^fingers and toes* What I git a whippin1 for? Oh, just one thing, then another* One time I break a plate while washin1 dishes 39 3* and another time I spilt de milk on de dinin* room floor* for somethin1, sir* It was always I needed de whippin1* "Yes sir, I had two brothers older than me; one sister older than me and one brother younger than me n % young marster was killed in de war* Smith, and Jimmie* to Texas* Their names was Robert, % young mistress, Sarah, married a Sutton and moved Nancy marry Mr* Yi'ade Hawls* Miss Janie marry Mr* Hugh Melving* At this marriage my mammy was give to Miss Janie and she was took to Texas wid her young baby, Isaiah, in her arms* I have never seen or heard tell of them from dat day to dis* u De Yankees come and burn de gin-house and barns ^pen de smoke- house, take de meat, give de slaves some, shoot de chickens, and as de mistress and girls beg so hard, they left widout burnin1 de dwellin1 house* tf % oldest child, Alice, is livinT and is fifty-one years old de 10th of dis last May gone* % first husband was Levi Young; us lived wid Mr* Knox Picket some years after freedom* plantation, then to George Boulwares* We moved to Mr* Rubin Lumpkinfs Well, my husband die and I took a foal notion, lak most widows, and got into slavery again* Barber; Mr* John Ho11is, Trial Justice, tied da knot* I loved dat young nigger more than you can put down dere on paper, I did* shiny as a crow's wing* I marry Prince He was black and Him was white as snow to dese old eyes* Ah, the joy, de fusses, de ructions, de beatinfs, and de makinTups us had on de Ed Shannon place where us lived* Us stay dere seven long years* tt Then de Klu Kluxes corned and lak to scared de life out of me They ask where Prince was, searched de house and go away# home fbout daylight* Prince come Us took fright, went to Marster Will Durham1 s and % asked for advice and protection* Marster Will Durham fixed it up* Next year us moved to dis place, he own it then but Marster Arthur Oyrens owns it now* Dere is 2,000 acres in dis place and another 1,000 acres in de Rubin Lumpkin place fjoinin1 it* "Prince die on dis place and I is left on de mercy of Marster Arthur| livin* in a house wid two grandchillun, James twelve years, and John Roosevelt Barber, eight years old* Dese boys can work a little* They can pick cotton and tote water in de field for de hands and marster say*. 'Every little help1 u My livin1 chillun ainft no help to me* know where he is. Dere's Willie,-1 don't Prince is wid Mr* Freeman on de river* Maggie is here on de place but she no good to me* 11 1 fspect when I gits to drawin1 down dat pension de white folks say is comin1, then dere will be more folks playin1 in my backyard than dere is today*11 41 Project 1655 W. W. Dixon Winns'boro, S. C* 390253 42 MDEHSOU BATES EX-SIATTE 87 YEARS OLD. Anderson Bates lives with his son-in-law and daughter, Ed and Dora Owens, in a three-room frame house, on lands of Mr. Dan Heyward, near the ITinnsboro granite Company, Winnsboro, S# one of the rooms and his rent is free* at the Winnsboro Cotton tails* Anderson and his wife occupy His son-in-law has regular employment His wife, Carrie, looks after the house* And- erson and his daughter, Dora, are day laborers on the neightborbood farms, but he is able to do very little work* 11 1 v*as born on de old Dr* Furman place, near Jenkinsville, S* C*, in de year, 1850* My pappy was name Nat and mamrny name Winnie* They was slaves of old Dr* Furman, dat have a big plantation, one hundred slaves, and a whole lot of little slave chillun, dat him wouldn't let work* They run f * round in de plum thickets, blackberry bushes, hunt wild strawberries, blow cane whistles, and have a g&9'& time* vt De old Br* Furman house is ramshackle but it is still standin* out dere and is used as a shelter for sawmill hands dat is cuttin1 down de big pines and sawin* them on de place* ff Where did my pappy and mammy come from? femmy was born a slave in de Furman family in Charleston, but pappy was bought out of a drove dat a Baltimore speculator fetch from Maryland long befo* de war* Doctor practice all f round and fbout lonticello, happen flong one day, see irrjr ppppy and give a thou- sand dollars for him, to dat speculator* I thank God for datt ^Dr* Furman, my old marster, have a brudder called Jim, dat nm de Schools ^ s * c* ^Mi^M^M^^M&Sm^ 2. "My mistress name Nancy* soft and quiet to de slaves* Her was of de quality* 43 Her voice was Her teach us to sing: ^Dere is a happy land, far, far fway, 'Where bright angels stand, far, far Tway, Ohi How them angels singi Qhl How them bells ring* In dat happy land, far, far !waylf uDere was over a thousand acres, maybfe two thousand in dat old Furman place* Them sawmill folks give <;;>30,000*00 for it, last year* 11 My pappy and mammy v/as field hands* % brudders and sisters was: Liddie, Millie, Ria, -^lla, Harriet, Thomas, Smith, and Marshall* All dead but me and Marshall* U I was fifteen when de Yankees come thru* '-ftiey took off everything, hos&es, mules, cows, sheep, goats, turkeys, geese, and chickens. Hogs? Yes sah, they kill hogs and take off -what parts they want and leave other parts bleedin1 on de yard* VJhen they left, old marster have to go up into Union County for rations* t! 13atB funny, you wants to set down dere !bout my courtship and weddin1? * Well, sir, I stay on de old plantation, work for- my old marster, de doctor, and fell head over heels in love wid Carrie* Dere was seven more niggers a flyin1 1 round dat sugar lump of a gal in de night time when I breezes in and takes charge of de fireside sheer* I knocks one dawn one night, kick another out de nex1 night, and choke de stuff in1 out of one de nexT night* de head of de fourth one, de last time* some other place than Carrie1 s house* I landed de three-leg stool 6n Then de others carry deir Sections to Us have some hard words fbout my bad manners, but I told her dat I couldnft ftrol my feelinfs wid them fools a settin1 * ' - / ; ni 1 round dere gigglin* wid her. I go clean crazy 1 !l Then us git married and go to de ten-aore quarry wid Mr* Anderson* I work dere awhile and then go to Captain Macfie, then to his son, Wade, and then to Marse Rice Macfie stone. Then I go back to de quarry, drill and git out They pay me #3.50 a day ftil de Parr Shoals Power come in wid flectric power drills and I was cut down to eighty cents a day. hossl Damn 'lectric toolin*, Ifs gwine to leave.* and work wid de DuPonts for five years. de acid area* Then I say: f 01d grey I went to Eopewell, Virginia, War come on and they ask me to work on De atmosphere dere tear all de skin off my face and arms, but I stuck it out to de end of de big war, for $7.20 a day* I drunk a good deal of liquor then, 'out I sent money to Carrie all de time and fetch her a roll every fourth of July and on Christmas. After de war they dismantle de plant and I come back to work for Mr. &leazer, on de aluda River for #2.00 a day, for five years* n Carrie have chillun by me. Dere was Anderson, my son, ain*t see him in forty years. Essie, isy daughter, marry Herbert Perrin. marry Ed Owens. Ed makes good money workin* at de factory in Winnsboro* have seven chillun. Dora, another daughter$ They Us tries to keep them chillun in school but they ddn*t have de good times I had when a child, a eatin' cracklin1 bread and buttermilk, liver, pig-tails, hog-ears and turnip greens* ^Does I Vmember anything Tbout de Klu Kluxes? Jesus, yes* % old marster, de doctor, in goin'fround, say out loud to people dat Klu Kluxes was doin1 some things they ought not to do, by VsiortinV money out of niggers just r csmse they could. **fee . he was gone to Union one day, a low-down-$ && of white men come, ^ wicl/M Hiss Itay say her Slllll 4* 45 don't know* They go hunt for him. Dick made a bee-line for de house* pull out hoss pistols, fust time,'pew' They Dick run on, secon1 time, 'pow'* Dick run on, third time, 'pow' and as Dick reach de front yard de ball from de third shot keel him over lak a hit rabbit him* Her say: 'nough*1 say: Old miss run out but they git f I give you five dollars to let him 'lone*' Her say: 'I give you ten dollars.1 ! I give you fifteen dollars#f give you twenty-five dollars ' tomorrow for de other Dick*' They say: Hot 'nough*' They take de money and say: I 'Us'11 be back Dick James done load up de '&it out de way*' find out afterwards was Bishop and Fitzgerald* and pull de trigger* ! TOien they was comin' up de front steps, Uncle Dick say to us all in de big house: Bishop in de front. Her say; Her They mean Dick James* "Hex1 day, us see them a comin* again shotgun wid buckshot* 'Not 'Hot 'nought f They say: They say: De names of de men us They come up de steps, wid Uncle Dick open de door, slap dat gun to his shoulder., Dat man Bishop hollers: lay dere 'til de coroner come* 'Oh Lordy.' Fitzgerald leap 'way* jail, try him right in dat court house over yonder* He drop dead and They bring Dick to Vihat did they dowid him? Well, when Marse iiill Stanton, liarse &lisha Ragsdale and Lliss Nancy tell 'bout it all from de beginnin' to de end, de judge tell de jury men dat Dick had a right to protect his home, and hisself, and to kill dat white man and to turn him loose* Dat was de end of de Klu Kluxes in Fairfield#lt n 1 CU^VV-A^-VV Project 1885 - 1 From Field Motes Spartanburg" Dist.| April 28. 1927 39CM* wwYWOJ > \ > r\ ^ \j'. \ POLK LORE: POLK TALES (riegro) : Edited by: Elmer Turnage AC\ ^ ^ n I sho members when de soldiers come home from de war. All de women folks, both black as well as shite wuz so glad to see 'em back dat we jus jumpec up and hollered 'Oh, Lawdy, God bless you.' When you would look around a little, you would see some wid out an arm or maybe dey would be a waliin' wid a cruch or a stick. Den you would cry some wid out let tin your white f-olks see you. But Jane,de worsest time of all fer us darkies wuz when de Ku Klux killed Dan Black. We wuz little chilluns a playin' in Dans house. We didn't know he had done nothin' ginst de white folks. Us wuz a playin by de fire jus as nice when something hit on de wall. Dan, he jump up and try to git outten de winder. A white spooky thing had done eome in de doo' right by me. I was so scairt dat I could not git up. I had done fell straight out on de flo'. When Dan stick = his head autten dat winder something say bang and he fell right down in de flo'. I crawles under de bed. When I got dar, all de other chilluns wuz dar to,lookin' as white as ashed dough fro* hickory wood. Us peeped out and den us duck under de bed agin. Ain't no bed ebber done as much good as dat one. Den a whole lot of dem eome in de house. De wuz all white and scairy lookin'. It still makes de shivvers run down my spine and here I is ole and you all a sett in' around wid me and two mo* wars done gone since dat awful time. Dan Black, he wo'nt no mo' kaise de took dat nigger and hung him to a Simmon tree. Dey would not let his folks take him } down either. He jus stayed aar till he fell to pieces. i-m FOLK LORE: FOLK TALES (Negro) Page 2 * QJ "After dat when us chilluns seed de Ku Klux a comln', us would take an-' run breadneck speed to de nearest wood. Dar we would stay till dey wuz plum out o' sight and you could not even hear de horses feet. Dem days wuz wors'n de war. Yes Lawd, dey wuz worse'n any war I is ebber heard of. Was not long after dat fore de spooks wuz a gwine round ebber whar. When you would go out atter dark, somethin' would start to a haintin' ye. You would git so scairt dat you would mighty ni run every time you went out atter dark; even iffin you didn't see nothin'. Chile, don't axe me what I seed. Atter all dat killin' and a burnin' you know you wuz bliged to see things wid all dem spirits in distress a gwine all over de land. You see, it is like dis, when a man gits killed befo he is done what de good Lawd intended fer him to do, he comes back here and tries to find who done him wring. I mean he don' come back hisself, but de spirit, it is what comes and wanders around. Course, it can't do nothin', so it jus scares folks and haints dem." SOURCE: "Aunt" Millie Bates, 25 Hamlet street, Union, S.C. Interviewer: Caldwell Sims, Union, S.C. 390207 I FOLKLORE Project #1655 Mrs* Genevieve W* Chandler Murrells Inlet, S* C# GeorgetoTOi County VISIT WITH UNCLE WELCOME BEES 48 AGE 104 YEARS The road is perfectly camouflaged from the Kingfs Highway by wild plums that lap overhead* Only those who have traveled this way before could locate the fturn in1 to Uncle Welcome's house* When you have turned in and come sud- denly out from the plum thicket you find your road winding along with cultivated patches on the left ~ corn and peas a fencedrin garden, the palings riven out by hand, and thick dark woods on the left* A lonesome, untenanted cabin is seemingly in the way but your car swings to the left instead of climbing the door-step and suddenly you find you are facing a bog* it may not* The car may get through; So you switch off and just sit a minute, seeing how the land lies* A great singing and chopping of wood off to the left have kept the inmates from hearing the approach of a car. When you rap therefore you hear, f Come in1. A narrow hall runs through to the back porch and off this hall on your right opens a door from beyond which comes a very musical squeaking you know a rocking chair is going hard even before you see it in motion with a fussy little head that rests on someone1 s shoulder sticking over the top* And the fussy head which in size is like a small five-cent cocoanut, belongs to Uncle Welcome* e:great-grand* On seeing a visitor the grand, the mother of the infant, rises and smiles greeting, and, learning your errand, points back to the kitchen to show where Uncle Welcome sits* You step down one step and ask him if you may come in and he pats a chair by his side. The old man isn't so spry Project #1655 Mrs, Geneviere W. Chandler Murrells Inlet, S. C. Georgetown County FOLKLORE VISIT WITH UNCLE "WELCOME BEES 4*y 2 ** AGE 104 YEARS as he was when you saw him in the fallj the winter has been hard. But here it is warm again and at most four in the April afternoon, he sits over his plate of hopping John ~ he and innumerable flies. At his feet, fairly un- der the front of a small iron stove, sits another great-grand with a plat of Peas and rioe, 'hopping John1. peas between her legs* and hominy cooked together makes (Someone says peas ,f limping Lizzie in the Low-Country* But that is another story*) ****** ********* Uncle Welcome, isn't Dhole Jeemes Stuart the oldest liver on Sandy Island?" Welcomei w Jeemes Stuart? I was married man when he born. (Worker in rice-field) posed himself. dawn, down* In all kinds of weather* Cut you down, Jeemes second wife gal been married before but he husband dead* * I couldnft tell the date or time I borau down* Jeemes rice-field Your Ma.ua sa (Master) take it When I been marry* Dr* Tferd ladder (Father) aint been marry yet* mother had twelve head born oatland* Sam he husband name. been young woman. rio. fields). He bought aqy mother from Virginia* Sam oome from same course. Work in rice. Dolly* When my mother been bought, he Plow right now- (Meaning April is time to plow I do carpenter work and mind horse for plantation. Georgetown in boat. Vfr Have you own carriage. Come from Go anywhere you want to go. church build for oolored people and po-buokra. Oatland I helped build that church* The Project #1655 Mrs. Genevieve W. Chandler Murrells Inlet, S* C* Georgetown County FOLKIiORB fttge VISIT WITH UNCLE WELCOME BEES boss man, Mr. Bettznan* hundred four* twentytwo* old# Ifol ISy son Isaac sixty-nine# That's my record* 3 * AGE 104 YEARS If him sixty-nine, I one I&ussa didn't low you to marry till you Ben Allston own Turkey Hill* When him dead, I was twelve years (Knocking his chest) Welcome Bees Birkersville, S C. (Near Tfeverly Mills, S C*) Age 104 50 Project 41655 *. w. Dixon wnoza VJinnsboro, b. C. OOU^OO ; AHM1! BELL KX-SIAVB 83 YEARS OLD. C *&A* WtHAA&6xnO j * '/ Anne Bell lives with her niece, in a one-room annex to a tworoom frame house, on the plantation of Mr. Lake Howze, six miles west of Winnsboro, S. C. on Mr. Howze1s place. Her niece1s husband, Golden Byrd, is a ahare-cropper The old lady is still spry and energetic about the cares of housekeeping and attention to the small children of her niece She is a delightful old lady and well worth her keep in the small chores she undertakes and performs in the household. u My marster was John Glazier Rabbj us call him irtarse Glazier, mistress was jtfancy Kino a id Watts; us call her Miss uancy. ivxy They lived on a big plantation in Pairfield County and dere I come into dis world, eightythree years ago, 10th day of April past. t! i5y pappy name just Andy but after de freedom, he took de name of Andrew Watts. her Hattie. My old mammy was Harriett but she come to you if you calls % brudders was Jake and Rafe. **y sister name Charity. They all dead and gone to glory long time ago; left me here 'lone by myself and Ifs settin1 here tellin* you *bout them. !, lfy mammy was de cook at de de chillun. ! Big House1 for marster, Miss Nancy, and Let me see if I can call them over in my mind. John, went off to de war, color bearer at Seven Pines. killed wid de colors a fly in1 in his hand. Dere was Marse Yes sir, him was Heard tell of it many times. lies right now in de old Buck Church graveyard. De pine trees, seven of them, cry and sob * round him every August 6th; dat's de day he was killed. Oh, my Godl He 2 52 "Marse James went wid ol& Colonel Rion* bullets couldn't kill him* jvlarse Clarence Wo, bless Godl They say he got shot hut Him corned back* Then come He went wid Captain Jim Macfie, went through it all and didn't get a scratch* Next was Miss Jesse* Then come Marse Horace, and Us chillun all played togethert Marse Horace is livin1 yet and is a fine A* R P* preacher of de Word* Miss Nina a rich lady, got Miss Nina* plantation but live hnong de big bugs in Winnsboro* Castles; she is a widow now* 11 He was a good man, but he dead now* De one I minds next, is Charlie* Province1 s daughter* She married Itfr* I nussed him* He married Colonel Dat's all I can call to mind, right now* "Course de white folks I Vlongs to, had more slaves than I got fingers and toes; whole families of them* on de place made de bedsteads* De carpenter and de blacksmith Us had good wheat stray; mattresses to sleep on; cotton quilts, spreads, and cotton pillows* No trouble to sleep but it was hard to hear dat white overseer say at day break: them foots hit de floor end dat befo1 I go I you had to answer, Be lively i Let me hear Hear me?! f Yas sahf, befof heTd move on to de nex* house* 'member de parts of de bed, was held together by wooden pins* 1 T And I does I sho- members dati "Mammy Harriett was de cook* I didnft done no work but 'tend to de chillun and tote water* "Money? Go ! way from here^bossl Lord, no sir, I never saw no money* Yftiat I want wid it anyhow? 11 How did. they feed us? Had better things to eat then, than now and more different kind of somethin's. Us had pears, * lasses, shorts, middlings of de t*b *t, corn bread, and all kinds of milk and vegetables* 53 II Got a whuppin1 once* They wanted me to go after de turkeys and I didn't want to go past de graveyard, where de turkeys was. sho' didn't want to go by them graves. graveyard in de dark. have got de turkeys* I Ifs scared now to go by a I took de whuppin1 and somebody else must Sho' I didn't drive them up* "Slaves spun de thread, loomed de cloth, and made de clothes for de plantation* Donft believe I had any shoes I was just a small gal anyhow then, didnft need them and didn't want them* "Yes, I!s seen nigger women plow* Church? I wouldn't fool you, all de slaves big enough and not sick, had to go to church on de Sabbath. "They give us a half Saturday, to do as we like. II I was 'bout ten years old when de Yankees come. de brim wid mischief. They was full to They took de frocks out de presses and put them on and laugh and carry on powerful* Befo' they went they took everything. They took de meat and 'visions out de smAke-house^and de 'lasses, sugar, flour, and meal out de house. Killed de pigs and cows, burnt de gin- house and cotton, and took off de live stock, geese, chickens and turkeys. "After de freedom, I stayed on wid mammy right dere, 'til I married Levi Bell. Ifs had two chillun* Dis my granddaughter, I visitin1* never 'spects to have as good a home as I had in slavery time, my title to dat mansion in de sky* I f til I gits Dats de reason I likes to sing dat old plantation spiritual, 'Swing Low Sweet Chariot, Jesus Cwinter Carry me Home1* Does I believe in 'ligion? "What else good for colored folks? I ask you if dere ainft a heaven, what's colored folks got to look forward to? l*Hey canft git anywhere down here* De only joy they can have here* 54 is servin1 and lovin1; us can git dat in fligion but dere is a limit to de nigger in everything else* Course I knows ray place in dis world; I fumbles myself here to be 'zalted up yonder#n Project 1885-1 FOLKLOHE Spartanburg, Dist.4 July 26, 1937 QQnoAO o&Uc'tc. Edited by: Elmer Turnage ^t &O SLA ERY REMINISCENCES M I was raised in the wood across the road about 200 yards from here. I was very mischievous. My parents were honest and were Christians. I loved them very much. My father was William Bevis, who died at the age of eighty. Miss Zelia Hames of Pea Ridge was my mother. My parents are buried at Bethlehem Methodist Church. I was brought up in Methodism and I do not know anything else. I had two brothers and four sisters. My twin sister died last April 1937. She was Fannie Holcombe. I was in bed with pneumonia at the time of her death and of course I could not go to the funeral, for a month, I was unconscious. "When I was a little girl I played 'Andy-over' with a ball, in the moonlight. Later I went to parties and dances. Calico, chambric and gingham were the materials which our party dresses were made of. "My grandmother, Mrs. Phoebe Bevis used to tell Revolutionary stories and sing songs that were sung during that period. Grandmother knew some Tories. She always told me that old Nat Gist was a Tory ... that is the way he got rich. "Hampton was elected governor the morning my mother died. Father went in his carriage to Jonesville to vote for Hampton. We all thought that Hampton was fine. "When I was a school girl I used the blue back speller. My sweetheart's name was Ben Harris. We went to Bethlehem to school. Jeff and Bill Harris were our teachers. I was thirteen. Slavery Reminiscences Page 2 r^n We went together for six years. The Confederate 7/ar commenced. He was very handsome. He had black eyes and black hair. I had seven curls on one side of my head and seven on the other. He was twenty-four when he joined the ' Boys of sixteen'. ft He wanted to marry me then, but father would not let us marry. He kissed me good bye and went off to Virginia. He was a picket and was killed while on duty at Mars Hill. Bill Harris was in a tent near-by and heard the shot. He brought Ben home. I went to the funeral. I have never been much inrlove since then. H I hardly ever feel sad. I did not feel especially sad during the war. I made socks, gloves and sweaters for the Confederate soldiers and aleo knitted for the World War soldiers. During the war, there were three looms and three shuttles in our house. n I went often to the muster grounds at Kelton to see the soldiers drill and to flirt my curls at them. Pa always went with me to the muster field. Once he invited four recruits to dine with us. We had a delicious supper. That was before the Confederacy was paralyzed. Two darkies waited on our table that night, Dorcas and Charlotte. A fire burned in our big fireplace and a lamp hung over the table. After supper was over, we all sat around the fire in its flickering light, M My next lover was Jess Holt and he was drowned in the Mississippi Hiver. He was a carpenter and was building a warf on the river. He fell in and -was drowned in a whirlpool. Source: Miss Caroline Bevis (W. 96), County Home, Union, S.C. Interviewer: Caldwell Sims, Union, S.C, (7/13/37) Code Ho* Project, 1885-d) Prepared by Annie Ruth Davis Place, Marion, S.C* Date, Jixne 81, 1937 Bo. Beduoed f rom_ Rewritten by" words 57 Page 1. MAGGIE BLACK Ex-Slave, 79 years 380287 ^Honey, I don* know whaf to tell yah 'boat dem times baok dere. Yah see I waz jes uh young child when de free war close en I ain' know much to tell yah* I born o*er de river dere to Massa Jim Wilkerson plantation* Don1 know wha* 'come uv my ole Massa ohilltin a'ter dey head been gone* Yuh see, honey, Massa Jim Wllkerson hab uh heap uv*slave en he hire my mudder out to Colonel Darant plaoe right down de road dere whey Miss Darant lib now. Cease I been back o'er de river to visit 'mongest de peoples dere a'ter freedom waz 'elare, but I ain' ne*er lib dere no more." "Gawd been good to me, honey. I been heah uh long ole time en I can' see muoha dese days, but I gettin''long sorta so - so. I waz train up to be uh nu'se 'oman en I betoha 1 got Chilian more den any 60 year ole 'bout heah now dat I nu'se when dey waz fust come heah. ohillun uv me own. Mo, honey, ain' got no Aw my Chilian white lak yuh." "Ho, no'mam, dey wear long ole frock den en uh girl oomin' on dere when dey ge1 to be any kind uv uh girl, dey put dat frock down. 'nough dese days. en time. Oh, my child, dey can' ge1 em short Ain1 hab nuthin but uh string on dese day Dey use'er wear dem big ole hoop skirt dat sit out broad lak from de ankle en den dey wear little panty dat; show down twixt dey skirt en dey ankle. Jes tie em 'r^ind dey kneea wid some sorta string en le* em show dat way 'bout Code Ho* Projeot, 1885-(1) Prepared by Annie Rath Davis Plaoe, Marion, S.C. Date, Jane 21, 1957 dey ankle. Ho. Words Reduced from Rewritten by worde 58 Page 8. I 'member we black ohillun'ud go in de woods en ge* wild grape vine en bend em round en pnt em under us skirt en make it stand out big lak. Hadder nab uh big ole ring fa de bottom uv de skirt en den one uh little bit smaller eve'y time dey ge' oloser to de waist. He'er hab none tall in de waist cause dat waz s'ppose to be little r bitty t'ing." "Dey weave aw de oloth dey use den right dere on de plantation. Wear cotton en woolens aw de time den. Coaee de Madam, she could go en ge1 de finest kind uv silk oause mos' uv her t'ing oome from 'broad. Ohild, I o'n see my ole mammy how she look workin' dat spinning wheel jes uz good uz ef dat day waz dis day right heah. She set dere at dat ole spinning wheel en take one shettle en frow it one way en den annuder de udder way en pull dat t'ing en make it tighter en tighter. Sump tin say sum, zum, sum, en den yah hadder work yah feet dere too* Dat waz de way dey make dey oloth dat day en time." "Honey, peoples hadder work dey hand fa eve'yt'ing dey hab mos' den. Dey grow dey own rioe right dere on de plantation in dem days* Hadder plant it on some uv de land wha* waz weter den de adder land was. Bey hadder le' de rioe ge1 good en ripe en den dey'ud eat it en hab one uv dem big rioe whipping days. Heap uv people oome from plantation aw Code 9o Project, 1885-(1) Prepared by Annie Hath Davis Plaoe, Marion, S.O, Sa Vords___ Reduoed from. Rewritten toy" Date, June SI, 1937 Page 3. '"boat en help whip dat rioe. 'cross words %, Dey jes take de rice en beat it some hoss dat dey nab fix up somewhey dere on de plantation. Honey, dey hab hoss Jes lak dese hoss ytih see carpenter use 'bout heah dese days. bushels uv dat rice dere* Dey'ud hab hundreds uv Den when dey ge' t'rough, dey hab big supper dere fa aw dem wha' whip rice. en hog head dey is e'er wan1. uv music dere. st any word I hears, old as I is* "Marster and mistress was Baptist in fligious faith, and bflong to Concord Baptist Church* Us slaves was allowed to !tend dat church, too. Us set up in de gallery and jined in de singin1 every Sunday. Us slaves could jine Concord Church but Doctor Durham, who was de preacher, would take de slaves in another room from de white folks, and git their ffessions, then he would jine them to de church* tt % daddy was a slave on Reuben Boulware*s plantation, 'bout two miles from Marster Hunter's place* once every week* He would git a pass to come to see mararny If he come more than dat he would have to skeedaddle through de woods and fields from de patrollers* If they ketched him -yfidout a pass, he was shof in for a skin crackin1 whippin1 * He knowed all dat but he would slip to see mammy anyhow, whippin1 or not* "Most them there patrollers was poor white folks, I believes* Rich folks stay in their house at night, frolic amongst their selves* f less they has some sort of big Poor white folks had to hustle f round to make y a living, so, they hired out theirselves to slave owners and rode de roads at night and dipped niggers if they ketched any off their plantation widout a pass* I hat found dat if you gives to some poor folks, white or black, something a little better than they 4s used to, they is sho! gwine to think too high of theirselves soon, dats right* I shof believes dat, as much as I believes Ifs setting in dis chair talkin1 to you* 11 1 fmembers lak yesterday, de Yankees comin1 !long* Marster tried to hide the best stuff on de plantation but some of de slaves dat helped him hide it, showed de Yankee soldiers just where it was, when they They say: fHere is de stuff, hid here, fcause us put it dere*1 come dere* Then de soldiers went straight to de place where de valuables was hid and dug them out and took them, it shof set old marster down* sorry dat day for marster and mistress* Us slaves was They was gittin1 old, and now they had lost all they had, and more that dat, they knowed their slaves 7/as set free* De soldiers took all de good hosses, fat cattle, chickens, de meat in de smoke house, and then burnt all empty houses* de ones dat folks lived in* They left De Yankees fpear to me, to be lookin* for things to eat, more than anything else* ,! Does I believe in !ligion? Dat is all us has in dis world to live by and itfs gwine to be de onliest thing to die wid* God and a fumble spirit is how Ifs tryin* to live the^e days* Belief in I was christened fust a Methodist, but when I growed up, I jine de Presbyterian Church and has fmained a member of dat church every since* "Thank God Ifs had fnough sense not to believe in haunts and sich things. I has fpossum hunt at night by myself in graveyards and I ain't seen one yet* % marany say she see haunts pass her wid no heads but these old eyes has never seen anything lak dat* If you has done somebody a terrible wrong, then I believes dat person ivhep they die, vri.ll f pear to you on 'cfeunt of dat*11 project 1885.1 Folklore Spartanburg, Dist.4 fleb. 7, 1938 REMINISCENCES: THE RED SHIRTS . 79 Edited by; Elmer Turnage v ^f- 3SC027 VW6i "The Red Shirts had a big parade and barbecue in Spartanburg. They met at the courthouse. There were about 500 Red Shirts, besides others who made up a big crowd. I remember four leaders who came from Union County. One of the companies was lee by Squire Gilliam Jeter, and one by Squire Bill Lyles. The company from the city was led by Capt. James Douglass, and 'Buck' Kelley from pea Ridge was there with his company. "Everything drilled in Spartanburg that day. The speakers of the day from Union were Squire Jeter and/Capt.J Douglass. While they were speaking, old Squire George Tucker from lower Pish Dam came with his company. Mr. Harrison Sartor, father of Will Sartor, was one of the captains. We saw Gen. Wade Hampton and old man Ben Tillman there. "About this time I was bound out to Mr. Jim Gregory, a blacksmith. The wealthy land lords bought negroes. Mr. Jim Gregory was the blacksmith for old Johnny Meador and^aunt Polly, his wife. He told me that {fncle Johnny bought a man, Keath, for5$3,500. He also bought Heath's wife, Morrow, for Amt Polly, but I don't know what he paid. The Meador house is just this side of Simstown. Aunt Polly's father, Triplett Meador, built that mansion. The brick were made in a home kiln which was near the house. Aunt Polly was a little girl when the house was built. While the brick for the sitting-room fireplace were still wet, he made little Polly step on each one of them to make the impression of her feet. So those foot prints in that fireplace are aunt Polly's when she was five years old. She grew up there and married, and lived there until her deatJa. Reminiscences -- 2 ' Miss Ida Knight's house (formerly the Sims house) was built not later than 1840. (pry Thompson lived there first. Dr. Billy Sims married Dr. Thompson's sister, Miss Patsy, and that is how the house got into the Sims family. The old post ofiice was known as Simstown, and I believe it was up near the Nat Gist mansion. Simstown was the name for the river community for years, because the simsJsettled there and they were equally or more prominent than the Thompsons and Gists in that community. All the Sims men were country doctors. "To this community at the close of the Confederate War, came old man Ogle Tate, his wife, and Ben Shell, as refugees, fleeing.from the Yankees. When they came into the community, Nat Gist gave them a nice house to live in on his plantation. "Mr. Gregory got all the sheet iron used on the Meador and Gist plantations, and also on the Sims and Thompson plantations. Plows were made in his blacksmith shop from 10 inch sheet iron. The sheet was heated and beaten into shape with his hammer. After cooling, the tools could be sharpened. Horse and mule shoes were made from slender iron rods, bought for that purpose. They were called 'slats', and this grade of iron was known as 'slat iron'. The shoe was moulded while hot, and beaten into the correct shape to fit the animal's foot. Those old shoes fit much better than the store-bought ones of more recent days. The horseshoe nails were made there, too. In fact, every farm implement of iron wa;s made from flat? or sheet iron. *I spun the first pants that I wore. Ma sewed them for me, and wove and finished them with her hands. She made the thread that they were uewed with by hand on the loom. I made cloth for all mfcr shirts. I wore home-made cotton underwear in summer and winter, for we were poor. Of course my winter clothes were heavier. Reminiscences 3 72 "We raised some sheep, and the winter woolens were made from the wool sheared from the sheep every May. Wool was taken to the factory at Bivensville and there made into yarn. Often, cotton was swapped for yarn to warp at home. Then ma ran it off on spools for her loom. 'Sleigh hammers1 were made from cane gotten off the creek banks and bottoms. "4unt Polly Meador had no patrollers on her place, she would not allow one there, for she did her own patrolling with her own whip and two bull dogs. She never had an overseer on her place, either. Meither did she let Uncle Johnny do the whipping. Those two dogs held them and she did her own whipping. One night she went to the quarter and found old 'Bill Pea Legs' there after one of her negro women. He crawled under the bed when he heardraunt Polly coming. Those dogs . pulled old 'Pea Legs' out and she gave him a whipping that he never forgot. She whipped the woman, also. "Morg was Morrow's nickname. Morg used to sit on the meat block and cut the meat for flaunt Polly to give out. Morg would eat her three pounds of raw meat right there. Uncle Johnny asked her what she would do all the week without any meat, she said that she would take the skin and grease her mouth every morning; then go on to the field or house and do her work, and wait until the next Saturday for more. "I do not Know how old I am, but I well remember when Wheeler's men came to the plantation. They tore up everything. We heard that they were coming, so we dug holes and buried the meat ana everything we could. We hid them so well that we could never find some of them ourselves. Wheeler and 36 men stopped on the Dick Jeter place. I think that was in 1864. The Jeter place touched Miss Polly's plantation. The Jeter place was right near Neal Shoals on Broad River. Mr. Jeter had the biggest gin house in the entire township. Old Mr. Dick Reminiscences -- 4 ii was at home because he was too old to go to the war. ?a was still in the war then, of course. Ma and I and one of the other children and a few darkies were at our home. v. ' We saw Wheeler and his men when they stopped at that gin house. / They began to ransack immediately. Wheeler gave some orders to his men and galloped off towards our house. The negroes ran but ma and I stayed in the house. Wheeler rode up in front of the door and spoke to my mother. He said that he had to feed his men and horses and asked her where the corn was. She told him that the gin house and the crib which contained the corn did not belong to her, so she could not give him the keys. At that he ordered his men to remove a log from the crib. By this means they broke into the crib and got all the corn. They then ransacked the house and took everything there was to eat. They tore out the big cog wheel in the gin and camped in it for the night. Next morning they set fire to the gin and then gallpped away. Soon Mr. Jeter's big gin had gone up in flames. They took all of our corn and all of the fodder, 200 bundles that we had in the barn, away with them. Source: Mr. John Boyd, County Home, Union, H.F.D. Interviewer: Caldwell Sims, Union,S.C. 1/26/38 project 1885-1 FOLKLORE Spartanburg Dist.4 May 24, 1937 390081 Edited *** Elmer Turnage - STORIES fROM EX-SLAYES "I was born in Newberry County, near the Laurens County line, above Little River. Me and my mother belonged to the Workman family. Afterwards, I belonged to Madison Workman. He was a good man to his slaves. My work was around the house and home. I was too young to work in the fields until after the war. "I can't remember much about them times. I married there and soon after come to town and lived, where I have worked ever since. I do washing and other work. "On the farm, the old folks had to cook outdoors, or in a kitchen away off from the house. They had wide fireplaces where they put their pots to cook the meals. "I remember the old Little River Presbyterian Church where people would go on Sundays. They would go in the mornings, and again in the afternoons and have preaching.rt Source: Jane Bradley (80), Newberry, S.C. Interviewer: G.L. Summer, Newberry, S.C. May 17, 1937 ^A * Project #1655 Winnsboro, S. C* 390257 AKDY BRICE H^fr EX-SLAVE 81 YEARS OLD, Andy Brice lives with his wife and two small children, about twelve miles east of Kidgeway, S* C*, in a two-room frame building, chimney in the center The house is set in a little cluster of pines one hundred and fifty yards north of state highway #34* Andy, since the amputation of his right leg five years ago, has done no work and is too old to learn a trade* He has a regular beggar1s route including the towns of Ridgeway, YJinnsboro, Woodward, and Blackstock* His amiability and good nature enable him to go home after each trip with a little money and a pack of miscellaneous gifts from -white friends* "Howdy CapT/n* I come to Winnsboro dis morninT from way ?feteree, where I live now Tmongst de bull-frogs and skeeters. they just sin^ de whole night thru: in de pool*1 f cross Seem lak *Be bull-frog on de bank, and de skeeter Then de skeeter sail * round my facewid de tra la, la la la, la la la part of dat old song you is heard, maybe many times* 11 1 see a spit*-box over dere By chance, have you got any fbacco? Hake me more glib if I can chew and spit; then I f members more and better de things done past arid gone* 11 1 was a slave of Mistress Jane* William Brice* Her was a daughter of old Marster Her marry Henry Younge and mammy was give to Marse Henry and Miss Jane* !l % pappy name Tony* day* Mammy name Sallie* Marse Henry got kilt in de war* stone am in Concord Cemetery* You is seen her a many a His tombstone and Mistress Janefs tomb- They loft two ehillun, Miss Kittie and Miss Maggie* They both marry a Caldwellj same name but no kin* Miss Kittie marry Marse Joe 2* Caldwell and move to Texas Miss Maggie marry Marse Camel Caldwell and move to North Carolina* "% pappy die durin* de war* no 'count nigger name Mills Douglas* After freedom, mammy marry a ugly, She had one child by him, name Janie* My mammy name her dat out of memory and love for old mistress, in slavery time* 1 run away from de home of my step-pappy and got work wid Major Thomas Brice* I work for him ftil I become a full grown man and come to be de driver of de four-ho&s wagon* ~ "One day I see J&trse Thomas a twistin1 de ears on a fiddle and rosinin* de bow* Then he pull dat bow f cross de belly of dat fiddle* Sumpin* bust loose in me and sing all thru my head and tingle in ny fingers* I make up ray mind, right then and dere, to save and buy me a fiddle* one dat Christmas, bless Godi I pat one foot while I playin* * thirty years* I got I learn and been playin* de fiddle ever since* I kept on play in1 and pattin1 dat foot for I lose dat foot in a smash up wid a highway accident but I play de old tunes on dat fiddle at night, dat foot seem to be &&reoat de end of dat leg (indicating) and pats just de same* Sometime I ketch myself lookin* down to see if it have come back aro. jined itself up to dat leg, from de very charm of de music I malcin1 wid de fiddle and de bow* 11 1 never was very popular wid my own color* in '76, dat Ifs a white folks nigger* They say behind icy back, I wear a red shirt then, drink red liquor, play de fiddle at de flection box, and vote de white folks ticket* Who I marry? I marry Ellen Watson, as pretty a g&ftger cake nigger as ever fried a batter cake or rolled her arms up in a wash tub* How I git her? I never git herj datv fid- dle got her* ! play-fo*1 all de white folks dances down at Cedar Shades, up at Blackstoek* Be isoae^^ iftddi^*!1 hat a^d say* f De M^Um^MA^m^i^Bm^ f routed hsr than her could shake a stick at but 77 de beau she lak best was de bow dat could draw music out of them five strings, and draw money into dat hat, dat jingle in my pocket de nexf day when I go to see her* "I 'members very little Tbout de war, tho1 I was a good size boy when de Yankees come* By instint, a nigger can make up his mind pretty quick fbout de creed of-vhite folks, whether they am buckra or whether they am not. on them* Every Yankee I see had de stamp of poor white trash They strutted !round, big Ike fashion, a bustin1 in sooms widout knockinT, talkin1 free to de white ladies, and familiar to de slave gals, ransackin1 drawers, and runnin1 deir bayonets into feather beds, and into de flower beds in de yards* "What church I b!long to? None* hebben all de sermons dat I understand Dat fiddle draws dorm from I sings de hymns in de way I praise and glorify de Lord* "Cotton pickin' was de biggest work I ever did, outside of drivin1 a wagon and playin' de fiddle* Look at them fingers; they is supple* carry two rows of cotton at a time* over 300 pounds a day* pounds cotton seed* One week I pick, in a race avid others, Commencin1 Ifonday, thru Friday night, I pick 1,562 Dat make a bale weigh in1 500 pounds, in de lint* n Ellen and me have one child, Sallie &rm* have a good time n&ssin' white folks chillun* it many time* I Kllen 'joy herself j Mussed you; she tell me fbout f Spect she mind you of it very often* git fround dat woman; nobody could* I knows you couldnft De Lord took her home fifteen years ago and I marry a widow, Ida Belton, down on de Kershaw County side* tf You wants me to tell 'bout dat flection 4#$ at Woodward, in 1878? You wants to know de beginnin' and de end of it? Yes? Well, you couidn*t wet dis old man's whistle wid a swallow of red liquor now? Couldn't you or 4* could you? Dis was de way of it: It was set for Tuesday* de four-hoss wagon down to dis very town. Woodward come wid me* Monday I drive Marse John McCrory and Marse Ed They was in a buggy* "When us got here, us got jwenty sixteen shooters and put them under de hay us have in de wagon* ?ras here* I had fetched my fiddle long and played in Marse Fred Habernick1 s Us leave town 'bout four ofclock* "oar Hil dinner time* us got home 'bout dark* Bar rooms Roads was bad but Us put de guns in Marse Andy IVbbley's store* liarse }Jd and me leave ifeirse John to sleep in de store and to take care of de guns. "De nexT mornin1 polls ooen in de little school house~by de brick church* 1 was dere on time, help to fix de table by de window and set de "ballot boxes on it* Voters could come to de window, put deir arms thru and tuck de vote in a slit in de boxes* Dere was two supervisors, Marse 'I'homas for de %imocrats and Uncle Jordan for de ijadicals* -fetrse Thomas had a book and a pencil, Uncle Jordan had de same* 11 Joe Foster, big buckra nigger, want to vote a stranger* Thomas challenge dis vote* Marse In them times colored preachers so 'furiate de women, dat they would put on breeches and vote de publican radical ticket* De stranger look lak a woman* Joe Foster Tspute I&trse Thomas1 word end Marse Thomas-knock him down wid de naked fist* see four or five hindred blacks crowdin* window from de inside* T round Harse Thomas, he jump thru de ^hen he lit on de ground, pistol went off powl nigger drop in his traoks* shooters* Marse Irish ^illy Erice, when him Sixteen men come from nowhere and sixteen, sixteen Marse Thomas hold up his hand to them and say: to de niggers and say: f One Git*f ^tfaitl* Him point They start to runnin1 * cross de railroad, over de hillside and never quit runnin1 *til they git half a mile away* De only niggers left on dat ground was me, old Uncle Kants, (you know de old mulatto, 'f-v 78 s .^M^^)^:^0y^?^i^^^W^^. Wmzi club-foot nigger) well, me and him nd Albert Gladney, de hurt nigger dat was shot thru de neck was de only niggers left. Dr Tom Douglas took de ball out Albert fs neck and de white folks put him in a wagon and sent him home* I drive de wagon* Tflfhen I got back, de white boys was in de grave- yard gittin' names off de tombstones to fill out de talley sheets, dere was so many votes in de bos for de Hampton ticket, they had to vote de dead* I *spect dat was one resurrection day all over South Carolina** &'; :' project 1885-1 folklore Spartanburg, Dist.4 ' ~ o/vi 3903b f Edited by: Elmer Turriage jr Qf)^ Nov. 10, 1937 j 1 STORIES FROM EX-SLAVES *I is gwine over to Tosch to see Maria. Everybody know Maria. She go by Rice Maria Rice. She sont fer me to cure her misery. IPirst, I went from my home in lower Cross Keys, across de Enoree, to see Maria. When I reached dar whar she stay, dey tell me dat her daughter over to Tosch. Done come and got her. "A kind friend dat de Lawd put in my path fetched me back across de Enoree and over to Tosch to Maria's gal's house. I is gwine straight over dar and lay my hand on Maria and rid her of dat misery dat she sont word was ailing her all dis spring. Don't make no diff'uns whar you hurts -- womaxv, man or suckling babe if you believes in de holler of ray hand, it'll ease you, allus do it. De Bible say so, dat's why it be true. Ain't gwine to tell you nothing but de truth and de whole truth, so help me Jesus. Gone 65 years, I is been born agin dat long; right over in Padgett's Creek church, de white folks' church, dat's what de Lawd tuck my sins away and washed me clean agin wid His blood. Dat's why I allus sticks to de truth, I does. "Dey all 'lows dat I is gwine on 89, and I has facts to believe it am true. I 'longed to Marse Jesse Briggs. Did you know dat it was two Jesse Briggs? Yes sir, sho was two Jesse Briggses. "What I gwine to relate to you is true, but in respect to my old Marse, and in de case dat dem what reads dat book won't understand, you needs not to write dis statement down. My marster was called 'Black Jesse', but de reason fer dat was to keep him from gitting mixed up wid djs other Jesse. Dat'is de secret of de thing. Sx-Sla e stories (Geo. Briggs) Page 2 0. riow dat's jes' fer your own light and knowledge, and not to be IS 1% i wrote down. He was de blacksmith fer all de Cross Keys section, and fer dat very thing he got de name by everybody, 'Black Jesse'. I allus 'longed to dat man and he was de kindest man what de countryside had knowledge of. "In union County is whar I was born and raised, and it's whar I is gwine to be buried. Ain't never left de county but once in my life, and if de Lawd see i'itten, I ain't gwine to leave it no mo', 'cept to reach de Promise Land. Lawd,'. Lawd.' De Promise Land, dat's whar I is gwine when I leaves union County. Dey carried me a hundred miles to cure a sick woman, onliest time 1 ever left Union County. I loves it and I is fit throughout and enduring de time dem Yankees tried to git de county, to save it. 