SLAVE NARRATIVES A Folk History of Slavery in the United States From Interviews with Former Slaves TYPEWRITTEN RECORDS PREPARED BY THE FEDERAL WRITERS' PROJECT 1936-1938 ASSEMBLED BY THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS PROJECT WORK PROJECTS ADMINISTRATION FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA SPONSORED BY THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS Illustrated with Photographs WASHINGTON 1941 ^ VOLUME XVII VIRGINIA NARRATIVES Prepared by the Federal Writers1 Project of the Works Progress Administration for the State of Virginia i Berry, Fannie 1 Hopson, Moble SI Crawley, Charles 7 Jones, Albert 42 Kelly, Susan, and Stok6s, Simon 44 Fulkes, Minnie 11 Giwbs (Gibbs?), Georgina Goodwin, Candis Grandy, Charles 15 17 21 Slaughter, Richard Sparks, Elizabeth 46 50 Harris, Delia Hines, Marriah 24 27 Wilson, Mary Jane 55 p / Interview of Mrs. Fannie Berry* Bx-sla* 861 E. Bank Street - Petersburg, Virginia By Susie Byrd, .Petersburg Virginia Date February 26, 1957 450003 Ap H V 193? I& L HAT TURNER I Back ffore the sixties, I can 'member nay Mistress* Miss Sara Ann, comin1 to de window an1 hollerin1. "De niggers is arisin1! De niggers is arisln1! De niggsrs is kilUn1 all de white folks, killin1 all de babies in de cradle! * It must have been Nat Turnerfs Insurrection! which wuz sometime *fo de breakin1 uT de Oivil War* I miss waitin1 on table in dinin1 room an1 dis day day had finished e'atin1 .early an1 I WUJS cleanin* off table, Donft you knon I must have been a good si e galf \ JOHN BRCWN 1 Yes, I Member something f u t ^ip too* I know my Master came home an1 said, dat on his way to de gallons ole John stopped an1 kissed a little nigger child* cause I do* w How com* I donft Member? Donft tall me I donft I donft ears if its dona bin a thousand years *" I know what Master said an* it is as fresh in iay mind as it wus dat day* Die Is de song I herd my Master singt Old John Brown came to Harper ferry Town* Purpose to raise an Insurrection* Old Governor Wise put the specks upon hie eyes An1 showed hi the happy lan4 of Canaan* ^ i wmnm t ** ...,. -J I N My Master tole us dat de niggere started tho railroad, an' dat * i kis. * -.*: ^^ ^VrWw^wffff 2 .2nigger lookin' at a boilin* coffee pot on a stove one day got the idea dat he could cause it to run by putting wheels on it. %y Die nigger being a blacksmith put his thoughts into action by makin1 wheels an1 put coffee on it, an1 by some kinder means he made it run an1 the idea mxz stole / from him an1 dey built de ateameagine* RELATIONSHIP I vnxz one slave dat de poor white man had his match* See Miss Sue? Dese here ol1 white men said, "what I can't do by fair means I'll do by foul*" One triad to throw me, but he couldn't. We tusseled an1 knocked over chairs an1 ffhen I got a grin I scratched his face all to pieces; an dar #uS no more bothering Fannie from him; but oh, honey, some slaves would be beat up so, when dey resisted, sn1 sometimes if you'll belled de overseer would kill yo'# Us Colored women had to go through a plenty, I tell you* MARRIAGE Elder Williams married me in Miss Delia Mann's crater road. The house still stands* (whitft) parlor on de The house mxz full of Colored Jteople* Miss Sue Jones an1 Miss Molley Clark (white), waited on me* lamps an1 we walked up to de preacher* Dey took de One waiter joined my han' an1 one my husband's han1*" After marriage de ^rhite folks give B a 'caption; an1, honey, talkin* 'bout a table room* hit mxz stretched clean 'cross de dinin1 We had everythin1 to eat you could call for* common eats* Ho, didn't have no We could sing in dar, an1 dance ol1 squar1 dance all us choosed, ha!hat hat Lord! kordl I can see dem gals now on dat flo'j jes skippin1 an1 a trottln1* An1 honey, dar mxz no whita folk* to set down an1 cat 'fo yo** - 3 - ' $ WAR Now, Miss Sue, take \xp. I jos* like to talk to you, honey 'tout dam daya ob slavery? * cause you look like you wan'ta hear all 'bout *em#* All 'bout de ol' rebels: an' ciem nigger a