'That is I gwine to leave it fer? i.ir. Perrin and all de white folks is good to me since my marse done gone and left his earthly home. And he is waiting up dar wid Missie to see me agin. Dat I is sho of. "Listen brother, de Lawd is setting on His throne in Glory. He hear every word dat I gwine to tell you. Polks fergits dat when dey talks real often sometimes, don't dey? I put my h^nd on any 'flux' man or woman and removes de pain, if dey have faith in my hand. I don't tell nothing but de truth. I was born on Gist Briggs' plantation in Union County, in de lower section of Cross Keys. Marse Sexton and all dem good folks in lower Keys says dat I sho is 88. Give my name right flat, it's George Briggs; giving it round, it like dis, George McDuffie Briggs. Ky papa's name was Ike Wilburn, and my mother's name was Margaret Briggs. Pa 'longed to Marse Lige Wilburn. Mama longed to Jesse (Black Jesse) Briggs. Dey both born and raised in Union County. Dese was my brothers and sisters, coming in de order dey was born to my parents in: Charlie, Dave, laron, Tom, Noah*, . . . \'M Stories from Sx-Slaves (Geo. Briggs) Page 3 QQ Charlotte, Polly, lannie, Mattie,Horace, Cassie. I m de oldest, and Cassie and me lives in Union County. lannie and Mattie lives in Asheville, and de rest is done journeyed to de promise Land. Yes Lawd, to de Promise Land. "Ivlarse and Missus was good to us all. Missus name was Nancy. She die early and her grave is in Cross Keys at de Briggs graveyard. Be still] Leimae git my mind together so dat I donrt git mixed up and can git you de Briggses together. Here 'tis: Cheney and Lucindy, Lucindy married a Floyd from Spartanburg.and de flloyUs lived at de Burn't Factory. Cheney Briggs had a son, Henry Briggs. "Not so fast, fer I se gwine to start way back, dat time when us was lil' darky boys way back in slavery. V/e started to work wid de marster's mules and hosses. ^hen us was real little, we played hoss. Befo* Cheney Briggs went to Arkansas he was out play hoss. His brother, Henry, was de wagoner and I was de mule. Henry was little and he rid our backs sometimes. Henry rid old man Sam, sometimes, and old man Sam jes' holler and haw haw at us chilluns. Dis was in sech early childhood dat it is not so I can 'zactly map out de exact age us was den; anyway, from dis we rid de gentle hosses and mules and larn't how to feed dem. Every word dat I tells you is de truth, and I is got to meet dat word somewhars else; and fer dat reason, de m truth is all dat dis old man ever tells. "In dat day we lived in a log cabin or house. Sometimes us never had nothing to do. Our house had only one room, but some of de houses.had two rooms. Our'n had a winder, a do', and a common fireplace. Now dey makes a fireplace to scare de wood away. In old days dey made fireplaces to take care of de chilluns in de cold weather. It warm de whole house, c#use it was so big and dar was plenty wood. * "- ' (PI Stories From Ex-Slaves (Geo. Briggs) Page 4 83ff?! "M iTood wasn't no problem den, and it ain't no problem yet out in de lower Keys. In town it is, and I ain't guessing. I done seed so. "I sho can histronize de Confederates. I come along wid de Secession flag and de musterings. I careful to live at home and please de Marse. In de war, I'se mo' dan careful and I stick close to him and please him, and he mo' dan good. Us did not git mobbed up like lots of dem did. "When Tice Myers' chilluns was born, he had a house built wid a up-stairs. 3ut never no stage coach stopped dar as I ever heard tell about, and I done saw 75 years at Padgett's Creek. "Way 'tis, from de bundle of de heart, de tongue speaketh. Been in service reg'lar since Monday. I went to Neal Greege's house but she wasn't dar. I is speaking 'bout Ria (Maria Rice). She done gone to town, it de highway, de Lawd prepared a friend to carry me to Union, and when I got dar I take and lay hands on Ria Rice. She laying down and suffering, and I sot down and laid my hand on her. We never say nothing, jes pray. She be real quiet, and atter while, she riz up and take a breath. She kept on a setting up fer so long dat her husband make her lay back down fer fear dat she git worser. I stay dar all through de night and she sleep sound and wake up dis morning feeling like a new woman. j. "Befo 'breakfast, here is de words of praise I lifted to de Lawd, over dar on Tosch. You set down de coser (chorus): 'First to de graveyard; den to de Jedgement bar." Is you got dat verser? Den git dis: 'All de deacons got to go; all de members got to go; all de sinners got to go.' Mo' 'longs to it, but dat's all I takes when I is praising Him fer relieving pain through me. (He sings each | X:i&4 five times, He takes off his hat; bows; holds his hands over his he&C and closes h|& eyes wMle singing. Sis hair is snow white.) ^skjy m Stories from Ex-Slaves (Geo. Briggs) page 5 Q^ Lf;; "Lawd, help me dis morning; Here's another first line to one of our songs: '111 dem preachers got to go'. "Nehemiah, when he wid de king, de king axed him to reveal de wall whar his father was buried. Nehemiah did what de king had done axed him. I 'tends Galilee Baptist church in lower Cross Keys; and at Sedalia, I goes to New Hope Methodist church, but I don't know nothing else but Baptist. We peoples is barrence (barren of the Holy Spirit), but not God; He, Hisself, is born of God, and all is of de same source and by dat I means de Spirit. All has to be born'of de Spirit to become chilluns of God. Romans, Chap.6, 'lows something like dis: 'He dat is dead in sin, how is it dat he can continue in sin?' Dat tell us dat every man, white or black, is de child of God. And it is Christ dat is buried in baptism, and we shall be buried in like manner. If Christ did not rise, den our preaching is in vain. And if we is not born agin, why den we is lost and our preaching is in vain. "In picking up de New Testament, consider all dat you hear me arguing and saying is from a gift and not from edication. Romans 6, 'lows: 'Speak plain words, not round words, kaise all de round words is fer dem dat is edicated.' Jacob had twelve sons. Dey went and bundled up deir wheat, and eleven bundles bowed to de one. Dat Joseph's bundle, what he done up. Other brothers up and got and sold Joseph into captivity to de Egyptians. Dat throw5d Jacob to send Reuben to Egypt. Den dey bowed to Jacob and his sons. It run on and on till dey all had to go to Egypt, and all of dem had to live under Joseph. "When I was a little shaver and come to myself, I was sleeping in a corded bed. (He scratched his head) I jes' studying Stories from Ex-slaves (Geo. Briggs) Page 6 fer a minute; eran't 'zactly identify my grandpa, but I can identify my grandma. We all raised on de same place together. She name Cindy Briggs, but dey call her Cina kaise dar was so many Oindys 'round dar. One thing I does 'member 'bout her, if she tote me, she sho to whip me. I was raised strict. "All my life I is stayed in de fur (far) end of Union County whar it borders Laurens, wid de Enoree dividing de two counties. It is right dar dat I is plowed and hoed and raised my craps fer de past 75 years, I reckons. Lawd have mercyJ Joj I doesn't recalls de names of none of dem mules. Dat's so fur back dat I is jes' done forgot, dat's all. But I does recall 'fur back* things de best, sometimes. Listen good now. When I got big and couldn't play 'round at chillun's doings, I started to platting cornshucks and things fer making boss and mule collars, and scouring-brooms and shoulder-mats. I cut hickory poles and make handles out of dem fer de brooms. Marse had hides tanned, and us make buggy whips, wagon whips, shoe strings, saddle strings and sech as dat out of our home-tanned leather. All de galluses dat was wo' in dem days was made by de darkies. "White oak and hickory was split.to cure, and we made fish baskets, feed baskets, wood baskets, sewing baskets and all kinds of baskets fer de Missus. All de chair bottoms of straight chairs was made from white oa'k splits, and de straight chairs was made in de shop. You made a scouring brush like dis: (He put his hands together to show how the splits were held) By splitting a width of narrow splits, keep on till you lay a entire layer of splits; turn dis way; den dat way, and den bind together and dat hold dem like you want dem to stay. Last, you work in a pole as long as you want it fer de haadle,, and bind it tight and tie wid de purtiest knots-. Stories from Ex-Slaves [Geo. Briggs) Page 7 <^p ft I git money fer platting galluses and making boot strings and other little things. Allus first, I desires to be well qualified wid what I does. I is gwine to be qualified wid everything dat I does, iffen I does it fer money or no. Datfs de reason white people has allus give me words of encouragement. ff Now I gwine to sing a song fer Miss Polly, kaise she de grand-daughter of de late Sheriff Long, and I goes to see her grandma at de Keys (Cross Keys House), Dar she come now. rT How is you dis morning, Miss Polly? De Lawd sho does shower you, I,;iss Polly, and dat's de reason I is gwine to sing fer -jou. dis morning. Youf 11 be able to tell Mr. Jimraie (her father) dat Uncle Seorge sing fer you, f Jesus Listening All De Day Long*. Tf Jesus listening all de day long to hear some sinner pray. De winding sheet to wrop (wrap) dis body in, De coffin to hold you fast; Pass through death's iron do f. Come ye dat love de Lawd and let your joy be know'd; Dis iron.gate you must pass through, if you gwine to be Born agin.ft Ke sang these lines over three times and tnen bowing, said: fl 4inft it glory dat we can live whar de Lawd can use us? Dat's power. A strong man entereth in; a weak man cometh out. Dat represent Christ gwine into your heart. tf Sho I can remember when dey had de mustering grounds at de Keys* Dar dey mustered and den dey turn't in and practiced drilling dem soldiers till dey larnft how to march and to shoot de Yankees. Drilling, datfs de proper word, not practice. I knows, if I ain't edficated. Dey signed me to go to de 16th.regiment, but I never Stories from Bx-Slaves (Geo. Briggs) Page $J m reached de North. When us got to Charleston, us turn't around and de bosses fetched us right back to Union through Columbia. Us heard dat Sherman was coming, fetching fire along 'hind him. .1 "Don't know nothing 'bout no militia to make no statement, but it went on and turn't back. Another regiment had a barbecue somewhars in Union County befo' it went off to war; might a been de 18th regiment, but I does not feel dat I can state on dat. M My soul reaches from God's footstool up to his heavenly home. I can histronize de poor white folks' wives and chilluns enduring de time of de Civil War fer you. When dese poor white men went to de war, dey left deir little chillun and deir wives in de, hands of de darkies dat was kind and de rich wives of our marsters to care fer. Us took de best care of dem poor white dat us could. under de circumstances dat prevailed. "We was sont to Sullivan's Island, but befo' we reached it, de Yankees done got it and we won't 'lowed to cross in '64. But jes' de same, we was in service till dey give Capt. Franklin Bailey 'mission to fetch us home. Dar we had to git 'mission fer everything, jes' as us niggers had to git 'mission to leave our marster's place at home in Union County. Capt. Bailey come on back to Cross Keys wid us under his protection, and we was under it fer de longest time atter we done got home. "fer 65 years I been licensed as a preacher, and fer longer dan dat I been a member of Padgett's Greek Baptist church. Mo' work I does, mo work I has to do. You know how to pray, fell, you does, not know how to make polish out of pinders.. ff ain't ed'icated yet, but even Lige what teaches school :&i!;::t$::-de '0^i||.^A'|-i|i3;;^B^' ^schotl:},' -x&a^' %% ;; fcfaek btick.'dat ' tea^hes il f stories From Ex-Slaves (Geo. Briggs) Page 9 co A heap of ed'icated folks can't give it. Here it is: 'What's de biggest figger in de figger ten?'.?' With his old black, rough and gnarled forefinger he drew on the table the figure 1. "Now you see dat? Cat's de figger 1. A naught ain't nothing by itself or multiplied by other naughts; but set it down in front of de figger 1, and it takes on de value 9. Dar you is got ten one and nine is ten. Dat naught becomes something. I is old, and I ain't had narry bit of schooling, but I likes to be close to de orchard, and I knows it's dar by de smell of it. Dat's de way I is when.I gits along side ed'icated folks I knows dat dey is. "It's like dat sum dem scholars couldn't git; standing alone dat naught ain't worth nothing, but set it up against dat which is of value and it takes on value, set a naught ag'inst dat which is one and you has ten; set up another naught dar and you has a hundred. Now if somebody was to give me a note worth $10, and I found room to add another naught along side of de first; den dem two naughts what ain't worth nothing by deirselves gives de note de value of $99 if dey is sot along wid de one. Ed'icated folks calls dat raising de, note. I is ig'nant and I calls dat robbery.* hd iat's like jtou and me. We is naughts and Christ is de One, and we ain't nothing till we carries de Spirit of de lawd along wid us. 0h de pathway of life, may you allus keep Christ in froilt I of y t| and you will never go wrong. Be Lawd will den see fit to give I you a soul dat will reach from His foot^stool here on earth to His 0^l$$^;.j^$it^M^Mt^^: iitllilira^ Be enief with a deep sob and good-bye. || project 1885-1 FOLKLORE Spartanbugg Dist.4 July 20, 1937 -nrt OjUloO Edited by: Elmer $urna$s A,Q O^ S STORIES IROM EX-SLAVES "Some white men called in question today about de reigning governor enduring time of de Civil War. I knowed dat, and 'cides dat, I knowed him well. It was Governor 'Bill' as us called him. "What you want to git, is history about muster grounds. Yes, it was on Jones Ferry Road, jest south of Cross Keys whar dey had what dey allus called de muster field. Now, Jones Perry Road leads across Enoree River into Laurens County. Enoree River is de thing dat devides Union County from Laurens County, dat it is. n Well as I remember, Mr. Bill Ray was in de mustering of de 18th Regiment. Billy, Robert, Sam and Miss Nancy was Mr. Alex's chilluns. Understand me, don't think dat Bob and Sam was in de Regiment ... satisfied Billy was, kaise he used to pass our house on horse back, coming from de Laurens side where he lived. "Sixteen-year-old boys come in de same time dat I did. Course I ain't told all dat I knows, kaise dat wouldn't be proper. All I tell you, I wants it to be recognized. De better it's done, de better it'll help you. "I goes from home and stays five days or more, and don't nothing happen to a thing at my home. I does fer de sick and de Lawd blesses me. He looks atter my things while I am away. He soon shows fcis presence atter I gits dar. He calls fer me and I feeds Him. ; Stories From Ex-Slaves (George Briggs) Page 2 90 *Once had 26 biles (boils). Dat make me consider my disobedience against de Lawd. Den I went to Him in prayer. He told me Satan done got ahead of Him. Dat show me dat I done forgot to be particular. I got mo' 'ticular and pray mo' often, and in six weeks my biles had done all gone. "Dar is times when I gits lost fer not knowing. I can't keep up, kaise I cannot read. Man in Sunday school reads and I hears. He read de olden testament; den he read de new Testament. Dat my schooling. I 'clar unto you, I'got by all my life by praying and thinking. I sho does think a lot. ('Uncle' George's facial and scalp muscles work so when he thinks, that his straw hat moves up and down.) "When good man prays fer bad man, de Holy Ghost works on bad man's consciousness, and afo' he knows it, he's a-saying Lawd have Mercfr* 'stead of 'G'dam', like all wicked folks says every day. He dat de Holy Ghost dat I still is speaking of jest penetrates de wicked man's consciousness widout him a-knowing it. Dat penetrating make de bad man say, 'Lawd have Mercy.' I hoejs and I cuts sprouts, and den I plows. When you plows, mules is allus so aggravating dat dey gits you all ruffled up. Dat de devil a-working at you. Dat's all old mules is anyhow. I does not cuss, no-how, kaise it sho am wicked and I is had de Holy Spirit in my soul, now gone sixty-five years, since I jined Padgett Creek Church. When mp old mule gits to de row's end, and he act mulish kaise dat's in him and he don't know nothing else to do I means to say either 'ha' or'gee', and often since I jined Padgett Creek Church t finds myself saying Lawd have Mersfr' 'stead of 'gee* or 'ha'. So you see dat de Lawd has command, whar-so-ever if I was wicked, Satan would. Stories from Ex-Slaves (Geo. Briggs.} Page 3. CM n A child fo God allus will agree wid de Word of God. We mens dat claim to be leaders in de Kingdom, got to step up and sho folks what dey must do. Man learns right smart from Exodus r bout how to lead. A male child was born to rule de world. Moses still de strongest impression dat we has as rulers. God gits His-self into de heads of men dat he wants to rule and He don't tell nobody else nothing 'bout it neither. rt Mr. Roosevelt de president and he sho^looks atter de po! folks. Ke ain't no ig'nant man neither, kaise he got de light, folks ain't a-gwine to drown him out neither wid dere wicked words 'gainst him, kaise he strive in de Lawd's name to do His will. Mr. Roosevelt got learning like I is from de throne of God. He may have education also, but if he is, he sho knows how to keep dem both jined together. Folks reads to me how he got crippled and how he washed in dem springs in Georgia, and dat keep him a-gwine right on anyhow. It ain't dem springs by deself, but it's God a dipping his hand down dar fer de President to git well. Oh yes, suh, I knows dat he twan't de president when he was a-ftashing, but dem de plans dat de Lawd had done already planned and you and me never know'd nothing 'bout all dat. You and me does not know what is planned up in sto' fer us in de future neither. "I is a Baptist, and at Padgett's Creek we does not believe in no back-sliding. 'Once in de Spirit, allus in de Spirit'. A child of jjiour'n is allus a child of your'n. Dat de way de Baptist teach once a child of God, allus God's child. Stories prom Ex-Slaves (Geo. Briggs) Page 4 Qg 3 T'ain't no sech thing as drapping back. If you draps back, you ain't never been no child of de Lawd, and you never had no business being baptized. Christ was baptized in de waters of Jordan, won't (weren't) He? Well, He never drapped back, did He? He say we must follow in His footsteps, didn't He? Well, dar you is, and dat's all dar is to it.. rt God gits in de heads of men to help de aged and de po' also. I never axes fer nothing, but when I sets around de courthouse and informs men as I been doing dis evening, de Lawd has dem to drap a nickle or a dime or a quarter in my hand but He never gits dem to a half of a dollar." Source: George Briggs,(88) Rt,2, Union, S.C Interviewer: Caldwell Sims, Union, S.C. (7/12/37) &%?{- : .- BX-SLAVE STORY (Verbatim) "My old man can 'member things and tell you things and he word carry. We marry to Turkey Hill Pisa tat ion. Cake, wine, and all. Hot supper* Kill cow, hog, chicken and all* time when you marry, so much to eatt finance weddlngt That Now - "We lamp-oil Chilian15 they 'lectric light1 chillun nowl We call our wedding lamp-oil wedding*. people; out-of-door jam full. Hall jam full o* Stand before the chimbley. "When that first war come through, we horn. I don't know just when I smell for come in the world* "Big storm? (Neaht) Shake? Yinnah talk big storm hang people up on tree? I here in house. House gone, *Rack-a-rack- a-rackert * "My husband run out - with me and my baby left in bedt Baby just come in time of the shake. "When I fir at have sense* I *member I walk on the frost bare-feet. Cow-belly shoe* "My husband mother hare baby on the flat going to Marion and he Auntie Cinda have a baby on that flat* "From yout (youth) I been a Brown and marry a Brown; tit to never change. "Old tlmey sing? 1* "Wish I had a hundred dog And half was houndt Take It in my fadder field 115 Project #-1655 Mrs. Geneviere W* Chandler Murrells Inlet, S. C. Georgetown County Page - 2 And we run the rabbit downI Chorus: Now he hatch ile hatch I fle hatchI And I run the rabbit downI I wish I had a hundred head f dog 2. And half of them wus hound I'd take fem back in ay baeco field And run the rabbit down* Chorus: Now he hatch &e hatch - - he hatch I he hatcht Now he hatch - he hatcht And I run them rabbit down!" That wuz a sing we used to hare en the plantation* we make up sing - we hare sing for chillun. sleep* Brery one have his ewn sing* tt Bye-o-babyl Go sleepy. Bye- -babyI Go sleepy I hat a big alligator Coming to eateh 'i'his one boyl" Make 'em go Then {j Project #-1655 Mrs * Oenevieve W. Chandler Murrolls Inlet, S. C. Georgetown County ?ag - 3 Diss here the Watson one bey child! Bye-o-baby go sleepyI What a big alligator Coming to catch this one boyt Esmle Jordan: "Missus, I too plague with bad heart trouble to give you the sing I" Song and conversation Given by Louisa Brown (Born tine of 'Rob people War*) Waverly Hills, S. C* MOM Hoar - Parkersvilie, S C 4 \ *y x 390125 Project #~1655 Jessie A, Butler Charleston, S C, Approximately 950 words ' FOLKLORE Stories from Ex-slaves Henry Brown Ex-slave Age 79 Henry Brown, negro caretaker of the Gibbes House, at the foot of Grove street, once a part of Rose Farm, is a splendid example of a type once frequently met with in the South* Of a ric# brown complexion, aquiline of fea- ture, there is none of the "Gullah* about Henry* He is courteous and kindly in his manner, and speaks more correctly than the average ftegro# "% father was Abram Brown, and my motherfs name was Lucy Brown,0 he said, ' fhey were slaves of Dr* Arthur Gordon Rose* l$r grandfather and grandmother were grown when they came from Africa, and were man and wife in Africa* I was born just about two years before the war so I donft remember anything &bout slavery days, and very little about war times, except that we were taken to Deer Pond, about half mile from Columbia* Ray, and took his family there for safety* Dr* Rose leased the place from Dr* % mother died while he was at Deer Pond, and was buried there, but all the rest of my people is buried right here at Rose Farm. war* % two brothers were a lot older than me, and were in the After the war ay brother Tom was on the police force, he was a sergeant, and they called him Black Sergeant* Ity brother Mddleton drove the police wagon: they used to call it Black Maria* "% father, Abram Brown, was the driver or head man at Rose plantation Dr. Rose thought a heap of him, and during the war he put some of his fine furniture and other things he brought from England in ay father fs house and told him if the Yankees earns to say the things belonged to him* Soon after US ii^' Project #*-1655 Jessie A. Butler Charleston, S. C. P&ge that the soldiers came* 2 119 They asked my father who the things belonged to and he said they belonged to him* The soldiers asked him who gave them to him, and he said his master gave them to him. The Yankees told him that they thought he was lying, and if he didn't tell the truth they would kill him, but he wouldn't say anything else so they left him alone and went away* *Work used to start on the plantation at four o'clock in the morning, when the people went in the garden# the big fields* At eight or nine o'clock they went into Everybody was given a task of work# task you could quit# "When you finished your If you didn't do your work right you got a whipping* The babies were taken to the negro house and the old women and young colored girls who were big enough to lift them took care of them* At one o'clock the babies were taken to the field to be nursed, then they were brought back to the negro house until the mothers finished their work, then they would come for them* "Dr. Rose gave me to his son, Dr. Arthur Barnwell Rose, for a Christmas present. After the war Dr. Rose went back to England. stay in a country with so many free negroes. Rose had the plantation* fV He said he couldn't Then his son Dr. Arthur Barnwell Those was good white people, goo^white people* The colored people were given their rations once a week, on Monday, they got corn, and a quart of molasses, and three pounds of bacon, and sometimes meat and peaa* the gardens* They had all the vegetables they wantedj they grew them in Hhen the boats first came in from Afrida with the ^kes9 a big pot of peas was cooked and the people ate it with their hands right from Project #-1655 Jessie A* Butler Charleston, S. C* the pot. ^S6 3 . A or\ ^U The slaves on the plantation went to meeting two nights a week and on Sunday they went to Church, where they had a white preacher Dr* Rose hired to preach to them# After the war when we came back to Charleston I went to work as a chimneysweep* I was seven years old then* They paid me ten cents a story* If a house had two stories I got twenty cents? if it had three stories I got thirty cents* When I got too big to go up the chimneys I went back to Rose plantation* father was still overseer or driver* I drove a cart and plowed* }fiy Afterwards I worked in the phosphate mines, then came back here to take care of the garden and be caretaker* I planted all these Cherokee roses you see round here, and I had a big lawn of Charleston grass* Henry is intensely religious* because theyfre free.* I aint able to keep it like I used to** He says "the people donft notice God now "Some people say there aint no hell,11 he continued, "but I think there must be some kind of place like that, because you got to go some place when you leave this earth, and you got to go to the master that you served when you were here* If you seirre God and obey His commandments then you go to Him, but if you don't pay any attention to what he tells you in His Book, just do as you choose and serve the devil, then you got to go to him* And it donft make any difference if you1 re poor or rich, it don't matter Tffhat the milliner (millionaire) man says*" He seemed so proud of his garden, with its broad view across the Ashley River, showing his black walnut, pear and persimmon trees, grape vines and roses, that the writer said, Henry, you know a poet has said that we are nearer God Project #*.1655 Jessie A. Butler Charleston, S# C# in the garden than anywhere else on earth*w Page 4 ASA "Well mafam, you see," he replied, with a winning smile, "that's where God put us in the first place* " 3-260- 264-M Frojact #l6t>i> Augustus L.ason g&.U..s*en,S u. ^ v Qqni9n OJUlcd ('V" ^ p *8 1 TtT r\ \tu *\ No.wordsJ1476 2DC-8UV2 BORN 185? GRAND PARENTS CAME MRBCTLY FROM AFRICA i was nickname* amia1 *t aays a* Slavery*My name was Henry but they call' me Toby#My sister,Josepbine, oo was nickname' anv call9 Jesses.Our mistress ft&ci a cousin by thai name.uy oiaea' bredder was a Sergeant on the Uherisacon Police irorce around lbbtui had two other sister9,Louise an* Rebecca. My firs' owner was Armur Barnweii Kose.xhen Colonel A.G.Rhodes bought the plantation who sol1 it to Cap en Frederick vutfagener* James 3ottile ihen got in possession who soi* is to the DeCostas anf a few weeks ago Mrs .Albert Gallitin Simms,who i9m tol* is a former member of Congress, bought it Mow I'm s/onderin' if she is goin* to le' me stay.I hope so *cus I'm oif now en can't work. My pa was name* Abraham Brown;he was feo'n on Coala islan9 in Beaufort County Colonel Khodes bought him xor his driver9then he move here.I didn't know much 'bout him;he didn't live so long afta slavery vcus he was oi. Colonel Rhodes had a son an1 a daughter#xhe son went back to JSngiand afta his death an' trie daughter went 10 Germany with he? husbanVrhey ain't never come back so the place was sol1 for tax. Burin* the war wa was carry to "ear Pond,twelve miles on die side 01 Columbian* en cha wax was end' pa brought my sister,Louise,Kabecca,who was too smaii co work,Josephine an' ma ,Home.A11 my people is long-lifted y grand pa *n* grand ma on pa side coma right from Af rica xhay was stolen an* brought here* they usa to tell us of how white man had pretty cloth on boats which they was to exchange for some of their o'nament *#W9en 5hey take tha o'nemsnt9 to tne boat (hey was carry way down to the bottom an9 was lock* in* They was anchored on or BLfW/ I. is confused on de subject* lastin' brimstone* I just think dat people is lak grains of cornj dere isrsome good grains and some rotten grains* grains never sprout again* fields of Eden* Then I can't believe in a hell arid ever- De good grains is res'rected, de rotten . Good people come up again and flourish in de green Bad people mo; e<3me up^.-Deir bodies and bones just make phos- phate guano,, 'round de roots of de ever bloomin' tree of life* They lie so much in dis worid, maybe de Lord will just make *lie' soap out of them* 'What you think else they would be fit for?11 faM 390344 / *" S P0LKL0RE 1 ^^ ^^^ Approx, 660m>rds Project #1655 Martha S, Pinckney Charleston, S, C. 131 INTERVIEir WITH EX-SIAVE Age 88 - 90 Mary Frances Brown is a typical product of the old school of trained house servants, an unusual delicate type, somewhat of the Indian cast, to which race she is related* She is always clean and neat, a reJined old soul, as individuals of that class often are. Her memory, sight and hearing are good for her advanced age. w Gur home Marlboro, Mas Luke Turnage -was rtty master - Marlboro -Factory- Plantation name fBeauty Spot*. clean. Wfy missis "was right particular about neat and She raise me for a house girl. My missis was good to me, teach me ebbery ting, and take the Bible and learn me Christian if ied manners, charity, and behaviour and good respect, and it with me still, n We didn't have any hard times, our owners were good to us - no over share (overseer) and no whippin1 - he couldn't stan1 that* I live there ftil two year after freedom; how I come to leave, ray mother sister been sick, and she ask mother to send one of us, an she send me, Ify mother been Miss Nancy cook. Miss Nancy was Sfas Luke's mother - it take me two years learning to eat the grub they cook down here in Charleston. I had to learn to eat these little piece of meat - we had a dish full of meat; the big smoke house was lined from the top down# (Describing how the meat hung) I nebber accustom to dese little piece of meat, so - what dey got here, you find it hard? Mssis, if you know smoke #ouse, didn't Ity master had 'til he didnit know what to do with* 2$r white people were Gentile,11 (Her tone implied that she considered them the acme of gentle foils). Mk, "I don't know what the othe* people We name that didn't have Project #1655 Martha S. Pinokney Charleston, S. C. FOLKLORE lw Pa e S 2 as much as we had - but I know my people were Gentile I" Just here her daughter and son appeared, very unlike their mother in type. The daughter is quite as old looking as her mother; the son, a rough stevedore* "When the writer suggested that the son must be a comfort, she looked down sadly and said in a low tone, as if soliloquizing, "He way is he way," were good. Going back to her former thought, she said, Mas Luke was the worse one." I! A11 our people (This she said with an indulgent smile) "Cause he was all the time at the ^ace ground or the /air ground. "Religion rules Heaven and Earth, an there is no religion now harricanes an washin-aways is all about. Efoberything is change* Dis new name what they call grip is pleurisy-cold - putrid sore-throat is called somethin* - yes, diptheria. Cuttin (surgery) come out in 1911J They kill an they cure, an they save an they loss. n lvftr Gran1 ma trained with Indians - she bin a Indian, an Daniel C. I&Call bought her# Shu nebber loss a baby." (the first Indian relationship that the writer can prove), "You know Dr. Jennings? him. Ebberybody mus1 know After he examine de chile an de mother, an fee alright, he hold de nurse responsible for any affection (infection) that took place. "QhJ I know de spiritual - but Missis, my voice too weak to sing deyaint in books; if I hear de name I can sing - The Promise Land1, Oh, how Mas Joel Easterling (born 1796) use to love to sing datj Project #1655 M&rtha S Pinckney Charleston, S. C. ' FOLKLORE JL&3 Page 3 W I am bound for de Promise Land! Ohj who will arise an go with me? I am bound for the Promise LandJ Ifve got a mother in the Promise Land, Ity mother calls me an I mus go, To meet her in the Promise LandJw SOURCE: Msiry Frances Brown, Age 88-90, S. C, East Bay Street, Charleston, Project #-1655 Cassels R. 'i'iedeman Charleston, S. C. V FOLKLORE INTERVIEW WITH AH EX*SLaVE Mary Prances B rown, about ninety years of age, born in slavery, on the plantation of Luke Turnage, in Marlboro County, was raised as a house-servant and shows today evidence of most careful training. Her bearing is rather a gentle refindd type, seemingly untouched by the squalor in which she lives. She willingly gives freely of'her small store of strength to those around her. Her happiest days stem to have been those of her early youth, for when she was questioned about the present times, and even about those closely associated with her today she ipwed her head and said: "Deir way is deir way. 01 let me tell you now, de world is in a haad (hard) time, wust (worse) den it eber (ever) been, but religion! It ebery- where in Hebben an1 in de ert (earth) too, if you want em. De trouble is you ain't want em; ! e right dere jes de same but de time done pass when dis generation hold wid anyt'ing but de debbul. VYhen I a gal, grown up, I had a tight missus dat raise me, you hab to keep clean round her, she good an1 kind an* I lub her yet, but don*t you forgit to mind what she say. w My massa, he low no whipping on de plantation, he talk heap an* he scold plenty, but den he hab to. Dere was haad time for two year after de war was ober (over) but after dat it better den it is now. Dis is de wust time eber* I ain*t ber git use to d wittl (victual) you hab down her . 134 Project #-1655 Cassels R. Tiedeman Charleston, S. C. Page - 2 I lib ober Mount Pleasant twenty five year after I come from de old place up Marlboro, den I come to Charleston. "Dey were happy time back dere. My massa, he run round ebery way, spend plenty money on horse race, he gib good time to eberybody an* tell us we mus tek good care of de missus when he ain!t dere. de lak no time. An de wittles we hab I ain*t nebber see Dem were de times to lib. ainH forgit what my missus larn (learn) me. I old now but I It right here in me." Mary Prances was asked if she could sing spirituals. The following is one that she sang in a very high pitched wavering voice and then she complained of shortness of breath on account of her heart. "We got a home ober dere, Come an* let us go, Come an* let us go, Vl/here pleasure neber (never) die. Chorus: "Ohl let us go where pleasure neber die, Neber die, Come and let us go, Where pleasure neber die, neber die. "Mother is gone ober dere, Mother is gone ober dere, Where pleasure neber die, flfcere pleasure neber die. Ch rus| 135 Sroject #-1655 Casswls R Tiedeman Charleston, S C Page - 3 "Father is gone ober dere, Father is gone ober dere, %ere pleasure neber die, '/friere pleasure neber die> Chorus: "Mster is gone ober dere, Sister is gone ober dere, Where pleasure neber die, Where pleasure neber die, Chorus j "Brudder is gone ober dere, Brudder is gone ober dere, Where pleasure neber die, Where pleasure neber die, Chorus: Source: Interview with Mary Frances Brown, 83 Bast Bay St., Charleston, S. C (age - 90) *36 Ho. Reduced from_ Rewritten by" Code $0* Project, 1885.(1) Prepared by Annie Bath Davis Plaee, Marion. S.C. Date, July 8, 1937 words 137 Page 1. MOM SABA BROWS 390174 Ex-Slave, 86 years "Oh, my God, de doctors have me in slavery time. here de startin of de first war. Been I belong to de Ousaao dat live 15 miles low Florence on de road what take you on to Georgetown. I recollects de Yankees come dere in de month of June en free de colored peoples." "My white folks give me to de doctors in dem days to try en learn me for a nurse. Don1 know exactly how old I was in dat day en time, but I can tell you what I done. My Lord, o hi Id, o an' tell dat. Oouldn1 never tell how many baby I bring in dis world, dey oome so fast. I betoha I got more den dat big square down dere to de courthouse fall of em. I nurse 13 head of chillun in one family right here in dis town. You see dat all I ever did have to do. learnt to do dat. Was De doctor tell me, say, when you call to a foman, don1 you never hesitate to go en help her en you save dat baby en dat mother both. to do. Dat what I is always try Heap of de time just go en let em pay me by de chance. Oh, my Lord, a 'oman birth one of dem babies here bout two weeks ago wid one of dem veil over it face. De Lord know what make dat, I don1, but dem kind of baby sho wiser den de other kind of baby. Dat thing look just like a thin skin dat stretch over de baby face en come down low it's chin. Have to take en pull it baok over it's forehead en den de baby ean see en holler all it ever want to. My blessed, honey, wish Code Ho. Project, 1885-(1) Prepared by Annie Rath Davis Plaoe, Marion, S.C* Date, July 8, 1937 lo. Words Reduced from Rewritten by words 138 Page 2. I had many a dollar as I see veil over baby face. Sho know all bout dem kind of things " "Oh, honey, I tell you de people bless dis day en time. Don1 know nothin bout how to be thankful enough for what day have dese days. I tell de truth de peoples sho had to scratoh bout en make what dey had in slavery time* Baby, dey plant patches of okra en parch dat en make what coffee dey have. Ben dey couldn1 get no shoes like dey hab dese days neither. Just make em out of de hide of dey own oows dat dey butcher right dere on de plantation. Ooase de peoples had plenty sometin to eat like meat en turkey en chicken en thing like dat. Oh, my &od, couldn' see de top of de smoke house for all de heap of meat dey have in dem times. En milk en butter, honey, dey didn' never be widout plenty of dat. De peoples bout here dese days axes ten cents a quart for sweet milk en five cents a quart for old sour clabber. What you think bout dat? how-come people have to hunt jobs so muoha dese days. Dat Have to do some sorta work cause you know dey got to put sometin in dey mouth somewhe1 or another. was troublesome times. peoples den neither* Oh, my child, slavery days Sugar en salt never run free wid de X know de day been here when salt was so scarce dat dey had to go to de seashore en get what salt dey had. I gwine to tell you all bout dat. Dey hitoh up two horses to a wagon en den dey make another horse go in front of Oode Ho. Project, 1885 (1) Prepared by Annie Ruth Davis Plaoe, Marion, S.O. Date, July 8, 1937 Ho. Words_ Reduced fromwords Rewritten by . ,,,, 139 Page 3. de wagon to rest de other horses long de way. go bout on a Monday en stay three days. Dey mostly Boil dat salty water down dere en fetch two en three of dem barrel of salt back wid em dey get dat way. It was just like dis, it take heap of salt when dey had dem big hog-killin days. sugar, dey make dat too. En de Made de sugar in lil blooks dat dey freese just like dey freeae ioe dis day en~time. know dey do dat - know it. I Dey make molasses en some of it would be lighter den de other en dey freeze dat en make de prettiest lil squares just like de ioe you see dese days. Dey have some tin to freeze it in. Dis here old blaok mammy know heap of things you ain' never hear bout. Gh, baby, de peoples sho bless dese days." n 0h, my od, de colored peoples worship to de white folks ohuroh in slavery time. You know dat Hopewell Church over de river dere, dat a slavery ohuroh. wid my white folks. Dat whe1 I go to ohuroh den I had a lil chair wid a cowhide bottom dat I always take everywhe1 I go wid me. If I went to ohuroh, dat ohair go in de carriage wid me en den I take it in de church en set right by de side of my Miss. slavery time. Dat how it was in Oh, my Lord, dere a big slavery people grave- yard dere to dat Hopewell Ohuroh." "Honey, ypu mind if I smoke my pipe a lil whilst I set tin here talkin wid you. I worry so much wid dial high blood dese Oode Ho. Project, 1885-(1) Prepared by Annie Ruth Davis Flaoe, Marion, S.C. Date,July 8, 1937 Ho. Words Reduced from Rewritten by words Page 4. days en a ringin in my ears dat my pipe de only thing dat does seem to satisfy my soul. bad thing. I tell you dat high blood a It get such a hold on me awhile back dat I oouldn* do nothin, oouldn1 piok cotton, oouldn1 say my - me, oouldn1 even say, God a mighty - thing pretty. Oh, I don1 know. I start smokin pipe long time ago when I first start nursin babies. Had to do sometin like dat den." "Ho, Lord, I never believe nothin bout dat but what God put here. I hear some people say dey was oonjure, but I don? pay no attention to dey talk. Dey say somebody poison em for sometin dey do, but dere ain* nobody do dat. you down when he get ready. God gwine to put Ain' nobody else do dat." "Oh, my Lord, I been here a time. I sho been here a time en I thank de Lord 1 here dis day en time. 1 oan thread ray needle good as ever I could en I ain' have no speck neither. Sew night en day. De chillun have dey lamp dere studyin en I hab my lamp dere sewin. My old Miss learnt me to sew when I stay right in de house wid her all de time. I stay bout white folks all my life en dat how-come I so satisfy when I wid em." Source: Mom Sara Brown, age 85, ex-slave, Marion, S.C. Personal interview, Jane 1937. Code No* Project, 18g5-U) Reduced from Rewritten by" Prepared by Annie Ruth Davis Place, Marion, 8.0. Date, September 10, 1937 words 141 Page 1, 390281 MOM SARA BROWN Ex-Slave, S5 Tears M I stay in house over dere cross Oatfish Swamp on Miss Addie McIntyre place. Lives wid dis granddaughter dat been sick in bed for four weeks, but she mendin some now* She been mighty low, child. It start right in here (chest) en run down twixt her shoulder. She had a tear up cold too, but Dr. Dibble treat her en de cough better now. She got three ohillun dere dat come just like steps. One bout like dat en another like dat en de other bout like dis.# "De house we stay in a two room house wid one of dese end chimney. other room. All sleep in de same room en cook en eat in de My bed on one side en Sue bed on de other side. Put chillun on quilts down on de floor in de other end of de room. Baby, whs1 dem curtains you say you gwlne give me? gwine hang dese up in Sue room. I Dey help me fix up de room nice en decent like.* "It all on me to feed en clothe both dem chillun en de baby too. It just too muoh on me old as I is. worth to speak bout hardly dese days. Oan' hold my head down cause die high blood worries me so much* iron* Can1 do nothin It get too hot, can1 If ain' too hot, I makes out to press my things somehow en sweep my yard bout. case, but not often. Sometimes I helps little bit wid dootor Oan wash de baby en de mother, but oan1 Oode No* Project, I8g5-(1) Prepared toy Annie Hath Davis Place, Marion, 8*0* Date, September 10, 1937 do no stayin up at night* Ho. fords Reduced from Rewritten by" words 142 Page 2. Ho, baby, can1 do no settin up at night*" "I tries to oatch all what little I can to help along cause dat how I was raise up* Government truck brings me little somethin once a month pack up in packages like dry milk en oatmeal en potatoes. Give dat to all dem dat can* work en ain* got nobody to help dem. Dat dry milk a good thing to mix up de bread wld en den it a help to fix little milk en bread for dem two little ones* dem for de chlllun too* De potatoes, I stews Dey mighty fond of dem* How de oat- meal, de chlllun don* eat dat so I fixes it for Sue en every now en den I takes a little bit wid my breakfast. "X don* know much what to tell you bout Abraham Lincoln. I think he was a mighty great man, a mighty great man, what I hear of hiauX N I remembers de Yankees come dere to my white folks plantation one day en, child, dere was a time on dat place. All dem nigger8 was just a kickin up dey heels en shout in* I was standin dere on de piazza lookin at dem en I say, 'I don* see why dey want to carry on like dat for* I been free all de time*! When dey get through de Yankees tell dem dey was free as dey Massa was en give dem so many bushels of corn en so much meat for dey own* Some take dey pile en go on off en some choose to stay on dere wid dey Missus* She was good Oode No. Project, 1SS5-{1) Prepared by Annie Ruth Davis Place, Marion, 8.0. Date, September 10, 1937 No. Words Reduced from. Rewritten by" words Page 5. to all her colored people en dey stay on dere for part de crop. Give dem so much of de crop aceordin to de chillun dey had to feed. I know dis auoh, dey all know dey gwine get 12 bushels of corn a year, if dey ain1 get no more. Dat a bushel every month. Yes, dat how it was." w 0 Lord, baby, I don' know a thing bout none of dat thing call conjurin. Don1 know nothin bout it. en I ain1 bother wid it. but dey ain1 bother me. me. Dat de devil work Dey say some people can kill you, Some put dey trust in it, but not I put my trust in de Lord cause I know it just a talk de people have. No, Lord, I can1 remember dat neither. I hear dem say Raw Head en Bloody Bones would catch you if you be bad, but how it started, I don* know. I know I don1 know nothin bout how dey look en I don1 want to see dem neither. No, child, people say dey sho to be, but I ain1 see none. How dey look, I don know." "I don1 know what to think bout de times dese days. De times worse den dey used to be, child, Tou know dey worse, Dis here a fast time de people livin on cause everybody know de people die out heap faster den dey used to. dey kill you up. yunnah people. No, child, dey sho worser. Don1 care how My people en Don1 it seem so to you dat dey worser?" "Baby, I got to get up from here en leave now cause I huntin medicine dis mornin. I ain1 got time to tell you nothin else dis time, but I gwine get my mind fix up on it Code No* Pro;ject,l*g5-(l) Prepared by Annie Ruth Davis Place, Marion, S.O. Date, September 10, 1937 Ho. Words Reduced from Rewritten by" words PageTT en den your old black mammy oomin back fore long en stay all day wid you en your mamma* it now, honey? What time dat clock say I got to hurry en catch de doctor fore he get away from his of floe en be so scatter bout till nobody can1 tell whe he Is. good doctor* Dr. Dibble a good doctor, a mighty When he come, don1 never come in no hurry* Takes pains wid you* Dat been my doctor* I Is just devoted to him*N Source; Mom Sara Brown, ex-slave, age 85, Marion, 8.C. Second Report, Personal interview, September, 1937 by Annie Ruth Davis, Marion, S.C* 144 Project #-1655 , Mrs, uenevieve * U'Chandler Murrells Inlet, S. C. Georgetown County FOLKLORE 390203 (Some recollections of 'The Reb Time day' given by Aunt Margaret Bryant) Visitor: "How are you Aunt Margaret?" Margaret: "Missus, I ain't wuthl Visitor: "Aunt Margaret you've been here a long time. I ain't wuthJ" How old are you?" Margaret: "I can't tell you my age no way in the worldl When freedom come, I been here. Not big nuff (enough) for work for the Reb, but I been here Reb time. Been big nuff (enough) to know when Yankee gun-boat come to Watsaw (Wachesaw). Whole gang o' Yankee come to the house and didn't do a thing but ketch (catch) a gang o' fowl and gone on. And tell the people (meaning the slaves) to take the house and go in and get what they want. The. obersheer (overseer) hear the Doctor whistle to the gate and wabe (wave) him back. And then the Doc- tor know the Yankee been there and he gone on to the creek house and get all he gold and ting (thing) out the house and gone Marion till Freedom then he come back. "Yankee come in that night. a day. Moon shine lak Stay in the Doctor house that night. Morning come, take a gang o fowl and gone onI Visitor: "Aunt Margaret, what was your name before you were married?" 145 Project #-1655 Mrs-* ^enevieve W. Chandler Murrells Inlet, S* C* Georgetown County Margaret: "Margaret One* one when I come here* Page - 2 Ain!t meet aunty, uncle Me and my brudder Michael wuz twin* when I come here* Mary One* ! Gne.! I ainft ^rother and sister? All been sell* - none. I ainft meet none Me and my Ma One here Husband title, husband nichel (initial) been Number one carpenter Michael One - - give !em that name and he gibe !em that name* Born Sandy Island* Been to landing to Watsaw when gun-boat come* Just a sneak longi ley (chimney.) Boat white Hab (have) a red chimb- Didn!t try to carry we off* f Go and help youself*1 Tell fem Been after the buekra* (The Yankee trying to catch the buckra*) 11 1 see my Ma dye with some bush they call !indigo,1 and black walnut bark* Big old pen for the sheep - folds. f, My Pa sister, Ritta One had that job* the chillun* Chillun house. Kuss (nurse) One woman nuss (nurse) all the chillun v/hile they ma in the field - rice field* All size chillun* Git the gipsy (gypsum) weed* up for wornw ! Give et and follow dem* em when the moon change* Beat f em Take a buck- And tell the Doctor how much a worm that one make and that one aid count dem (them)* When the moon change, do that. 11 1 have one born with caul* f em. Loss he caul* Rat carry Ainft herej he see nothin* (The custom seems to be^ 146 Project #-1655 Mrs. Genevieve W. Chandler Murrells Inlet, S. C. Georgetown County Page - 3 to preserve the cail.) "Child born feet fore-most see 'urn too." "Talk chillun? Put duh switch. (See spirit) Put you 'Bull pen.* Hab 'urn (have them) a place can't see you hand before you. Can't turn round good in there. morning. Left you in there,till Give you fifty lash and send you to work. You ain't done that task, man and woman lickl "Couldn't manage my ma. Obersheer (overseer) want to lick ma, Mary One say, 'Going drownded meselfl work! Pore I take a lick, rather drownded meself.'" Obersheer gone tell the Doctor. to Sandy Island. river. Tie her long rope. Man hold the rope. G0ne on. Right Jump in So Doctor say, 'You too good labor for drown. Take dem (them) to Watsaw.' the boat. spin. I done my M e and she and man what paddle Bring her to weave. Ma wop fem- off. Two womans fuh card; two Sail duh sheckel (shuttle) through there. "Po- buckra come there and buy cloth from Ma. and four yard. Ma sell that, have to weave day and night to make up that cloth to pleasd pbersheer. Little chillun, whey (where) Mama? weaving house. Buy three Come big day time. Tell 'em Ma to the Don't have money fuh pay. Bring hog and such like as that to pay. "You know Marse Allard age? Me and Marse Allard suck 147 Project #-1655 Mrs* Genevieve W*~ Chandler Murrells Inlet, S* C. Georgetown. County together* Page - 4 Me and Marse Allard and my brudder Michael* ma fadder mix wid (with) the Injun* Stay Charston (Charlestown). Just as cleanI Larry, her Uncle, very bright skirw See ! em the one time* Son Larry Aikens# (Meaning Mixed v/ith Indian*) Come from Charston bring Doctor two ha? se*H Given by Aunt Margaret Bryant Age - (Born before Freedom) Murrells Inlet, S>. G. My 14Q tlW*'IT'- '~'W *" 390179 Project #1655 W* W* Dixon Winnsboro, S# C* 149 SAVTLU BUfiRELL, EX-SLAVE 83 YEARS, n 0ur preacher, Beaty, told me that you wanted to see me today* I walked three miles dis mornin1 before the sun gits hot to dis house* house is my grand daughters house down to de cotton mill* *)is Willie Caldwell, her husband* work Him make good money and take good care of her* bless the Lord, I say*11 tt% Marster in slavery time was Captain Tdm Stiir# plantation down dere on Jackson Crick* He had big % Mistress name was Mary Ann, though she wasnft his fust wife--jest a second wife, and a widow when she captivated him. You know widows is like dat anyhow, f cause day done had *sperience wid mens and wraps dem fround their little finger and git dem under their thumb'fog the mens knows what gwine - Tom Still, too* Grandmamrny '&? -2- . ' ISO n *U& lived in a log cabin wid a stick chimney* One time de sticks got afire and burnt a big hole in de back of de chimney in cold winter time wid the wMd blowing, and dat house was filled wid fire-sparks, askes, and smoke for weeks 'fore dey tore dat chimney down and built another jest like the old one* rooms? De bed was nailed to de side of de walls* How many Jest one room*1* fl Never seen any money* count dem* How many slaves? So many you couldn't Dere was plenty to eaiTsich as it was, but in the summer time before us git dere to eat de flies would be all over de food and some was swimmin' in de gravy and milk pots. Marse laugh fbout dat, and say, it made us fat*n ttDey sell one of mother!s chillun once, and when she take on and cry !bout it, Marse say, fstop dat sniffin' dere if you don't want to git a whippin'*' She grieve and cry at night fbout it* naked all de time* Clothes? Yes Sir, Us half Grown, boys went 'round bare footed and in dey shirt tail all de summer*t! ^Marse was a rich man. 'Pore Christmas dey would kill thirty hogs and after Christmas, thirty more hogs* He. had a big gin house and sheep, goats, cows, mules, hosses, turkeys, geese, and a stallionj I members his name, Stockin'-Foot Us little niggers was skeered to death of dat stallion* Mothers used to say to chillun to quiet dem* 'Better hush, Stockin'-Foot will git you and tramp you down*'1 Any child would git quiet at dat*n Ir01d Marse was de daddy of some mulatto chillun* Be 'lations wid :_i^^7^h^tp^pt:4 ae chillun is what give so much grief to Mistress* De &ig^^ :;d^;^ * bout it and he ifmmM trader* ^^ dem chillun aiway from ^ 'bout d&t* , .. -3- 151 some times and make dem take pills*w wUs looked for the Yankees on dat place like -us look now for de Savior and de host of angels at de second cominT February* Dey come one day in Dey took everything carryable off de plantation and burnt de big house, stables, barns, gin house and dey left the slave houses#w nAfter de war I aaarry Osbome Burrell and live on de Tom Jordan place Ifse de mother of twelve chillun* Jest three livin* now* I lives wid the Mills family three miles fbove town* % son-Willie got killed at de DuPont Powder Plant at Hopewell, Virginia, during de World War. Dis house you settin1 in belongs to Charlie Caldwell* grand daughter, Willie B* He marry u$r She is twenty-three years old*1* "Young Marse Sam Still got killed in de Civil War. live on* Old Marse I went to see him in his last days and I set by him and kept de flies off while dere* I see the lines of sorrow had plowed on dat old face and I !membered he!d been a captain on hoss back in dat war* my ^embrance de song of Moses j It come into f de Lord had triumphed glorily and de hoss and his rider have been throwed into de sea**n nYou been good to lis%^8|* speak my mind like dis mornin1* after dis and after dat* Dis is the fust time I caS. git to All de f&^e seem runnin1 here and yonder, Dere is a nudder old slave, I'se qwine to biing him &mn he e Saturday and talk to you again* - ;.;' /;v>/ ; : lAftlSl^ project 1885-1 FOLKLORE Spartanburg, S.C. Sept. 15, 1937 390230 152 Edited, ...by: Elmer $urnage STORIES FROM EX-SLAVES rf I works on de shares and makes a fair living on a rented farm; donft own no land. I was born in Nevvberry County, near de old Longshore store, about 12 miles northwest of Newberry Courthouse on de Henry Burton place. My parents belonged to Henry Burton in slavery time. He was our marster. I married Betty Burton, a nigger girl whose parents belonged to Marse Henry Burton, too. ft 7fe had a good marster and mistress. Dey give us a good place to sleep and lots to eat. He had a big four-acre garden where he raised lots of vegetables fer his slaves. He had plenty meat, molasses and bread. 7/e ground our corn and wheat and made our own feed. "Marster wouldn't let anybody bother his slaves. He wouldr !t 'lew his overseers or de padroilers to whip 'em. He never whipped one. ff 7;e had no school and no church; but was made to go to de white folks church and set in de gallery. When Ireedom come, de niggers begin to git dere own church, and built small brush huts called *krusli?karbors '. "We didn't do work on Saturday afternoons, but went hunting and fishing den, while de women folks cleaned up around de place fer Sunday. De marster liked to hunt, and he hunted foxes which was plenty around dere den. Now dey is all gone, "We danced and had gigs. Some played de fiddle raid some made whistles from canes, having different lengths for different notes, and blowed 'em like mouth organs." Source: C.B. Burton (79), Newberry, S.C. Interviewer: G.L. Sipmer, Newberry, S.C. (9/10/37) Project #*1655 Phoebe Faucette Hampton County Folklore' GEORGE ANN BUTLER Ex-Slave 75 Years West of the paved highway at Garnett one may reach, after several miles, the old Augusta Road that follows along the Savannah River from Augusta to a landing point a little south of Garnett, Miles from the busy highway, it passes, in quiet majesty, between fields and woods, made rich by the-river's overflow and heavy dews. Nature has done her best in produc- ing beautiful evergreen trees of immense size and much luxuriant shrubbery of many kinds* Live oaks, magnolias, yellow slash pines, hollies, and many evergreen shrubs keep the woods even in winter, a fascinating wilderness to hunters and nature lovers On this road George Ann Butler lives, and has lived for the seventy-five years of her life* 11 1 was born an1 raised on de Greenwood place to ole man Joe Bos tick. here road* It belonged He owned all fdese places f lohg dese He own de Bos tick place back yonderj den he own de Pipe Creek place next dat; den Oaklawn; den joinin1 dat . was Greenwood* ^e Colcock*s Elmwood was next* My Husband was birth right here on de Pipe Creek, an1 been here ever since. He kin tell you more!n I kin* I was George Ann^Curry before I marry* ^1 canft remember so much fbout slavery tim$ I was crawl inT over de floor when slavery time - dey tell me* atter de war, I 'members. But Couldn't find no cor* seed I Couldn't find no cotton seedt Couldn't find no saltI Y ou knows it was hard times when dere wasn't no salt to season de Project #-1655 Phoebe Faucette Hampton County page - 2 Had to go down to de salt water an1 get de water vegetables* an* boil it for salt* Dat been a long way from here* be fifty or sixty mile* days* Must An dey couldn't go so fast in dem Sufferin' been in de neighborhood atter de war pass I "Cotton was de thing'way back yonder* road dey'd haul it. Matthews Bluff I way no morel An' right 'long dis Haul it to Cohen's Bluff I Haul it to Parlchuclat Haul it to Don't haul it dis Send de cotton to de railroad I But in dem days it was de ships dat carried it to Savannah. Cotton seem to be play out now - dey plant so much. n I hear !em tell 'bout de war, an1 bavin* to drill an* step when dey say step, an* throw up dey hands, when dey say throw up de hand* was sure a terrible Source: G Everything had to be done jes' sol thing.w eorge Anne Butler, R. P. D. Garnett, S. C* De war 154 390392 Project #-1655 Phoebo Paucette Hampton County FOLKLORE +(?) 5&S &tt >*&% ISAIAH BUTLER, EX-SLAVE 79 YEARS A II Yes, dis is Isaiah Butler, piece of him. of him now. way back* Ain!t much left Yes, I knows all 'bout dis heah country from I was born and raised right on dis same place here; lived here all my life !sides from travellin1 round a little space Dere was a rice field not far from^dis house here, where I plowed up more posts that had been used as landmarks I Dis place was de Bostick place, and it jined to de Thomson place, and de Thomson place to Edmund Martin's place dat was turned over to Joe Lawton, his son-in-law. Bill Daniel had charge of de rice field I was telling you 'bout. He was overseer, on de Daniel Blake place* Den dere was de ICaner place, de Trowell, de Kelly, and de Wallace places. Back in dem times dey cultivated rice. to cultivate it I Had mules But cotton and corn was what dey planted most of all; 4,000 acres I think dey tell me was on dis place I know it supposed to be more than ten miles square. know de landmarks * cept me. Nobody 'when de Bostick boys came back from out west last year, dey had to come to me to find out where dere place was* Dey didn't know nuttin' 'bout it. Dey used to use twenty plow, and de hoe hands was over a hundred, I know. II I 'member when de Yankees come through. I was no more'n a lad, nine or ten years old* Bostick had a big ginhouse, barn, stables, and such like. And when de soldiers come a goat was up on de platform in front of de door to de loft of 155 <:_:'>'r"* ;"J.T.vk' '' l-.^--''-- ''":r7i3^c^ Project #-1655 Phoebe Paucette Hampton County de barn, page - 2 ^ere were some steps leadin* up dere and dat goat would walk up dera steps same as any body. Yankees do, dey shoot dat goat. eberyt'ing. De fuss thing de Den dey start and tear up All de white folks had ref ugesd up North, and dey didn't do nuttin' to us niggers. "Pore dat time I was jes' a little boy too young to do nuttin'. Jes* played aroun' in de street. Ole Mr. Ben Bos- tick used to bring clothes an' shoes to us and see dat we was well cared for. for us colored folks. ^ere was nineteen houses in de street Dey wuz all left by de soldiers. But in de year 1882 dere come a cyclone (some folks call it a tornado), and knocked down every house; only left four standing. Pieces of clothes and t'ings were carried for four or five miles from here. thing we had. It left our house; but it took every- It took de walls of de house, jes' left de floorin', an' it wuz turn 'round. Took everyt'ingl been married 'bout a year, and you know how dat is. I'd jes' We jes* had to scuffle and scuffle 'roun' till de Lord bless us. "Dere wuz plenty of deer, squirrel, possum, an' rabbits in dem times* no more dan dere is now, but dere wuz no hinder ance den as now< De deer come righf up to my door nowj dey come ;83i?;;*l>o%n*-: dis-yols^-,-';^d-we 'esi&:,:t^^ Project #-1655 Phoebe Paucette Hampton County Page - 3 a good fisherman, me anf me ole woman. She's spryer!n me now. I used to allus protect her when we wuz young, an1 now its her datfs acarin1 for me Oh, yesfm# We had our gardens in de ole days, too. Little patches of collards, greens an1 t!ings, but now I ain't able to do nuttinf, jes1 hang Tro&nr de place here* "My father used to belong to General Butler, Dennis Butler v/as his name* My mother was a Maner, but originally she wuz draw out of de Robert estate. Robert. sail. Ole Ben Bostick fuss wife wuz a Bey wuz sure wealthy folks. Bill F# Robert wuz his name. One of f eirj went off to He had so much money dat he say dat he goin* to de end of de world. He come back an1 he say he went so close hell de heat draw de pitch from de vessel. But he lost his eyesight by it. Wa!n!t (it was not) long after he got back dat he went stone blind. "My ole boss, preacher Joe Bostick wuz one of de best of men. He wuz hard of hearin1 like I is, an* a good ole man. ole lady, ole t! Miss Jenny", she wuz very rough* de overseers, and she do all. But de She hired all Iffn anybody try to go to de old man wid anytfing, she!d talk to !em herself an1 not let !em see de old man. "in slavery time de slaves wuz waked up every morning byd de colored over-driver blowinr a horn. his name* Ole man Jake Chisolm wuz Jes1 at daybreak, hefd put his horn through a crack in de upper part of de wall to his house an blow it through dat crack* Pen de. un&er-driver would go out an1 round !em up 157 Project #-1655 Phoebe Faueette Hampton County Page - 4 Yftien dey done all dey day-work, dey come home an1 cook dey supper, an1 wash up. Den dey blow de horn for 'ein to go to bed. Sometime dey have to out de fire an1 finish dey supper in de dark* Be under-driver, hefd go out den and see who ainft go to bed. He wouldnft say anyt*ing den; but next mornin1 he!d rejport it to de overseer, an! dem as hadn't gone to bed would be whipped. "My mother used to tell me dat if any didnft do dey day s work, dey!d be put in de stocks or de bill-bo. You know each wuz given a certain task dat had to be finish dat day. call de day-work. Dat what dey Hhen dey put fem in de stocks dey tie and foot to a stick. Dey could lie down wid dat. ! em hand I hear of colored folks doin1 dat now to dere chillun when dey don!t do. Now de bill-bo wuz a stabe (stave) drove in de ground, an1 dey tied dere hands and den dere feet to dat, standin1 up. work on Saturday but dey wuz give Sundays. on Mondays Deyfd Rations wuz give out Edmund Lawton went over to Louisiana to work on de Catherine Goride place, but he come back, * cause he say dey blow dey horn for work on Sunday same as any other day, and he say he wafnft goin* to work on no Sunday. Deyfd whip fem, and deyfd sell !em. times. what, ft Dey didnft have a jail in dem Every slave know ! I!11 put you in my pocket, siri1 mean. De slaves would walk when dey!d go anywhere* If !n dey buy a bunch of slaves in New Orleans, dey!d walk by night and 3ay# I Member when one young girl come back from refugin1 wid de white folks, her feet were jes1 ready to buss open, and dat wuz all* 1 ^ft XvJO Project #-1655 Phoebe Paucette Hampton County Page - 5 You couldn!t travel unless de boss give you a pass. De Ku Klaa had "patrol11 all about in de bushes by de side of de road at night. And when dey caught you deyfd whip you almost to death I Deyfd horsewhip you. Dey didnft run away nowhere ! cause dey knowed dey couldn!t. "If !n you wanted to send any news to anybody on another plantation, de overseerfd write de message for you and send it by a boy to de overseer of de other plantation, and he!d read it to de one you wrote to. "When de war wuz over, ole man Jones come over frum Georgia and sell tfings to de colored folks. He!d sell *em everyt!ing. He took all de colored folks1 moneyI !! I learned to read when I mz goin* to school when I wuz about fifteen years old, but- I learned most I know after I v/uz married, at night school, over on de Morrison place. De color- ed folks had de school, but fcourse Mr. Morrison was delighted to know dey wuz havin1 it. &s for church, in de olden times, people used to, more or less, attend under de bush-arbor. In 1875 when I jined de church, ole man John Butler vmz de preacher. "Ghosts? I'se met plenty of umt Mien I v/uz courtin1 I met many a one - One got me in de water, once. And another time when I wuz crossing a stream, I wuz on de butt end of de log, an1 dey wuz on de blossom end, an1 we meet jes1 as close as I is to you now. I say to him, same as to anybody, ! I sure ainft Project #-1655 Phoebe Faucette Has pton County Page - 6 goin1 to turn back, and fall off dis log* JL6() Now de best t!ing for #ou to do is to turn fround and let me come atter (after) you. You jes! got to talk to ! em same as to anybody* donft pay to be !fraid of fem* can wheel, you know.) So he wheel !round# It (Spirits And v/hen he get to de end of de log, I say, * Now you off and I off. Dey sure is a t!ing, all right I You kin go on f cross now*1 Dey look jes1 like anybody else, 1cept*n it!s jes! cloudy and misty like it goin1 to But it don!t do to be !fraid of !em. pour down rain. ainft ffraid df nuttin1, myself* Guess I jes! sorta out-growed !em. t!ing, all right I I I never see !em no more* But dere sure is sech a Be white folks*d see fem, too* I f member hearin1 ole Joe Bos tick, de preacher, say to a man, by de name of Tinlin, !Did you hear dat hog barkin* last night? Well, de spirit come right in de house* Come right up over de mantlepiece*f @mz in de field workin1 same as I allus f * v / done, and I hearfd ole Joe horse a snortin* want nuttin1 Ole Joe didnft He jesf want to see what I wuz doin* "Abraham Lincoln done all he could for de colored folks* But dey eain*t none of !em do nuttin1 without de Lord*n Source: Isaiah Butler, Garnett, S* C* 161 Project #-1655 Phoebe Paucette Hampton County ^00^77 Approx. 800 Words SOLBERT BUTLER EX-SLAVE OP 82 YE&MS Miles from the highway old Solbert Butler lives alone under the shadow of the handsome winter home of an aged northerner upon the same soil that he has seen pass from Southerner to Hegro, to Southerner, to Northerner. Though shrunken and bent with age he still enjoys talking. n I lives in de Deer Country* A couple of months ago, I saw eight in a drove at one time, like a drove of sheep, or sech You can!t raise nuthin* like. garden. And de wild turkey I ! round h^re. E>ey'll eat up your And de partridge I But you canft shoot ' em without de Cas.seIs give you a license to do it. he comin1 next month and dere!ll be more shootin1 I aint able to hunt none hiss&lf in de car. He kin ride How But he r oout in de woods Dey are blessed people, though I Sf Bis used to be de Bostick place. lived fourteen miles from here. Old Massa Ben Bo stick I^ere was Ben Bostick, Iva Bos- tick, Joe Bostick, &r. Luther, ^ddie Bostick, anf Jennie Jo Bostick. -De place was divided up between fem. 0-ohi n*t number de plantations old Mr. Bostick owned. owned fifteen plantations! Oh, de Bo sticks, 0-ohii I could- I think he Me was de millinery (millionaire)! De house dey live in, dey call um .what was it dey call um - de Paradise house* - No one go to dat , house but only de rich* "At Christmas deyfd go up dere. it I Oh, it was paradise. good, toot And oh, I couldn!t number &e was good to fem. Arif he v/hip Tie !em to de fence post and whip 'em. But I f em Project #-1655 Phoebe ^aucette Hampton County Page - 2 dicing1 have anythin1 of dat* I was a little boy. six year old-when'de war. broke out* Jes1 *bout But I got plenty of v/hippin!s all rigfrt. t! Massa take me as a little boy as a pet. de carriage! Took me right in Had a little bed right by his own an* take care Svery morning dey bring in dey tray, an1 go back. of me. uncle was a'carriage man. de carriage. My Dey kept two fine horses jes' for Massa'd come up to de Street every Monday morn- ing with big trays of rations. He'd feed his colored folk, den go on back. * (Another old ex-slave from the same plantation had said that on Mondays the week's rations were given out.) "Dey planted cotton, corn, peas, potatoes, rice - an' dey'd lick you I All de time, dey'd lick you. After dey'd lick 'em until de blood come out, den dey'd rub de red pepper and salt on 'em. Oh, my Godi gone to (Lore reward? Kin you say dem as done sech as dat aint My uncle was so whip he went into de woods, an' live dere for months, life. now. Had to learn de independent Mr. Aldridge was de overseer. Old Mr. Aldridge gone But dere can't be no rest for him. Oh my God no! *em so mean dat finally ole lassa hear 'bout it. do hear 'bout it, he discharged him. charged - to de colored driver. He do And when he He had everything dis- . Den he got Mr. Chisolm. After Mr, ahisolm come in, very-thin* jes' as sweet an' smooth &s c$ald "bet @r@*s a aloe set of people for you - de GhiiSO||^jk Project #-1655 Phoebe Paucette Hampton County Page ~ 3 Two of fem livin* now* One at Garnett, an1 one at Luray, I be- lieve. n I refugeed v/id laassa. surrendered in Virginia. houses. Dey come together in Virginia* Set de house afire. Dey burned Massa*s cotton. And set all dey Over 200 balesl But if !n de colored folks begged for some, dey let !em have some. stayed right wid Massa. Dey I He carried me everywhere he went. Carried me all de way to Mill Haven, Georgia. "After de v/ar de colored folks jes! took an* plant de crop. an1 make de livin1 wid de hoe. thin1 like dat. didn't have no mule, no ox, or When ole Massa come back, he took de cotton, an1 give de colored folks de corn. Kill all de cow. De Yankees kill all de hog. Kill all de fowl. Left you nuthin' to eat. If de colored folk had any chicken, dey jesf had to take dat an1 try to raise u f I we a f em so me thin1 to eat. Methodist. come from Georgia tation. at I was converted under Qp.der Dayton - st". Luke Methodist Church on de Blake Plan- De Blake Plantation right dere. It jines dis one. De ole Methodist white folk!s church where I was baptized been take down* It was called de Union Church. But de cemetery still . dere. It right up dere not a mile down de road. good ole preacher name of Rev# Vii'inborn AsaLawton. meetinU Oh, Lord, Lordi from Orangeburg. Dere was a An* de camp Asri had over a thousand dere. Come from Aikenl Come An1 corm way from Cherawl Come from Charleston, Beaufort, and Savannahi De colored folks 163 Project #-*165& Phoebe Faicette Hampton County - 4 got a church now up here on what used to be de Pipe Greek place of ole Ben Bostick where de white folks used to have a Baptist" church* A3 colored folks church call it Kenyon Church*' Dat*s de church dey white folks moved to Lav/tonville, den to Estill* But when de colored folks built, dey built de church to face de East* Built on de same foundation; bujfe face it east, facing a little road, dat had sprung up and wind *round dat way right in close to de church* But de white folks church was face weBt^ facing de Augusta road* Dat big space twixt de road and de church was a grove* 11 Ghosts.-? pany! I used to !em. I see fem all de time* 1 live over dere fcy myself, an1 dey cones in my house Sometime I walk along at night an1 I see *em. all de time* when, you see an1 Jfround. f em you see a sight* Dey happy all right* Dey play* nuthin* to me* Only talk to me* * come talk to me. An1 Dey dasice * round But deyf'11. devil you, too* Ihen dey find out dat you scary> dey111 devil you* \ Good com- Dey donrt do 1*11 be in my house an1 dey*ll -. Or I'll be walkin* down de road, an* meet 'em. ifiey, SGlberti How far you goin' .Solbert?1 *: *se' 'i.9.8-1 goin' down de road a little piece^/I'll say. "^ . :' ' v;:v:*%^^etait-:*'W - , : ^|fe;v:; #i|i|||ef > [ iey*;ll WMMMM '.. : ':$&B *^ feeling?1 Project #^16 -6 Phoebe Faucette Hampton County u Dey all favors* Page - 5 Dey all looks alike. car come down de road jes' now? You remembers when dat -Well, I see a bunch of "em right denI Dey get out de road for dat car to pass. 'em. No matter how much I shows 'em to you - you can't see 'em. But me. Dey swell v/id me. up dere. It full of 'em* some of de white folks. Oh, you can't see I see 'em all de time. e big house ^e white folks see 'em, too. Dat is I see de other day a white man dat has to work up here start toward de house when de ghosts was comin1 out thick. When I tell him you ought to see him turn an' run. . One of 'em push me over in de ditch one time. I say, 'Now what you done dat for?' o 'Well, dat aint nuthin' 'Aint nSthln1 But don't you do dat no more.' "I talks to 'em jes' de same as if dey was somebody. folks outgrows *em, But not me. Some You have to be born to see 'em. If*n you be born wrapped in de caul, you kin see 'em. But if you aint, you can't see 'em.tt Source!,'--So^bert'But'le^'^ 0v'';.' Project 1885 -1Spartanburg, S. C. May 31, 1937 330103 lo6 FOLK-LORE: EX-SLAVES 11 1 was born on the other side of Maybinton, in Newberry County, South Carolina* Old Squire Kenner was my master and his wife, Lucy, my mistress* My pa was Joseph Gilliam , who was a slave of John Gilliam, and my mamma was Lou Kenner, who was a slave of Squire Kenner. I stayed with my mamma at Squire Kenner!s and waited on my mistress, Mrs* Lucy Kenner, who was the best white woman I know of - just like a mother to me, wish I was with her now* I stayed there !till my mistress died, was right by her bed* ft It sure was a good place to live* Dey didnft give us money for work but we had enough to eat and place to sleep and a few clothes * Squire had a big farm he got from the Hancocks, some of his kin* looked after his cwn farms* us lots from it to eat* He didnft have overseers* he Master had a big garden and give We hunted fpossums, rabbits, squirrels, - wild turkeys, on the river* We lived right near Broad River* "I remember de padderrolers; dey come to my paf s house and want to come in, but pa had an old musket gun and tole them if dey come in dey wouldnft go out alive end dey went away* 11 After the day's work was done, the slaves would set down and talk, and on Saturday afternoons, they would stay home, go fishing or wash Up, and sometimes the chaps would go to de river and watch the boats full of cotton go by# On - 2 - Sundays we go to church* They made us go to Baskets church, de white folks church* and set in the gallery* On Christmas Day we would get time off and master would give us good things to eat* We never had any corn-shuckings and cotton pickings there* All of the family and the. -slaves do that work on moon-shiney nights* We had some games we played, like Molly Bright* Hiding Switches* ^atfbles* We played on Sunday* too* unless the mistress calls us in and stops us* "When a slave got sick we sent for the doctor* We never put much store in herb root tea and such like* "The Yankees went through Maybinton but didnft get over as far as us* Some say they stole cattle and burned ginhouses* "Squire Kenner was killed in the war* aad when the war was over we stayed on with de mistress; she was like a mamiia* She had a son who was killed in the war, too* Another son lived there and we worked for him after distress died, but he soon moved far away and sold out his plantation* His name was Hows en Kenner* lf I married Walter Cain at Mr* Walter Spear- man^ house* a good white man, and the white folks give us a good supper after the wedding* I had one child, 2 grand- children, and one great-grand-child* I married f I joined the church before cause I wanted to do better, do right and live right, and get religion* I think everybody ought to join the church and live right* That is the reason the Lord blesses me in lots of ways today* We had good time in slavery-sometimes I wish I was back there-would have somebody to take of you and hiif you* my mistress was living I would rather be back in slavery*" If 167 project 1885-1 FOLKLORE Spartanbutg Dist.4 Sept. 22, 1937 . Edited by: lOO Elmer Turnage IPf}?^ 00UCOJ STORIES IROM EX-SLAVES , "I was born near the village of Maybinton, and lived on old Squire Kenner's plantation. Squire Kenner and his wife, mistress Lucy, was good to me. My mistress was so good I wish I was living with her now, I sho wouldn't have such a hard time getting something to eat. I am old and have rheumatism and can't get aoout good now. *I live with some of my grand children, but they can't make so much for us. We manage to eat, though. We rent a two-room house about two miles from Newberry Courthouse. "1 don't know nothing about 40 acres of land for the slaves after the war. We just stayed on with the master 'til he died, for wages; then we hired out to other people for wages. nothing 'bout slaves voting after the war. I don't know There was no slave up- risings then in our section. "Ever since the war was over, the slaves have worked for wages on plantations or moved to town and got little jobs here and there where they could. Some of the slaves would rent small farms from land owners or work the farms on shares. None of the slaves in our section come from Virginia." Source: "Granny" Cain (90), Newberry County, S.C. Interviewer: G.L. Summer, Newberry, S.C. 8/10/37. Project 1885-1 FOLKLORE Spartanburg Dist.4 May 24, 1937 390053 Edited by: Elmer Turnage . * JAJ 7 STORIES FROM EX-SLAVES *I was born in Union County, S.C., not far from the ferry on Tyger River. My mother was a slave of George R. Tucker who lived on the Enoree Rivdr. I can't remember slavery times nor the war; but I remember about the end of the war when everybody was coming home. "My mother was a weaver, going to the white folks1 houses and weaving clothes for them for small pay. Carding and spinning was done by all the white families at home. "The farms had large gardens and raised most everything to eat. Large patches of turnips, cabbage and green vegetables was the custom at that time.* Source: Laura Caldwell (77), Wewberry, S.C. Interviewer: G.L. Summer, Newberry, S.C. May 20, 1937 project 1885-1 Folklore Spartanburg, Dist.4. Dec. 15, 1937 ^QDdPP ODVtcc Edited by: j ^n Elmer Turnage Xf\f (c*!/() STORIES PROM EX-SLAVES M I own a little farm, about 22 acres, and I live on it wid my wife. I ain't been married but once, but we had 15 chilluns. Dey is all done married and left us. I is gitting so I can't do much work any more, 'specially plowing. I lives below Prosperity. I was born above dar, near Beaver Dam Creek on de old Davenport place. "My daddy was Alfred Caldwell and my mammy was Suella Caldwell. She was a Nelson. Dem and me belonged to Marse Gillam Davenport. Marse Gillam sho was rapid. I saw him whip my mammy till you couldn't put a hand on her shoulder and back widout touching a whelp. Marse Gillam killed a man and dey put him in jail in Newberry, but he died befo1 de trial come off. Atter dat, I was put in de hands of his son, Sam Davenport. Dis was atter freedom come. He was a purty good man, but my mammy was always careful. At night she say, 'Come in chilluns, I got to fasten de do' tlg|rfc. We lived in a little log house den. When we moved from dar we went to Dr. Welch's place, jes' dis side of it. "De niggers never had any churches till atter de war; den dey used brush arbors or some old broke-down log house. We never had schools den, not till later. I never had a chance to go a-tall. "I 'member de Ku Klux and how dey rid around in white sheets, killing all de niggers. De Red Shirts never killed but dey sometimes whipped niggers. My daddy voted de Republican ticket den, but I know'd two niggers dat was Democrats and rode wid de Red Shirts. Dey was old Zeb and old Jeff Bozard. Stories Prom Ex-Slaves Page Z 4<~*4 M We had a big camp meeting sometimes at a log house dat was called 'Hannah's Church'. It was named for a nigger man of slavery time. He bought de land for de church when freedom come and give it v. to dem. Dis church is on de other side of Bush River, near Mr. Boulware's place. rf In old times we had plenty to eat dat we raised on de farm. We had gardens, too. We raised hogs and made our own flour. Vve never worked on Saturday afternoons and Sundays. On Christinas we got together and tried to have extra things to eat, and maybe a few drinks. ff In old times we had lots of corn-shuckings and log-roll- ings, De niggers all around would come and help, den we would git a feast of lamb or pig that was cooked while we was working. "Some old folks use to make medicines out of herbs. I f member nvj ma would take fever grass and boil it to tea and have us drink it to keep de fever away. She used branch elder twigs and dogwood berries for chills. Another way to stop chills from coming was to dip a string in turpentine, keep it tied around de waist and tie a knot in it every time you had a chili.. "Abraham Lincoln was a good man. Seems like all de niggers loved him lots. I don't know much about Jefferson Davis. Booker Washington was a good man. I 'member he was pace in Newberry and I heard him preach in de old courthouse. (?) W I joined de church when I was 12 years old. In dem days de old folks made chillun go to church when dey was 12 years old, and join den. Dat WQS de reason I joined. I was a Methodist but I joined de Baptist later, because, well, I saw dat was de right way." Source: Solomon Caldwell (73), Newberry, S.C. RPD Interviewer: G.L. Summer, Newberry, S.C. 12/7/3*. Project #1655 \T. W* Dixon, tfinnsboro, S. C* OQnOCO OCJU^Dc !'7& NELSON CAMERON EX-SLAVE 81 YEARS. Nelson Cameron and his wife, Mary, together with a widowed dau^iter, Rose, and her six children, live in a four-room frame house, two miles south of Woodward, S C*, about sixty yards east of US highway #21* He cultivates about eighty acres of land, on shares of the crop, for Mr* Brice, the land owner* He is a good, respectable, cheerful old darkey, and devoted to his wife and grandchildren* " Marse Wood, Ned Walker, a old Gaillard nigger says as how he was down here t'other day sellinf chickens, *4iere he got them chickens I*s not here for to say, and say you wanna see me* Ifs here befo1 you and pleads guilty to de charge dat Ifm old, can't work much any longer, and is poor and needy. * You sees derefs a window psne out of my britches seat end drainage holes in both my shoes, to let de sweat out when I walks to Bethel Church on Sunday* Whtrt can you and Mr* Roosevelt do for dis old Izrallite a passin* thru de wilderness on de way to de Promise Land? Lak to have a little manna and quail, befo1 I gits to de river Jordan* * My old marster name Sam Brice* His wife, my mistress, tho1 fair as de lily of de valley and cheeks as pink as de rose of Sharon, is called f Darkie#f Dat always seem a misfit to me* IAly or Rose or Daisy would have suited her much more better, wid her laces, frills, flounces, and ribbons* Her mighty good to de slaves* Take deir part fginst de marster sometime, when him want to whup than* Sometime I sit on de dour-steps and speculate in de moonlight whut de angels am like and everytime, my mistress is de picture dat come into dis old gray head of mine* You say you donft want poHry, 2. you wants facts? 99 Well* here de facts: My mammy name Clara* DonH forgit dat* I come back to her directly* My young mistress was Miss Maggie* Her marry Marse Robert Clowney; they call him fRed-head Bob*f Him have jet red hair* Him was f lected and went to de Legislature once* No go back; he say dere too much ding dong do~nuttin* foolishness down dere for him to leave home and stay fway from de wife and chillun half de winter months* 99 Marse Sam never have so pow9f ul many slaves* Seem lak dere was more women and chillun than men* In them days, pa tell me, a ishite man raise niggers just lak a man raise horses or cows* Have a whole lot of mares and 1 pen din1 on other man to have de stallion Fust thing you know dere would be a whole lot of colts kickinf up deir heels on de place* Lakwise a white man start out wid a few women folk slaves, soon him have a plantation full of little niggers runninf 'round in deir shirt-tails and a kickin9 up deir heels, whilst deir mammies was in de field a hoeing and geeing at de plow handles, workin* lak a man* Tou ketch de point? Well I9s one of them little niggers* Wy pa name Vender* Bin b9long to one of de big bugs, old Marse Gregg Cameron* Marse Gregg, him flow, always have more money and niggers than you could shake a stick at, more land than you could walk over in a day, and more cuss words than you could find in de dictionary* His bark was worser than his bite,tho9* Pa was de tan-yard man; he make leather and make de shoes for de plantation* After freedom date, de way he make a livin9 for mammy and us chillun was by makin9 boots and shoes and half soli** them for white folks at Black stock, S. C* / Marse Sam Brice mighty glad for mammy to contact sich a man to be de pappy of her chillun* 19 Us live in a log house wid a little porch in front and de mornin9 glory vines use to climb f bout it* When they bloom, de bees would come a 173 3. hummin* 'round and suck de honey out de blue bells on de vines I 'members dat well "nough, dat was a pleasant memory Is I told you ny mamnry name Clara? My brothers and sisters* who they? George dead, Calvin dead, Hattie (name for pafs young mistress) dead, Samson, who got his ear scald off in a pot of hot water, is dead,too* I*s existing still* I did mighty little work in slavery time 'Members not much fbout de Yankees* tf Freedom come, pa come straight as a martin to his gourd, to mammy and us pickaninnies They send us to school at Blackstock and us walk fourteen miles, and back, every day to school* At school I meets Mary Stroud, a gal comin* from de Gaillard quarter* Her eyes was lak twin stars* Her hair lak a swarm of bees* All my studyin1 books was changed to studyin1 how to git dat swarm of bees in a hive by myself* One day I walk home from school with her and git old Uncle Tom Walker to marry us, for de forty cents I saved up* Us happy ever since. Nex* year I work for Ben Calvin, a colored man on de Cockerell place, jinin* de Gaillard place* Us did dat to be near her pappy, Uncle Morris Stroud 11 All thru them end went f Carpet Bag* days my pappy stuck to de white folks, f long wid de Ku Kluxes* His young mistress, Miss Harriet Cameron, marry de Grand Titan of all de Holy invisible Roman Empire* Kim name was Col* Leroy McAfee* Pappy tell me all f bout it i%rse Col* McAfee come down from North Caflina, and see Marse Feaster Cameron at old Marse Gregg Cameron fs home and want Marse Feaster to take charge down in dis State* While on dat visit him fall in love wid Marse Feas's sister, Harriet, and marry her* You say Marse Tom Dixon dedicate a book to her, de Clansman? Well, well, welli To think of dat* Wish ray pappy could a knowed dat, de Sundays hefd take dat long walk to Concord Church to put flowers on her grave* They all lie dere in dat graveyard, Old Marse Gregg, Marse ^roy, Miss Harriet, and Marse Feas# De day they bury Marse Feas de whole county was dere and both $en and 174 75 women sob when de red earth rumbled on his coffin top* Pappy had me by de hand and cried lak a baby, wid de re3t of them, dat sad day* 11 Does you ^member de time in 1884, when my pappy made you a pair of boots for $10*00 and when you pay him, him knock off one dollar and you pay him nine dollars? You does? Well dat is fine, for I sure need dat dollar dis very day* ,f Does I fmember de day old Mar3e Gregg die? Course I does* It happen right here in Winnsboro* Him come down to f tend John Robinsonfs Circus* Him lak Scotch liquor; de tar smell, de taste, end de ffect, take him back to Scotland where him generate from* Them was bar-room days in winnsboro* De two hotels had bar-rooms, besides de other nine in town* Marse Gregg had just finished his drink of Scotch* De parade of de circus was passing de hotel where he was, and de steam piano come by a toot5.nf %rse Gregg jump up to go to de street to see it* When it pass, him say: *Itfe a damn humbug * and drop dead* M Project #1355 * * DixonB. Winnsboro, 390284 wwvuwr 0. THOMBLS AT ^^ CAMPBELL EX-SIAVE 82 YEARS OLD. t! Good mornin1 Marster Yfoodi Marster Donan IfcCants and Marster Wardlaw MoCants both been tellin1 me dat how you grants to see me but Ifs been so poorly and dovm at de heels, in my way of feelin1, dat I just ain!t of a mind or disposition to walk up dere to de town clock, where they say you want me to come* shade you from de sun. Take dis bench seat under de honey suckle vine* It sho* is hott It Ifs surprise dat you take de walk dovm here to see a onery old man lak zne "Yes sir, I was born, fcordinf to de writin1 in de Book, de 15th day of March, 1855, in de Horeb section of Fairfield District, a slave of olft Marster igohn Kennedy. mixed in ny mind* How it was, I don*t know* Things is a little Fust thing I ! members, and dreams 'bout sometimes yet, is bein1 in Charleston, standin1 on de battery, seein1 a big ocean of water, wid ships and their white sails all !bout, de waves leapin* and gleamin1 fbout de flanks of de ships in de bright sunshine, thousands of white birds flyin1 round and sometimes lighting on de water* % mammy, her name Chanie, was a holdin1 my hand and her other hand was on de handle of a baby carriage and in dat carriage was one of de Logan chillwu whether us Vlong to de Logans or whether us was just hired out to them Ifs unable to fmember dat* De slaves called him Iferster Tom* Us come back to Fairfield in my fust childhodd, to de Kennedy1s# "Marster John Kennedy raise more niggers than he have use forj sometime he sell them, sometime he hire them out* Him sell mamoy and me to Marster James B McCants and I been in de McCants family ever since, bless God I- IT M Marse James was a great lawyer in his day. and office boy* I WRB his house boy When I get older I take on, besides de blaokin1 of his boots and shoes and sweepin1 out de office, de position of carriage driver and sweepin1 out de church* was? iferster James was very 'ligious* Dat has never been revealed to me. Who my pa Thank Godl I never had one,if they was lak I see nigger chillun have today. % white folks was all de parents I had and me wid a skin as black as ink. % belly v/as always full of what they had and I never suffer for clothes on my bacfe or shoes on my feets# "Does I 'members de Yankees? Yes sir, I 'member whenihey o.ome# It was cold weather, February, naw dat I think of it# them days* Gh, de sights of They camp all 'round up at Mt. Zion College and stable their hosses in one of de rooms. They gallop here and yonder and burn de 'Pisco- pal Churoh on Sunday mornin'* A holy war they called it, but they and VJheeler's men was a holy terror to dis part of de world, as naked and hungry as they left it* I marry Savannah Parnell and of all our chillun dere is just one left, a daughter, Izetta* Her in Tampa, Blorida. "Does I 'members anything 'bout de Ku Klux? was always wid de white folks side of politics. me. Wo sir, nothin'. I They wasn't concerned 'bout larster James have no patience for dat kind of business anyhow. Him was a lawyer and believed in lettin' de law rule in de daylight and would have nothin' to do wid work dat have to have de cover of night and darkness* "Does I 'member 'bout de red shirts? wore one* Sure I does> De marster never Him get me a red shirt and I wore it in Hampton days# What I 178 recollect 'bout them cbimes? If you got time to listen, I fspect I can make anybody laugh fbout what happen right in dis town in red shirt days. You say you glad to listen? Well, here goes. One time in f76* de demo- crats have a big meetin1 in de court house in April. day. 'What they say or do up dere nobody know* Much talk last all Paper come out next week callin1 de radicals to meet in de court house fust ^nday in May* Glenn McCants, a lawyer, was one of old marsterfs sons. i/Jarster He tell me all 'bout it* n De day of de radical republican meetinT in de court house, Mars- ter Ed Ailen had a drug store, so him and ^trster Ozmond Buchanan fix up four quart bottles of de finest kind of liquor, wid croton-oil in every bottle* Just befo! de meetin1 was called to order, Marster Ed pass out dat liquor to de ring leader, tellin1 him to take it in de court house and when they want to *suade a nigger their way, take him in de side jury rooms and fsuade him wid a drink of fine liquor. When de meetin1 got under way, de chairman fpointed a doorkeeper to let nobody in and nobody out ftil de meetin1 was over widout de chairman say so* "They say things went along smooth for a while but directly dat croton-oil make a demand for ftention* De doorkeeper say to git out1 your seats I f Dere was a wild mash for de door* Stand back, you have to f dress e chairman to git permission Chairman rap his gavel and say; fWhiat!s de matter over dere? Parliment law leave de hall1* f Take quire you to * dress de ch&ir to git permission to One old nigger, Andy Stewart, a ring leader shouted: wid Parliment law, Ifs got to git out of here.* ! To hell Still de doorkeeper stood firm and faithful, as de boy on de totarMn' deck, as Marster Glenn lak to tell it* One bright milatta nigger* Jim Hobley, got out de tangle by movin1 to take a 3 * 4. 179 recess for ten minutes , but befo1 de motion could be carried otit de crotonoil had done its work. Half de convention have to put on clean clothes and de court house steps have to be cleaned befo1 they could walk up them again* You ask any old citizen *bout it* Buchanan* Him vri.ll 'member it* Ask old Doctor His brother, de judge, was de one dat help Mar star M Aiken to fix de croton-oil and whiskey* n Well, dat seem to make you laugh and well it might, 'cause dat day been now long ago; Sixty-oae years you say? How time gits along* Well* sixty-one years ago everybody laugh all day in Winnsboro, but Marster Ed never crack a smile, when them niggers run to Ms drug store and ask him for somethin* to ease their belly ache*" Code Ho* Project, 1SS5-U) Prepared by Annie Ruth Davis Place, Marion, 8.C. Date, October 5 1937 isV W6*6s~_ Reduced from. Rewritten by" Words Page 1. 390345 SYLVIA OANHOH, Sx-Slave, Age S5 Yes, mam, I been a little small girl in slavery time. I just can remember when I was sold* Me en Beoky en George. Just can remember dat, but I know who bought me. First be- long to de old Bill Gregg8 en dat who* Miss Earlte Hatohel bought me from. Never did know whe* Becky en George went. Yes,mam, de Bill Gregg8 had a heap of slaves cause dey had ay grandmammy en my granddaddy en dey had a heap of chillun. My mammy, she belong to de Gregg8 too. cook en I de one name after her. much to we chillun. She been Mr. Gregg e I remembers she dicta' talk Mostly, she did sing bout all de time. Most of de old people 'sing bouts '0 Heaven, sweet Heaven, When shall I see? If you get dere fore me, You tell my Lord I on de way. 0 shall I get dere? If you get dere fore I do, You tell my Lord I on de way. 0 Heaven* sweet Heaven, When shall I see? 0 when shall I get dere?1 Oh, dat be a old song what my grandmammy used to sing way back dere." 1801 Code Ho. Project, lg85-(l) Prepared by Annie Ruth Davis Place, Marlon, 8*0. Date, October 5> 1937 Ho* Words Reduced from. Rewritten by" words 181 age 2* I don1 know exactly how eld I is oause de peoples used to wouldn1 tell dey ehlllun how old dey was fore dey was grown. I just ain able to say bout my right age, but I know my sister was older den me en she de one keep count us ehlllun age* She told me I be bout &k or 85 years old, so my sister tell me* She done gone en left me en I try to keep count, but I don1 know* Dere been bout Ik head of we ehlllun en dey all gone but me* X de last one* I can tell you die much, I was just a little small girl when Mlse Sarlle Hatchel bought me en she wouldn1 let me hold de baby cause she was 'frald I would drop It* 1 I just set dere on de floor en set de baby tween my legs, but my Lord, Miss Hatchel been so good to me dat I stay on dere wld her & years after freedom come* Miss Hatchel tell me I better stay on dere whe* I can get flour bread to eat* Tee,mam, never got a whlppln In all my life* Ml88 Hatchel, she shake me by de shoulders once or twloe, but never didn' whip me In all my life dat I knows of* Dat de reason, when my parents come after me, I hide under de bed* My mammy, -she went In de name of Hatchel en all her ehlllun went In de name of Hatchel right down dere In de Sffinghas section." "Ho, honey, don* nobody be here wld me* Stays right here by myself* Digs In de garden In de day en comes In de house at night* Yes,mam, I thought dis house been belong to me, but dey tell me die here place be city property* Rich man up dere Code No* Project, lg 5-(l) Prepared by Annie Ruth Davis Place, Marion, 8*0* Date, ootober 5 1937 No. Words Reduced from Rewritten by words 182 Page 3. in Florence learn bout I was worth over $ 1500.00 en he tell me dat I ought to buy a house dat I was gettin old. had a nloe place he want to sell me. Say he I been learned dat what white folks tell me, I must settle down on it en I give him de money en tell him give me de place he say he had to sell me. I been trust white folks en he take my money en settle me down here on city property. He say, 'Horn Sylvia, you stay here long as you live cause you aln* gwine be here much longer.* I promise my God right den not to save no more money, child. People back dere didn* spend money like dey do dese days en dat how-come I had dat money. day en time. Dey would just spend money onoe a year in dat Tes,mam, I pay dat man over $ 900.00. Been payin on it long time en got it all paid but IS7.00 en city find out what dat man had done. Oity tell me just stay on right here, but don1 pay no more money out. me what I make I oan have. Dey give me dat garden en tell Courthouse man tell me dat I ought to drop my thanks to de Heavenly Father dat X is free. If de town pioks up any siok person, dey bring dem here en tell me do de best I oan for dem. Tell me to keep good order so de people won1 be shame to come en see bout me. dere join together. Qot two houses Dere be four rooms in dis front one en three in de other house. Woman go up north en leave her things here en tell me if she ain* come back, I oould have dem en she aln come back yet. Been gone two years*" Code No. Project, lg85-(l) Prepared by Annie Ruth Davis Place, Marion, S.O* Date, Ootober 5 1937 Ho* Words Reduced from Rewritten by words - UQ loo Page 4* "Yes,mam, I been married twioe* First husband die en den another sick man come along en ax de oity for me* I work on him en make teas for him, but he die in bout two years* I beg de town to let me go out to de poor farm en stay, but dey say I done pay too much to move* Tell me stay on here en keep de house up de best way I can. No'urn, I ain* able to do no kind of work much. den choppin my garden. No more Oan* hardly see nothin on a sunny day* I raise my own seed all right cause sometimes I oan1 see en find myself is cut up things en dat make me has to plant over another time* Oity tell me do like I was raise en so I been khoppin here bout 20 years." "Oh, now go way from here* My son born in de year of de earthquake en if he had lived, I would been bless wid plenty grandohillun dese days. Tee,mam, I remember all bout de shake* Dey tell me one man, Mr* Turner, give way his dog two or three days fore de earthquake oome en dat dog get loose en come back de night of de shake* Oome back wid chain tied round his neck en Mr* Turner been scared most to death, so dey tell me* He say, 'Oh, Mr* Devil, don1 put de chain on me, 1*11 go wid you. Dat was his dog oome back en he thought it was de devil oome dere to put de chain on him* Yes,mam, dere was such a cuttin up every which a way cause de people thought it was de Jedgment comin. I went a runnin dere to de white folks house en such a prayin en a holler in, I ain* never see de like fore den en ain* soe it since den neither* Dere was stirrln everywhe1 dat night Oode No. Project, lgS5-(l) Prepared by Annie Ruth Davis Place, Marion, S.O. Date, October 5, 1937 Ho* Words Reduced from. Rewritten by" de old ship of Zion. 184 Page 5* en de water in de well was just a slashin. like de rest of de people* words I tried to pray Some say dey was ready to get on I out loose from de white folks en went in de woods to pray en see a big snake en I ain* been back since. I know dat ain* been nothin but a omen en I quit off cut tin up. I know it ain9 been no need in me gwine on like dat oause I ain* never do no harms dat I knows of." "YeB,mam, white folks had to whip some of dey niggers in slavery time, dey be so mean* Hear tell bout some of dem would run away en go in de woods en perish to death dere fore dey would come out en take a whippln. Some was mean cause dey tell stories on one another en been swear to it. My mammy tell me don* never tell nothin but de truth en I won* get no whippin. I been raise up wid de white folks en I tell de truth, I can* hardly stand no colored people." "Oh, honey, dere won* no such thing as cotton mill, train, sawmill or nothin like dat in my day. People had to set dere at night en piok de seed out de cotton wid dey own hands. Dldn* hear tell bout no telephone nowhe* in dem days en people never live no oloser den three en four miles apart neither. Got old Kassa horn right in dat zoom dere now dat he oould talk on to people dat be 16 miles from whe* he was. en I'll let you see it. sliver money* Oome in here, child, See, die old horn been made out of You talks in dat little en On what you say runs out dat big end* Han az me didn* I want to sell it en I tell him I ala* got no mind to get rid of It oause It been belong to Ho. Words Reduced from Rewritten by Code No* Project, 1SS5-(1) Prepared by Annie Ruth Davis Place, Marion, 8*0. Date, October 5 1937 old Uassa. words ist Page 6. Den if I get siok, I oall on it en somebody come, fouldn* take nothin for it, honey*" "Times was sho better long time ago den dey be now. know it. Tee,mam, I here frettln myself to death after dem dat gone. time. I Colored people never had no debt to pay in slavery Never hear tell bout no colored people been put in jail fore freedom. Had more to eat en more to wear den en had good clothes all de time cause white folks furnish everything, everything. Dat is, had plenty to eat such as we had. Had plenty peas en rice en hog meat en rabbit en fish en such as dat. Colored people sho fare better in slavery time be dat de white folks had to look out for dem. Had dey extra crop what dey bad time off to work every Saturday. White folks tell dem what dey made, dey oould have. Peoples would have found we oolored people rich wid de money we made on de extra orop, if de slaves hadn' never been set free. Us had big rolls of money en den when de Yankees come en change de money, dat what made us poor. It let de white people down en let us down too. bout starve to death. huokleberry patoh. Left us all to Been force to go to de fish pond en de Land went down to $ 1.00 a acre. White people let us clear up new land en make us own money dat way. We bury it in de ground en dat how-come I had money. mine up one day en had over $ 1500*00 dat I been save. I dig Heap of peoples money down dere yet en dey don* know whe to find it." Oode Ho. Project, lgS5-(l) Prepared by Annie Ruth Davis Place, Marlon, 8.C. Date, Ootober 5, 1937 Source: Ho. lords Reduced from. Rewritten by" words 186 Page 7 Sylvia Gannon, age $5, ex-slave, Marion St., Florence, 8.0. Personal interview by Annie Ruth Davis, Ootober, 1937* Ho. .... Reduced frotff words Rewritten by Oode Ho. Projeot, 1885-(l) Prepared by Annie Euth Davis Place, Marion, 3.C. Bate, August 4, 1937 SYLYU GAMOH EK~Slave, age 85. Florence, S*C* 187 39029 0 "I lives here by myself cause my husband been dead three years* Moved here fore my ohillun went to de war* I go to work en buy die here home en get whe1 I can1 pay tax en people tell me not to move. Say, rent me bed en catch me a dollar, if it ain* a sin to rent your bed for a dollar* One of de big officers of de town tell me dat last week en he die next day. Government take my house en when dey carry sick peoples from de jail, dey bring em here fore dey die* It ain* but one night journey* gwine let dem be live enough to run away* Ainv Ain1 got no kin to leave de house to en dey tell me stay on here* Dey say I work so hard to get dis house dat dey ain1 gwine make me leave here." (Aunt Sylvia has a sign in her front yard* It seems she took the frame of a large picture and inserted a piece of pasteboard into it* She explained that this sign is a warning to evil doers not to molest her* must not come past this sign* somewhat illegibly written. make out these words: go pass* She says that they She words on the sign are She interviewers were able to "This is a house of the Lord* This is a house of the Lord Sign is dated March 1, 1937). Don't * " Code Ho. Projeot, 1885-(1) Prepared by Annie Ruth Davis Place, Marion, S.O. Sate, August 4, 1937 No, Words Reduced from_ Rewritten by" words 188 Page 2. "I don* know how old I is, but I remembers 1 was 8 years old when freedom come. I born down dere in de Sffingham section on Mr, Gregg plantation. My half-sister say I must always remember de Christmas day cause dat de day I was born. Father en mother belong to de old Bill Greggs en dat whe* Miss Earlie Hatchel buy me from. After dat, I didn1 never live wid my parents any more, but I went back to see dem every two weeks. Got a note en go on a Sunday evenin en come back to Miss Hatchel on Monday. Hatchel want a nurse en dat how -oome she buy me. Miss I remembers Miss Hatchel puttin de baby in my lap en tell me don' drop him. Didn1 have to do no work much in dem daya, but dey didn1 allow me to play none neither. When de baby sleep* I sweep de yard en work de garden en pick seed out de cotton to spin, lursed little while for Miss Hatchel en den get free." "I see em sell plenty colored peoples away in dem days cause dat de way white folks made heap of dey money. dey ain' never tell us how much dey sell em for. Goase Just stand em up on a block bout three feet high en a speculator bid em off just like dey was horses* never say DO thin George en Earl. neither. Bern what wa* bid off didn1 Don1 know who bought my brothers, (She cried after this statement). I see em sell some slaves twice fore I was sold en I see de slaves when dey be travelin like hogs to Darlington. Some of dem be women folks lookin like dey gwine to get down dey so heavy*n Code flo. Project, 1885-(1) Prepared by Annie Ruth Davis Place, Marion, S.C. Date, August 4, 1937 Ho. Words Reduced from_ Rewritten by" 189 Page 3. "We fare good in dat day en time. fare good* words Everybody round dere My Massa always was good to his slaves oause all de colored people say he was good man to us. me in all my life. Hej never whip Tell me if I don' know how to do anything to tell dem en dey show me how. I remembers Miss Hatohel caught en shook me one time en when I tell her husband, he tell her to keep his hands off his little Ni^erer. was good to me. Dey all When I start home to see my mamma, dey cry after me till I oome back. Many a time my Missus go work in de field en let me mind de chillun." "We live in de quarter bout - - mile from de white folks house in a one room pole house what was daubed wid dirt. Dere was bout 20 other colored people house dere in de quarter dat was close together en far apart too. De ground been us floor en us fireplace been down on de ground. lake sticks en make ohimney oause dere won1 no bricks en won' no saw mills to make lumber when I come along. house daubed wid dirt too. Oh, my white folks live in a pole Us just had some kind of homemade bedstead wid pine straw bed what to sleep on in dem days. oroaker saok together en stuff em wid pine straw. make dey mattress. en time neither. Sew Dat how dey Didn1 get much clothes to wear in dat day Man never wear no breeches in de summer. Go in his shirt tail dat oome down to de knees en a 'oman been glad enough to get one piece homeepun frock what was made wid dey hand* Make petticoat out of old dress en patch en patch till Cede No. Frojeot, 1886-(l) Prepared by Annie Ruth Davis Place, Marion, S.C. Date, August 4, 1937 couldn' tell which place weave. No. Words Reduced from_ Rewritten by" words 190 Page 4. Always put wash out on a Hen get Saturday night en dry it en put it back on Sunday. oak leaves en make a hat what to wear to church. We dldn' never have but one pair of shoes a year en dey was dese here brogans wid thick soles en brass toes. Had shop dere on de plantation whe1 white man made all de shoes en plows. Dey would save all de cowhide en soak it in salt two or three weeks to get de hair off it en dey have big trough hewed out whe* dey clean it after dey get de hair off it. After dat, it was turn to de man at de shop." *I remembers when night come on en we go back to de quarter, we cook bread in de ashes en pick seed from de ootton en my mamma set dere en sew heap of de time. have dem hay pullings. Den I see em when dey Dey tote torch to gather de hay by en after dey pull two or three stacks of hay, dey have a big supper en danoe in de road en beat sticks en blow cane. Had to strike fire on ootton wid two rocks cause dey didn* have no match in dem days." n I tellin you my Missus sho was good to me in dat day en time. She been so good to me dat I stay dere wid her 20 year after I got free. Gannon. Stay dere till I marry de old man Isenia You see my old Massa got killed in de war. She tell me I better stay whe1 I oan get flour bread to eat cause she make her own flour en bake plenty biscuit in de oven. Den she kill hogs en a cow every Christmas en give us all de dig- Code Ho* rojeot, 1885 (1) Prepared by Annie Ruth Bavis Plaoe, Marion, S.C. Bate, August 4, 1937 Ho. Words Reduced from Rewritten by l Pag 5. nog en li%uor we want dat day. roast cow over log fire. words Big hole in de ground en When I get hard up for meat en oouldn1 get nothin else 1 oatoh rabbits en birds. Make a death trap wid a lid en bait it wid oabbage en oorn en oatoh em dat way. Ben another time, I dig deep hole in de ground en dob it wid olay en fill it up wid water. Rabbits hunt water in de night en fall in dere en drown. I used to set traps heap of times to keep de rabbits from eatin up de people gardens. durin de war. Folks eat all kind Of things Bat honeysuckle off de low sweet bush after de flower falls off en pine mass dat dey get out de burr en sour weeds. Wouldn* nobody eat dem things dose days. Coase dey let de slaves have three acres of land to a family to plant for dey garden. Work dem in moonlight nights en on a Saturday evenin." n 0h, yes, dey have white overseers den. people say dey was good people. I hear some At night de overseer would walk out to see oould he oatoh any of us walkin widout a note en to dis day, I don1 want to go nowhe' widout a paper. It Just like dis, de overseer didn1 have to be right behind you to see dat you work in dem days. Bey have all de fields name en de overseer just had to oall on d horn en tell you what field to go work in dat day. Ben he come along on a Saturday evenin to see what you done. If you ain' do what he say do, he put de Mgger dog on you en he run you all night till he Ho. Words Reduced from_ Rewritten by" Code So. Project, 1885-(1) Prepared by Annie Ruth Davis Plaoe, Marion, 3.0. Date, August 4, 1957 find you. 192 Page 6. Bo matter whe1 you hide, he find you en hold you till de overseer get dere. you. words Bite you up if dey get reach of When de overseer oome, he carry you to de stables en whip you. He^ dat ain! never got no whipping, you oan' do no thin wid dem dese days.1' "I got Miss Hatchel horn bout here now dat been through nearly 100 head of people. If you talk on it, dere de 100 head of automobiles to see what it is. I sold old Maepa's sword last week for ten cents, but I ain' gwine do away wid his old horn. (4 ft. long, 15 in. cross big end 1 in. from top end. Kouth piece is gone. Oatch about 15 in. from top). Gan talk to anybody 15 to 16 miles away en dat how-come I don1 want to sell it cause if anything happen, I can call people to oome. phone. Dis horn ain' no tin, it silver. It de old time Got old kassa maul too en dis here Grandpa oxen bit dat was made at home." "De white folks didn1 never help none of we black people to read en write no time. D&Y learn de yellow ohillun, but if dey oatch we black ohillun wid a book, dey nearly bout kill us. Dey was sho better to dem yellow ohillun den de black ohillun dat be on de plantation, northern women come dere after de war, but dey didn1 let em teach nobody nothing' "I go to church wid my white folks, but dey never have no ohuroh like dey have dese days. De bush was dey shelter en when it rain, dey meet round from one house to another. Oode No. Project* 1885-(1) Prepared by Annie Ruth Davis Place, Marion, 3.0. Date, August 4, 1937 flo. Words Reduced from Rewritten by words 0 lyo Page 7. Ride to church in de ox cart cause I had to carry de baby everywhe* I go. White folks didn' have no horse den. De peoples sho been blessed wid more religion in dem days den dese days. Didn* never have to look up nothin den en if you tell a story, you get a whippin. to tell a story. low de peoples tell me I been oleanin up a lady poroh en she tell me to tell anybody what come dere dat she ain1 home. A lady come en ax for her en I tell her she say anybody oome here, tell em I ain' home. bedroom. If you don' believe she here, look in de Miss Willoox oome out dere en beat me in de back. I tell her don' read de Bible en tell me to tell a story. I ain1 gwine tell no story oause my white folks learnt me not to do dat* now. I knows people was better in dem times den dey is Dey teaoh you how you ought to treat your neighbor en never hear no bad stories nowhe1. Massa en Missus taught me to say a prayer dat go like di$: "De angels in Heaven love us, Bless mamma en bless papa, Bless our Missus, Bless de man dat feedin us, For Christ sake." "De peoples use herb medicines for dey cures in dem days dat dey get out de woods. I make a herb medioine dat good for anything out de roots of three herbs mix together. Oouldn* Oode So Project, 1886-(l) Prepared by Annie Ruth Davis Plaoe, Marion, S.C# Date, JLTiguet 4, 1937 Ho. Words Reduoed from Rewritten by words iQ4 Page 8. tell you how I make it oause dat would ruin me. Town people try to buy de remedy from me, but DT. MoLeod tell me not to sell it. Dey offer me $ 1600.00 for it, but I never take it n "You want my mind, my heart, de truth en I gwine tell you it just like I see it. Sinoe de oolored peoples got de law, dey get in all kind of devilment. Dat how-oome if I had to go baok, I would go baok to slavery en stay wid my white folks." Sourcet Sylvia Cannon, ex-slave, age 85* Florence. S.O, Personal interview by H. Grady Davis and Mrs, Luoile Young, and written up in question and answer form. Davis* Rewritten in story form by Annie Ruth ^ MINERAL SOH& Star In de east en star in de west, I wish de star was in my breast* Mother is home, sweet home, Mother is home, sweet home, Want to join de angel here* What a blessed home, sweet home, What a blessed home, sweet home, Want to join de angel here* (You oan sing bout father, brother, sister en all*) Sylvia Gannon, Ex-Slave, age 85, May 21, 1937, Florence, 3.G. 195 0. JUHSiiL "" 80HS Come ye dat love de Lord, En let your joys he known* Hark from de tomb, Bn hear my tender voioe. By de graoe of God I'll meet you On Canaan Happy Shore, Oh, mother, where will I meet you on Canaan Happy Shore? En by de graoe of God 1*11 meet you on Canaan Happy Shore* (Shaking hands, marching around grave* White en Colored marched from ohuroh to graveyard* Old people in de ox oart en young people walking* Didn' have oof fins like dey do now* oof fin en blaok it wid smut* nails* Build de Blacksmith make de Could see in de box*) Sylvia Gannon, Bx-Slave, age 85* May 81, 19S7, Florence, S*C. Code No. Project No. 1885- (l) Prepared h^Mrs Senevie^e Chandler No Words Reduced fromWords Rewritten by" Place, Murrells Inlet, S. C. Date, Match 25, 1937 Typed by M. C, N. Y. A# Page-- ! Q-A^^yX-fr^^'^ ^G ~ V (Verbatim conversation by Uncle Albert Carolina.); When asked about {the founding of Heaven1 s Gate colored Methodist r jchurchJRev. Albert Carolina answered: "In the beginning of Freedom they separate us from whites. 'Sixty one the war begun; Sixty four the war was o'er.1 "Rev. Zacharias Duncan wuz the man# church. Brother Henry Smith and Brother David Kidd and old man Jackson Heywood wuz the old ones built it* of them. He the one built Heaven Gate Some more been there. Old man Jim Beaty wuz one. Alls ton man. Can't think Can't remember no more. (That means he was a slave owned by the Allstons) He wuz TJncle Dave Kidd, he owned a tract of land in the Savannah. ''Brought us up in Sabbus (Sabbath) school. Sunrise prayer-meeting. the Three o'clock service again. Ten o'clock Sunday school. Leven o'clock/ service .again. /Eight at night service agpln. Raise us taughen (taught) in the church. time in they own house and have class meeting. Thf patrolls come dog. riding down th1 road. White pat-roller. was crawling). years since I start. Four plait whip. Ketch without pass, they whip me. Two big black Crawling. Bo-cart. (Crude home made baby walker.) Didn't done it. Saturday come, task time out! Driver 1 (I Datfs what Bout seventy seven Remember nother thing going on in them time. gin (give) the women a task. those people$ Driver come findfem, whipfem. But I walk then and walk every sincel they call it --'Bo-cart1 Steal off Slavery J&tusser Next day didn't done it. I tell yuh th1 truth, you could hear f MurderJ MurderV ^^^^^^^^^^A^Mt^^M^^M^^I^J^i^^M^^^^^^^^^' X&/M& k^ 'iii S'v^sfeife^lw^i^li^'&ti sm Code No* Project No. 1885- (l) Prepared by Mrs Gen&vieve W# Chandler Place, ?Murrells Inlet, S. C# Date, March 25, 1937 Typed by Vim C*, $ Y A# 11 Judge Kershaw was a fine man* Kj No Words Reduced fromjifords Rewritten by 198 Pige -----2 His boy William I and William born the same day* ,f We never has met th1 bed yet, without family get up without it* prayer -and never Didn't low them with a book in they hand* learn you at night if he like you* The Driver Try to out-wage (educate) you at night* Didn't have any school* "Mother's father Indian. my Grand-father? thf swamp. Hannah! Brighter than, who? JSho round here bright as Hair was long* Wouldn't stay out* Wouldn't stay home* Grand-mothe? wuz African* Lives in She had a little bowl make out of clay.11 Uncle Albert Carolina, age 87 (colored) Murrolls Inlet, S Cf March, 8th. 1937. (A description followed of how his grand-parents built a kiln of clay pots and baked them.) Project #-1655 Phoebe Faucette Hampton County Folklore SILVIA GHISOLM Ex-Slave 68 Years Old "Aunt Silvio", sitting out in the sunshine in the yard of a small negro cabin, on a warm day in January, seemed very old and feeble. Her answers to questions were rather short and she appeared to be preoccupied* W I been fifteen year old when de Yankee come-- fifteen de sixth of June* thing I saw tern burn down me Massa's home, an* every- I 'members dat* Ole man Joe Bos tick was me Massa* I knows de Missus an' de Hassa used to work us* seer to drive ust Work us till de Yankees cornel Bat how de buildin1 burnt come dey had to runl didn't find nojone in it, dey burnt poor white woman in It I Had de overWhen Yankee Atter dey Be Marshall house had a Dat why it didn't burn I Pine land place at Oarnett was burn* toe* dis un (one) back* An' My Massa's Dey never did build Atter dey come back, dey build delr house at de Pi-ialand place* "I wua mind in' de overseer's chillun* his name I An' his wife, Miss Carrie t when dey took me* Mr* Bee stinger was I been eight year old Took me from me mother an' father here on de *lpe Cpeek place down to Black Swamp* Went down fortytwo mile to de overseer I anymore* I never see my mother or my father Hot 'til atter freedom I I been married. An' when I come back den But when I move back her*, I stay right on dis Pipe Crook place from den on* * been right here all de time* "Atter I work for Mr. Beeetiager, I wait on Mr* Blunt. Project #-165& Phoebe Faucet to Hampton County Page - 2 You know Mr. ^lunt, ain't you? His place out dere now. "Mr. Bostlck was a good ole man. tend to his business - his sons. father was ole man Ben Bostlck. Missus Bostlck*s Mammy's church. He been deaf. His chillun He was a preacher. His De Pipe Creek Church was ole When de big church burn down by de Yankees, dey give de place to de colored folks. Dray ton was de first pastor de colored folks had. church, Canaan Baptist Church. Dey named de Start from a bush arbor. white folks church was paint white, inside an1 out. ceiled inside. Stephen De It was Dis church didn't have no gallery for de colored folks. Didn't make no graveyard at Pipe Creek. Swampt An' at Lawtonvllle I to Lawtonvllle to worship. Bury at Black De people leave dat church an' go Dey been worshipping at Lawtonvllle ever since before I could wake up to know. De Pipe Creek Church jes' stood dere, wid no service in it, 'til de Yankee burn it. De church at Lawtonvllle been a fine church. burn it I Didn,t Use it for a hospital durin* de war I "I'se 88 year old now an' can't remember so much. blind. Sources Blind in both eyelw Silvia Chisola, R. P. D. Sstlll, S. C. An* I'se 200 Project #1655 Stiles M Scruggs Columbia, S. C. 390408 201 AN EX-SL&VE TOO CLIMBED UP WITH WHITE FOLKS. Tom Chisolm, a sixty-two year old bricklayer, 11 Railroad Street, Columbia, S C#| is a son of Caesar Chisolm, who represented Colleton County in the South Carolina House of Representatives for ten years Caesar was one of the few lead- ing Negroes, who voted and spoke for the Democratic Party and was friendly to the leaders of white supremacy until he died in 1897* Tom relates the following story :- !l % daddy was born in slavery and he was always treated good by his master, de late Jimeson Chisolm, of Colleton County* He could read and figure up fmost anything, when he was set free, and he had notions of his own, too* mammy* For instance, he marry my She die soon after I was born, and daddy say to me: but you need not fear dat any other woman will ever boss you* wives*f f Son, your mammy is gone, Ifs through with And he never marry again* n I come to Columbia with him, when he serve in de Legislature* Ihen he tell de niggers and white folks, back in Colleton, dat he was not aimin1 to run for de Legislature no more, they was sad* One time I go 7*ith him to Smoakfs, "where Congressman George D* Tillman was to speak on one of his campaigns* I felt pretty big, when Con- gressman Tillman smile and grasp de hand of my daddy and say: few words for me befo1 I starts, eh, Chisolm?1 daddy* f I sho1 will, if you laks,' say my Soon he mount de platform, and befo1 he say a word, both de -white and de nig- gers clap deir hands and stamp deir feets and smile* f JYoufs goinf to say a Ladies and gentlemen: % daddy bow, smile, and say: We, us, and company sent George Tillman to ^congress long ago and knows "what he hai done* Now we1 s gwine to send him back, and I is a little in doubt as to whether he is gwine to take us to Washington, or bring Washington down 2. 202 here I1 He say, he jus1 git started* But de crowd was laughin1, dancin1, and huggin1 de Congressman, and daddy laugh and set dovm* "He introduce Master Duncan Clinch Heyward at Walterboro in 1902, when Master ileyward was making his first race for governor* He raise such laughter and pay so many witty compliments to Master Heyward, dat Governor Heyward, when he was flected, appoint my daddy to an office in Columbia, and we come to Columbia to live in 1903 in 1907* % daddy retire at de same time dat Governor Heyward quit office, He later wrote insurance on de lives of niggers, and he prosper* w ! Bout 1885, my daddy happen to be walkin1 near de corner of Gervais and Pulaski streets, and two niggers meet dere at de time and begin to quarrel* daddy stop and watch them awhile* One of them niggers kill de other, and some f Wasnft you time afterward a nigger lawyer come to see my daddy and ask him: dere?' 'I shof was,1 say ray daddy* back and say: ! Come on*1 My De nigger lawyer laugh and slap daddy on de Daddy come back in a few hours pretty tipsy* ! Dat law- yer spend a lot on me,! say daddy, fbut de fool never let me tell him jusT what I knows f WA day or two afterward he was in de witness box* How, Mister Chisolra, tell your tale in your own way*1 ant and de man, now dead, as they meet* harsh and cuss each other* Yes, yes, go oni1 Daddy say: Daddy stop, and de nigger lawyer fairly scream: 'That all I saw,1 say my daddy, 'cause I run to cover* way, when I hear de shootin11 * you off?1 I saw de defend- They glare at each other and begin to talk it to de next corner in nothin1 flat and pick up speed afterward. f ! ^hen, one strike at de other and they back fway and be- gin to reach in deir hind pockets*f f De nigger lawyer say: De nigger lawyer nearly faint* I made So I was two blocks He say: f Who bought Daddy say he would have told him at de start, if he1^ had de chance tf At another time, we was down on de 700 block of Wayne Street, at a nigger gathering We often spend days down dere collectin1 weekly insurawsa dues, and we 3. 203 knowed most of de people* Dere happen to be a young nigger dere, back from de 7,rest for a visit, and he was a great bragger* He was tellin* 'bout corn in Texas* 'Dere,1 he said, !corn grow twenty feet high, with stalks as big as the arm of John L. Sullivan, when he whupped Kilrain, and half a dozen big ears on each stalk*f De crowd was thunderstruck* u % daddy cleared his throat and say: f Dat am nothin1 in de way of corn.' One day 1 was walkin1 past a forty-acre patch of corn, on de Governor Heyward plantation by de Combahee River it# and de corn was so high and thick, I decide to ramble through ! Bout halfway over, I hears a commotion* I 'walks on and peeps* Dere stands a four-ox wagon backed up to de edge of de field, and two niggers was sawin1 down a stalk* Finally they drag it on de wagon and drive off*! or two, and asks fbout it* Se say: I seen one of them, in a day Me shelled 356 bushels of corn from dat one ear, and then we saw 800 feet of lumber from de cob*1 "Dat young man soon slip out from de crowd and has never been seen here since* I thinks daddy was outdone with me, !cause I was not quickwitted and smart, lak him* ^e tell me once: *You must learn two good trades, and I think carpenterin1 and brick- layin1 safest*f I done that, and I has never been sorry, !cause I's made a good livin1- Governor Heyward was always a good friend of daddy, and he was proud to see us makin good in de insurance business*11 Project 1885*1 FOLKLORE Spartanburg Dist.4 May 24, 1937 39006? wwwwc Edited by: Elmer Turnage 0r^ *U4 STORIES PROM EX-SLAVES "I was born near old Bush River Baptist Church, in, Newberry County, S.C. I was the slave of John Satterwhite. My mother lived with them. I was a small girl when the war was on. My brother went to war with Marse Satterwhite. When de Eu Klux and paddrollers traveled around in that section, they made Mr. Satterwhite hold the niggers when they was whipped, but he most all the time let them loose, exclaiming, 'they got loose' he did not want many of them whipped. "My mother had a kitchen way off from the house, wid a wide fireplace where she cooked victuals. There was holes in back of de chimney with iron rods sticking out of them to hold de pans, pots, kettles or boilers. "People there did not believe much in ghosts. They were not much superstitious, but one time some of the negroes thought they heard the benches in'Bush River Baptist Church turn over when nobody was in the church. "Negroes most always shouted at their religious meetings. Before de negroes had their own church meetings, the slaves went to the white folks* Bush River Baptist church and set up in the gallery. I moved to Newberry when I was young, after I got married," Source: Maria Cleland, Newberry, S.C. (80 years old). Interviewer; G.L. Summer, Neuberry, S.C. (5/17/37) Project #L655 W.W.Dixon 39029S Winnsboro, S* C* O0K /< vKJ PETER CLIFTON EX-SLAVE 89 YEARS OLD. "You want me to start wid my fust memory and touch de high spots f Datf 11 take a long time but I glad to find someone til dis very day? to tell dat to 3 I is 1 I f members when I was a boy, drivin1 de calves to de pasture* a highland moccasin snake rise up in de path* forked tongue and them bright eyes right now* move out my tracks* I so scared I couldn't De mercy of de Lord cover me wid His wings* snake uncoil, drop his head, and silently crawl away* ger s Mobley place I dee dat Dat Dat v/as on de Big- f tween Kershaw and Camden, where I was born, in 1848* ft % pappy name Uedj my mammy name Jane* Tom, Lizzie, Mary, and Gill. % brudders and sisters was Us live in a log house wid a plank floor and a wooden chimney, dat was always ketchin' afire and de wind comin1 through and fillin' de room wid smoke and cinders* just lak it, dat made up de quarters* Us had peg beds for de old folks and just pallets on de floor for de chillun* but de pillows on de bed was cotton* It was just one of many others, MaWesses was made of wheat straw I does f member dat mammy had a chicken feather pillow she made from de feathers she saved at de kitchen* 11 % grandpappy name Warren and grandmammy name Maria* place was: De rule on de f Wake up de slaves at daylight, begin work when they can see, and quit work when they can't see1* But they was careful of de rule dat say: You mustn't work a child, under twelve years old, in de field1 11 % master's fust wife, I heard him say, was Mistress Gilmore* two chillun by her* Dere was Master Ed, dat live in a palace dat last time I visit Rock Hill and go to 'member myself to himi then dere was Miss Mary dat marry aotf her cousin, Dr. Jim Mobley. They had one child. Captain Fred, dat took de Catawba rifles to Cuba and whip Spain for blowin* up de Maine say you rather I talk fbout old master and de high spots? You Well, Master Biggers had a big plantation and a big mansion four miles southeast of Chester He buy my mammy and her chillun in front of de court ho#se door in Chester, at de sale of de Clifton Estate. Then he turn 'round and buy my pappy dere, 'cause my mamrny and sister Lizzie was cryin1 him have to leave them. Mind you I wasn't born then. f bout Marster Biggers was a widower tr.en and went down and courted de widow Gibson, who had a plantation and fifty slaves 'tween Kershaw and Camden* Dere is where I was born. "Marster had one child, a boy, by my mistress, Miss Sallie. him Black George. Him live ltog enough to marry a angel, Miss Kate ItoCrorey. They had four chillunt come on# They call Dere got to be ninety slaves on de place befo' war One time I go wid pappy to de Chester place. dere than on de Gibson place* Seem lak more slaves Us was fed up to de neck all de time, though us never had a change of clothes. Us smell pretty rancid maybe, in de winter time, but in de summer us no wear very muck,.' Girls had a slip on and de boys happy in their shirt tails. "Kept fox hounds on both places. dog. What I like best to eat? and yallow sweet 'taters. Old Butler was de squirrel and 'possum Marster dere is nothin' betters than 'possum Right now, I wouldn't turn dat down for pound cake and Delaware grape wine, lak my mistress use to eat and sip while she watch ny mammy and old Aunt Tilda run de sptinnin' wheels. M De overseer on de place was name Mr. Mike Melton. but him come from good folks, not poor white trash. No sir, he poor man But they was cussed by marster# when after de war they took up wid de 'publican party. Sad day for 207 old marster when him didnft hold his mouth, but I'll get to dat later "Marster Biggers believe in whippin1 and workin1 his slaves long and hard; then a man was scared all de time of being sold away from his wife and chillun* His bark was worse then his bite thof, for I never knowed him to do a wicked thin& lak dat. "How long was they whipped? Well, they put de foots in a stock and clamp them together, then they have a cross-piece go right across de breast high as de shoulder* to it at each end* Dat cross-piece long enough to bind de hands of a slave They always strip them naked and some time they lay on de lashes wid a whip, a switch or a strap* ivio sir* Does I believe dat was a great sin? Our race was just lak school chillun is now# De marster had to put de fear of God in them sometime, somehow, and de Bible don*t object to it* 11 1 see marster buy a many a slave* I never saw him sell but one and he sold dat one to a drover for $450*00, cafah down on de table, and he did dat at de request of de overseer and de mistress* "They gi^e us Christmas Day* her hair* Every woman got a handkerchief to tie up Every girl got a ribbon, every boy a barlow kaife, and every man a shin plaster* place* They was uneasy fbout him. De neighbors call de place, de shin plaster, Barlow, Bandanna Us always have a dance in de 6hristmas* "After freedom when us was told us had to have names, pappy say he love his old Marster Ben Clifton de best and him took dat titlement, and Ifs been a Clifton ever since* "Go way, white folksl Vttiat everthing mate for? De birds, de corn tassle and de silk, man and woman, white folks and colored folks mates* what for I seek out Christina for to marry* You ask me Dere was sumpin1 *bout dat gal, dat day I meets her, though her hair had fbout a pound of cotton thread in it# 208 dat just Hracted me to her laic a fly will sail 'round and light on a 1 lasses pitcher I kept de Ashford ferry road hot *til I got her* had to ask her old folks for her befo* she consents months* Everything had to be regular* Dis took I f bout six At last I got de preacher, Rev* Ray Shelby to go down dere and marry us Her have been a blessin1 to me every day since "Us have seven chillun* south* They*s scattered east, west, north, and De only one left is just David, our baby, and him is a baby six fott high and fifty-one years old* "Yes sir, us had a bold, drivin1, pushin*, marster but not a hardhearted one* I sorry when military come and arrest him* him try to carry on wid free labor, was in military district no* 2* government* It was dis a way, f bout lak him did in slavery* Chester De whole state was under dat military O^d marster went to de field and cuss a nigger woman for de way she was workin1, choppin1 cotton* ed him fbout de head wid it* She turnt on him wid de hoe and gash- Him pull out his pistol and shot her* Babcock say de wound in de woman not serious* Dr* They wwore out a warrant for Marster Biggers , arrest him wid a squad, and take him to Charleston, where him had nigger jailors, and was kicked and cuffed fbout lak a dog* They say de only thing he had to aat was corn-meal-mush brought f round to him and other nice white folks in a tub and it was ladeled out to them thru de iron railin1 into de palms of dere hands* dere* Mistress stuck by him, went and stayed down The filthy prison and hard treatments broke him down, and when he did get out and come home, him passed over de river of Jordan, where I hopes and prays his soul finds rest* Mistress say one time they threatened her down dere, dat if she didnH get up #10,000 they wopld send him where whe would 209 never see him again* "Well, I must be goin' Some day when de crops is laid by and us get de bole wevil whipped off de field, I111 get David to bring me and dat gal, Christina, you so curious fbout, to Winnsboro to see you. Qh, how her gonna laugh and shake her sides when I get home and tell her all fbout whats down on dat paper! Washington? You say it's to be sent to Wiyit de President and his wife will be tickled at some of them things* Ifs sure they will* Dat111 make Christina have a great excitement when I tell her we is to be talked fbout way up dere* I fspect it will keep her wake and she'll be hunchin' me and asking me all thru de night, what I give in# 11 Oh, well, Ifs thankful for dis hour in which I's been brought very near to de days of de long long ago* maybe I won't* enough for me*tt Maybe I'll get a pension and Just so de Lord and de President take notice of us, is Project 1885-1 from field Notes, Spartanburg, Dist. 4 April 29, 1937 oertrt'S* OauUOb Edited by: Elmer Turnage 0>l/1 XU FOLK LORE: FOLK TALES (Negro) W I wuz born in Fairfield, dat is over yonder across Broad River, you knos what dat is, don't you? Yes sir, it wuz on Marse Johnson D. Coleman's plantation. And he had a plantation* Dese niggers here in Carlisle^ and niggers is all dey is tbo dey don't know what no plantation^is. When I got big enough fer to step around, from de very fus, my maw took me in de big house. It still dat, cep it done bout fell down/now, to what it wuz then. But some of Marse1s folks, dey libs down Jar still. Den you see, dey is like dese white folks up 'round here now. Dey ain't got no big money like dey had when I wuz a runnin* up. Time I got big enough fer to run aroun' in my shirt tail, my maw, she lowed one night to my paw, when he wuz sett in by de fire, dat black little nigger over dar, he got to git hissef some pants kaise I'se gwine to put him up over de white fokes table. In dem ti es de doos and winders, dey nebber had no screen wire up to dem like dey is now, Fokes didn't know nothin bout no such as dat den. My Marster and all de other big white fokes, dey raised pea gouls. Is yu ebber seed any? Well, ev'y spring us little niggers, we coch dem wild things at night. Dey could fly like a buzzard. Dey roosted up in de pine trees, right up in de tip top. So de Missus, she hab us young uns clam up dar and git 'em when dey si?) first took roost. Up would clam down and my maw, she would pull de long feathers out'n de tails. Fer weeks de cocks, dey wouldn't let nobody see 'em if dey could help it. Dem birds is sho proud. When dey is got de feathers,j(dey jus struts on de fences, and de fences wuz rail in dem days. If n dey could see dereself in a puddle o' POLK LORE:foik Tales Page 3 211 water after a rain, dey would stay dar all day a struttin' and carring on like nobody's business. Yes sir, dem wu* purty birds. After us got de feathers, de Missus, she'ud low dat all de nigger gals' gwine to come down in de wash house and make fly brushes. Sometime de Missus'ud gib some of de gals some short feathers to ppt in dere Sunday hats. When dem gals sot dem hats on^ I used to git so disgusted wid 'em I'd leave em at church and walk home by my sef. Anyway, by dat time all de new fly brushes wuz made and de Missus, she hab fans make from de short feathers for de white fokes to fan de air wid on hot days. Lawdy, I'se strayed fur from what I had started out fer to tell you. But I knowed dat fcou young fokes didn't know nothin' bout all dat. In dem days de dining room wuz big and had de windows open all de sunnier long, and all de doos stayed streched too. quick as de mess of Victuals began to come on de table, a little nigger boy was put up in de swing, I calls it, over de table to fan de flies and gnats off'en de Missus' victuals. Sis swing wuz just off'n de end of de ibogg tal>le. Some of de white fokes had steps a leadin' up to it. Some of 'em jus had de little boys maws to fech de young'uns up dar till dey got fru; den dey wuz fetched down again. "Well, when I got my pants, my maw fetched me in and I dumb up de steps dat Marse Johnson had,to git up in his swing wid. At fus, dey had to show me jus how to hole ^e brush, kaise dem peacock feathers wuz so long, iffen fcou didn't mind your bizness, de ends of dem feathers would splash in de gravy er sumpin nother, and den de Missus table be all spattered up. Some o! de ffiarsters would whorp de nigger chilluns fer dat carelessness, but Marse Johnson, he always good to his niggers. Mos de white fokes good to de niggers round bout whar I comes from. polk Lore; Polk Tales Page 3 O-l* "It twad'nt long for I got used to it and I nebber did splash de feathers in no rations. But gffen I got used to it, I took to agoin to sleep up thar. Marse Johnson, hn would jus git. up and wake me up. All de white fokes at de table joke me so bout bein' so lazy, I soon stop dat foolishness. My maw, she roll her eyes at me when I come down atter de marster had to wake me up. Dat change like ever thing else. When I got bigger, I got to be house boy. Dey took down de swing and got a little gal to stand jus 'hind de Missus1 chair and fan dem flies.-De Missus low to Marse Johnson dat de style done change when he want to i:now how come she took de swing down. So dat is de way it is now wid de wimmen, dey changes de whole house wid de style; but I tells my chilluns, ain't no days like de ole days when I wuz a shaver, "Atter de war, I come up to SheIton and got to de *P Hamilton pjace. I wuz grown den. I seed a young girl dar what dey called 'Efvie'. Her paw, he had b'longed to de Chicks, so dats who she wuz, Bvvie Chick. Dar she sets in dat room by de fire. Now us got 'leven chilluns. Dey is scattered all about. Dey is good to us in our ole age. Us riz 'em to obey de Lawd and mine us. Dats all dey knows, and iffen fokes would do dat now, dey wouldn't have no sassy chilluns like I sees here in Carlisle. "EvvAe, what year wuz it we got married? Yes, dat's right. It wuz de year of de 'shake'. Is you heerd bout de 'shake'? Come out here Ewie and les tell him dat, kaise dese young fokes doan know nothin'. It wuz dark, and we wua eat in' supper, when sumpin started to makin' de dishes fall out'n de cupboard. At fus we thought it wuz somebody a Auiapin* up and down on de flo. folk Lore; Polk Tales Page 4 21.3 Den we knowed dat it wuz sumpin else er makin' dem dishes fall out of de cupboard. At fus we thought it wuz Judgement day, kaise ev'ry thing started fallin' worser and worser. De dishes fell so fast you couldn't pick'em up. Some of us went down to de spring. De white fokes, dey come along wid us and dey male us fetch things from de big house, like fine china dat de Missus didn't want to git broke up. She tole us dat it wuz er earthquake and it wasn't no day o' Judgement. Anyway, we lowed de white fokes might be wrong, so us niggers started to a prayin', and den all de niggers on de plantation dat heerd us, well de come along and jined wid us in de paayin' and singin'. Us wuz all a shakin' mos as bad as de earth wuz, kaise dat wuz a awful time dat we libbed through fer bout twenty minutes de white fokes lowed it lasted only ten, but I ain't sho about dat. When we got back to de big house, de cupboard in de kitchen had done fell plum' down. In de nigger houses, de chimneys mos all fell in, and de chicken houses ev'rywhar wuz shuck down. While we wuz a lookin' aroun, and de wimmen fokes, dey wuz a takin' on mightily, another shake come up. Us all took Hex de spring agin; dis one lasted bout long as de first one. Us prayed and sung and shouted dis time. It sho stopped de earth a shakin' and a quiverin' some, kaise dat thing went on fer a whole week; ceptin de furs tw wuz de heaviest. All de other ones wuz lighter. Iffen it hadn't been fur us all a beggin' de Lawd fer to "shoe us his mercfc, it ain't no tellin' how bad dem shakes would er been. Miss Becky Levister, you knoi her, she live up yander in your uncle John's house now, she wua wid us. She wuz jus a little girl den. Her paw wuz Mr, Kelly || He died for ever you wuz^born. Not long ago I seed her. Folk Lore: Polk Tales page 5 i4l She lowed to me, uncle Henry, do you recollect/in) de time o' de shake? Lacken she think I'd fergit such as dat. It wuz injele time o' de worsest things dis ole nigger is ebber seed hisself, and I is, gwine on 82 now. Miss Becky, she wuz a sett in' in her dar wid some one drivin' her, but she ain't fergot dis ole nigger. If I is up town and Miss Becky, she ride by, she look out and lows' 'Howdy uncle Henry', and I allus looks up and raises my hat. I likes mannerable white fokes, mysef, and den, I likes mannerable niggers fer as dat goes. Some of dese fokes, now both whkfee I hates to say it and niggers, dey trys to act like dey ain't got no sense er sumpin'. But you know one thing I knos real fokes when I sees dem and dey can't fool me. ' Aunt Evvie tells the following story about her father, Rufus Chick. The story is known by all of the reliable white folks of the surrounding neighborhood also: "MY paw, Rufus Chick, lived on the Union side of Broad River, the latter g yS> of his litm. Ma,). Sames B. Steadman had goats over on Henderson Island that my paw \ used to care for. He went over to the Island in a batteau. One afternoon, he and four other darkies were going over there when the batteau turned over. The four other men caught to a willow bush and were rescued. My paw could not swim, and he got drowned. lor three weeks they searched for his body, but they never did find it. Some years after, a body of a darky was found at the mouth of the canal, dwwn near Columbia. The body was perfectly petrified. This was my paw's body. The canal authorities sent the body to a museum in Detroit. It was January 11, 1877 when my father got drowned. -r- Folk Lore: Folk Tales Page 6 SiSf "When I wuz a young fellow I used to race wid de horses. I | Wuz de swifes runner on de plantation. A nigger, Peter leaster, had | a white horse of his own, and de white fokes used to bet amongst de j j selves as much as $20.00 dat I could outrun dat horse, De way us 1 did, wuz to run a hundred yards one wayf turn aroumd and den run back de hundred yards. Somebody would hold de horse, and another man would pop de whip fer us to start, iuick as de whip poped, I wuz off. I would git sometimes ten feet ahead of de horse fore dey could git him started. Den when I had got de hundred yards, I could turn around quicker dan de horse would, and I would git a little mo' ahead. Corse wid dat, you had to be a swift man on yer feets to stay head of a fas horse. Peter used to git so mad when I would beat his ole horse, and den all de n&ggers would laf at him kaise de white fokes give me some of de bettin money. Sometimes dey would bet only .$10.00, sometimes, #15or #20. Den I would race wid de white fokes horses too. Dey nebber got mad when I come out ahead. After I got through, my legs usea to jus shake like a leaf. So now, I is gib plum out in dem and I tributes it to dat. Evvie, she lowed when I used to do dat after we wuz married, dat I wuz gwine to give out in my legs, and sho nuf I is." "Uncle* Henry says that his legs have given out in the bone. SOHROE} Henry Coleman and his wife, Evvie, of Cailisle, s.C. Interviewer: Caldwell Sims, Union, S.C. yii^-^^&i Project 1885 0ia District #4 Spartanburg* S.C. May 31, 1937 ^Qninn OOU1UU ^p FOLK-LORE: EX-SLAVES tt I was born about 1857 and my wife about M 1859. I lived on Squire Keller's farmf near the Parr place, and after the squire died I belonged to Mrs. Elizabeth (Wright) Keller My mother died when I was a boy and my father was bought and carried to Alabama. My father was Gilliam Coleman and my mother, Bmoline Wright* My master and mistress was good to me. The old Squire was as fine a man as ever lived on earth. took me in his home and took care of me. He After the war the mistress stayed on the place and worked the slaves right on, giving thaza wages or shares. f1 The slaves were not whipped much; I f member one man was whipped pretty bad on Maj. Kinardfs place. He had a colored man to do whipping for him - his name was Eph. There was no whiskey on the place, never made any. Us did cook- ing in the kitchen wid wide fireplaces. f *When the Yankees came through at the end of the war, they took all the stock we had. The mistress had a fine horse, its tail touching the ground, and we all cried *hen it was taken; but we got it back, as some men went after it* tf I married in 1874 to Ellen T. Williams. She belonged to Bill Reagan. After I married I worked in the railroad shops at "Helena1, and sometimes I fired the engine on the road, for about eight years. Then 1 went into the ministry. "2" . 17 I was called by the Spirit of the Lord, gradually, and I preached 51 years. I have been superannuated two years* t! I have one child, a.son, who is in the pullman service at Washington, D. C. f, I owned my little house and several acres and em still living on it," SOURCE: Rev* Tuff Coleman and wife (80 and 78), Newberry, S.C. Interviewer: G# Leland Sunsner, Newberry, S. C* Gode Ho* Project, 1886-(l) prepared by Annie Ruth Davis Place, Marion, S.C. No* Reduced from Rewritten by Date, May 27, 1937 Page 1. words 218 MOM LOUISA COLLIER Ex^Slave, 78 years 390095 "I born en raise up dere in Colonel Durant yard en I in my 78th year now. Dat seem lak I ole, don1 it? Colonel Durant hab plenty udder Coaae colored peoples 'sides us, but dey ne'er lib dere in de yard lak we. in de quarters on de plantation. Dey lib up My pappy name Ben Thompson en he hadder stay dere close to de big house oause he was de Colonel driver. ride in den. De Colonel hab uh big ole carriage wha1 to It hab uh little seat in de front fa my pappy to set in en den it hab two seat 'hind de driver whey de Colonel en he family is ride. I kin see dat carriage jes uz good right now dat my white folks hab to carry em whey dey is wanna go." "Den my mammy come from de udder side uv Pee Dee en she name, Lidia BASS. She was de servant 'round de yard dere en dat count fa we to ne'er stay in de quarters wid de udder colored peoples 'fore freedom declare. I ne'er hadder do no work long uz I lib dere in de yard oause I ain' been but five year ole when freedom declare. My grandmammy lib right dere close us en Colonel Durant hab she jes to look a'ter aw de plantation ohillun when dey parents waz workin1. Aw uv de plantation peoplesfud take dey ohillun dere fa my grandmammy to nu'se." Ho. Words_ Reduced from_ Rewritten by" Code No. Project, 1885-(1) Prepared by Annie Ruth Davis Plaoe, Marion, S.C. Date, May 87, 1937 i-v words Page 2. 119 M I 'member one day dere oome uh orowd uv peoples dere dat dey tell us ohillun waz de Yankees. Dey oome right dere t'rough de Colonel yard en when I see em, I waz 'fraid uv em. I ran en hide under my grandmammy bed. Don' know wha1 dey say cause I ain' ge' olose 'nough to hear nuthln wha' dey talk 'bout. De white folks hadder herry (hurry) en put t'ings in pots en bury em or hide em somewhey when dey hear dat de Yankees was oomin' cause dey scare dem dey Yankees might take dey t'ings lak/is carry 'way udder folks A t'ings* I hear em say dey ne'er take nuthin from de Colonel but some uv he wood." "My white folks was well-off peoples en dey ain' ne'er use no harsh treatment on dey plantation peoples. De Colonel own aw dis land 'bout here den en he see dat he overseer on de plantation provide plenty uv eve't'ing us need aw de time. I hear tell 'bout some uv de white folks'ud beat dey colored peoples moa' to death, but I ain* ne'er see none uv dat no whey* I ia ' member when dey'ud sell some uv de colored peoples way offen to annuder plantation some whey. bid em offen jes lak dey waz cattle* Jes been Some uv de time dey'ud sell uh man wife vway en den lie hadder ge* annuder wife." "A'ter freedom declare, we ne'er lib dere at de big house no more. Move in de colored settlement en den we ain1 eat at de big house no more neither. Dey le' us nab uh garden uv we Code Bo* project, 1886-(1) Prepared by Annie Rath Davis Plaoe, Marion, S.O. Date, May 27, 1937 Ho* Words Reduced from_ Rewritten by" words r^f^x i Page 3. own den en raise us own ohioken en aw dat. I 'member de Colonel gi*e us so muoha t'ing eve'y week en it nadder las1 us from one Saturday to de next* My mammy'ad go to de Oolonel barn eve'y week en ge l she portion uv meal en meat. Dat de way dey pay de hand fa dey work den. He'er gife em no money den." "Peoples wha' lib on Colonel Durant plantation ain' know mi thin but to lib on de fat uv de land. Dey hab plenty oowa den en dey gi'e us plenty uv milk eve'y day. 1 'member we ehillun use'er take we tin cup en go up to de big house en ge* us milk to drink en den some uv de oows'ud be so gentle lak dat we ohillun is follow em right down side de path. Den when dere ne'er wuz nobody lak de Colonel overseer 'bout to see us, we is ketch de cow en ge' some more milk. I al'ays'ud lub to drink me milk dat way. We is eat plenty green peas en 'tatoes en fish in dem days pie too en dey is use 'tatoe/right smart den-" "Aw de oolored peoples on Colonel Durant plantation hab good bed wha' to sleep on en good olothes to put on dey back. Coase we ne'er hab no bought fu'niture in dem days, but we hab bedstead wha' dey make right dere en benches en some uv de time dey is make wha* dey oall 'way back chair. Den we is make us own bed outer hay cause de white folks ne'er spare de oolored peoples no ootton den. Hadder out de hay Oode No. Project, 1885-(1) prepared by Annie Kuth Davis Place, Marion, S.C. Date, May 7, 1937 No. Words Reduced from_ Rewritten by" words Page 4* in de fall uv de year en dry it jes lak dey dries it fa to feed de oattie on. Den dey hadder take sack en sew em up togedder en put de hay in dese. smart in dem days. Dey sleep right Don" muoha people sleep on straw bed dese day en time en dey don1 dress lak dey use'er neither. I 'member de long dress dey is wear den. Hadder hold em up when dey walk so dey won' tetoh de floor 'bout em. some uv dem is wear wha' dey oall leggens. Dey'ud gather em 'round de knee en le' em show "bout de ankle. pretty, dat dey wuz. Den Dey wuz De white folks'ud make de plantation clothes outer oalioo en jeanes cloth en dat time. cloth be wha' dey make de boy clothes outer. De jeanes Dey is weave aw dey cloth right dere on de plantation en den dey use'er dye de thread en weave aw sorta check outer de different color thread. Wha' dey make de dye outer? Dey ge' bark it outer de woods en boil de oolor outer/en den dey boil de thread in dat* Dat how dey is make dey dye* peoples hab no hat lak dey hab now neither. ne'er see de Aw de colored peoples wear wha' dey oall shuck hat den cause dey been make outer Bhuok* Dat aw de kinder hat we is hab." "Peoples us e'er ge' aw kinder useful t'ing outer de woods in dem days 'way back dere. den. le'er hadder buy no me'ioine tall Ain' ne'er been no better cough cure no whey den de one my ole mammy use'er make fa we ohillun. She larnt 'bout how it Oode Uo. Project, 1886-(l) Prepared by Annie Rath Davis Place, Marion, S.C. Date, May B7, 1937 Ho. Words Reduced from_ Rewritten by words Page 6. made when she stay 'round de Missus en dat how come I know wha' in it. Jes hadder go in de woods en ge' some cherry, call dat wild cherry, en cut some uv de wild cherry bark fust (first) t'ing. A'ter dat yuh hadder find some uv dese long-leaf pine en ge' de bud outer dat. Den yuh hadder go to whey dere some sweet gum grow en g 1 de top outer dem en ge* some mullen to put wid it. Ain' ne'er no cough stand aw dat mix up togedder in no day en time. Dey gi'e dat to de peoples fa dat t'ing wha' dey use'er call de grip cough. Den dey use'er make uh t'ing dat dey oall "bone set" tea. I forge1 how dey make it but dey gi'e it to de peoples when dey hab de fevers. It been so bitter dat it'ud lift yah up 'fore yuh is ge* it aw down de t'roat. Ain' see no fever me'icine lak dat nowadays." "Yas'um, I 'members when dey hab plenty uv dem cornshucking to one annuder barn. de plantation ' bout dere. dat dey wiiz. De peoples'ud come from aw Dem oornshuokings waz big times, Gi'e eve'tody aw de "hopping-John" dey kin eat. Jes cook it aw in uh big pot dere in de yard to de big house. Ain' nathin ne'er eat no better den dat "hopping-John" is eat." "Den de peoples use'er come from aw de plantation 'bout en hab big dancing dere. Dat when I lub to be 'bout. Dey hab uh big fire build up outer in de yard en dat wha' dey danoe 'round 'bout. Oall dat uh torch fire. Dey'ud hab fiddle en dey dance wha' dey oall de reel danoe den. I 'member I use'er Code No. Project, 1885-(l) Prepared by Annie Ruth Davis Place, Marion, S.C. Date, May 87, 1937 Ho. Words Reduced from Rewritten by _ Page 6. words lub to watch dey feet when dat fiddle*ud ge' to playing. 1 jes crawl right down on me knees dere whey I'ud see dey feet jes uh going." "I ne'er hab mucha schooling 'fore freedom declare ause I been raise up on de plantation. Dis child (her daughter) pappy was* de house boy to de big house en he ge* more schooling den I is. en write she self. De Missus larnt he how to read A1ter freedom declare, I go to school to uh white man up dere to de ole Academy en den I Is go to annuder school down dere to uh blacksmith shop. to uh white man dere too. I go Ne'er hab no colored teacher den cause dey ain1 hab 'nough schooling den. don1 know nuthin 'bout dem times. Dese ohillun I tell dese ohillun I don' know wha' dey wanna run 'bout so mucha cause dere plenty t'ing to see dat pass right dere by us house eve'y day. I t'ink dis> uh better day en time to lib en cause dis uh brighter day now dat we hab." Source; Mom Louisa Oollier, age 78, colored, Marion, S.0 Personal interview, May 1937. V, 223 Project 7fl655 1Y# Vf. Dixon mnnsboro, S. Co t 390420 224 JOHtf COLLINS EX-SLAVS 85 YEARS OLD. John Collins lives in a two-room frame cottage by the side of US 21, just one mile north of the town of YJinnsboro, S# C.^on the right side of the highway and a few hundred yards from the intersection of US 21 and US 22 house is owned by I r. John Ameen. The His son, John, who lives with him, is a farm hand in the employ of Mr. John Ameen, and is his father's only support "They tells me dat I was born, in Chester County, just above de line dat separates Chester and Fairfield Counties is, donft you? You know where de 'dark cornerT Well, part is in Fairfield County and part is in Chester County. In dat corner I first see de light of day; 'twas on de 29th of February, 1852 Though I is eighty-five years old, ITs had only twenty-one birthdays. a heap of folks wid dat riddle. say: They ask me: 1 ketches 'How old is you Uncle John?1 'I is had twenty-one birthdays and won't have another till 1940. figure it out yourself, sir, if you is so curious to know my agei' I Now One time a smart aleck, j8.ck**leg, i'-iethodist preacher, of ray race, come to rxj house and figured all day on dat riddle and never did git de correct answer* He scribbled on all de paper in de house and on de back of de calendar leaves. I sure laughed at dat preacher. I fears he lacked some of dat good old time 'ligion, de way he sweated and scribbled and fussed. "My daddy was name Steve Chandler* know whether they was married or not. I y maraniy was called Nancy. I don't % daddy v/as sent to Virginia, while de war was gwine on, to build forts and breastworks around Petersburg, so they say, and him never come back. I 'members him well* feet high, wid broad shoulders. He was a tall black man, over six % son, John, look just lak him. Daddy used to 2. play wid mammy just lak she was a child He'd ketch her under de armpits and jump her up mighty nigh to de rafters in de little house us lived in* "Uy mammy and me was slaves of old Ltfarse Nick Collins* -His wife, ray mistress, was name LfiLss Nannie* her* Miss Nannie was just an angel; all de slaves loved But marster was hard to please, and he used de lash often* De slaves whisper his name in fear and terror to de chillun, when they want to hush them, up* They just say to a crying child: ! Shet up or old Nick will ketch you*' Dat child sniffle hut shet up pretty quick* n Iviarster didnTt have many slaves* Best I 'member, dere was about twenty men, women, and chillun to work in de field and five house slaves* good feelin's 'twixt field hands and house servants* more airs than de white folks* Dere was no De house servants put on They got better things to eat, too, than de field hands and wore better and cleaner clothes* "My marster had one son, Wyatt, and two daughters, Nannie and Elizabeth* They was all right, so far as I Member, but being a field hand's child, off from de big house, I never got to play wid them any* ./-"% white folks never cared much about de slaves having 'ligion* went to de Universalist Church down at Peasterville* going to be saved, dat dere was no hell* They They said everybody was So they thought it was just a waste of time telling niggers about de hereafter* M In them days, way up dere in de 'dark corner1, de^v/hite folks didn'rt had no schools and couldn't read or write* How could they teach deir slaves if they had wanted to? M De Yankees never come into de Mark corner' * out us was free; then we all left* Mr* Jonathan Coleman* It was in 186^, dat us found I come down to Peasterville and stayed wid Prom derel\I went to Chester* While I was living dere, 225 3. i I married iJaggie Nesbit# Us had five chillun; they all dead, !cept John* My wife died "two months ago. "I is tired now, and I is sad* are gone* Ifs thinking about Maggie and de days dat Them.Emories flood over me, and I just want to lay down* see you sometirae again* I feel sure I'll see Loaggie befof many months and us'11 see de sunrise, down here, from de far hebben above* see me, sir* Maybe Ifll Good day* Glad you come to Ml Project 1885-1 folklore Spartanburg, Dist.4 Nov. 29, 1937 390333 ;;-;:.; W- " -.'Jl-^Mf'^fif'^'^ Stories from Ex-Slaves (Bouregard Corry) Page 2 Dey had to work away from de rocks. Sometimes dey had to get out in de water and roll some rocks from dere path if de water wasn't cold. rt Wharever night caught dem, dar dey stopped and pitched a camp. Dey fished and killed wild ducks or birds dat was plentiful den, and cooked dem along wid bread and other things fetched from I I } i f home. On de way from Columbia dey had lots of store-bought things to j eat. Store-bought things was a treat den. Now ducks and things is a I treat. Times sho changes fast.- f ^Spring was took up wid farming. Every man, white and black, 1 had a family back in dem days. Dat dey did, rich or poor, white or black, all raised families. Men farmed and hauled manure and cleaned up de plantation lots and fields and grubbed in de spring. Women cooked and washed and ironed and spun and kept house and made everybody in de house clothes, and made all de bed clothes. Dey stayed home all of de time. Men got through work and set down at home wid deir wives and never run around. Now all goes. Dat's all dey does dese days is go. *We had plenty of bread and milk and we raised hogs and killed all kinds of wild things like turkey, ducks and birds, and caught fish. Men had guns dat dey used every day, and dey hit things, too. Folks kept in practice wid guns and had shooting matches. ,f lfter dey stopped boating, wagons come in. Den things begin to change. Dey still is changing. Wagons went to Spartanburg to take cott m, folks never went to Columbia no more. Spartanburg begin to grow and it sho Still is at it.tt Sourer ;| &iegi^ ' affney, .&<&C | I .| f Project #1655 ff# Wo Dixon Winnsboro, S* C# ^v. 3*39 390373 CALEB CRAIG EX SLAVE 86 YEARS OLD* Caleb Craig lives in a four-room house, with a hall, eight feet wide, through the center and a fireplace in each room* He lives with his grandson, who looks after him* ,f Tfifho I is? I goes by de name of C# C* All de colored people speaks of me in dat way. C* C# dis and C* C* dat* I don't fject but ny real name is Caleb Craig* Named after one of de three spies dat de Bible tell 'bout* Him give de favorite report and, f cause him did, God feed him and clothe him all de balance of him life and take him into de land of Canaan, where him and Joshua have a long happy life* I seen a picture in a book, one time, of Joshua and Caleb, one end of a pole on Joshua's shoulder and one end on Caleb's shoulder, wid big bunches of grapes a hangin' from dat pole* Canaan must to been a pow- erful fertile land to make grapes lak dat* ^ould you believe dat I can't write? Some of them adultery (adult) teachers come to my house but it seem a pack of foolishness; too raach trouble* I just rather put ny money in de bank, go dere when I want it, set dat C* C* to de check, and git what I want* "lihen I born? Christmas eve, 1851* Where 'bouts? Blackstock, S# C# Don't none of us know de day or de place ws was born* Us have to take dat on faith* You know trtiere I come to light# de old Bell house, 'bove Blackstock, is? Dere's where De old stagecoach, 'tween Charlotte and Columbia, changed hosses and stop dere but de railroad busted all dat up* *% mammy name Martha* Marse John soon give us chillun to his daughter, * 230 y Miss Marion* In dat way us separated from our mammy* Her was a mighty pretty colored woman and I has visions and dreams of her, in my sleep, sometime yet* Ify sisters would oall me Cale but her never did* all de time* Her say Caleb every time and Marse John give her to another daughter of his, Miss Nanoy, de widow Thompson then, but afterwards her marry a hbss drover from Kentucky, Ifarse Jim Jones* I can tell you funny things fbout him if I has time befo1 I go* *TJs ohillun was carried down to de June place where Miss Marion and her husband, Ifarse Ed P* Mobley live* June* It was a fine house, built by old Dr* Marse Ed bought de plantation, for de sake of de fine house, where he want to take Miss Marion as a bride* tt Dere was a whole passle of niggers in de quarter, three hundred or maybe more* I can now* I didnft count them, f cause I couldn't count up to a hundred but Ten, ten, double ten, forty-five, and fifteen* Sho1 it do* hundred? n Clothes ? Too many dere, for to clothe them much* shirt-tail brigade ftil I got to be tail I Don't dat make a a man* I bflong to de ffhy I use to plow in jasf shirt- Well, it wasn't so bad in de summer time and us had big fires in de winter time, inside and outside de house, whenever us was workin1* f Til I was twelve years old 1 done nothin1 but play* "Money? Hell no* caught off ay guard* Food? Excuse me, but de question so surprise me, Ifs Us got farm produce, sich as corn-meal, bacon, 1 lasses, bread, milk, collards, turnips, ftators, peanuts, and punkins* *De overseer was Mr* Brown* workin* us on Sunday* % mar star was much talked fbout for He was a lordly old fellow, as I fmember, but dere was never aagrfching lak plowin1 on Sunday, though I do fmember de hands workin1 'bout .231| de hay and de fodder* "llarse Ed, a great fox hunter, kep' a pack of hounds* run deer* Old Uncle Phil was in charge of de pack* Him had a special dog for to tree 'possums in de nighttime and squirrels in de daytime* lak 'possum de best* You lak 'possum? Sometime,;they - Believe me, I Well, Ifll git my grandson to hunt you one dis comin' October. "llarse Ed didn't 'low patarollers (patrollers) on de June place* He tell them to stay off and they knowed to stay off "Slave drover8 often come to de June place, just lak mule drovers and hog drovers* They buy, sell, and swap niggers, just lak they buy, sell, and swap hosses, mules, and hogs* "Us had preachin' in de quarters on Sunday* was de preacher* Uncle Dick, a old man, Be funerals was simple and held at night* De grave was dug dat day* "A man dat had a wife off de place, see little peace or happiness* He could see de wife once a week, on a pass, and jealousy kep1 him 'stracted de balance of de week, if he love her very much* "I marry Martha Pickett# Why I marry hert Well, I see so many knock- knee, box-ankle, spindly-shank, flat nose chillun, when I was growin' up, dat when 1 come to choose de filly to fold my colts, I picks one dat them mistakes wasn't so lakly to appear in* live in Winnsboro, S# C# Us have five chillun* Lucy marry a Sims and Maggie marry a Wallace and live in Charlotte, H* C# Ifiary marry a Brioe and live in Chester, S# C* her sister, Mag, in Charlotte Jane not married; ahe live wid John lives 'bove White Oak and farms on a large place I own, not a scratch of pen against it by de government or a bank* "I live on 27 acres, just out de town of Winnsboro* sion* I expects no pen- Jfy grandchillun come and go, back'ards and fo'ards, and tell me 'bout <<*>3> \., - cities, and high falutin1 things goinf on here and dere* I looks them over sometime for to see if I didn't o* :; 1 ;$$^ :; ** v>lease you dat mucht 1l May de good Lord "be a -watch 'tween me and you til us meets arain* 237 project #-1655 Phoebe Faucette Hampton County FOLKLORE LUCY DANIELS "Aunt Lucy is a tall well-built old woman who looks younger than her years. She delights in talking, and was glad to tell what she knew about the olden times. "I don't know how old I been when de war end. de world I wasn't old enough to pick up nuthin' Bowers say 1*11 be 78 first of March coming. my 'young Missus'. If I been in Miss Lulie Miss Lulie was I love Miss Lulie, and I thinks she thinks a heap of me - my young Missus, and her father, my young Massa. He good to his darkies. He was a rich man - even after de war. Miss Lulie say she was de only young lady that could go off to college after de war. miss Lulie help me powerful. She give me shoes, and beddin. She and me grow up together. She is in de bed sick now. I jes* come from dere. Had de doctor to see her. "I hear *sm tell 'bout how de soldiers burn 'em out. mother would tell me. My father had gone off to fight. My Say dey'd tie de hams an* de things on de saddle - and burn de expensive houses. Vilhite folks jes* had to hide everything. She talk 'bout all de men was gone and de women had to pile up, four or fiwe in one house to protect deyselves. My father way when dey been 'rough-few-gieing* irefugeeing) de Beaufort Bridge been bum down. He say he been so hungry one time he stop to a old lady's house and ask her for something to eat. She say she didn't have nothing but some dry bread. H e take de bread, but he say it been so hard, he threw some of it away. 288 Project #-1655 Phoebe Faucette Hampton County Page - 2 But he say he so hungry he wish he hadn't throv/ it away* was a hard time* It Used to have to weave cloth and dye thread* Had a loom to weave on and a spinning wheel* My grandmother say de Yankees come to her house and take everything, but she say one little pullet run out in de weeds * and hide and de soldiers couldn't find her* She say dat pullet lay and hatch and dat how dey got start off again* ^ey scramble and dey raise us some how or another. ft I had nine chillun for my first husband and one for my second husband. I raise dead now !cept three* work for my chillun. f em all ! till dey grown; but all My husband died last year* I had to But my second husband, he help me wid f em. n Datfs all I kin tell you, Miss. I don*t remember, so much* Chillun in those days weren't so bright as dey is now, you know f f Source: Lucy Daniels, 78 ex-slave, Luray, S* C# 289 project 1885-1 folklore Spartanburg, Dist.4 Nov. 30, 1937 390330 Edited by; r>*,f Elmer Turnage &**K STORIES PROM EX-SLAVES n My family belonged in slavery time to old Marse pierce" Lake who was de Clerk of Court in town, or de Probate Judge. He lived at de old Campbell Havird House and I lived dar wid him. My mother belonged to dis Lake family and she was named Martha Lake. I don't know who my father was, but I was told he was a white man. "We slaves had good enough quarters to live in, and dey give us plenty to eat. De house I live in now is fair, but it has a bad roof. It is my wife's chillun's place. My wife had it and left it to dem. She was Ellen Gallman, a widow when I married her. Only my blind daughter now live wid me. I was married five times and had eighteen chilluns by three wives. Each of my wives died befo' I married agin. I didn't separate from any. ; lily mother's father lived wid Ivlarse Lake. Ee and his wife come from Virginia. rt I was a boy in slavery and worked and piddled round de house. Sometimes I had to work de corn or in de garden. We had plenty to eat. As de old saying is, 'We lived at home and boarded at de same place.' We raised everything we had to eat, vegetables, ;: hogs, cows and de like. Marster had a big warden, but he didn't let } his slaves have any garden of deir own. We made all pur clothes, home-spun. My mother used to spin at night and work out all day; lots of niggers had to do dat. :; "Marse Lake was good to his niggers, but he had to whip '% dem gome times when dey was mean. He had six or eight slaves, some > :| on de upper place and some on de home place. We got up at daylight , V:| and worked all day, except for dinner lunch, till it was sundown. ^^^^'^'^^^^"^^^Ip^ Stories from Ex-Slaves (John Davenport) Page 2 7fe never worked at night in de fields. Sometimes Marse would have corn-shuckings and de neighbors would come in and help catch up wid shucking de corn; den dey would have something to eat. De young folks would come, too, and help, and dey would dance and frolic. "I didn't learn to read and write. Marse never said anything about it. My sister learned when some of de white women school teachers boarded at Marse Lake's house. De teachers learn*t my sister when she was de maid of de house, and she could read and write good. Didn t have a school or church on de plantation. Atter de war, some of de niggers started a'brush arbor. Befo' de war, some of us niggers had to come to town wid' de white folks and go to deir church and set in de gallery. rt De patrollers was sometimes mean. If dey catch*.& a nigger away from home widout a pass dey sho whipped him, but dey never got any of us. Dey come to our house once, but didn't git anybody. rt We had to work all day Saturdays, but not Sundays. Some-, times de fellows would slip off and hunt or fish a little .on SttMay. Women would do washing on Saturday nights, or other nights. We had three days holiday when Christmas come, and we had plenty good things to eat, but we had to cook it ourselves. De marster would give de chillun little pieces of candy. H @hillun had games like marbles and anti-over. Dey played ariti-over by a crowd git ting on each side of de house and throwing a ball from one side to de other. Whoever got de ball-would run around.on de otheU side and hit somebody wid it; den he was out of ' &m?-$$n$v: We':n%$ea? Relieved-.much: In gh osts lor spopks. I fmm^: 0t:<;$fo$,s -!i# ' :' ^wm-M::- - de^f tkg.-. had'-*|aed%e#::^^ Wit ;^i||^^^^^i|^)IMMW Stories Prom Ex-Slaves (John Davenport) Page 3 It was good for chills and fever. De tea is awful bitter. Little bags of asafetida was used to hang around de little chillun's necks to ward off fever or diptheria. "We used to call de cows on de plantation like dis: cowinch, co-winch'. We called de mules like dis: 'eo, cof, and de i- * hogs and pigs, 'pig-oo, pig-oo'. We had dogs on de place, too, to ii ill hunt wid. ill "When freedom come, de marster told us we could go away or stay on. Most of us stayed on wid him. Soon atter dis, he got mad at me one day and told me to git off de place. I come to town and stayed ||1 aoout two weeks, piddling around to git along. I found out whar my || mother was she had been sold and sent away. She was in. Saluda jj: ill (Old Town). I. went to her and stayed two weeks; den she come to m Newberry and rented a little cabin on Beaver Dam Creek, near/Silver Street. . . ill "I remember hearing about de Yankees. When &ey eome through here dey camped in town to keep order and peace. I remember de Ku Klux,'too, how some of 'em killed niggers. I voted in town on de Hepublican ticket. I am still a Republican. None of my friends held office, but I remember some of dem. Old Lee Nance was one, and he was killed by a white man. "Since de war, de niggers have worked mostly on farms, i:; renting and wage-hands. Some of dem have bought little places. Some moved to town and do carpenter work, and others jes f piddle around. "Some of de dances de niggers had was, 'Jump Jim Crow'; one nigger would jump up and down while tripping and dancing in de same spot. Sometimes he say, 'Every time I jump, I jump'Jim Crow.' He :ha4::: :hat:.m&: called, a''. 'J#ber ' gam :..'Be we>u;l(i;:"ian e a- &i .&&# :, *:-/ w?&^' Stories From Ex-slaves (John DavenportJ Page 4 a** *I never thought much about Abraham Lincoln nor Jefferson Davis. Only seed de pictures of dem. Reckon dey was all right. Don't know nothing about Booker Yvashington, neither. *1 was 25 years old when I joined de church. I joined because I thought I ought to, people preaching Christ and him 'Crucified; and I thought I ought to do right. Think everybody ought to join de church and be religious. "What I think of de present generation is hard to say. Dey is not like de old people was. De old generation of chilluns could be depended on, but de present niggers can't be. *tilo, de slaves never expected anything when de war was over, dem in de neighborhood didn't. Some say something about gitting 40 acres of land and a mule, but we never expected it. None ever got anything, not even money from de old marsters or anybody." Source:John N. Davenport (N,89), Newberry, S.C. RID Interviewer: G.L. Summer, Newberry, S.C. (11/3/37) Project. 1885-1 * FOLKLORE 390116 Spartanburg Dist.4 June 8, 1937 Edited by: Elmer Turnage 044 :: STORIES PROM EX-SLAVES *I was born, March 10, 1848, on Little River in Newberry county, S.C. My master in slavery time was Gilliam Davenport. He was good to his slaves, not strict; good to his cattle, and expected his negroes to be good to them. But he was quick to resent anything from outsiders who crossed his path. *A11 that part j&f the country was good for hunting. The deer, fox, and wild turkey have gone; though a few years ago, some men brought some foxes there and turned them loose, thinking they would breed, but they gradually disappeared. The kildees were many. That was a sign of good weather. When they flew high and around in a circle, tit was a sign of high winds. "fishing in the rivers was much done. They fished with hooks on old-time canes. They had fish baskets, made of wooden splits, with an opening at the end like the wire baskets now used. If they were set anytime, day or night, a few hours afterwards would be enough time to catch some fish. "An old sigh was: when the youngest child sweeps up the floor, somebody was coming to see you. If a dish-rag was dropped on the floor, somebody was coming who would be hungry." Source: Moses Davenport (89j, Newberry, S.C. Interviewer: G.L. Summer, dewberry, S.C. (5/10/37) ;| Code No. Project, 1865-(1) Prepared by Annie Ruth Davis Place, Marion, S.C. Date, July 28, 1937 JNO TWWWLS Reduced from_ Rewritten by" words 245 Page 1. CHARLIE DAVIS Bx-Slave, 88 Years 3S0149 n I oouldn' tell how old I is only as I ask my old Massa son en he tell me dat I was born ahead of him oause he had de day put down in he family book. I had one of dem slavery bible, but I have a burnin out so many times dat it done been burn iip. people. I belong to M*. George Crawford Mr. George de one what die up here one of dem other year not far back. Dey who been my white folks." "I can tell you a good deal bout what de people do in slavery time en how dey live den, but I can1 tell you nothin bout no jump about things. My Massa didn' 'low us to study bout none of dem kind of frolickings in dat day en time." "I gwine tell you it just like I experience it in dem days. We chillun lived well en had plenty good ration to eat all de time oause my mammy oook for she Missus dere to de big house. All she ohillun lived in a one room house right dere in de white folks yard en eat in de Missus big kitchen every day. Dey give my mammy en she ohillun just such things as de white folks had to eat like biscuit en oake en ham en ooffee en hominy en butter en all dat kind of eatin. Didn' have no need to worry bout nothin tall. My Massa had a heap of other colored peoples dere besides we, but dey never live dat way* Dere been bout 80 of dem Code No. Project, 1886-(1) Prepared by Annie Ruth Davis Place, Marion, S.C. Date, July E8, 1937 So. Words Reduced from_ Rewritten by" words 246 Page E. dat live up in de quarter just like you see dese people live to de sawmill dese days. Dey live mighty near like us, but didn' have no flour bread to eat en didn1 get no milk en ham neither cause dey eat to dey own house. Didn' get nothin from de dairy but old clabber en dey been mighty thankful to get dat. Oh, dey had a pretty good house to live in dat was furnish wid dey own things dat dey make right dere. Den dey had a garden of dey own. My Massa give every one of he plantation family so much of land to plant for dey garden en den he give em every Saturday for dey time to tend dat garden. You see dey had to work for de white folks all de other week day en dey know when dey hear dat cow horn blow, dey had to do what de overseer say do. Hever oouldn* go off de place widout dey get a mit (permit) from de overseer neither else dey tore up when dey come back. Ho'mam, didn1 dare to nave nothin no time* Didn1 'low you to go to school cause if you was to pick up a book, you get bout 100 lashes for dat. Ifo'mam, didn1 have no church for de colored peoples in dem days. Just had some of dese big oaks pile up one on de other somewhe1 in de woods en dat whe1 we go to ohuroh. One of de plantation mens what had more learnin den de others was de one what do de preaehin dere * Code Ho* Project, 1885.(1) Prepared "by Annie Ruth Davis Place, Marion, S*0. Date, July 88, 1937 lo* fords Reduced from_ Rewritten by" words 24? Page S. "My Massa wasn1 never noways soraggeble to he colored peoples. Didn cut em for every kind of thing, but I is see him beat my stepfather one time cause he run away en stay in de woods long time. Oh, he beat him wid a switch or a stick or anything like dat he could get hold of." n Didn' never know nothin bout doing no hard work in us ohillun days. field* When I was a boy, I mind de orows out de Oh, orows was terrible bout piokin up peoples corn in times baok dere* You see if dey let de orows eat de eorn up, dey had to go to de trouble of planting it all over again en dat how-come dey send we ohillun in de field to mind de orows off it* We just holler after em en scare em dat way* Crows was mighty woreer in dem days den dey is dia day en time." "I sho remembers when freedom was declare cause 1 was bout 16 year old den. When dem Yankees talk bout oomin round, my Massa take all we colored boys en all he fast horses en put em back in de woods to de canebrake to hide em from de Yankees. It been many a year since den, but I recollects dat we was settin dere lookin for de Yankees to get us any minute* Wasn1 obliged to make no noise neither. Oh, we had big chunk of lightwood en cook meat en hoeoake en ooHards right dere in de woods. Ben my Massa take one of dem oldest plantation boys to de war wid him en ain1 nobody never hear tell of him no more* He name Willie. Oode Ho. Project, 1885-(l) Prepared by Annie Buth Davis Plaoe, Marlon, S.O. Date, July 28, 1937 Ho. Words Reduced from Rewritten by words 248 Page 4. 0 my Lord, when day hear talk bout de Yankees oomin, dey take all de pots en de kettles en hide em in holes in de fields en dey put dey silver bout some tree so dey know who' dey bury it. Den dey hide de meat en de oorn to de oolored peoples house en when dey hear talk of de Yankees gwlne away, dey go en get em again. Bern Yankees never destroy nothin bout dere, but dey is make- my Massa give em a oart of oorn en a middlin of meat. Yankees wid me own eyes. Yes'urn, I look at den Dey was all dressed up in a blue uniform en dey was just as white as you is. lot of things. Oh, dey said a Say dey was gwine free de niggers en if it hadn1 been for dem, we would been slaves till yet. Ooase 1 rather be free den a slave, but we never have so much worryations den as people have dese days. When we get out of olothes en get siok in dat day en time, we never had to do nothin but go to us Massa. How, we have to look bout every whioh a way." "My Massa ask my mother was she gwine live with him any longer after freedom was declare en she say she never have no mind to leave dere. We live on dere for one year en den we studied to get another plaoe. I believes heap of dem white folks died just on account of us get freed. didn* want us to be free#" Dey never Oode No. Uo. Words Reduced from_ Rewritten by" Project, 1885-(l) Prepared by Annie Ruth Davis Place, Marion, 3.0. Date, Jaly 28, 1937 words 249 Page 5* "I heard a *oman say somebody had conjured her, but I don' believe in none of dat. I knows I got to die some of dese days en dat might come before me. I don1 bother wid none of dat kind of thing, but I'll tell you bout what I has experience. I had two dogs dere en somebody poisdn em cause dey tell me somebody do dat. De police say de dog was poison. Oh, I know dey was poisen. A *oman do it dat had chillun what was afraid of my dog en dat how-come she poison it. I sho think she done it cause it just like dis, anything peoples tell me, I believes it." "I have seen dem things peoples say is a ghost when I was stayin here to Lake View. I plant a garden side de road en one night I hear some thin en 1 look out en dere was a great big black thing in me garden dat was makin right for de house. I call me wife en tell her to look yonder. De thing was oomin right to de house en my wife hurry en light up de lamp. I hear de peoples say if you didn1 light up de lamp when you see a spirit, dat it would sho come in an run you out. I had done paid some money on de place but after I see dat thing, I didn1 have no mind to want it. Had de best garden en chickens dere I ever had, but I never bother no worry bout dat. Just piok n right up en leave dere to come here en I bee/here ever since. I knows dat been somethin come dere to scare me out dat house. Dat ain1 been nothin else but a spirit. Ain' been nothin else." Source: Charlie Davis, age 88, colored, Marion, S.C. Personal interview, July 1937. ~"" Project #1655 Henry Grant Columbia, s. C. 390398 #50 CHABLIE DAVIS*S MJSINGS. 1 v Charlie Davis, now seventy-nine years old, was a small boy when the slaves were freed. He lives alone in one room on Miller's Alley, Columbia, St C., and is healthy and physically capable of self -support * !, I has been wonder in1 what you wanted to talk to dis old nigger 'bout since I fust heard you wanted to see me. I takes it to be a honor for a white gentleman to desire to have a conversation wid me* Well,:here I is, and I bet I's one of de blackest niggers youfs seen for a season* of my color a-tall. Somehow, I ain't 'shame If I forgits I is dark complected, all I has to do is to look in a glass and in dere I sho' don't see no white man* "Boss, I is kinda glad I is a black man, 'cause you knows dere ain't much expected of them nowhow and dat, by itself, takes a big and heavy burden off deir shoulders. De white folks worries toq much over dis and over dat* They worries * cause they ain't got no money and, Tflhen they gits it, they worries agin 'cause they is 'fraid somebody is gwine to steal it from them. Yes, sir, they frets and fumes 'cause they can't 'sociate wid big folks and, when they does go wid them, they is bothered 'cause they ain't got what de big folks has got* 11 It ain't dat way wid most niggers. empty stomach and a cold place to sleep in* Hothin' disturbs them much, 'cept a Give them bread to eat and fire to warm by, then, hush your mouth} they is shof safe then* De 'possum in his hollow, de squirrel in his nest, and de rabbit in his bed, is at horn * So, de nigger, in a tight house wid a big hot fire, in winter, is at home, too. "Some sort of ease and comfort is black, is iti&vin* for in dis world* f bout what all people, both -white and All of us laks dat somethin' called 'tent- 2# ment, in one way or de other ^r Many white folks and some darkies thinks dat a pile of money, a fine house to live in, a fspensive 'motorbile, fine clothes, end high 'ciety, is gwine to give them dat* But, when they has all dis, they is still huntin1 da end of de rainbow a little ahead of them* w Is de black man nervous or is he natchally scary? gwine to say yes and no to dat* Well, sir, I is A nigger gits nervous when he hears somethin1 he don't understand and scared when he sees somethin1 he can't make out* he gits sho' ncugh scared, he moves right then, not tomorrow* TShen Lak de wild animals of de woods, he ain't 'fraid of de dark, much, if he is movin' f but when he stops, no house is too tight for him, in summer or winter* bout, If he sees a strange and curious sight at nigjht, he don't have to ask nobody what to do, 'cause he knows dat he has foots* It is goodbye wid old clothes, bushes, and fences, when them foots gits to 'tendin' to deir business* When you hears a funny and strange noise and sees a curious and bad sight, I b'lieves you fust git nervous and then dat feelin' grows stronger fas', 'til you git scared* I knows de faster I moves, de slower I gits scared# n Prom my age now, you can tell dat I was mighty little in slavery time* All I knows 'bout them terrible times is what I has heard* I come pretty close to them ticklish times, but I can't help from thinkin', even now, dat I missed a 'sperience in slavery time dat would be doin' me good to dis very day. Dere ain't no doubt dat many a slave learnt good lessons dat showed them how to work and stay out of de Jail or poorhouse, dat's worth a little* "I has heard my mammy say dat she b'long to de Wyricks dat has a big plantation in de northwestern part of Fairfield County and dat my daddy b'long to de Graddicks in de northern part of Richland County* just across de road from each other* Dese two plantations was Mammy said dat de patrollers was & thick t'f~ 3. 2521 as flies fround dese plantations all de time, and my daddy shof had to slip * round to see maumy* Sometime they would ketch him and whip him good, pass or no pass* tt De patrollers was nothin' but poor white trash, mamrqy say, and if they didnft whip some slaves, every now and then, they would lose deir Jobs* mammy and daddy got married after freedom, a weddin1 befo'* f cause they didn't git de time for They called deirselves man and wife a long time befof they was really married, and dat is de reason dat Ifs as old: as I is now* they was right, in de fust place, each other, nohow* f I reckon cause they never did want nobody else fcept Here I is, I has been married one time and at no time has I ever seen another woman I wanted* is still livin' alone* ^11 our % wife has been dead a long time and 1 chillun is scattered fbout over de world some- where, and dat somewhere is where I don't know* in my old age* % They ain't no help to me now, But, I reckon they ain't to be blamed much, 'cause they is young, full of warm blood and thinks in a different way from de older ones* Thea, too, I 'spects they thinks deir old daddy would kinda be in deir way, and de best thing for them to do is to stay away tvm me* I donft know, it just seems lak de way of de world* n I come from de Guinea family of niggers, and dat is de reason I is so small and black* Be Guinea nigger don't know nothin', 'cept hard work, and^for him to be so he can keep up wid bigger folks, he has to turn 'round fas'* Tou knows dat if you puts a little hog in a pen wid big hogs, de little one has got to move 'bout in a hurry amongst de big ones, to git 'nough to eat, and de same way wid a little person* they sho' has to hustle for what they gits* I has no head for learnin' what's in books, and if I had, dere wasn't no schools for to 253; learn dat head, when I cone 'long* I has made some money, 'long through de years, but never knowed how to save it* Now I is so old dat I can't make much, and so, I just live somehow, dat's all. "President Roosevelt has done his best to help de old, poor* and forgotten ones of us all, every color and race, while dis 'pression has been gwine on in dis country* Is us gwine to git dis new pension what is gwine 'tout, or is dat other somebody gwine to think he needs it worser than us doe si Dat's de question what 'sorbs say mind most, dese days* I don't need much, and maybe I don't deserve nothin', but I shof would lak to git hold of dat little dat's 'tended for me by dat man up yonder in Washington*(Roosevelt) "Does I b'lieve in spirits and hants? dis: My answer to dat question is 'Must my tremblin' spirit fly into a world unknown?' When a person goes 'way from dis world, dere they is, and dere they is gwine to stay, ment*11 f til judg- Code No. Project, 1S85-(1) Prepared by Annie Ruth Davis Place, Marion, S.C. Date, January 21, 193S <5orrt4*> No. We*Ae Reduced from Rewritten by V ? words P^AV &0% . ^ Page 1# OgOQ12 h HEDDIE DAVIS Ex-Slave, 72 Years Lizzie Davis sends word for Heddie Davis to come over to her little shack to join in the conversation about old times and Heddie enters the room with these words: I gwine hug your neck. "Sis, Sis, I did some thin last night dat I oughtn't done en I can* hardly walk die mornin. Pulled off my long drawers last night en never had none to change wid. I can' bear to get down en pray or nothin like dat, my knee does ache me so bad. I gwine up town yonder en get some oil of wintergreen en put on it. Yes'um, dat sho a good thing to strike de pain cause I heard bout dat long years ago. Sis, ain' you got no coffee nowhe' die mornin? God knows, de Lord sho gwine bless you, Sis.^ "What honey? No'um, I won1 here in slavery time. just tereckly after it. I was Well, I come here a Lewis, but I in- herited de Davis name when I married* Old man Peter Lewis was my daddy.en my mother^she was a North Carolina woman. Oh, I heard dat man talk bout de old time war so much dat I been know what was gwine fly out his mouth time he been have a mind to spit it out. My daddy, he belonged to de old man Evans Lewis en he been de one his boss pick to carry to de war wid him# Yes'um, he stayed up dere to Fort Sumter four years a fightin en hoped shoot dem old Yankee robbers. My old man, he had one Code No. Project, 1SS5-(1) Prepared by Annie Ruth Davis Place, Marion, S.C. Date, January 21, 1938 No. Words Reduced from Rewritten by words or\ ^J ' -(! '.. J?age 2. of dem old guns en I give it to his brother Jimmie. He lives way up yonder to de north en he carried dat gun wid him just cause I give it to him, he say. sister en she grayer den I is. Rockingham, North Carolina. He marry my younger Think dey say dey lives to Yes, honey, my daddy was sho in dat wash out dere to Fort Sumter. Lord, have mercy, 1 never hear tell of crabs en shrimps in all my life till my daddy come back en tell bout a old woman would be gwine down de street, dere to Charleston, cryin, Shrimps, more shrimps.' But, my Lord, I can' half remember nothin dese days. If I had de sense I used to have, I would give de Lord de praise. Honey, he said a lot of stuff bout de war. of somethin. Told a whole chance Tell us bout de parade en everything, but I is forgetful now en I just can' think. De Bible say dat in de course of your life, you will be forgetful in dat how I is. Just can' think like I used to. You see, I gwine in 70 now.\ M 0h, I was born dere to Mullins in January on de old man Evans Lewis' plantation. Den we moved dere to de Mark Smith place after freedom settle here. been us boss. full of hands. Dat long high man, dat who His wife was name Sallie en de place waB chock No,mam, my white folks didn' care bout no quarter on dey plantation. all over de place. Colored people just throwed lbout Oh, I tell you, it was a time cause de niggers was dere, plenty of dem. Some of dey house was settin side de road, some over in dat corner, some next de big house r m Code No. Project, 1S85-(1) Prepared by Annie Ruth Davis Place, Marion, S.C. Date, January 21, 1938 No. Words Reduced from Rewritten by en so on like dat all over de place. Oh, dey lived all right, I reckon. words 356- Page 3. Never didn' hear dem say dey got back none. dey live den better den de people lives now. Hear Oh, yes'urn, I hear my parents say de white folks was good to de colored people in slavery time. Didn' hear tell of nobody gettin nothin back on one another neither. hear tell of nothin like dat. No, child, didn never Seems like de people don' work dese days like dey used to nohow, well, dey done somethin of everything in dat day en time en work bout all de time. Ain* nobody workin much to speak bout dese days cause dey walks bout too much, I say I tell you, when I been a child gwine to school soon as I been get home in de evenin en hit dat door step, I had to strip en put on my everyday clothes en get to work. pick up wood en potatoes in de fall or pick cotton. Had to Had to do somethin another all de time, but never didn' nobody be obliged to break dey neck en hurry en get done in dem days. just rushes en plays too much dese days, I say. don' want to rush no time. Ohillun No, Lord, I I tellin you, when I starts to Heaven, I want to take my time get tin dere^* "Lord, child, I sho hope I gwine to Heaven some of dese days cause old Satan been ridin me so tough in dis here world, I ain' see no rest since I been know bout I had two feet. My husband, he treat me so mean, if he ain1 in Heaven, he in de other place, I say. will kill you, Den all dem chillun, Lord a mercy, dey I raised all mine by myself en I tell you, dey Code No. Project, 1S85-(1) No. Words Reduced from. Rewritten by" Prepared by Annie Ruth Davis Place, Marion, S.O. Date, January 21, 1937 words 257; Page 4. took de grease out of me. / "My daddy, he was a prayin man. prayin man. Lord knows, he was a Seems like de old people could beat de young folks a prayin up a stump any day. I remember, my daddy come here to de white people church to Tabernacle one night en time dem people see him, dey say, 'Uncle Peter, de Lord sho send you cause ain' nobody but you can pray dese sinners out of hell here tonight.' God knows dat man could sing en pray. Lord, he could pray. bout all de time. Oh, darlin child, dat man prayed Prayed every mornin en every night en when us would come out de field at 12 o'clock, us had to hear him . pray fore he ever did allow us to eat near a morsel. Sis, I remember one day, when dey first started we chillun a workin in de field, I come to de house 12 o'clock en I was so hungry, I was just a poppin. God knows, people don' serve de Lord like dey used to.M "Si8, you wants dat one patch, too. no limit to dis one. Lord Jesus, dere ain' Sis, I must be come here on Saturday cause everywhe' I goes, I has to work. Hear talk, if you born on a Saturday, you gwine have to work hard for what you get all your days. I been doin somethin ever since I been big enough to know I somebody. Remember de first thing I ever do for a white woman. Ma come home en say, 'Heddie, get up in de mornin en wash your face en hands en go up to Miss Rogers en do everything just like she say do.' I been know I had to do dat, too, cause if I never Oode No* Project, 1S85-U) Prepared by Annie Ruth Davis Place, Marion, S.C/ Date, January 21, 193S No. Words Reduced from_ Rewritten by" words 258 Page 5. do it, I know I would been whip from cane to cane. When I got dere, I open de gate en look up en dere been de new house en dere been de old one settin over dere what dey been usin for de kitchen den. I won' thinkin bout nothin cept what Miss Rogers was gwine say en when I been walk in dat gate, dere a big bulldog flew up in my head. I stop en look at him en dat dog jump en knock me windin en grabbed my foot in his mouth. me. Yes'um, de sign dere yet whe he gnawed White folks tell me I been do wrong. Say, don' never pay no attention to a dog en dey won' bother up wid you. dat dog had a blue eye en a pink eye. such a fix since I been born. Ain' never see a dog in I tell you, if you is crooked, white folks will sho straighten you out. I is ever wanted to know. But,honey, Dat dog taught me all Lord, Miss Mary, I been love dat De first time I ever see her, she say, 'You ain1 got no woman. dress to wear to Sunday School, I gwine give you one,' Yes,mam, Mies Mary dress me up en de Lord knows, I ain' never quit givin her de praise yet,***^M Yes'urn, de Yankees, I hear my daddy talk bout when dey come through old Massa's plantation en everything what dey do. Say, dere was a old woman dat was de cook to de big house en when dem Yankees come dere dat mornin, white folks had her down side de cider press just a whippin her. Say, de Yankees took de old woman en dressed her up en hitched up a buggy en made her set up in dere. Wouldn' let de white folks touch her no !'""! No, Words Reduced from Rewritten by" Code Ko. Project, 1SS5-(1) Prepared by Annie Ruth Davis Place, Marion, S.C. Date, January 21, 193s more neither. words Page 6. 859 Oh, de place was just took wid dem, he say. > What dey never destroy, dey carried off wid dem. Oh, Lord a mercy, hear talk dere was a swarm of dem en while some of dem was in de house a tearin up, dere was a lot of dem in de stables takin de horses out* en some another. did see. Yes'um, some was doin one thing En Pa tell bout dey had de most sense he ever Hitched up a cart en kept de path right straight down in de woods en carted de corn up what de white folks been hide down dere in de canebrake. Den some went in de garden en dug up a whole lot of dresses en clothes. house sick while all dis was gwine on. people dere ever was, Pa say. En dere was a lady in de Oh, dey was de worst Took all de hams en shoulders out de smokehouse en like I tell you, what dey never carried off, dey made a scaffold en burned it up. Lord, have mercy, I hopes I ain1 gwine never have to meet no Yankees." Source: Heddie Davis, colored, age 72, Marion, S.O. Personal interview by Annie Ruth Davis, Jan., 193&. **"* W W. Dixon Wimisboro, S. C, 3f 243 EEHRY E&VIS EX-Sl^VE 80 YEARS OLD.. Henry Davis is an old Negro, a bright mulatto, -who lives in a tworoom frame house on the farm of Mr. Amos E# Davis, about two miles southwest of Yfinnsboro, S# C# In the house with him, are his wife, Rosa, and his grora children* Roosevelt, Utopia, and Hose. They are day laborers oil the farm. period, Henry picks about seventy-five pounds of cotton a day* average one hundred and fifty pounds each* At this His children The four together are thus en- abled to gather about five hundred and twenty-five pounds per day, at the rate of sixty-five cents' per hundred* support of $3*41* This brings to. the family, a daily This is seasonal employment, however j and,as they are not a provident household, hard times come to Henry and his folks in the winter and early summer rl I was torn on de old Richard Vfinn plantation dat my master, Dr# W* K. Turner, owned and livdd on* I was born de year befo* him marry Miss Lizzie Lemmon, my mistress in slavery time. n % mother was name Mary and took de name of Davis, fcause befo* free- dom come, her was bought by ray master, from Dr* Davis, near Monticello. tt I had a good many marsters and mistresses. ocruggs* Miss itnna marry Mr* Dove* 2&ss Minnie marry Dr* Miss Emma marry Mr* Jason Pope* Marse Will'jw K* marry a Miss Carroll up in York, S. U, and Marse Johnnie marry Miss Essie 2ealy# t *?lho % brothers and sisters was Mint on, Ike, Martha, and Isabella* I marry and all r bout it? You think dat gprine to loosen me up? How come you want to know dat? I ^larei Well, I marry de 'Rose of Sharon1 or I call& h^r dat when I was s parkin1 her, though she was a Lemmon. 1* { xi\* *?$ te^^^tf. ^iik^M^^^A^^k^ Her was , <*,% - Wrf ""~ 1 ^ name Rose Lemmon* Lots of times she throw dat in my face $%Rose of Sharon1 when things go wrong* Ehen her git uppish and sniff, 'Rose of Sharon, my eye I You treats me lak I was a dogwood rose on de hillside or worse than dat, lak I was a Jimsor^weed or a rag v/eed.f "My mainmy and us chillun live in de yard not far from de. kitchen* % mammy do de 7/ashin' and ironin1 Us chillun did no work* I ride ! round most of de time wid de doctor in his "buggy and hold de hoss while he visit de patientso Just set up in de buggy and wait Ttil him'git ready to go to another place or go home* tf I 'member de Yankees comin1 and searchin' de house, takin1 off de cows, mules, hosses, and burnin' de gin^house and cotton* General Sherman's orders* They say dat was They was 'lowed to leave de dwellin' house standin', in case of a doctor or preacher "Miss Lizzie had a whole lot of chickens pullets* Her always keep de finest She make pies and chicken salad out of de oldest hens* Dat February de Yankees got isere, she done save up 'bout fifty pullets dat was ready !to lay k squad of Yankees make us chillun ketch every one and you know how in March* they went 'way wid them pullets? saddle* They tie two on behind, in de rings of de Then they tie two pullets together and hang them on de saddle pommel, one on each side of de hosses neck* Dat throw them flankin' de hosses withers* I 'members now them gall opin' off, wid them,chickens flutterin' and holler in' uriiaorie^...- tiftiiaarar^ irtiare # whare, wharei ^Ifter slavery time, us live on de Turner place nigh onto thirty years and then was de time I go to see Rosa and court tod marry her* b?lQj^^ SiiK Her folks they had staged on at de Lemmon' s pl&de* Be i^#^ ^ :'^;^ give her a trousseau and mine give me a bedstead, cotton mattress* and two feather pillows. Dat was a mighty happy day and a mighty happy night for de 'Rose of Sharon1 Her tells young niggers fbout it to dis day, and I just sets and smokes my pipe and thinks of all de days dat am passed and gone and wonder if de nexf world gwine to bring us back to youth and strength to Tjoy it, as us did when Rose and me was young* n Does I 'members anything fbout patrollers? didnft T 'Deed, I dot jeet to his slaves gwine to see women off de pl&qd Marster I hear him say so, and I hear him tell more than once dat if he ever hear de patrollers a comin' wid blood hounds, to run to de lot and stick his foots in de mud and de dogs wouldn't follow him* Lots of run'ways tried it, I heard, and it proved a success and I don't blame them dogs neither*11 iii%i^v '~ * '&&>3* W^l r^& * * " ~* ,*^ Irojeot #$655 W. W. Dixon Winnsboro, S C# 390270 . JESSE DAVIS EX-SIAVE 85 YEARS OLD* Jesse Davis, one of the fast disappearing land-marks of slavery times, lives with his wife and son, in one of the ordinary two-room frame houses^ that dot, with painful monotony, the country farms of white land* owners* The three attempt to carry on a one-horse farm of forty acres$ about thirty acres in cotton and the remainder in corn* living is low* The standard of Jesse is cheerful, his wife optimistic with the expression that the Lord will provide, and their son dutiful and hopeful of the harvest* Their home is about ten miles southwest of Winnsboro, in the lorefe section of Fairfield County* t! Dere is some difficulty *bout my age* I was born befo* de Civil War* Nigh as I can place it* I 'members !tendinT to and milkin* de cows, and keepin1 de calf off, drawin1 water out de well, and bringin* in wood to I fspects I*s eighty-five, mountin1 up in years* make fires* ft I lives on Mr* Eber Mason1 s place wid one of my chillun, a son name Mango* Us all work on de places run a farm on shares*. work and canft support myself* I canH do much It!s mighty hard to be /pca^&t on others for your daily rations, even if them others is your own bone and flesh* f preciate sumpin* to help sy son and wife carry on* sion* Ifd Dats why I wants a penr Do you *spect God in His mercy will hear de prayer of dis feeble old believer? I don't beg people but de Bible give me a right to beg God for my, daily bread. De, Good Book say: f Take no consarxm^ot !bout your raimexrfc1 * You caaa see from what !* got on, d^ me nor nobody else, is mxtix consarned ;3||j|3^^ i64| and Marse Billie* Marse Jim -was de baker of dis town all his life, after de way of old-time oven-cookin1, f til Boy bread and Claussen bread wagons . v Him is now on de !lief roll and livin* in de old run him out of business* IlcCreight house, de oldest house in Winnsboro* "Dere was ray young misses> Miss Lizzie and Miss Lennie* name Sarah, just lak old mistress name Sarah* mistress but my pappy no b*long to them* family* % mammy Her Vlong to marster and Him bflong to de big bugs, de Davis Him was name Mingo, and after slavery him and^all us take de name, de secon* name, Davis, and I*s here today, Jesse Davis* out to de name? ! Good Book again say: See how dat work' Good name better than riches; sweet- er to de ear than honey-comb to de tongue * . \? n You is well *quainted wid Marse Amos Davis, ain*t you? people was pappy*s people* Well, his I had a brudder name Gabriel, tho* they called Another one name Chap; he got kilt while clearin1 up a new ground* him Gabe* Sister Fannie mafry a Ashford nigger. Marse Ira, de doctor, have a plantation near Jenkaaa&mlle*, $ C* * "When de Yankees come thru, they come befo* de main army* f gallop right up, jump down and say: doorl* Hold dese hossesi They took what they could carry fway# from a sick call him been !tendinl to* They Open dat smoke-house f Bout dat time marster rode up Course you know him was a doctor* They surround him, take his watch, money, and hoss, and ride *way* u De main aray come nex' day, Saturday mornin1 spread deir tents and stay and camp ! til Monday mornin1. carry off all de cows, hogs, mules^and hosses* chickens, got them all, didn't wait to git her f bout 8 o! clock* They Tftien they leave they Then they have us ketch de f cept one old hen dat run under de house, and they Krster have to go 'way up to Union County, where him have kin folks, to giA sumplnV to ea^% W$gMM 8* tt % marster was not big rich l$k de Davises, de Means, and de Harpers, but him have all them people come to see him* they 'predate* madder bed* Him know a heap of things dat- - De way to dye cloth was one of dese secrets Marster have a Him take de roots of dat madder put them in de sun just lak you put out pieces of apples and peaches to make dried fruit* When them roots git richt dry, him have them ground up fine as water-ground meal* duct in a pot and boil it* He put de fine When he want red cloth, he just drop de cloth in dat pot and it come out all red to suit you* Want it blue, him have a indigo natch for dat* 11 1 never hear anything 'bout alum dese days* Well, de slaves could take peach tree leaves and alum and make yellow cloth and old cedar tops and copperas and make tan cloth* brown* Walnut stain and copperas and make any cloth Sweet-gum bark and copperas and make any cloth a purple color* ber goin1 wid one into de woods to git barks* a slippery elm tree* I Mem- One day old marster come 'cross Him turn and command me to say right fast a *Long, slim, slick saplin* and when I say long, slim, sick slaplin1, him 'most kill hisself laughin1 * is. You try dat now* You find it more harder to say than you think it Him give me a piece of dat bark to chew and I run at de mou^h. lak you see a hoss dat been on de range of wild clover all night and slobberin* at de bits* w Yes sah, I bflongs to de churchi % wife and son, Mingo, just us three in de house and de vrtiole household jined de Morris Creek Baptist Church* TOiat^ my favorite song? I thanks you* None better than de one dat I'll hfist right now* Listen: * % hm I born to die To lay dis body dom k charge to keep I hav:e Go ahead? 2( 3$$!$&!$^^ You lak dat? Yes? You is praisin1 me too highly I fspect, but since you lak dat one just listen at dis one; maybe you change your mind, fcause Ifs gwine to h*ist it a wee bit higher and put more of de spiritual in it* Ready? Yes? I stand up dis time. f All de medicine you may buy All de doctors you may try Ainft gonna save you from de tomb Some day you got to lay down and dlei De blood of de Son can only Save you from de doomi Some day you got to lay down and die#f You lak dat one? You just ought to hear my wife, Mingo, and Me, singin1 dat 'round de fire befo! us go to bed* "Well, I111 toddle 'long now# Goodbye * flttfi Hi mim mWm& f&JW-: :-^i-> illflilIBBim'lllSi; '^if^i^i^l^C^t;.^ Code No. Project, 1SS5-(1) Prepared by Annie Ruth Davis Place, Marion, S.O. Date, February k, 193$ 390001 LIZZIE 8 No. Words Reduced from Rewritten by words Pase X * 867 SPONSIBILITY I. The first scene of "Lizzie's *Sponsibility" is that of the small, one room dwelling place of Lizzie Davis, aged colored woman of Marion, S.C. A disorderly, ill-lighted, crudely furnished room, saturated with the odor of food. Behind the front door stands a gayly colored iron bed, over which is thrown a piece of oilcloth to keep the rain from leaking on it. In the center of the room are several little quaint homemade stools and two broken rockers, while in one corner sits a roughly finished kitchen table, the dumping place of all small articles. Still in another corner, almost hidden from sight in the darkness, is the dim outline of an old trunk gaping open with worn out clothing, possibly the gift of some white person. A big fireplace in one side of the wall not only furnishes heat for the little room, but also serves as a cookinoplace for Lizzie to prepare her meals. On i hearth sits a large iron kettle, spider and griddle, relics of an earlier day. The room is dimly lighted by the fire and from two small doors, together with a few tiny streaks that peep through at various cracks in the walls and top of house. It is about 9 o1clock on a cold, drizzly morning in January, 193&* The little two room house, in which Lizzie rents one room for herself, displays an appearance of extreme coldness and dilapidation , as a visitor approaches the doorway on this par- Code No. Project, 18S5-(1) Prepared toy Annie Ruth Davis No. Words Reduced from_ Rewritten by" Place, Marion, S.O. Date, February 4-, 193S Page 2. ticular morning. words It is with somewhat of an effort that the 268 N visitor finally reaches the barred door of Lizzie1s room, after making a skip here and there to keep from falling through the broken places in the little porch and at the same time trying to dodge the continual dripping of the rain through numerous crevices in the porch roof. Within is the sound of little feet scuffling about on the floor, the chatter.of tiny children mixed with mumblings from Lizzie, and the noise of chairs and stools being roughly shoved about on the floor. A rap on the door brings Lizzie, crippled up since she was twelve years of age, hobbling to the door. Taking her walking stick, she lifts the latch gently and the door opens slightly. A gray head appears through the crack of the door and Lizzie, peeping out from above her tiny rim spectacles, immediately recognizes her visitor. She offers her usual cheerful greet- C ing and begins (^to\hastily push the large wooden tubs from the door to make room for her visitor to enter, though it is with unusual hesitancy that she invites her guest to come in on this occasion. Lizzie Come in, Miss Davis. mornin. I feelin right smart dis How you been keepin yourself? Miss Davis, I regrets you have to find things so nasty up in here dis mornin, but all dis rainy weather got me obliged to keep dese old tubs settin all bout de floor here to try en catch up de water what drips through dem holes up dere. See, you twist your Code No. Project? 1SS5-U) Prepared by Annie Ruth Davis Place, Marion, S.C. Date, February H-, 1938 No. Words Reduced from. Rewritten by" words oat Page 3. head up dat way en you can tell daylight through all dem cracks. Dat how I know when it bright enough to start to stir myself on a mornin. Yes'urn, I tell Miss Heddie here de other day dat I had promise you I was gwine study up some of dem old time songs to give you de next time you come back. sharp age, I say. Miss Heddie, she lookin to a right Yes'um, she been here a. time, honey. I tell her to be gettin her dogs together cause I- was sho gwine point her out to you de next time I see you. I tell you, Miss Davis, I got a sponsibility put on me here to look after all dese chillun. Yes"urn, it sho a sponsibility cause I think dere five of dem dere. en it de truth in de Lord sight, dey has me settin up so straight to keep a eye on dem dat I can' never settle my mind on nothin. clean. Dey won1 let me keep nothin Ain' no use to scrub none, I say. You see, cripple up like I is, I ain1 able to get no work off nowhe' en I keeps dem while dey parents work out. Dey mammas have a job to cook out en dey brings dem here bout 6 o'clock in de mornin for me to see after till dey get home in de afternoon. Oose dey helps me along, but it takes what little dey give me to keep dem chillun warm cause I has to try en keep a fire gwins, dey be so little. Dere Bertha Lee en Joseph, dey start gwine to school dis year en I has to see dey gets fix decent en march dem off to school every mornin. other three dere, dey name: Possum en June en Alfred. just one girl en dat Dem Ain1 but Code No. Project, 18S5-(D Prepared by Annie Ruth Davis Place, Marion, S.C. Date, February 4, 193S Ho. Words Reduced from_ Rewritten by words 270 Page 4. (Lizzie's attention turns to June, who comes in crying from " the back yard,where all the children went to play during Lizzie's conversation with her visitor), Lizzie What de matter wid you, June? June Aun' Izzie, Possum knock me wid de ax. Lizzie-- Great King! What a peculiar thing to hit you wid. How-come he to do dat? June He was bust in up dem stick out dere side de wood pile. Lizzie Oh, well, you just go en butt up on de ax. ain' no fault of he own den. Dat Clean up dat face en gwine on way from here. (June, crying to himself, remains seated on the little stool).* Lizzie Let me see now, Miss Davis, I tryin to get some of dem old time songs together to turn for you what you been axin me bout de other time you come here. Yes'um, I tryin to blow my dogs (Possum enters the room). Possum Aun' Izzie, I was bust in up dem splinters dat my daddy brung for you to cook wid en June come en set right under de ax. Lizzie Um-huh, ain' I tell you so? Fetch it here en put it in de corner. business wid dat ax nohow. Whe de ax, Possum? Ain' none of you had no Ain' I tell you to mind your way round dat ax? (Possum runs back out in the yard). Code No. Project, 1885-(1) Prepared by Annie Ruth Davis Place, Marion, S.C. Date, February k-t 1936 Lizzie No. Words Reduced from Rewritten by words 271 Page 5. Like I tellin you, Miss Davis, if de people had a song in de old days, dey would put it down on a long strip called a ballad, but honey, I been through de hackles en I can' think of nothin like I used to could. sing dis one for you, Miss Davis? Is anybody It a old one, too, cause I used to hear (Alfred comes in to tell his tale). Alfred Aun' Izzie, June set on Possum's pile of splinters dat he was makin en Possum let de ax fall right on June's head, Lizzie Dey is cases, Miss Davis. chillun just gets everything off my mind. to eat sometimes. I tellin you, dese Most makes me forget Dere Miss Julia Woodberry, poor creature, she been down mighty sick en I ain' been able to go en see bout her no time. much. Don' know what ailin her cause I don' gets bout nowhe' No,mam, dese chillun don' have no manners to go visitin en I can' left dem here widout nobody to mind bout dat dey don run Joseph Aun' Izzie, I ain' gwine wear no coat to school dis mornin. Lizzie Boy, is you crazy? What de matter wid you, ain' you know de ground been white wid Jack Frost dis mornin? you clean up dat nose fore you get dere to school, too. En You ain1 say your ma send you here widout no pocket rag to wife your nose wid? You ma, she know better den to epect me to hunt rags for you. round de neck. Gome here en let me fasten up dat coat You look like a turkey buzzard wid it gapin Code No. Project, 1S85-(1) prepared by Annie Bath Davis Place, Marion, S.C. Date, February k, 1938 open dat way. Whe Bertha Lee? No. Words Reduced from. Rewritten by" words 272 '1 It time both you been in dat. road gwine to school dere. (Bertha Lee and Joseph go out the door to leave for school). Lizzie Lord a mercy, Miss Davis, my mind just a windin. How dat song turn what I had for you? "One for Paul, En one for Sidas Lizzie Joseph, how-come you ain tell dese chillun good-bye? Joseph Good-bye Possum, good-bye June, good-bye Alfred. Possum, June, Alfred Good-bye Joseph. Lizzie Is you got dat one now, Miss Davis? What de next? Great Jeruseluml Dem chillun done carry dat tune way wid dem. I can' turn dat one to save my neck. Just can* come to de turn table as de old man would say. ( 12 o'clock mill whistle blows, time teller for many colored people of the community). what dat whistle say? Lord a mercy, It done come 12 o'clock en dat pot ain' thought bout to kick up none yet. I tell you, honey, it sho a ' eponsibilty I got put on me here to cook for all dese chillun ration en see dey/is cook mighty done, too, so as dey won' be gwine round gruntin wid dey belly hurtin all de evenin. (Lizzie begins to stir up the fire to make the pot boil and her visitor decides to return later to hear the songs). Code No. Project, 1885-U) Prepared by Annie Ruth Davis Place, Marion, S.C. Date, February 7, 1938 No. Words Reduced from_ Rewritten by" words 273'! Page 7. II It is a damp, chilly morhin about three weeks later, when Lizzie?s visitor returns to hear her sing old time songs. June, Bertha Lee, and Alfred are playing in the street before the little house. 7 Visitor Is Aun' Lizzie at home? June, Alfred, Bertha Lee Yes'ura, she in dere. She in de house. Visitor you children better mind how you run about in all this damp weather, it might make you sick. June Possums got de chicken pox. Alfred Possumls got de chicken pox. June Me sick, too. Bertha Lee I got a cold. Alfred I sick, too. Visitor Poor little Possum. Is he sick much? Alfred Yes'um, he stay right in dat room dere. (Room next to Lizzie's room with a separate front door). Bertha Lee He mamma had de chicken pox first en den Possum, he took down wid it. June Dere he now I Dere Possuml (Possum appears from around the corner of the house with both hands full of cold fish^ (Alfred goes to Lizzie's door to tell her that she has a visitor) Alfred Aun* Izzie, somebody out dere wanna Bee you. Code No. Project, 1SS5-(1) Prepared by Annie Ruth Davis Place, Marion, 8.0. Date, February 7, 1938 Lizzie Holy MosesI No. Words Reduced from_ Rewritten by" 274 11 Page 8. Who dat out dere? tellin me no story, is you? words Boy, you ain1 , Mind you now, you tell me a story en I'll whip de grease out you. Bertha Lee Aun' Izzie, ain' nobody but Miss Davis out dere. (Lizzie hobbles to the door on her stick). Lizzie How you is, Miss Davis? bout dis mornin. I ain1 much to speak I tell you de truth, Miss Davis, dese chillun keeps me so worried up dat I don' know whe' half my knowin gone, I say. Great Lord a mercy, dere Possum out dere in de air now en he been puny, too. Visitor The children tell me Possum has the chicken pox. Lizzie No'um, he ain1 got no chicken pox, Miss Davis. Dey thought he had it cause he mamma been ailin dat way, but I don' see no thin de matter wid him 'cept what wrong wid he mouth. Possum, stand back dere way from Miss Davis, I say. Yes'um, he been sorta puny like dis here last week. He mamma, must been feed him too much en broke he mouth out dat June Miss Davis, I know how to spell my name. Bertha Lee I know how to spell my name, too. Me likes to go to school. Visitor Oh, I think it is nice to like to go to school. What do you do at school? June Pull off your hat. Bertha Lee Us writes. Code Ho. Project, 18S5-U) Prepared by Annie Ruth Davis Place, Marion, S.C. Date, February 7, 193& Visitor No. Words Reduced from Rewritten by" words 2751 Page 9. Lizzie, how about those old time songs you promised to study up for me? - You ought to have a mind running over with them by this time. Lizzie Lord, Lord, honey, I had study up a heap of dem old tunes here de other day, but I tellin you de truth, Miss Davis, dese chillun got me so crazy till nothin won stick (Willie, age 10, comes over to play with the children and begins to whistle.). Lizzie Willie, ain' you know it ill manners to whistle in anybody house? Dere now, it impolite to walk by anybody house whistlin, too. You is too big a boy for dat. Ain' gwine stand for you learnin dese chillun no such manners for me to beat it out dem. Wo, boy, mind yourself way from here now, I got to hunt up dat tune for Miss Davis. tune poppin now. Let me see gwine out all my sparks. Yes'urn, I got one of dem old Great Happyl Dat pot done (Lizzie rushes in the house to look after a pot that she hears boilin over on the fire). June Bertha Lee, de lady don' know whe us sleeps, do she? Bertha Lee Dere us house over dere. (Bertha Lee gets up to point the house out and June immediately slides into her seat on the bench next to the visitor). Bertha Lee June Move way, June. No, dis place whe1 I been. Bertha Lee-r June, go further, I say. June No, Bertha Lee, dis whe* I been. No. Words Reduced from_ Rewritten by" Code Ho, Project, 1885-d) Prepared by Annie Ruth Davis Place, Marion, S.C. Date, February 7, 193$ words 276 Page 10. Bertha Lee No, go further. (June holds his place) I go tell Aun' Izzie den. Visitor Tell Lizzie I'm waitin to hear that tune she promised to sing. Bertha Lee Aun' Izzie, June settin in my place. Lizzie Fetch yourself on back out dere now, Bertha Lee, en settle your own scrap. bigger den June, too? Ain you shame of yourself en you Go way from here, I say. time to monkey up wid you. I ain1 got no I got to get dese collards boilin hard, else dey ain' grine get done time you chillun start puffin for your dinner. Go way, I tell you. Miss Davis, I comin toreckly. (Bertha Lee returns to the porch quietly and takes her place on the opposite side of the visitor, while June clings to his place). June Miss Davis, does you know Mr. Rembert? Visitor Is he your father? Bertha Lee and Jane - No, he ain' us daddy. June Mr. Rembert, he bought me everything I got. horses. He shoe Don1 you know him now? Bertha Lee He bought June's sweater, but dem my overalls he got on. June Dem dere pretty buttons you got on you, Miss Davis. Bertha Lee Sho is.en dem little chain dere. June Me got a sweater just like her coat. Bertha Lee Ain' just like it. June It most like it. Bertha Lee No, it ain* cause dis here wool. Code No. Project, 1S8$-(1) Prepared "by Annie Ruth Davis Place, Marion, S.C. Date, February 7, 193& No. Ysords Reduced from_ Rewritten by" word 8 77 O Page 11. (Lizzie returns to the porch and sits on a little stool near her door). Lizzie Lord, Miss Davis, dat tune done left me. Now, de next time dat I get a tune in my mind. I gwine sho get somebody to place it for me. It de Lord truth, my mind gwine just so wid so much of chillun worryations till June Possum lie can sing. Aun' Izsie, I ain1 got nothin to eat. (Lizzie returns to her room again to stir up the fire and get Possum some bread). Bertha Lee Sing den, June. June Un-uh, I can1. Aun' Izzie might hear me. Bertha Lee I gwine sing den. June "I sees de lighthouse- amen, I sees de lighthouse- amen, I sees de lighthouse- amen." (Lizzie and Possum return to porch. Possum has three muffins). Lizzie Clean up your nose dere,Alfred. ready. Miss Davis, I Sho got a mind to turn dat tune dis Alfred Possum wouldn' fetch me no bread, Aun1 Izzie. Lizzie Dere dey go again, Miss Davis. have none of Possum's bread. a piece out your own pan. No, you can' Gwine on in dere en catch you You eat up Possum's bread en den he'll be de one howlin bout he ain1 got none. (Alfred goes in the room and comes back with a biscuit). Code No. Project, 1885-(l) Prepared "by Annie Ruth Davis Place, Marion, S.C. Date, February 7> 193S Lizzie Bo Words Reduced from_ Rewritten by" words 278 Page 12. I pretty certain I ready now, Miss Davis. Let dem all get dey belly full en den dey head won' be turnin so sharp. Dat how-come I tries Possum Aun' Izzie, Alfred eatin June's bread. Lizzie your bread. Alfred, look here, boy, you know dat ain none of You sho gwine get a lickin for dat. (Lizzie slaps Your ma, she ain1 never left nothin but corn hoecake in him). your pan since you been born en you know dat, too. carries me in de clock sometimes, Miss Davis. Dem chillun Dis one en dat one callin me en de Lord help me, I forgets what I doin-r- Clean up dat nose dere, boy. June My nose clean. Lizzie Possum know I talkin to him. Get on in dere en tell Miss Mammie to give you a pocket rag, Possum. (Miss Mammie is Possum's aunt who came to spend the day with them). Bertha Lee "Peter Rabbit, HaJ Ha! HaJ Make Your Ears Go, Flopl Flop! FlopJ" Lizzie I has to ax you to bear wid me, Miss Davis. I sorry you come here on a dead shot en ain' gettin no birds. Lord knows, I tryin to get my mind June Oo, Aun' Izzie, Joseph been cuttin out Willie's book. (Lizzie'8 attention is attracted to Willie,who looks worried about his torn book.) Lizzie Great mercy, boy, you ought to have a pain in de chest. Look, you settin dere wid your bosom wide open. Fasten Code Wo. No. Words Reduced from Rewritten by Project, 1SS5-(1) Prepared by Annie Ruth Davis Place, Marion, S.C. Bate, February 7, 193S up your neck dere, I say. like I tell you? words 279! Page 13. Possum, come here, is you do Is you ax Miss Mammie for somethin to clean up dat nose wid? Possum Yesfum. Lizzie Look out now, 1*11 whip you for tellin a story. Whe' de rag? No, you ain' ax her neither. Gwine on en clean up dat nose fore I wear you out. (Possum goes around corner of house). Lizzie Help me Lord not to forget it dis time. I sho got dat tune June Aun' Izzie, Aun' Izzie, Possum fall in de tub of water what settin under de pump. (Possum appears from around the comer of the house just at that moment drenched and almost frozen). Lizzie Great Lord a mercyj possum sho enough. Possum, you looks like a drowned Why ain1 you do like I tell you to do? You know I don' never allow you chillun ramblin round dat pump tub no time. Ain* nobody want to drink out no tub you wash your snotty nose in. Fetch yourself in dere to de fire en dry your- self fore you is catch a death of cold. Gwine on, boy. Btand dere en watch me like a frizzle chicken. Fortune comin now. Dere Mr, John I gwine tell him to catch Possum en cook him up. Possum I gwine run. Lizzie You say you gwine run? Possum Don1 No'urn, I ain say I gwine run. No. Words Reduced from_ Rewritten by" Code No. Project, 1S85-(1) Prepared hy Annie Ruth Davis Place, Marion, S.C. Date, February .7, 193& Lizzie words 280 !, Page 14. Mind you now, Possum, you know what I tell you bout a story-teller. Mammie Miss Lizzie, I just don1 believe he know right from wrong. Lizzie Well, I gwine learn him den. worser den a story-teller. Ain' nothin I despises (Lizzie slaps Possum on the shoulder several times and sends him in the house .to dry, shivering from both cold and fear.). Lizzie Miss Davis, Mr. John Fortune helps me out wonderfully wid dese chillun. en eat dem. Say, when dey bad, he gwine cook dem up Yes,mam, I tellin de truth, honey, dese chillun keeps me settin here liptenin wid all my ears en lookin wid all my eyes, but dey is right sorta entertainin like. Yes'um, dey got so much of sense till dey done took what little I is had. (Alfred comes running in and leans up on Lizzie). Lizzie Clean up dat snotty nose, Alfred. You ought to been name Snotty wid your mouth all de time lookin like you ain1 hear tell of no pocket rag. Move way from dere, June. your nose eettin side, Miss Davis. Don1 blow -< X No. Words Reduced from Rewritten by Oode No. Project, 18S5-U) Prepared by Annie Ruth Davis Place, Marion, 8.C. Date, February 10, 1936 words 281 !, Page 15. in It is three days later. Lizzie is sitting on her little porch enjoying the warm sunshine of a bright February day. The* children have gone just across the street to play on the sidewalk and while Lizzie keeps a -watchful eye on them, she is trying once more to call back to her mind some of the old time songs that she used to sing in her early days. Her visitor sits on a bench nearby ready to make notes of these old songs as she sings them. Lizzie's attention is not only distracted by the children at intervals*, but also by different ones of her friends constantly passing along the street in front of the small home. Lizzie Lord, Miss Davis, look like everything a hustlin dis mornin. Yes'um, die here Monday mornin en everybody ie a bustlin gwine to see bout dey business. just gwine on, just gwine on. Seems like everything I tell you de truth, Miss Davis, I studied so hard bout dem songs de other night, I beg de Massa to show me de light en he hope me to recollect dis one for you. See, when you gets to de age I is, you is foolish {Joseph runs across the street to tell Lizzie something). Joseph Aun1 Izzie, Possum teachin June to hit Jerry. Lizzie Uh-huh, I gwine sho beat him, too. (Lizzie turns to her visitor) Possum, he teachin June to knock dat little one wid de speckle coat on. Visitor Is he another child that you are taking care of? Code Ho. Project, 1SS5-U) Prepared by Annie Ruth Davis Place, Marion, S.C. Date, February 10, 1936 No. Words Reduced from_ Rewritten by" words 282 Page 16. Lizzie No'um, he grandma raise him en de poor little creature, he don' have nobody to play wid. don' care when he come or whe' he go. Look like nobody I say, I tries to collect mine up en take care of dem cause it dis way, if you don1 take time en learn chillun, dey old en dey ain' old; dey fool en dey ain' fool. Yes'um, I tryin to drill dem, Miss Davis, but it does take time en a little whip, too. smart sometimes. Has to punish dem right I tellin you, dem chillun sho a 'sponsibility. Dem what put all dem gray hair up dere on my topknot. I tell dis one en dat one to set to a certain place till I say to get up en den I'll get my studyin on somethin else en de child, he'll be out yonder (Heddie Davis, age 72, a neighbor of Lizzies, comes over to join in the conversation). Lizzie Here come de hoss (horse). Oome in, Miss Heddie. Miss Davis wants us to sing one of dem old back tunes dis mornin. Heddie Well, I is studied up one tune what I been hear de old people sing when I wasn' nothin much more den a puppy Lord a mercy, Miss Lizzie, dere dem people comin from de trial. Look, dere dey fetchin dat girl to Dr. Graham now. got de poor child's head all wrapped up dat way. ought to have he head plucked. child so close de senses. En my Lord, Dat man, he He know better den to cut dat Don' know what de matter wid de people nohow. Lizzie Ain' nothin but de devil, Miss No. Words Reduced from_ Rewritten by" Oode No. Project, 1&>5-(1) Prepared by Annie Ruth Davis Place, Marion, S.C. Date, February 10, 193S words 83 Page 17. (Boy, about S years old, comes across the street and hands Lizzie a bundle). Pickle Miss Liszie, ma say dere your sewin. Lizzie Thank you, son, thank you a thousand times again. Tell your mamma de old hen a scratchin bout out dere in de yard now huntin de nest en ain' gwine be no long time fore I can be catchin her a chicken to put in de pot. Yes, Lord, I got to start savin dem egg dis very day for de settin. (Liszie turns to her visitor on the porch and continues her conversation). Miss Rosa, she does do all my sewin for me en I generally gives her eggs for her kindness. I sorry dere so much of huntin egg de same day. (Little boy, Pickle, looks disappointed and continues to hang around). Bertha Lee Aim' Izzie, sing somethin. Lizzie You want me to sing so bad,sugar, en 1 ain' know nothin neither. Heddie, turn me one. Heddie-- Gwine on en spill dat one yourself what you been tell me bout de other mornin en quit your pickin on me. Lizzie Well, I tryin to get myself together, but dere so much of travelin en so much of chillun, I can1 collect Alfred Aun1 Izzie, can I go to whe' Jerry gone? Lizzie No, boy, you know I ain1 got no mind to let you go runnin off dat way. (Lizzie calls to Mammie in the room). Mammie,look dere to de clock. of dese chillun way from here. (Pickle still hangs around). I gettin in a fidget to get some Code No. Project, 18S5-U) Prepared by Annie Ruth Davis Place, Mairion, S.C. Date, February 10, 193S No. Words Reduced from_ Rewritten by" words 284 Page IS. Lizzie Joseph, come here. Joseph Un-uh. Lizzie Boy, don' you grunt at me dat way. I say. Come here, Go dere in de chicken house en hunt dat one egg en give it to Pickle to carry to he mammav Got to scatter dese chiliun way from here Joseph Here de egg, Aun' Izzie.- Lizzie Fetch it dere to Pickle den. Boy, tell your mamma I sorry I ain' had no egg to send her 'cept just dat one nest egg. Tell her, when she buss dat egg, she better look right sharp en see is de hen ain' got it noways addle like ca.use . Bertha Lee Aun' Izzie, how my nose is? Lizzie up. Look bad. Gwine on in dere en clean your face I know you ain' gwine to school wid all dem crumbs stuck bout on your mouth. Joseph, gwine on in de house dere en put you on some more clothes. Gwine on in dere, I say. Don' stand dere on de street en strip. Heddie No, boy, don' pull off in no public. Bertha Lee Aun' Izzie, I gwine carry my bread to school wid me. Lizzie Hunt you a paper den. You can' go dere to school wid no handful of bread makin all dem chiliun start mouthin round you. Joseph, get me a paper to put dis here child's bread in. Joseph Here, Bertha Lee. Here de paper. Ho. Words Reduced from_ Rewritten by" Code No. Project, 1S85-U) Prepared "by Annie Ruth Da*is Place, Marion, S.O. Date, February 10, 193S words 285 Page 19. Lizzie Lord, Miss Davis, it a time. I tell you de . truth, honey, dis here 'sponsibility got me tied both hand en foot. Ain' no rest nowhe', I hates it you come here en ain' gettin nothin what you been aimin to catch. toreckly though. I gwine be ready Let me get dese chillun in de road en dem songs gwine start travelin out my head faster den lightnin Bertha Lee Aun1 Izzie, make Joseph come on. Lizzie Joseph, get in dat road dere side Bertha Lee. Now, you chillun make your tracks dere to echool straight as you can go en if you stop dere to dat lady house en get a pecan, I gwine whip you hard as I can. Joseph and Bertha Lee Good-bye Possum, good-bye June, good-bye Alfred. Possum, June, Alfred Good-bye Joseph, good-bye Bertha Lee. Lizzie Here dat tune come buzzin now, Miss Davis. you got dis one? Sunday Mornin Bandl "Oh, my sister, How you walk on de cross? Sunday mornin bandl Oh, your feet might slip En your soul get lost. Sunday mornin bandl Oh, what band, Oh, what band, Is Code No. Project, 1SS5-(D Prepared by Annie Ruth Davis Place, Marion, 8.C. No. Words Reduced from_ Rewritten by" Date, February 10, 193S Page 20. words 286 Do you belong? What band! What bandl Sunday mornin bandl" y Heddie -1,W , :.'J Sis, you is done took de one I been how. I been expectin you was comin out wid one of dem old time reels you used to be a singin en a jiggin bout all de time. Lizzie Oh, I been know a heap of dem reels. Hoped sing dem behind de old folks back many a day cause us chillun wasn1 never allowed to sing reels in dem days. See, old back people was more religious den dey is now. Yes,mam, dey been know what spell somethin in dat day en time. When dey would speak den, dey meant somethin, I tell you. People does just go through de motion dese days en don' have no mind to mean what dey talk. No, child, us didn' dar'sen to let us parents hear us sing no reels den. What dem old people didn1 quarrel out us, dey whip out us. My father never wouldn1 let we chillun go to no frolics, but us would listen from de house en catch what us could. I used to could turn a heap of dem reels, too, but be was so tight on us till everything bout left me. Lord, Heddie, give me a thought. You is de jiggin hoss. Hope me out, Heddie, hope me out. (Heddie begins song and Lizzie joins in and finishes it). "The blackest nigger I ever did see, He come a runnin down from Tennessee, His eye was red en his gum was blue, En God a mighty struck him, En his shirt tail flew. Code No. Project, 1SS5-U) Prepared by Annie Ruth Davis Place, Marion, S.C. Date, February 10, 193S No. Words Reduced from. Rewritten by" words 2&: Page 21. Meet me at de crossroads, For I'm gwine join de band. Um-huhl Um-huhl Um-huhi" Lizzie Great Lord a mercy., Miss Davis, dem kind of tune, dem sinful en wicked songs, dey what I used to turn fore I been big enough to know what been in dem.. No, honey, I thank de good Lord to point me way from all dat foolishness en wickedness en I ain' gwine back to it neither. "Lord, I know dat my time ain1 long, Oh, de bells keep a ringin, Somebody is a dying, Lord, I know dat my time ain1 long. (Repeat three times) Lord, I know dat my time ain1 long, Oh, de hammer keep a knockin, Keep a knockin on somebody coffin, Lord, I know dat my time ain' long." (Repeat three times). Lizzie Lord, I sho know my time ain1 long. De Lord say de way of de righteous prevaileth to eternal life en I know I right, people. Lord, I know I right. 'Sponsibility or no 'sponsibility, Lord, I seekin de Kingdom. Source: Lizzie Davis, colored, 70-$0 years, Marion, S.C. Personal interview by Annie Ruth Davis, Marion, 8.0. Code Ho. Project, lg65-(l) Prepared by Annie Ruth Davis Place, Marion, S.C. Date, December 13, 1937 No. Reduced from Rewritten by" words 288 Page 1< LIZZIE DAVIS Ex-Slave, Age 70 to SO 390418 "No,mam, I couldn* exactly tell you how old I is cause my father, he been dead over 20 years en when us had a burnin out dere to Georgetown, Pa's Bible was destroyed den. Cose I don1 remember myself, say, slavery time, but I can tell dat what I is hear de olden people talk bout been gwine on in dat day en time. No,mam, I want to suggest to you de best I can cause I might have to go back up yonder en tell it to be justified some of dese days." "Oh, I been know your father en your grandfather en all of dem. Bless mercy, child, I don1 want to tell you nothin, but what to please you. Lord, I glad to see your face. lovin en pleasin, just so as I is always know you. It look so Look like dere not a wave of trouble is ever roll cross your peaceful bosom." "Now, like I speak to you, I don' know rightly bout my age, but I can tell you when dat shake come here, I been a miseie girl. dem days, Oh, my Lord, I been just as proud en crazy in fasn' thinkin nothin bout dat dese dark days was headin here. Yes,mam, I is always been afflicted ever since I been twelve years old, so dey tell me. You see, dat muscle right back dere in my foot, it grow crooked just like a hook. De doctor, he say dat if dey had kept me movin bout, it wouldn* been grow dat way. But my poor old mammy, she die while us was livin down dere to old man Foster Brown's plantation en No. Words Reduced from Rewritten by Code No. Project, lgS5-(l) Prepared by Annie Ruth Davis Place, Marion, S.O. Date, December 13, 1937 words 289 Page 2. dere won1 no other hand gwine trouble dey way no time to lift me up. Oh, my mammy, she been name Katie Brown cause my parents, dey belonged to de old man Foster Brown in dey slavery day. Dat how-come I been raise up a country child dere on Mr. Brown1s plantation. Another thing, like as you might be a notioin, I ain1 never been married neither. No, mam, I ain' never been married cause I is always been use a stick in walkin in my early days en never didn' nobody want me. Yes,mam, I know I every bit of 70 or gwine on SO years old to my mind en I think it a blessin de Lord preserve me dis long to de world. Oose I often wonders why de good Massa keep me here en take dem what able to work for demselves M MYes, honey, wid God harness on me, I come here to dis town a grown woman to live en I been livin right here by myself in dis same house near bout 20 years. Oose dere a little 12-year-old country girl dat stays here wid me while de school be gwine on so as to get some learnin. Yes'um, I pays $ 2.00 every month for dis here room en it ain1 worth nothin to speak bout. Pap Scott's daughter stay in dat other room over dere. No,mam, dere ain' but just dese two rooms to de house. You, see, my buildin does leak en I has a big time some of dese days. See here, child, I has dis piece of oilcloth cross my bed en when it rains on a night, I sleeps in dat chair over dere en lets it drop on de oilcloth. storm, my Lord, dere such a racketl Den when it comes a I be settin here lookin for dat top up dere to be tumblin down on me de next crack en seems like it does give me such a misery in my head. Yes,mam, Code No. Project, 1SS5-(1) Prepared by Annie Ruth Davis Place, Marion, S.C. Date, December 13, 1937 No. Words __ Reduced from_ Rewritten by" words 290 Page 3. dat misery does strike me every time I hear tell bout dere a darkness in de cloud." "Well, drawed up as I is, I ain* able to get no work worth much to speak bout dese days. It dis way, child, don' nobody like to see no old ugly crooked up creature like me round bout whe dey be no time. Cose I sets here en does a washin now en den whe* de people gets push up, but don' get no regular work. Now, dem people over dere, I does dey washin mostly, but dey don' never be noways particular en stylish like en I don1 have nothin much to worry wid. See, de lady, she don1 go bout nowhe' much." Oh, Lord, dere my stove right dere, I say. cooks right here in de fireplace all de time. Yes,mam, I I got dat pot on dere wid some turnips a boilin now en it gettin on bout time I be mixin up dat bread, too, fore dat child be comin home from school hungry as a louse. I say, I got dis here old black iron spider en dis here iron griddle, too, what I doe my bakin on cause you see, I come from way back yonder. Dem what de olden people used to cook on fore Btoves ever been come here. Yes,mam, de spider got three legs dat it sets on en de griddle, dat what I makes dese little thin kind of hoecake on. See, when I wants to bake in de spider, I heaps my coals up in a pile dat way so as to set de spider on dem en pours de batter in de spider en puts de lid on. Den I rakes me up another batch of coals en covers de lid over wid dem. dat to make it get done on de top. Yes,mam, dat de kind of a Do Code No. Project, 1S55-(1) Prepared by Annie Ruth Davis Place, Marion, S.O. Date, December 13, 1937 No. Words Reduced from_ Rewritten by" words 291 Page TT spider dat de people used to cook dey cake in. How, when I has a mind to cook some turnips or some collard8, I makes dis here boil bread. dem turnips, Honey, dat somethin to talk bout eatin wid Ain1 no trouble to mind it neither. just washes my hands right clean like First, I en takes en mixes up my meal en water together wid my hand till I gets a right stiff dough. Den I pinches off a piece.de dough bout big as a goose egg en flattens it out wid my hand en drops it in de pot wid de greens. Calls dat boil dumplings, I think bout I got a mind dat I gwine cook some of dem in dat turnip pot directly, too. No,mam, I don1 never eat dinner till it come bout time for de little girl to be expectin to be from school* Oh, my blessed, dem olden people sho know how to cook in dem days. Never didn1 hear speak bout de cookin upsettin de people in dat day en time like it sets de people in a misery dese days. Dat how-come, I say, I ain1 noways ailin in de inside cause it be dat I lives de olden way. had de hand to cook, Yes, child, de slavery people sho Dere ain1 never been nothin cook nowhe1 dat could satisfy a cravin like dat ash cake dat de people used to cook way back deref I say. Oh, dey would mix up a batter just like dey was gwine make a hoecake en wrap it all up in oak leaves or a piece of dis here heavy brown paper en lay it in de hot ashes. over de top of it, Den dey would rake some more hot ashes all Yes'um, de dampness out de hoecake would keep de wrappin wet en when it would get done, de paper would Code UQ. Project, 1SS5-(1) Prepared by Annie Ruth Davis Place, Marion, S.C. Date, December 13, 1937 peel right off it. No. Words Reduced from_ Rewritten by" words 292 Page 5. I tell you, honey, I mighty glad I been come along in dat day en time. Mighty thankful I been a child of de olden ways." "Yes, child, de people what been raise de slavery way, dey been have a heap of curious notions en some of dem was good, I say. Yes, mam, dere one sign dat I remembers bout en I follows dat up right sharp dese days. dat closely. Say, somebody have a mouthful of rations en sneeze, it a sign of death. to speak bout. I sho watches I finds dat to be very true Yes'um, I notices dat a good one, Miss Davis." M Den I got another one comin. Always say, when you see bout a dozen buzzards moesin (flying) round a house en den dey break off en make a straight shoot for a graveyard, dere somebody out dat house gwine be bury dere soon. Cose dat what I hear talk bout, but I ain1 watched dat so much." "No,mam, dat ain1 half de signs what de olden people dat used to have cause/all what dey know to tell dem what to do en what was gwine happen; dem signs closely, too. Dem what was wise, dey followed Yes, you come back another time, child, en I'll see can I scratch up a heap of dem other sign to tell you. When I gets to talkin to you bout old times, my mind, it just gets to wanderin over dem old fields whe' I run bout as a little small child en I can1 half remember nothin to speak to you bou4.n Source: Lizzie Davis, colored, Marion, S.C. - Age 70 to SO. Personal interview by Annie Ruth Davis, Deo*, 1937. Ho. Jto**8 ; Reduced f rom. Rewritten by" Code No. Project, 1S85-(1) Prepared by Annie Ruth Davis Place, Marion, 8.0. Date, December 21, 1937 words 293 Page~T7 LIZZIE DAVIS Ex-Slave, Age_ 390411 ' My parents, dey was sho raise in de South. up on de old man Foster Brown's plantation. whe Mr, Foster Brown used to live? Been come Ain you know Yes,mam, down dere in dat grove of pecans dat you see sett in side de road, when you be gwine down next to Centenary. I remember, I hear my father tell bout dat his mammy was sold' right here to dis courthouse, on dat big public square up dere, en say dat de man set her up in de wagon en took her to Georgetown wid him. dere on de block. plenty times. Sold her right Oh, I hear dem talkin bout de sellin block Pa say, when he see dem carry his mammy off from dere, it make he heart swell in his breast.""^ "Yes*urn, I hear my father talk bout how dey would shoot de great big bomb guns in slavery time. Seems like, he say dat de shoo tin fuss been come from Fort Sumter. Oh, my Lord, I hear talk dat de people could hear dem guns roarin all bout dis here country. I know dat word been true cause I hear my parents en de olden people speak bout dat right dere fore we ohillun. 8ay, when dey would feel dat rumblin noise, de people would be so scared. Didn' know what was gwine happen. Oose I speak bout what I catch cause de olden people never didn* allow dey ohillun to set en hear dem talk no time. No,mam, de olden people was mighty careful of de words dey let slip dey lips.*"^ Code No. Project, 1S85-(1) Prepared toy Annie Ruth Davis Place, Marion, 8.0. Date, December 21, 1937 No. Words Reduced from Rewritten by Words 294 Page 2. M 0h, we chillun would have de most fun dere ever was . romancin (roaming) dem woods in dat day en time. I used to think it was de nicest thing dat I been know bout to go down in de woods side one of dem shady branch en get a cup of right cool water to drink out de stream. I tell you, I thought dat was de sweetest ratter I is ever swallowed. Den we chillun used to go out in de woods wid de crowd en get dese big oak leaves en hickory leaves en make hats. Would use dese here long pine needles en thorns for de pins dat we would pick up somewhe* dere in de woods. En we would dress de hats wid all kind of wild flowers en moss dat we been find scatter bout in de woods, too. de prettiest kind of bonnets. Oh, yesfum, we thought dey was Den we would get some of dese green saplin out de woods often times to make us a rid in horse wid en would cut down a good size pine another time en make a flyin mare to ride on. Yes,mam, dat what we would call it. Well, when we would have a mind to make one of dem flyin mare, we chillun would slip a ax to de woods wid us en chop down a nice little pine tree, so as dere would be a good big stump left in de ground. Den we would chisel de top of de stump down all round de edges till we had us a right sharp peg settin up in de middle of de stump. After dat was fixed, we would cut us another pole a little bit smaller den dat one en bore a hole in de middle of it to make it set down on dat peg. Oh, my Lord, one of us chillun would get on dis end en dere another one would Code No. No. Words Reduced from_ Rewritten by" Project, 1SS5-(1) Prepared by Annie Ruth Davis Place, Marion, 8.C. Date, December 21, 1937 words 295 Page 3. get on de other end en us chillun would give dem a shove dat would send dem flyin round fast as I could say mighty-me-alife. My blessed a mercy, child, it would most bout knock de sense out dem what been on dere. be crazy to ride on de flyin mare. Yes,mam, everybody would All de neighbor1 s chillun would gather up en en go in de woods en jump en shout bout which one turn come to ride next. I tellin you, dem was big pleasures us had in dat day en time en dey never cost nobody nothin neither." "Well, Mr. Brown, he was mighty good to his colored people, so I hear my parents say. Would allow all his niggers to go to de white people church to preachin every Sunday, dose my father, he was de carriage driver en he would have task to drive de white folks to church on a Sunday. Yes'um, dem what been belong to Mr. Brown, dey had dey own benches to set on right up dere in de gallery to de white people church, but I hear talk dat some of dem other white people round bout dere never wouldn' let dey colored people see inside dey church no time. Lord, I talk bout how de people bless wid privilege to go to church like dey want to in dis day en time en don' have de mind to serve de Lord like dey ought to no time. Cose dere a man comes here every Sunday mornin in a car en takes me put to church. Ain1 no kin to me fceither He late sometimes en de preacher be bout out wid de sermon, but I goes anyhow en gets all I can. Look like de Lord bless me somehow, cripple up as I is, I say.M Code No. Project, 1SS5-(I) Prepared by Annie Ruth Davis Place, Marion, S.O. Date, December 21, 1937 tt De shakej girl den. No. Words_ Reduced from_ Rewritten by" words 296 Page 4. Oh, I remember it well cause I been a grown Everybody thought it was de Jedgment en all de people was runnin out en a hollerin. I thought it was de last myself en I livin here to tell de people, I was sho scared. I been out to de well bout 12 o'clock de next day en I could see de water in de well just a quiver in. Lord, Lord, dat water tremble bout four weeks after dat. 8uch a hollerin en a prayin as de people had bout dat shake. No'um, Ijwas livin down dere to Tabernacle den en dere wasn1 none of de houses round us destroyed. No, child, won1 no harm done nowhe' dat I knows of only as a heap of de people been so scared, dey never didn' grow no more," M Yesfum, I think bout here de other night dat I had make you a promise to fetch you up some of dem signs de olden people used to put faith in. Dere one sign bout if you hear a dog howl or a cow low round your house on a night, it a pretty good sign you gwine lose somebody out dat house. I finds dat to be a mighty true sign cause I notices it very closely." M Den dey used to say, too, if you get up in de mornin feelin in a good humor, de devil sho gwine get you fore night fall dat same day. Oose I don' pay so much attention to dat. If I get up feelin like singin, I has to sing cause it my time to sing, I say.tt "Let me see, dere another one of dem omen dat I had shake up in my mind to tell you. Say, if you see a ground mole rootin round your house, it won1 be long fore you gwine move from dat Oode Ho. Project, 1SS5-(1) Prepared by Annie Ruth Davis Place, Marion, S.O. Date, December 21, 1937 place. days. No. Words Reduced from Rewritten by" words 297 fage 5. But I don1 never see no ground moles hardly dese . Don1 think dey worries nobody much." *I recollects, too, way back yonder de people used to say, if you see de smoke comin out de chimney en turn down en flatten out on de ground, it a sign of rain in a few days." "Yes,mam, I think bout dis one more. If you dream bout you be travelin en come to a old rotten down buildin, it a sign of a old person death. Don1 say whe it a man or a woman, but it a sho sign dat a old person gwine die." "Den people what lives in de country believes, if a fox comes round a house barkin en a scratchin, it a sign dey gwine lose somebody out dey family. Yes*um, de fox just comes right out de woods up to de yard en barks. You see, a dog won' never run a fox dat comes bout dem barkin. No,mam, when de dog hear dat, he just stands right under de house en growls at de fox. I know dat be a true sign cause us tried dat one." "Now, I got another one of dem thought comin. Yes, my Lord, I hear talk dat if you get de broom en sweep your house out fore sunrise, you would sweep your friends out right wid de trash. Dat used to be a big sign wid de people, too. En it bad luck to take up ashes after de sun go down, dey say. Yes, I know bout plenty people won' do dat today." "Well, honey, seems like when I calls back, de people in a worser fix den when I used to get 25 cents a day. Used to could take dat en go to a country store en get a decent dress to wear Code No. Project, 1SS5-(1) Prepared "by Annie Ruth Davis Place, Marion, S.C. Date, December 21, 1937 to church. No. Words Reduced from_ Rewritten by" words 298 Page b. Sell peck of us corn en get it in trade. Didn' never pay more den 50 cents for a load of wood in dem days en I remembers just as good eggs been sell for 10 cents a dozen en 15 cents bout Christmas time. Oose I ain1 exactly decided what to speak bout de times cause it dis way to my mind. De people, dey have a better privilege dis day en time, h but dey don1 appreciate nofin like dey .did baok in my dark A days. Yes,mam, de people was more thankful to man en God den dey is dese days. Dat my belief bout de way de world turnin, I say." Source: Lizzie Davis, colored, age betipeen 70 and 60, Marion, 8.0. Personal interview by Annie Ruth Davis, Dec, 1937. J*ojecfc#1655 OQniTr W. * Diaon. 030175 QQQ Hinnsboro, S. C. ^^^ LOUISA DAVIS EX-SLAVE 106 YEABS OLD, 'tyell, well, well* up in Fairfieldt Tou knows my white folks on Jackson Creek, Ifs mighty glad of dat, and glad to see you* % white folks comes to see me pretty often, though they lives way up dere* You wants to write me up? Well, I'll tell you all I recollect, and what I donft tell you, my daughter and de white folks can put in de other ents* f gradi- Take dis armchair and git dat sxnokin' ash trays lay it on de window sill by you and make yourself comfortable and go ahead*" "I was "born in de Catawba River section* % grandpgppy was a full blood Indian; ay pappy a half Indian; my mother, coal black woman* Just who I bflong to when a baby? I911 leave dat for de white folks to tell, but old Ibrster Jim Lemon buy us all; pappy, mammy, and three chillun: Jake, Sophie, and me* De white folks I fust bvlong to refuse to sell fless Marse Jim buy de whole family; dat was clever, wasn't it? Dis old Louisa must of come from good stock, all de way 'long from de beginnin1, and I is sho1 proud of dat** "When he buy us, ttarse Jim take us to his place on Little River nigh clean cross de county* In de course of time us fell to terse Jim's son, John, and his wife, Miss Mary* their fast baby, Karse Robert* I was a grown woman then and nursed I see dat baby grow to be a man and 'lected to legislature, and stand up in dat Capitol over yonder cross de river and tell them de Law and how they should act, I did* They say I was a pretty gal, then, face shiny lak a ginger cake, and hair straight and black as a crow, and I ainft so bad to look at now, Uarse Willie says** n }fy pappy rise to be foreman on de place and was much trusted, but -2- 300 he plowed and worked just de same, mammy say maybe harder** * Then one springtime de flowers git be blooming, de hens to caok ling, and de guineas to patarocking* wid de baby# He say, Sam come along when I was out in de yard He fust talk to de baby, and I asked him if de baby wasnft pretty* f Yes, but not as pretty as you is, Louisa*f kind of f oilishness wind up in a weddin1 I looks at Sam, and dat De white folks allowed us to be married on de back piazza, and Reverend Boggs performed de ceremony** tt lfy husband was a slave of de Sloans and didn't get to see me often as he wanted to; and of course, as de housemaid then, dere was times I couldnYt meet him, clandestine like he want me* Us had some grief over dat, but he got a pass twice a week from his marster, Marse Tommie Sloan, to come to see me* Bold as Sam git to be, in after years rid in1 wid a red shirt long side fif General Bratton in f76, dat nigger was timid as a rabbit wid me when us fust git married* Shucks, let's talk fbout southing else* Sam was a field hand and drive de wagon way to Charleston once a year wid cotton, and always bring back something pretty for me** *TShen de war come on, Sam went wid young Marster Tom Sloan as body* guard, and attended to him, and learned to steal chickens, geese, and turkeys for his young marster, just to tell fbout it* He dead now; and what I blames de -white folks for* they never would give him a pension, though he spend so much of his time and labor in their service* * ain't bearin1 down on ny kind of white folks, for Ifd jump wid joy if I could just git baok into slavery and have de same white folks to serve and be wid them, day in and day out** *0noe a week 1 see de farm hands git rations at de smoke house, but dat didnft concern me* I was a housemaid and my manner run de kitchen, got de same meals as ay marster*a folks did** and us -8- 301 "Yas sir; X got 'possum* Know how to cotte him now* Put him in a pot and/ parboil him* then put him in a oven wid lots of lard or fatback, and then bake him wid yaller yam potatoes , flanked round and round, and then wash him down wid looust and persimmon bder followed by a piece of pumpkin pie* Bat make de bestest meal 1 fmembers in slavery days*" "Us got fish out of Little River nigh every Saturday, and th^y went good Sunday morning* 0s had Saturday evenin's, dat is, de farm hands did, and then I got to go to see Sam some Sundays* His folks, de Sloans, give us a weddin' dinner on Sunday after us was married, and they sho1 did tease Sam dat day*" "Like all rich buckra, de Lemons had hogs a plenty, big flook of sheep, cotton gin, slaves to card, slaves to spin, and slaves to weave* was well clothed and fed and ftended to when sick* our soul's salvation* Us They nas concerned 'bout Us went to church, learn de catechism; they was Presby- terians, and read de Bible to us* But I went wid Sam after freedom* He took de name of Davis, and 1 jined de Methodist Chn&oh and was baptized Louisa Davis " "Batroller, you ask met goodloekin9 woman? 'Spect I do member them* Wasn't 1 a Didn't Sam want to see me wore than twice a week? Wouldn't he risk it widout de pass some time? Sure he did* De patrollers got after and run Sam many a time*" "After de war my pappy went to Florida* He look just like a Indian, hair and all, bushy head, straight and young lookin' wid no beard* We never heard from him since*" De slaves wash de family clothes on Saturday and then rested after doin' dat* Us had a good time Christmas} every slave ketch white folks wid a holler, 'Christmas gift, Marster' and they holler it to each other* Us all 302 hung fror stocking all 'bout de Big House, and then dere nould be sumpin' in dere next mornin' Lord, wasn't them good times!" n TSiow ham is it dese days? gals lyin* Young triflin* nigger boys and f round puffin1 cigarets, oarryin1 whiskey fround wid them, and gittin1 in jail on Christmas, grievin1 de Lord and their pappies, and all sich things* is it oomin1 to? GHl De risin* generation and de futuret TOiat I just donvt know, but dere is comin1 a time to all them#" n I shov like to aance -when I was younger De fiddlers was B^jcy Copley and Buck Meuaigault; and if anybody 'round here could make a fiddle ring like Buck (ftrald, wouldn't surprise me none if ay heart wouldn't cry out to ny legs, fFust lady to de right and cheat or swing as you like, and on to de right1 * n Stop dat laughin1 De Indian blood in me have held me up over a hundred years, and de music might make me young again** "Oh yes, us had ghost stories, make your hair stand on end, and us put iron in de fire when us hear screech owl, and put dream book tinder bed to keep ofifc/bad dreams * "When de yankees come they took off all they couldnH eat or burn, but donft letfs talk fbout dat Maybe if our folks had beat them and git up into dere country our folks would of done just like they did* Who knows?* "You see dis new house, de flower pots, de dog out yonder, de oat in de sun lyin' in de chair on de porch, de seven tubs under de shed, de two big wash pots, you see de pictures hangin' round de wall, de nice beds, all dese things is de blessin's of de Lord through President Roosevelt Ify grandson, Pindfcney, is a World War man, and he got in de CCC Camp, still in it in North Carolina* When he got his bonus, he come down, and say, 'Grandma, you too old to walk, supposin1 I git you a automobile?1 -5- I allow, 'Son* de Indian blood rather make me want a house*f Then us laugft,^ Well/ he say* 'Dis H*>Bey I has and am continuin9 to make* I wants you and mama to enjoy it.1 Then he laugh fit to kill heself Then I say* VI been dreamin1 of a tepee all our own, all my lifetime; buy-us a lot over in Sugartown in Sew Brooklaad, and make a home of happiness for your ma, me and you1 * n And dis is de tepee you settin1 in today I feel like hefs a young -warrior$loyal and brave, off in de forests workin1 for his chief$ ltr Roosevelt, and dat his dreams are fbout me maybe some night wid de winds blowin1 over dat three C camp where he is** 303 Project 1885 -1- District#4 390102 Spartanburg, S.C. May 29,1937 o04 FOLK-LORE: EX-SLAVES "I was a slave of Bill Davis who lived at "Rich Hill", near Indian Creek, in dewberry County, S.C. born about 1856, I reckon. mammy was Rhody Davis. I was My daddy was Ivasum Davis and my Marse Bill was a good master, lived in a big house, give us a good place to live and plenty to eat. He hardly ever whipped us, and was never cruel to us. He didn!t let his overseer whip us, and never hit a man. n Aw, we had good eats den. Wish I has some of dem old* ash-cakes now which was cooked in de brick oven or in de ashes in de fireplace. My mistress had a big garden, and give us something to eat out of it. We used to go hunting, and killed possums, rabbit, squirrels, and birds* fl We bad home-made clothes Hill I was big boy. Dey was made from card and spin wheels. ,f 0ur work was light; we got up at sun-up at blowing of de horn and worked till sundown. worked on Saturday afternoons when we had to. Sometimes we On Saturday nights we had frolics - men and women. Some women would wash their clfcthes on Saturday afternoons* * Den at night we have prayer meetings. "We had no church on our plantation, not till after freedom, but TO learned to read and write and spell. "De padderrolers didn't bother us; our master always give us a pass when we go anywhere. -2u 0n Christmas Day master always give big dinners for slaves, and on New Year we had a holiday. "I married Idla Davis at de Baptist Church in Newberry. ""When our slaves got sick we sent far de doctor. Some of de old folks in the neighborhood believed in giving root-herb tea or tea made from cherry barks or peach leaves. "When freedom come de master told us we was free and could go but if we wanted to stay on with him, we could stay. Ys/e stayed with him for tvo years and worked by day wages. f1 The Ku Klux was dere. talk about Aem. I heard old folks Dey had white sheets over their heads and white caps on their heads* ft The Yankees went through our place and stole cattle. ft I thought slavery was all right, I had a good time* f cause I had a good master. ,1 I joined the church when I was 21 years old because I thought I'd live better. I think all ought to join the church " SOURCE: Wallace Davis (88), Newberry* S.C.; interviewer: G. Iceland Summer, Newberry, S*C. 305 Project 1885-1 folklore Spartanburg, Dist.4 Oct. 15, 1937 ->^r 390384 X"" X Edited by: 306 { ~~f \ Elmer Turnage STORIES OF. EX-SLAVES "I live in a little two-room house beyond Helena where I work a little patch of land which I rent. I don't own anything, I make a living working de land. rt I was born on Indian Creek in Newberry County, S.C. about 1856. My mammy was Rhody Davis and my pa was Ivasum Davis. We belonged in slavery to Bill Davis. He lived at de place called "Rich Kill". De old house is done tore down, but young Riser now lives in de new house on de place. "Our master was good to us, but whipped us a little sometimes. He would not allow his overseer to whip any of us. He give us enough to eat and a fair place to live in. We didn't want fer anything. Dey had plenty to eat on de farm, and sure had good eatings. Dere was a brick oven which could cook good bread and cakes. We had a big garden which de mistress looked after, and she had plenty from it which she shared wid de slaves. M De old spinning wheel was used lots of times and dey made all de clothes everybody on de place wore. "We didn't have no church to go to, but dey sometimes made some slaves go to white folks churches where dey set on de back seats. We didn't have schools and couldn't learn to read and write till after freedom come; den some niggers learned at de brush arbors, "Befo' freedom de patrollers marched up and down de road but didn't bother us. Our master always give us a pass when we went somewhere. On Christmas he give us big dinners. Jey want de ohillun to hurry en grow en dat de reason dey give em good attention at de house. Dey give us milk en clabber en corn bread to eat mostly en give us flitters some of de time. | ? I' I Dat was fried wheat bread what some people call pancakes. Used to give me job to mind de oows en de oalvea when dey was put to grazing." "All de other colored peoples live in de nigger quarter up on de hill* Jiist like de white people house here, de colored people house all be in row pretty much off from de big house. Oh, de people was meant to work in dat day en time. folks teach em sn show em what dey look for em to do. De white Den if dey didn' do it like dey tell em do it, dey chastise em." Code Ho* Project, 1885.(1) Prepared by Annie Ruth Davis Place, Marion, S.C. Date, August 20, 1937 Ho. Words Reduced from_ Rewritten by" words 309 Page S. "It just like I tellin you, de people fare wid abundance of everything in dem days. Destroy much meat in one month den as de people gets hold of in whole year dese days. It was just dis way, everybody know to have fenoe round bout dey plantation den en de hogs could run anywhe1. All de field land was fence en de woods was for de run of de stock. Dey mark em en some of de time, dey hear tell of stock 10 mile away. Know em by de brand." "Peoples didn1 have heap of all kind of things dat dey have dese days, but somehow it look like dey have a knaok of gettin along better wid what dey have den. stoves to cook on in dem days. fireplace. Didn1 have no Cook in clay oven en on de Hake up fire en when it die down, dey put tatoes (potatoes) in de oven en let em stay dere all night. won' nothin no better den dem oven tatoes was. My God, Some of de time, dey have wire in de chimney wid de pots hanging on dat. Folks used to make up a cake of corn bread en pat it on de hearth en when de fire burn right low, dey cover de cake all up in pile of ashes* When it get done, it be brown through de ashes en dey take it out en wash en rttb all de ashes off it. Den it was ready to eat. Dat what dey oall ash cake. Just seem like what de peoples used to cook be sweeter eatin den what dey cooks dis day en time." "Oh, I beat rice many a day. Yes'urn, beat rice many a day for my grandmother en my mamma too. Had a mortar en a Code lo. Project, 1886-(l) Prepared by Annie fiuth Davis Plaoe, Marion, S.C. Date, August SO, 1937 pestle dat beat rice wid. So* Words_ Reduced from_ Rewritten by" words 310 Page 3. Bey take big tree en saw log off en set it up Just like a tub. Den dey hollow it out in de middle en take pestle dat have bio ok on both it end en beat rioe in dat mortar* Beat it long time en take it out en fan it en den put it baok. Be last time it put baok, tear off some shuoks en put in dere to get de red part of de rioe out en make it white. Ain' nobody never been born oan tell you more bout dem pestles en mortars den William Henry Davis know." "Yes'um, used to go to corn shuokings en rye thrashings en pea thrashings plenty times. Oh, dey sing en have musio en have big pot oookin out in de yard wid plenty rioe en fresh meat for everybody. Dere be so many people some of de time, dey had to have two or three pots. Den dey have dem log roll* ings to olean up de land en when dey would get to rollin dem heavy logs, dey give de men a little drink of whiskey to revive em, but dey gage how muoh dey give em. tough time den. After dey get through wid all de work, dey would eat supper den. Give us rioe en oorn bread en fresh meat en coffee en sweet tatoe pone. pone was de thing in dem days. pone bread? 0 Lord, we had My Lord, dat sweet tatoe Mis si e, you ain1 never eat no Dey take piece of tin en drive nails through it en grate de raw tatoes on dat* Den dey take a little flour en hot water en molasses en mix up in dem raw tatoes en bake it in de oven on de fireplace. Have lid to oven en put fire Oode 3o Project, 1885-(1) Prepared by Annie Ruth Davis Place, Marion, 5.C. Date, August 20, 1937 Ho. Worde_ Seduced from_ Rewritten by" words 311 Page 4, under de bottom of it en on de top to get it right done. Some of de time, dey put a little ginger in it fore it was baked. Gut it in big slices when it get done, but wouldn* never eat it till dey know it wa8 cold. Missie, de older I gets de more I dpi* sorrow to go back to dem old constructions dat dey used to have." "Some of de colored peoples have bresh (brash) shelter whe' dey go to church in dem days, but all us go to de white folks church. Oh, de colored peoples go in ox carts, but us white folks have teams en carriage to ride in. I recollects Mr. Davis oarriage look aorta like a house wid two big horses to pull it. De family would be in de inside en have seats whe1 dey set facing one another. De driver have seat on de outside in de front en on de back of de oarriage was de place to set de trunks." "My daddy was de blacksmith for Mr. Jackie Davis en he could make plows en hoes en all dem kind of things. He have a circuit dat he go round en mend things on other white folks plantations. Some of de time, he bring back more den $ 100.00 to he boss dat he would make* Go all bout in dat part of Marion aounty dat be part of Florence county dese times." "I hear some peoples say dey knows dere such as ghosts, but I ain1 never have no mind in dat line. t All I know bout is what my mamma used to tell us big ohillun when she want us to stay home wid de little ohillun en mind em. Say dere was Haw Head en Code Ho# Project, 1886-(l) Prepared by Annie Ruth Davis Place, Marion, S.C. Date, August 20, 1937 Ho. fords Reduced from Rewritten by words OA Page 5. Bloody Bones in de woods en if us go off, de child might set de house on fire* Saoh as dat was to make us stay home when dey was gone." "It just dis way, I think freedom a good thing for some people while it a bad thing for de ones dat don* have a knack to shuffle for dey own self* When freedom come, some of de colored people didn' know what freedom was en dey just hang around dey white folks en look to dey Massa for what dey get right on. Wouldn' get off en make nothin for dey own self. Dat how-com 1 think it better for some not to be free cause so much of worryatlons ain' good for peoples. Colored peoples never had to worry bout nothin in slavery time." Source: William Henry Davis, age 72, ex-slave, Wahee section of Marion Co.,S.C. Personal interview, August 1937. o * KjXf project 1885-1 FOLKLORE Spartanburg, Dist 4 Aug. 24, 1937 *5 QH0 ^ O 03U<:0 Edited by: Q4 Elmer Turnage ^10 \J ^"N v" STORIES HtOM EX-SLAVES "Sunday, Aug. 1, was my(82n^ birthday; so I was born in 1853. De very day I come into de world I do not know, but soon my marster, Starke Sims, begun to train me. Dr. Bill Sims, Marse Stark's son, was a doctor when I was born. A younger son was called Bali When Hal was a boy he said he was gwine off, and when he got to be a man, dat is what he done; yes sirree, he got scattered off. *Dr. Bill had done started to doctoring folks befo' I got into dis world. And first thing dat I recollects is how my marster teached me to address him. He addressed me as 'Ellas, Johnny Ellas'. I had to answer, 'Sirs', and dat S' always had to be dar to please de marster. All of his slaves had to address him de same way. Sometimes we would answer, 'Sirs Marster'. "All de things my marster teached me are still a great help to me. Dis younger generation does not have de quality dat we old niggers has, because dey refuse to take de teachings of dere parents and de good white folks. De main thing dat Marse teached his slaves was mannerableness. Dat I holds to dis day; 'specially to de white people. I allus tries to be aannerable to dem. Often I looks back on dat, but both white and colored is trying to fio * away wid dem things. Old training is de best, and I cannot fergit my manners. Never does raal folks fergit dere raising. Dats what shows up de quality in people. I likes quality in everything, and as soon as I sees strangers and hears dea talk and looks at dere action, I can tell how much quality dey got. Dat I sho can. Stories From Ex-Slaves -- (Elias Dawkins) Page 2 314 * I never Is gwine to drap my raising, don't care what de style comes to. Dat's jest one thing dat my race and de white race, too, wants to do away wid. Dey don't hold up no manners and no ra'al raising. **De school teachers tells de chilluns to say yes and no to me. Dey tells dem to say de same thing to white folks. Den dey teaches de chilluns to ivlr. and Miss de own race and to call white folks by dere names widout any handle to it. Dat ain't gwine to work, and any niggers dat has self-respect jest ain't gwine to call no white folks by dere name. If you doesnft respect other folks, why den other folks ain't gwine to show no respect fer you. Why some of my grand chilluns sets up and says 'yes' and 'no' to me 'stead of 'yes sir' and'no sir'. But I is right here to tell you dat my own chilluns don't say 'no' and 'yes' to me. I is strived wid dem and dey knows how to answer proper to dere elders and to white folks. I ain't got no time fer dese school teachers dat tells de pupils to answer in no sech insulting ways as dat. I likes man-\ ners and widout manners folks ain't quality; don't make no diffuns 'bout what color dey is or how fer dey is gone in de reading books./ Young'uns saying 'yes' and 'no' is jest plain ugly. It suits me to meet nice folks, and when I finds dat dey ain't got mannerableness about dem, den I concludes dat dey jest ain't nic i *I gwine to dress up tonight and go to preaching at Mt. 2ion. Dey done already started running meeting dar. I used to preach amongst dem at de big meetings, but I is retracting now. My old marse low to us, 'You is free now, yes sir, you is sho free niggers now. You is gwine out into de world on your own. ffJ Let me tell you dis: If you be's manerable you will allus come out more dan conqueror.' I was young den, and I did not know what Stories From Ex-Slaves - (Elias D awkins) Page 3 3j[A u- 'more dan conqueror' meant den. I is larn't now what it means. Thank God, I does, fer his telling me dat. I lays to de fact dat de reason I is never "been in jail is dat I allus had manners. Young'uns acts biggety and den dey lands right straight in de first jail dar is. "I sho never went to no war, but I worked at de house in de corn field a-raising corn fer de war hosses. I been in only two states, North and South Carolina. I travels jest according to common sense; lets other folks be my guide. I met up wid Indians; dey wanted to claim kin wid me, but I wouldn't claim kin wid dem. He tell me bout my high cheeks or something; den he low something 'bout my nose being long. Dey close thinking people, deal Indians is. Dey don't fergit nothing. Ke say he see I is mixed-up, but I never is knowed jest what he was driving at. I told him I was teached from de old generation, but dat dar wasn't narry drop of" Indian blood in me. Cherokee Creek what dat old Indian place is. Dey has all kiMs of things to sell dat dey makes. I ain't no Indian and I does not feel dat way, no sir, not nariOy bit does I feel like I is a Indian. "My mother died when I was a wee baby. Never is had no brothers or sisters. She left me wid her marster dat owned her motX . hep, Kissy Sims. Marse Starke helped my granny to raise me. Kissy come from Virginia. Her Pa let a man buy her and three other chilluns. Marse Starke raised dem all up and dats how dey got his name. "Dis here man standing here by me is Sack Herndon. We is de oldest niggers in Cherokee County dat I knows of. De other old ones is all dead now. Oh, you knows him, does you Zack? "Never did so awful much work when I was coming up. Dey was priming me and training me. When dey call my name, I allus come. Often I hid myself to see' de bad niggers whipped. Never had no 'buse Stories From Bt-Slaves (Ellas Dawkins) Page 4 . Q G a \ in my life. Marse didn't low nobody to look at his niggers when dey was being whipped, kaise he hated to have to let any of dem be bused. Marse Starke sfeo never whipped no one dat was good. He never let his overseers 'buse nobody neither. I does not member much 'bout his overseers. One named a Briggs, one a Bishop, one a Coleman and Alley Cook was de last onep I 'members his name best. "Marse Starke was a rich man. He had in de quarter what was know'd as a chilluns' house. A nurse stayed in it all de time to care fer all de plantation chilluns. My granny 'Kissy acted as nurse dar some. Aunt Peggy and aunt Ciller was two mo'. Ciller was de daughter of a King in Africa, but dat story been traveling ever since she got to dese shores, and it still a-gwine. All dese helped to nurse me. Dey fed us on milk, plenty of it. We had honey, lasses and lots of good things. 3,rhen I was a little bit-a boy I had a big bowl to eat out of. And us chilluns et like hogs and got fat. We allus had fine food.-My marster give me a biscuit sometime from his plate and I wouldn't have tuck 25^ fer it. He allus put butter in it or ham and gravy. He would say, 'Dat s de doctrine, Be kind.'' Nobody never got no 'borious beating from our master's hands. "I been toiling here on dis earth fer a long time. De Lawd spared me to bring up a big race o chilluns myself. We is atfful po and ain't none of my chilluns got things as well as I had when my marster give it to me. My daughter and grand-daughter lives wid Mr. Nathan Littlejohn. He is rich. I stay in de house wid dem. Dey vides wid me dat what dey has. But dat ain*t much. I has gfeat-great-grand chilluns dat I ain t never seed. I have five chilluns living to my knowings. Last time I counted, I had 137 grand and great-grand chilluns. So you see I looks into de fourth generation of my own family. Stories From Ex-Slaves -- (Elias Dawkins) Page 5 3^ ,f Me and Old man 2ack went to a hanging one time. Both of us clamed up into a tree so dat we could look down on de transaction from a better angle. De man, I means de sheriff, let us go up dar. He let some mof niggers clamb up in de same tree wid us* De man tat was being hung was called Alf ?/alker. He was a mulatto and he had done kiln a preacher, so you see dey was hanging him fer his wickedness, sho as you born dey was. "While me and Zack up.in dat tree a-witnessing dat transaction, peers like we become mo1 acquainted wid one another dan we had ever been since us knowfd one another* "Sheriff low'd, f You is got only fifteen minutes to live in. What has you a;ot to say?f Alf got up and talked by giving a lecture to folks about being lawful citizens. He give a lecture also to young folks who he 'loi/v^d dat was not in sech condition as he was. He talking to dem fbout obeying de patents and staying at home. Me and Sack exchange glances and Zack flow, f Alf ain't never stayed at home none since he been big enough to tramp over de country and he up dar fixing to git his neck broke fer his war/yness, and trying to tell us good folks young and old how us should act. Now ain't he something to be a-telling us what to do. ' "Finally, Alf had done talked his time out and de sheriff 'low, 'Now you is only got two minutes, what does you want?' Alf hollered, 'Mr. Sheriff, lemme shake hands wid somebody.' Sheriff say everybody dat wishes to may shake his hand. Me and Zack stayed up in dat tree, but some of de niggers went up and shaked hands wid Alf. "Time out.' You could-a heard a pin drap. I could hear my breath a-coming. I got scared. 2ack looked ra'al ashy. Nobody Stories From Ex-Slaves -- (ELias Dawkins) Page 6 318 on de ground moved, jest stayed ra-ial quiet and still. Noose drapped over de man's neck and tightened. Some one moved de block from under his foots. Dat jerked him down, ?/hoop.' ill dem in de tree fell out 'cept me and Zack, dey was so scared. Alf Walker wasn't no mo'. Me and Sack sot up in dat tree like two cranks. Us sot dar as if it hadn't tuck no 'feet on us a-tall. All de other folks got 'fected. lack tickled me when he saw me studying , He 'low you act awful hard-hearted. I 'low, 'dat man telling us how to do jest now, and dar he is hanged. Us still a-setting in dis tree, ain't we? We ain't never wanted to see no. mo' hangings, is we Sack?' Sack 'low dat we ain't. "Onc't de guide low'd to de president, 'You raises your hat to a nigger?' President 'low, 'I ain't gwine to.let nobody be mo' polite dan I is.' He never let nobody have mo' sense dan he did either. Dat was Washington. rt Me and Sack is gwine to tell you how it is. We is old and ain't no need fer old folks to try and fool. I is too shame to beg. I wants de pension. Is you gwine to tell me 'bout it? Dis de truth, I is took a chip fer food. If I could got to school and write fast as I can shake my fist, I'd be a-giving out dat pension right fast. I likes character and principle. I got a boy turned into 64 years. He got character and principle, and he still do what I say. I never put my mouth amongst old folks when I was young. Me and Sack often talks over old times." Source: Elias Dawkins (84), Rt. 1, Gaffney, S.C. Interviewer: Oaldwell ^ims, Union, S.C. 8/20/37. Project 1885-1 FOLKLORE Spartanburg Dist.4 June 3, 1937 Cannae* OOUUob Edited by: 3l Elmer Turnage STORIES 03? EX-SLAVES Upon learning where an ex-slave lived, the writer walked up to a house on Pickenpack street where two old colored men were sitting on the front porch. Asked if one of them was named 'Will Dill', the blacker of the two motioned to himself and said, "Come here, come in and have a seat," at the same time touching the porch awing beside him. He acknowledged that he lived in slavery days, "but was a small boy, walking and playing around at that time". His master was Zeek Long, who lived in Anderson County not far from "Three and Twenty Mile Creek* and used to ask him:- what the rooster said, what the cow said, what the pig said; and used to get a a great deal of amusement out of his kiddish replies and imitation of each animal and fowl, from his own calculation, he figured he was born in 1862 in the home of his mother who was owned by Zeek Long. His father, also, was owned by the same master, but lived in another house. He remembers when the Yankees came by and asked for something to eat. When they had gotten this, they went to the corn crib, which was chock full of corn, and took the corn out, shucked it, and gave it to their horses. All the good horses had been hidden in the woods and only tow or three old poor ones were left in the stables, but the Yankees did not take these for they only wanted good horses. He remembers seeing the patrollers coming around and checking up on the niggers'. He had an uncle who used to slip off ever^y night and go to see some colored girl. He had a path that he followed in going to her house. folklore: Stories Of Enslaves page 3 3S0 *0ne night Uncle Bob, he started to go see his gal, and it was pretty late, but he followed his path. There were some paterrollers out looking for him, and t'rectly they saw him. Uncle Bob lit out running and the paterollers started running, too. Here they had it up and down the path. Uncle Bob, he knew there was a big ditch crossing the path, but the paterollers didn't know it; so when Uncle Bob got to the gully, he jumped right over it and run on, but one of the patrollers fell into the gully and broke his neck. After dat, Uncle Bob, he stayed, in and kept quiet, for he knew the paterollers had it in for him." He asked the writer if he had ever heard a chicken talk. He said that he had, and described a scene at the house one day when a preacher was there. The ehickens and guineas came around the house as usual to get their feed, but didn't get it. He "quoted" the rooster as saying; "Has the preacher gone yet?" A guinea hen asnwered, "not yet not yet". \j ,1 He said that he often heard turkeys talk. They would askJ each other questions, and another fowl would answer. He once ; heard a mule that was in the barn, say: "Lord.1 Lordj All I want is corn and fodder." Being told by the negro who was sitting beside him, that he did not believe animals and fowls could talk, he at once said: "Sure - roosters and gobblers can talk, one day there was a turkey hen and a lots of little turkeys scratching around a certain place on a hill, the little turkeys toere heard to say, 'Please maa, please mafl'. An old gobbler standing and strutting near, c ied out, 'Get the hell out of here'. The turkey hen then j i moved to another place to feed.* J Folklore: Stories Of Ex-Slaves Page 3 3P1' He said that he gets out in his porch early in the mornings and whistles to the birds, and that soon a large flock of birds are all around him. Offering to demonstrate his ability, he began to whistle in a peculiar way. Soon thereafter, two or three English sparrows flew into the yard from nearby trees. "See tharj See tharj" he said* pointing to them. "When the war was over,* he continued, "we stayed on at Marsterfs plantation for some time. I grew up, and was always a fellow who liked hard work. I have railroaded, was a tree doctor, helped dig wells and did a lot of hard work. The white people was always pleased with'my work and told me so. I went down a well once to help clean it out. It looked like to me that well was caving in above me; so I hollered for them to pull me out. When I got out, I told them I wasn't going down no wells any more unless somebody threw me in.* He said that he had seen lots of wild turkeys when he was a boy. One day when he was going to get some "bacco" for his aunt, he saw a hen and a lot of little turkeys*I run after the little wild turkeys but I never kotched a one. That old mother hen would fly from one limb in a tree to another limb in another tree and call them. They was the runningest things I ever saw. I nearly run myself to death but I never did get one." Every now and thea, he said, one of the men on the plantation would shoot a wild hog and we would have plenty of meat to eat. The hogs ran wild in those days, he said. tt I never saw a ghost,* he said, "unless it was one night when we boys was out with our dogs 'possum hunting. The dogs treed folklore: Stories of Ex-slaves a possum in a little scrubby Page 4 322 tree. I was always a good climber; so I went up the tree to shake the 'possum out. I shook and shook but the possum would not fall out of the tree. I shook so hard that my hat fell off and I told the niggers not to let the dogs tear my hat. That was no skunk in the tree, 'cause we couldn't smell anything, but when I looked again at the 'possum, or whatever it was, it got bigger and bigger. I scrambled down the tree right away, nearly falling out of it, but I wanted to get away. The dogs acted kinda scared; yet they would run up to the tree and bark. One old dog I had did not bark, he just hollered. We left the thing in the tree. I don't know what it was, but it warn*t no possum, for I d shook it out of the tree if it had been." In further discussing the subject of fowls in talking among themselves, he said*that he had often noticed a rooster and some hens standing around in the shade talking. "The rooster will say something and the hens will listen; then answer him back, 'yes'. One day I heard a turkey hen say, 'we are poor, we are poor'. The old turkey gobbler said, 'well, who in the hell can help it.' Yes sir, they talk just like we do, but 'taint everybody can understand 'em." He said that he had fifteen children by his first wife. He remained single for thirteen years after his wife's death, and never had any children by his second wife. "Da you reckon we'll ever get a pension in our old age?" he asked. "It seems to me they would give us old fellows something to live on, for we can't work. How can we live now-a-days? When a man has done good work when he was able, the country ought to take care of him in his old age. Folklore: stories of Ex-Slaves Page 5 323 "I was a hand for hard work all my life. I was raised that way; but now, that I can't do nothing, it looks like the state ought to take care of me. n My father told me when I was sitting up to a gal and I told him I was gwinter marry her, 'Son don't you never cut that woman across the back, for as sure as you do, that cut will be against you on Judgement Day "When I was laid up with the misery in my side, my feet swelled up and busted, and I had a awful hurting in my side and back. People wanted me to believe I had been conjured, but I did not believe it, and I told them I would eat all the stuff that a conjure man could bring. Anybody that believes in conjuring is just a liar. God is the only a person who can bring suffering on people. He don't want to do it, but it's because we do something He don't want us to when He makes people suffer. It is the bugger man that does it." "Uncle" Will said that his father and mother were married by a "jack-leg" preacher who, when told that they wanted to get married, had them both to jump backwards and forwards over a broom. He then told them that they were man and wife. Source: Will Dill, 555 Pickenpack St., Spartanburg.S.C. Interviewer: I.S. DuPre, Spartanburg, Dist.4 5/19/37 Project #1655 W# W. Dixon Winnsboto, S. C. 390429 324 THOMAS DIXON EX-SLAVE 75 TCEAHS OLD. Tom Dixon, a mulatto, is a superannuated minister of the Gospel He lives in Winnsboro, S* C , at the corner of Ivbultrie and Crawford Streets* He is duly certified and registered as an old age pensioner and draws a pension of $8 00 per month from the Welfare Board of South Carolina* He is incapable of laborious exercise* !! I was born in 1862, thirteen miles northeast of Columbia, S# C*, on the border line of Kershaw and Fairfield Counties. Captain Ifoultrie Gibbes* % mother was a slave of % father v/as white, as you can see* the cook for my white folks j her name was Malinda* Tillman Lee Dixon of Liberty Hill* % mother was She was born a slave of Mr* After she learned to cook, ray 3&arsfer bought her from her master and paid 1,200*00 for her* After freedom,us took the name of.Dixon. u % mistress in slavery time was Miss Mary* married ferse Moultrie* come to our race* i She was a Clark before she I v/as nothing but a baby when the war ended and freedom I lived on ay marster's Wateree River plantation,with mother, until he sold it and went into the hotel business at Union, S* C* ll % mother then went to Columbia, S* C#, and I attended Benedict College* I became a preacher in 1886, the year of the earthquake* That earthquake drove many sinners to their knees, me amongst them] and^when I got up I resolved to be a soldier of the cross,and every since I have carried the shield of faith in ny left hand and the sword of the Word in m^ right hand* "The night I was converted#the moon was shining brightly* a revival meeting out from Blythewood, then called Dako, S# C* We was all at First, we heard a 2. 32d? low murmur or rolling sound like distant thunder, immediately followed by the swaying of the church and a cracking sound from the joists and rafters of tjie building f 0h Lordyi The women folks set up a screaming* Jesus save me I We believel The men folks set up a holleringi Come Almighty King*1 The preacher tried to quiet us, but we run out the church in the moonlight4 men and women crying and praying* The preacher, Rev* Charlie Moore, continued the services outside and opened the doors of the church,and every blessed soul come forward and joined the church* t! I married Fannie Irr/in, and God blessed us all the days of her life* % daughter, Maggie, married a Collins.and lives in the Harlem section of New York City* My daughter, Sallie, lives also in Harlem, Greenville Village* Malinda, named for my mother, lives and works in Columbia, S# C# u 0n tihe death of ay wife, Fannie $ I courted and married the widow Lizzie Williams* The house we live in is her own property* we married, a boy and a girl ago* She had two childrenvwhen The, boy got killed at the schoolhouse two years The girl is working in Columbia, S* C# I && a superannuated minister of the African Methodist Episcopal Church^and receive a small sum of money from the denomination, yearly The amount varies in different years* At no time is it stifficient to keep me in food and clothing and support* "I have taken nothing to do with politics all my life, but my race has been completely transformed,in that regard,since Mr* Roosevelt has been President* Left to a popular vote of the race, Mr* Roosevelt would get the solid South, against any other man on any ticket he might run on* tleman* He is God Almightyfs gen- By that, I mean he is brave in the presence of the blue-bloods, kind in the presence of the common people, and gentle to the lowly and despised Negro *' Project 1885-1 folklore Spartanburg, Dist.4 Dec. 1, 1937 ' Edited by.: Elmer Turnage ^QfMICj O^W*TJ.O . 1 (Oom'k) 1 STORIES FROM EX-SLAVES ' | *I live wid my daughter in a four-room house which we !j rents from Doc Hunter. He got it in charge. My husband died several years ago. ' :1 ' 1 "My daddy was Harvey Pratt, and he belonged to Marse Bob j Pratt in Newberry. My mammy vsas Mary fair, and she belonged in ?.] slavery to marse Simeon fair. When dey married dey had a big wed- i ding. Marse didn't make slave women marry men if dey didn't want to. Befo' my mammy and daddy married, somebody give a note to take to i iirs. Fair, her mistress. Mistress wouldn't tell what was in it, but | daddy run every step of de way, he was so glad dey would let 'em | marry. | 11 Col. Simeon Fair had a big fish pond on his place down on de branch behind his house, and he had a milkwhouse, too. (This is where the Margaret Hunter Park is). j I ! J rt My great-grandmother come from Virginia. She was bought by Marse Fair from a speculator's drove. Slaves had good places to j live in and everything $o eat. Old Marse sho cared for his slaves, J| He give 'em plenty of clothes and good things to eat. On Sundays dey | had to go to de white folks' church and he made dem put on new clean | clothes dat he give 'em. | "I was born about two years bef>o' freedom, and I lost my , | mammy right atter de war. I remember about de Ku Klux and Red Shirts. 1 ' .. . ..... . ... I ^Everything we had was made at home, or on marster's big -V . V : ..:,. . ' - . plantation in de country. Marse told his son, Billy, befo he diet I '1 1 - m-- ':'%akM}if m& of his niggersva:M:..see: dey- :didh:'%\:waiit': f or hothMg* . J liililllailiilllllK^ \-/,m Site Stories From Ex-Slaves (Isabella Dorroh) Page Z 32#f "Marse made de slaves v;ork all day and sometimes on Saturdays, tout he never let 'em work at night. Sometimes on de plantation dey had corn-shuckings and log-rollings; den dey give de hands good dinners and some whiskey to drink. "One old nigger had, a weak back and couldn't work much, so he use to play marbles in de yard wid de kids most every day. ''Slaves couldn't go away from de place unless dey had a pass from de marse to show de patrollers when dey caught dem out. "My daddy use to cook at de old Newberry Hotel. He was one of de finest cooks in dis part of de country. De hotel was a small wooden frame building wid a long front piazza. In de back was a small wooden two-room house dat servants lived in. Atter de war, de 'little guard house* stood jes' behind where de opera house now is. "Some of de slaves learned to read and write. Marse didn't keep dem from learning if dey wanted to. Niggers used to sing, 'I am born to die.'. Dey learn't it from Marse Ramage's son, 'Jock' Hamage. He learn't *em to sing it. "Atter de war, Marse told de niggers dey was free. Most of dem stayed on wid him and took his name. Slaves most always took de name of deir marsters. "My mother married at Thomas Pope's place, and he had old man Ned Pearson, a nigger who could read and write, to marry *em. fie married lots of niggers den. Atter de war many niggers married over agin, 'cause dey didn't know if de first marriage was good or not. "Marse Fair let his niggers have dances amd frolics on his plantation, and on Saturdays dey danced till 12 o'clock mid-night. Sometimes dey danced jigs, too, in a circle, jumping up and down, in d#se times de young folks dance way into Sunday mornings, and noteo&y to stop 'em, but Marse wouldn't let his slaves daaee atter 12 o'clock. : Stories From 3x-$laves (Isabella Dorroh) Page 3 *\QR "Everybody believed in ghosts. Nobody would pass by a graveyard on a dark night, and dese days dey go to cemeteries to do deir mischief, at night and not afraid. Doctors used to have home-made medicines. Old Dr. Brown made medicine from a root herb to cure rheumatism. He called it 'rhue'. He lived in what is now called Graveltovm. His old house has been torn down. Ee mace hot teas from barks for fevers. Ee made a liquid salve to rub on for rheumatism. "When freedom come most of de slaves stayed on. Some man come here to make a speech to de slaves. He^spoke in luarse lair's yard to a big crowd of niggers and told dem to stay on and work for wages. When de Yankees come through here, dey stole everything dey could git deir hands on. Dey went in de house and took food and articles. Marse put guards around his house to keep dem out so dey wouldn't steal all de potatoes and flour he had for his slaves. Ku Klux went around de country and caught niggers and carpetbaggers. De carpetbaggers would hunt up chillun's lands, whose daddys was killed, and try to take dem. Dat was when Judge Leheigh was here, and Capt. Bone was postmaster. Dey was Republicans, but when de Democrats got in power dey stopped all dat. "When I married John Dorroh I had a big wedding. We married at de Harp place in Mewberry, jes1 behind de big house, in a nigger cottage. White folks and niggers come. I was known amongst de best white families 'cause I served as cook for dem. I was married by Rev. J.E. Walls, a nigger preacher from Charleston. "I think slavery ended through de i/ork of Almighty God. My mother always said dat was it. My daddy left here and went to Memphis when I was five years old. He sent home $40. He was in de army wid Major James Baxter. He took^care of de guns and things of de Major." Source: Isabella Dorroh (N,75), Newberry, s.o. Int ??vi^er:, G,L * Sumer vHe^erry,s. 0*11/22/27. Project 1885 -1- Spartanburg, S,c. OOmnC oauiub District #4 Edited by: Martha Ritter May 31, 1937 FOLK-LORE: EX-SLATES "I was born in Nei/rberry County, S. C., below Prosperity on Capt. George De Walt's place. was Giles and Lizzie De Walt Downing My daddy and mammy My daddy belonged to de Outz family, but changed his name to Downing - his master was Downing Outz* I was born about 1857* My-mother had 16 children, some died young* I was a little chap when the war was here, but I remember de soldiers coming home from de war* De Yankeqs went through here and stole all the cattle and all the eats* De Ku Klux marched down de road dressed in white sheets* Freedom come and most of the slaves went away, but I stayed on wid Marse De Walt* Daddy worked wid Downing Outz for wages* 15 years old I worked in de fields like grown folks* learned to read and write* people* When I was I never We had no schools then for colored De only church we had after freedom come was a small "brush arbor" church. "We hunted rabbits, f possums, squirrels, wild turkeys, doves and partridges there* "I joined de church -when I was 20 years old, f cause I thought times would be better for me then* Of course, I kind of back-slided little afterwards, but always tried to do right* t SOURCEi Laurence Downing (80), Newberry, S#C* Interviewer: G* Inland Sunnier, Hewberry, S* C* QOO ts^y Ho. a Reduoed from_ Rewritten by" Oode Bo. Project, 1885-(1) Prepared by Annie Rath Daris Place, Marion, S.C. Date, Jane S3, 1937 Page 1. WASHINGTON DOZIER Bx-Slaye, 90 years "Dis heah sho' Washington Dozier. time left uv him. 30 words 390288 Dat is wha' de hard I born en raise dere in Florence Gounty de 18th uv December, 1847. Don' know 'xactly wha' my father name, but my madder tell me he waz name Dozier. My madder waz Beoky en she b'long to ole man Wiles Gregg dere on de Charleston road. uv one father. I hab two sisters en one brother, but not I s'ppose brother Henry waz me whole brother en Fannie en Oa'oline waz Jes me half sister." "Well, dey ne'er hab so muoha samptin, bat I reoolleot dey make dey own produce den. Oh, dey lib very well. oall it good lib in1 at dat time. We Ooase de bedding de colored peoples hab wasn't maoh cause dey jes hab some kind UY homemade stuff den* We raise in a t^ee room house wha' hab floor on two uv de room. Hab house right dere on de Gregg plantation. Family went from age to age in dat day en time wid dey own Mass a name. I 'member my gra'madder waz name Fannie Gregg, flow, I tell yah how I 'count fa me hab de name Dozier, I jes s'ppose dat come from me father." "Hadder do some sorta work in dem days lak hoe corn en replant en so on lak dat, but ne'er didn't do no man work. ah half hand, dat is 'bout so. den, but ne^T pay us no money. Waz jes Dej gi'e as plenty samptin to eat Coase dey didn't 'low us no Code Ho. Frojeot, 1886-(1) Prepared by Annie Rath Davis 3Jo. Words< Reduoed from^ Rewritten by" Place, Marion, S.C. Bate, Jane 23, 1937 Page 2. uv wha1 we eat at dat time. ohiioe bread en molasses mos1 aw de time* 331 words Hab plenty meat en corn Ben dey le1 us hab uh garden uv we own en we hunt possum many uh time en ketch fish too. Meat waa de t'ing dat I lak mostly." "Bey gi'e us good olothes to put on us back wha1 dey hab make on de plantation en in de winter, dey gi'e us good warm olothes. Jes wear wha'e'er de white folks gi'e us. Bidn't take no 'ffeot tall 'bout Sunday olothes." "Fust time I marry I hab uh very good wedding. man Gurley daughter o'er in Florence County. Marry ole Bon1 know "xaotly how ole I was den, but I o'n tell yuh dis muoh, I wasn't in no herry to marry. Aw colored peoples hadder do to marry den wae to go to dey Mass a en ge1 uh permit en consider demselves man en wife. I recollect dat we hab a very good wedding supper dere. I marry Georgeanna de seoond time en I hab four head uv ohillun by me fust wife en four head uv ohillun by me second wife. JJe'er oouldn't tell how many gran1 ohillun I got." H My Maesa en Missus was mighty pious good people. Bey go to preaohin* dere to Hop ewe 11 Presbyterian Chu'ch aw de time. Be man wha1 waz de preacher dere den was name Friers on. Be colored peoples go dere to dat same ohu'oh en sot en de gallery, Yuh know dere spirituals hymns en dere reels, I ofn sing one uv dem dat I usVer sing in my slumberin' hours. It go lak dls: Gode Ho Project, 1885-(J) Prepared by Annie Hath Davis Place, Marion, S.G. Date, Jane 23, 1937 Ho. Words Heduoed from Rewritten by words nop 00<5 Page 3. Ohillun, wha' yuh gwinna do in de |edgment mornin1? Ohillun, wna1 yah gwinna do in de |edgment mornin'? Oh Ohillun, wha' yah gwinna do in de lodgment mornin1 When ole Gable go down on de seashore? He gwinna plaoe one foot in de sea En de udder on de land, En declare tha1 time would be no more, Ohillun, wha' yah gwinna do? Ohillun, wha' yah gwinna do in de lodgment mornin1? Ohillun, wha1 yah gwinna do in de |edgment mornin1? Then ohillun, wha1 yah gwinna do When ole Gable go down on de seashore? He gwinna plaoe one foot in de sea 3a de udder on de land, In declare tha' time would be no more, Ehen ohillun, wha1 yuh gwinna do in de Jedgment mornin"? "How de angels sing dat to me in my slumber in1 hour en ley sing it dat I might gi'e it to de lib in1 heah on dis earth* Well, X know right smart uv dem song oauae aeoordin1 to my 'sperlenee, de hymn aook wha* to fenoe de human family in* I got uh good set den* UT lungs en I was de one wha1 lead de flook Dere jes one grand reason why I can1 sing right well dis a'ternoon, yuh is take me on de surprise lak." Oode Ho, Project, 1885-(1) Prepared by Annie Ruth Davis Place, Marion, S.G. Date, June 23, 1937 Uo. Words Reduced from_ Rewritten by" words O '? o Page 4. "I was jes uh chap in slavery time en I hadder stay dere home aw de time whey dere didn't no harm oome 'bout me. le' we ohillun play marbles en ball aw we wanna den. chunk de ball to one annuder o'er de house. ball in dem times. Dey Jes Dat how we play My white folks didn't do nuthin but stay home en go to chu'oh meetin's. Dey ne'er didn't punish none uv dey colored peoples en didn' 'low no udder people to do it neither. I couldn't tell yuh how many slave dey own but dey hab more slave by de increase uv dey families. Dey hab so many dat some uv de time dey'ud hire some uv dem out to annuder plantation. peoples. Ne'er didn't see em sell none uv dey colored I know dis much, dat mis uh right good place to lib," "I heared tell uv trouble 'tween de whites en de colored peoples, but dere wuzn't none uv dat 'round whey 1 stay. Dey say some uv de slave run 'way fa bad treatment en stay in de woods. Didn't hab no jails den en when dey'd ketoh em, dey'ud buff em en gag em en hoss whip em. Sow,I ne'er see none uv dat but I heared teH uv it." "My Maesa ne'er didn't work us hard lak. Coase uz de day' ud oome, de hands hadder go up to de big house en go 'bout dey business, but dey al'ays knock offen early on uh Saturday venin' en le1 everbody do jes wha' dey wanna dere on de plantation. He'er didn't use no horn to wake dey oolored peoples up en didn't make em work on de big Christmas day en New Years' neither. le'er hab no ua&er holidays but dem two. Gode Bo. Projeot, 1885-(l) Prepared by Annie Bath Davis Plaoe, Marlon, 3.G, Bate, done 23, 1927 le. Words Beteoed from_ Rewritten by" words 334 Page 5 My Mass a gi'e aw his colored peoples uh fcig Christmas dinner to de white folks house. Jes hab plenty uv fresh meat en rice en biscuit en cake fa everybody dat day." w 3)ey hab funeral fa de colored peoples den jes lak dey hab dese days 'oept dey ne'er hab no preaoher 'bout. Aw de slaves stop workin1 fa de funeral en dey'ud jes carry de body en permit it to de ground uz war de usual t'ing dey do. Qoa.se dey hab plenty singin' dere." "Bern t'ing wha1 people call ghostes, dey is evil walks. I know dis much, de sperit uv de body travels en dat de truth sho' uz 1 libin1 he ah. Goase X ain' ne'er see. none uv dem t'ing en I ain' soared uv nuthin neither. 'ttention to no black oat en t'ing lak dat. none uv dem oharm neither. Bon* ne'er pay no Ain* bother wid De peoples use'er hab dey own doc'or book en dey searoh dat en use wha' it say do. Dey ne'er use no me'ioine tall den but calomel en castor oil en turpentine ." "I sho1 'member when de fust gun shoot dere to Fort Sumter. ITs fer uz X o'n recollect, it wuz in Jane. De Yankees come t*rough dere en to my knowin', dey 'haved very well. my Hassa fa sump tin to eat en dat wuz aw dey done. Jes ax Dere sho* wuz uh rejoicing 'mongest some uv de colored peoples when dey tell em dey waz free uz de white folks wuz. Some uv dem leab dey Maeea plantation jes uz soon us dey know'd dey wuz free, but we ne'er do dat, Jes stayed right on dere wid Mr. Gregg Code Ho* Project, 1885-(1) Prepared by Annie Ruth Davis Place, Marion, S.O. Date, June 23, 1937 Ho. Words Reduced from_ Rewritten by" words OoiD Page 6. en work fa one-third uv wha1 dey make. Coase de white folks furnish aw de wear en tear uv eve't'ing." "Dey ain' ne'er nab no schools fa de colored peoples no whey 'bout whey I stay 'fore freedom oome heah. Won' long a'ter de war dat free schools wuz open up dere. It jes lak dis, I ain' bother wid dem schools mucha den, but I o'n read right smart. Jee ketch it uz I come 'long en wha' I kotoh, I put dat to work. I is went to one uv dese night schools dey hab 'bout heah not long gone." "Mr. Abraham Lincoln, I ain' ne'er see him, but I know he wuz de President uv de United States. Jefferson Davis neither. Ain' ne'er see Mr. Dey wuz oppositionalist den, 1 sho' know dat." "It jes lak dis, I t'ink dis uh better day we lib in dese times. When we b'long to de white folks, we lib, en a'ter we wuz free we lib right on. best time to lib. I t'ink being free de Better to be loose den tied cause don' care how good yo' owner, yah hadder be under dey jurisdiction. Ain' dat right?" Soar OF; Washington DoBier, a.ge 90, colored, Pee Dee, Marion Co. (Personal interview, June 1937). Project 1885-1 FOLKLORE Spartanburg Dist.4 Sept. 22, 1937 ?Qn??7 OSU^o i STORIES 3?R0M SX-SLAVES Edited by: Elmer Turnage oop, oou uJ^- "Vinie Wilkins is my daughter's name dat live raid me. Ely son owns dia house and he keeps it up fer me and his sister. I's born on de bank of Cherokee Creek, but I jest 'members how manyyears I stayed dar. Atter Freedom had been a long time, we moved to Mr. Chesterfield Scruggs' plantation wjriar we share cropped. It was on de old Soartanburg road from here to Spartanburg. "I was purtty good-size chile when de Ku Klux come and tried to git my daddy. Dey whipped him; den he run off and stayed off fer over seven years. Dem "Ku Klux was in all kinds of shapes, wid horns and things on dere heads. Dey was so scary looking dat I ain't never fergot dem. Dem's de awfulest 'boogers' I is ever see d befo' or since. I was in de bed and so was Pa, but dey broke in our do' and ^c-t him. I kivvered up my head and did not make narry a sound. Dat's all dat I can recollect now." Source: Alice Duke (72), 401 Woods St., Gaffney, S.C. Interviewer: Caldwell Sims, Union, S.C. 9/16/37 Code no. Project, 1885-(1) Prepared by Annie Hath Davis Plaoe, Marion, S.C Date, Jan 9, 1937 Reduced from_ Rewritten by" words 33; / >*H Page l. 390128 ATOT SILVA HJRAHT Ex-Slave **I don' know 'xaotly when 1 waz born but I hear my white folks say dat I waz born de fust (first) year uv freedom. I I o'n tell yah dis muoh dat I waz uh grown 'oman when de shake waz. Aw de older peoples waz at de ohu'ch en ha* left us home to take oare uv aw dem little ohillun. de house 'gin to qaiver lak. Jfust t'ing we is know We ne'er know wha1 been to matter en den de house 'gin to rock en rook en rook. We waz so soare we ran outer in de yard en eve't'ing outer dere waz jes uh shaking jes lak de house waz. We ne'er know wha1 to do. Den we heared de peoples oomin1 from de ohu'ch jes uh runnin1 en uh hollerin1. Didn't nobody know wha" make dat. I tellin yah jes lak dat was, de jedgment ain1 ne'er been no oloser oome heah den when dat shake was." w My madder waz name Olorrie en she b'long to Miss Millie Gasque up de road dere. I born in Miss Millie yard en I stay dere till I waz six year old. My pa say I waz six year old. He been ole man Vidger Hanes en b'long to Mr. Wesley White o'er dere 'bout Laughlin 'fore freedom 'olare. A'ter dat we move on de hill en my pa hire me dere to Colonel Durant to wash dishes en help 'bout de kitohen. Hen dey put me to do de washin1 en I been uh washin' en uh washin1 mos' e'er sinoe. Dats de way I done till I ge1 so I ne'er couldn't make it en den I hadder Quit off en. Dat how oome I nab aw dese pretty Oode Ho. Project, 1885- (1) Erepared by Annie Ruth Davis Place, Marion, S.O. Date, June 9, 1957 flowers. Ho. Words Reduced from Rewritten by words Page 2. 338 Miss Durant gi'e me aw dem dahlia wha' yuh see in dat yard right dere. Dat how I ge' wha1 little bit uv money I hab dese day en time. Dem white folks up dere in town comes down heah en begs em from me." "Dey tell me some uv de peoples go' 'long good en den some uv dem ge* 'long bad back dere in slavery day. Don' care how good peoples is dere sho* be uh. odd'un de crowd some uv de time. Dey say some uv de colored peoples'ud run 'way from dey Massa en hide in de woods. Den dey slip back to de plantation in de night en ge' green corn outer de white folks field en carry em back in de woods en cook em dere. I hear Tom Bos tick tell 'bout when he run 'way one time. Say he uoe'er run 'way en hide in de woods aw de time. Den de o'erseer ketch him one time when he been come back en wuz grabblin' 'bout de tatoe patch. Say he gwinna make Tom Bostick stay outer de woods ur kill him 'fore sun up dat day. Tom say dey take him down 'side de woods en strip he clothes offen him. (I hear em say dere plenty people bury down 'side dem woods dat dere ain' nobody know 'bout). Den he say dey tie him to uh tree en take uh fat light'ud torch en le' de juice Ax&p oxtter it right on he naked body* He say he holler en he beg en he ax em hab mercy but dat ne^x didn't do no good* how de tar make uh racket when it drap on he skin* He mock Yuh Oode No. Project, 1885 (1) Prepared by Annie Rath Davis Plaoe, Marion, S.C. Date, Jane 9, 1937 know it gwinna make ah raoke't. No. Words Redtioed from Rewritten by words 339 Page 3. Dat t'ing gwinna make ah raoket when it drap on anyt'ing wha* fresh. ne'er hear no hot grease sizzle lak? Ain" yah Yas'om, hear Tom Bostiok tell dat more times den I got fingers en toe." "Den dey'ad hab sale en sell some nv de oolored peoples offen to annader plantation hundred mile 'way some av de time. it. 'Vide man en he wife. I hear pa tell 'bout dat. Dey sho' done Make em stand up on ah stamp en bid em of fen dere jes lak dey waz hoss. Pa say dey sell he brother, Elicwife 'way wid de onlyes* ohild dey hab. Ne'er didn't see dat wife en child no more w "Ooase de le1 de oolored peoples visit 'round from one plantation to annader bat dey hadder hab ah tioke' wid em. Effen dey meet em in de road en dey ne'er hab dat tioke1 so me whey 'boat on em, dey hadder take wha' follow. Ne'er 'low em to hab no adder paper 'boat em no whey* Effen dey see em wid ah paper, dey ax em 'boat it en effen it ne'er been ah tiokef, dey mighty apt to gi'e em ah,good t'rashin*. " "Dey tell me some av de oolored peoples ase'er take t'ing from dey Mass a, bat I ain1 ne'er see em do none av dat on my white folks plantation. dere. Ne'er hadder take nuthin &e' 'nough meal en meat dere to de big house eve'y Friday to las' em aw t'rough de week. Reokon de ration waz Ho. Words Reduced from_ Rewritten by" Code Ho. Project, 1885-{l) Prepared by Annie Rath Davis Place, Marion, S.G* Date, June 9, 1937 words 840 Page 4. more wholesome den in dat day en time oause dey take time , en oook dey t'ing done. how dey done. Hadder oook in de fireplace. Dat 1 "member wha* good t'ings my ole mammy use'er oook in dat spider. Jes set it on de coals en keep uh turnin* it 'bout wid de handle. Dere ain' ne'er nuthin eat no better den dat ash cake she use'er make fa we ohillun. Yuh ain1 ne'er hear tell 'bout dat* Jes ster (stir) up uh nioe hoecake en wrap it up in oak leaves wha* right eorta wet. Den yuh rake uh heap uv ash togedder en lay yuh hoeoake on dat en kiTer it up wid some more ash. Yuh le' it oook right done en den yuh take it up en wash it offen en it ready to eat* Us ohillun lub dat den." "Annnder t'ing dat eat right smart in dem days was dat t'ing call big hominy. D^y jes ge1 some whole grain oorn en put it in de pot en boil it long time. de fire en pour lye water aw o'er it. husk offen it. Den dey take it offen Dey do dat to ge' de Soak ash outer de fire en ge1 dat lye water. Den dey hadder take it to de well outer in de yard en wash it uh heap uv time to ge' dat lye outer it. A'ter dat dey season it wid salt en pepper en oook it annnder time. ne'er eat it wid no butter. No'mam, dey Jes drap it in de grease wha' left in de pan a'ter dey fry de meat en make it right brown lak. Dat de way dey oook dey big hominy." Code Ho* Project, 1885-Cl) Prepared by Annie Rath Davis Place, Marion, S*C Date, Jane 9, 1937 Ho* Words Reduced from Rewritten by words Page 5* " "Polks don' nab time to do t'ings in de right way lak dey use'er oauee de world gwine too fas' dese day en time* Dese people oomin1 up 'bout heah dese days ain1 gwinna ne'er quit habin' so muoha belly aohe long uz dejr aw ain' stop eatin'/dem half done ration dey is eat* Coase de peoples wiser now but dey weaker. humble in dem days . De peoples wuz more When dey didn't hab no rain, dey ge' togedder en pray fa rain en dey ge' it too. I tellin' yah peoples gotta work effen dey gwinna ge* to de right place when dey leab heah. Bffen de peoples ne'er didn't go to ohu'oh in dem days, dey stay home. He'er see ohillun in de road on Sunday eye 'y whioh uh way lak yunnah see em dese days. My pa say yuh mas' train up uh child in de way he oughta go en den effen dey stray 'way, dey sho' oome baok a'ter while. use'er was. I tellin1 yuh de peoples ain' lak dey Dey sho1 wickeder en woraer in dis day en time den when I raise up. favor fa peoples. no harm. Dey wuz more friendly den en do more It jes lak dis, I ain* gwinna do nobody Effen I can' do em no good, ain' gwinna do no harm en ain' gwinna *buse em neither." Sourcer Aunt Silva Darant, colored, Marion, S.C. Personal interview, May 1937 841 Oode No. Project, lSg5- ^ Oode No. Project, 1SS5-(1) Prepared by Annie Ruth Davis Place, Marion, 3.0. Date, October 21, 1937 No. Words Reduced from. Rewritten by" words 344 Page *3 else dey give dem, but won1 no thin much. I know dat. Sho know dat. "I hear say two intelligent people didn* live so far apart en one never treat dey colored people right en being as dey wasn1 allowed to go from one place to another widout dey had a ticket wid dem, dey would steal somethin en run away. Say de just man tell dat other man dat if he would feed his niggers right, dey wouldn1 have no need to be stealln so much things. dey done it. No'um, I does hate' to tell dat. Cose dey say Say de overseer would beat dem up dat never do what he tell dem to do mighty bad en wouldn* be particular bout whe dey was burled neither. Hear talk dat dey bury heap of dem in a big hole down side de woods somewhe*. Oose I don* know whe* dat word true or not, but dat what dey tell me.M "Oo - oo - yes,mam, dey sho whip de colored women in dem days. myself. Yes,mam, de overseer done it cause X hear dem say dat Tell dat dey take de wives en whip de blood out dem en de husband never didn dare to say no thin some so bad dey had to grease dem. Hear dey whip If de colored people didn1 do to suit de white folks, dey sho whip dem. No,mam, if dey put you out to work, ain* nobody think dey gwine lay down under de bresh (brush) en stay dere widout do in dey portion of work. Yes, child, hear bout dat more times dea I got fingers en toes." *> Code Ho. Project, 1SS5-(1) Prepared by Annie Ruth Davis Place, Marion, 8*0. Date, October 21, 1937 No. Words Reduced from Rewritten by - 345; Page 4* "Oh, de times be worser in a way dese days. dey sho worser in a way. words yes,mam, De people be wiser now den what dey used to be, but dere so much gwine on, dey ain1 thinkin bout dey welfare no time en dat'11 shorten anybody days. honey, we livin in a fast world dese days. Oh, Peoples used to help one another out more en didn1 somebody be tryin to pull you down all de time. When you is found a wicked one in dat day en time, it been a wicked one. Oose de people be more intelligent in learnin dese days, but I'm tellin you dere a lot of other things got to build you up 'sides learnin. Dere one can get up to make a speech what ain' got no learnin en dey can just preach de finest kind of speech. Say dey ain1 know one thing dey gwine say fore dey get up dere. Folks claim dem kind of people been bless wid plenty good mother wit. Den another time one dat have de learnin widout de mother wit can get up en seem like dey just don1 know whe to place de next word. YeB,mam, I hear dat often.11 "What I meant by what I say bout de wicked one? I meant when you found a wild one, it been a wild one for true. I mean you better not meddle wid one like dat cause dey don1 never care what dey do. People look like dey used to care more for dey lives den dey do dese days. but you can weigh dat like you want to. Dat what I meant, You see, dere be different ways for people to hurt dem8elves ,, Oode Ho. Project, 1SS5-(1) Prepared by Annie Ruth Davis Place, Marion, S.C. Date, October 21, 1937 No. Words Reduced from,, Rewritten by" words 346 Page 5. M 0h, my soul, hear talk bout dere be ghosts en hants, but I never didn1 experience nothin like dat. much of dat. Yes,mam, I hear too Been hearin bout dat ever since I been in a manner grown, you may say. I hear people say dey see dem, but I ain1 take up no time wid nothin like dat. I have a mind like dis, if such a thing be true, it ain* intended for everybody to see dem. I gwine tell you far as I know bout it. I hear dese old people say when anybody child born wid a caul over dey face, dey can always see dem things en dem what ain* born dat way, dey don* see dem. Oose I don1 know nothin bout what dat is en I is hate to tell it, but I hear lot of people say dey can see hants en ghost8 all time of a night. Yes'um, I hear de older people say dat, but I don1 know whe it true or no. nothin myself, but de wind. I know I don1 see Don' see dat, but I feels it." "Oh, my God, some people believe in dat thing call conjurin, but I didn1 never believe in nothin like dat. * Never didn1 understand nothin like dat. Hear say people could make you leave home en all dat, but I never couldn1 see into it. Never didn1 believe in it." "Yes,mam, I see plenty people wear dem dimes round dey ankle en all kind of things on dey body, but never didn1 see my mother do nothin like dat. I gwine tell you it just like I got it. Hear talk dat some would wear dem for luck keep people from hurt in dem. en some tote dem to I got a silver dime in de house dere in my trunk right to dis same day dat I used to wear on a Oode No* Project, 15S5-(1) Prepared by Annie Ruth Davis Place, Marion, S.C. Date, October 21, 1937 No. Words Reduced from Rewritten by 347 Page b. string of beads, but I took it off. nothin like dat. words No,mam, couldn' stand Den some peoples keeps a bag of asafetida tied round dey neck to keep off sickness. Folks put it on dey chillun to keep dem from havin worms. I never didn' wear none in my life, hut I know it been a good thing for people, especially chillun. Let me see, dere a heap of other things dat I learn bout been good ,for people to wear for sickness. Dere been nutmeg dat some people make a hole in en wear it round dey neck. I forget whether it been good for neuralgia or some of dem other body ailments, but I know it won1 for no conjurin.M wHoney, pa always say dat you couldn' expect no more from a child den you puts in dey raisin. Pa say, 'Sylvia, raise up your chillun in de right way en dey'11 smile on you in your old age.' Honey, I don1 see what dese people gwine expect dey chillun to turn out to be nohow dese days cause dey ain' got no raisin en dey ain' got no manners. I say, I got a feelin for de chillun cause dey parents ain' stay home enough of time to learn dem nothin en dey ain1 been know no better. Remember when my parents went off en tell us to stay home, we never didn* darsen to go off de place. Den-when dey would send us off, we know we had to be back in de yard fore sunup in de evenin. Yes, child, we all had to be obedient to our parents in dat day en time. nowhe'. I always was sub-obedient myself en I never had no trouble Yes,mam, when we went off anywheJ, we ax to go en we been Code Ho. Project, 1SS5-(1) Prepared by Annie Ruth Davis Place, Marion, S.C. Date, October 21, 1937 back de hour dey expect to see us. more obedient den. raise dat way. No. Words Reduced from Rewritten by words Page (. Yes,mam, chillun was None of us didn1 sass us parents. Won' I remember when I was young, I used to tote water en make fire to de pot for my mother to wash plenty times. Den dey learn me how to use a hoe en when I was married en left home, won1 nothin strange to me." "Ho,mam, I didn' have no weddin when I was married, but everything was pleasant en turned out all right. Yes,mam, everybody don' feel so good leavin home, but I felt all right, I was married over dere in Bethel M.B. Church en served a little cake en wine dere home afterwards en dat ain1 no weddia. Didn* have nothin but pound cake en wine. cakes. Had three plain Two was cut up dere home en I remember I carried one wid me over Catfish dere to de Reaves place." Source: Sylvia Durant, ex-slave, age about 72, Marion, S.C. Personal interview by Annie Ruth Davis, Oct., 1937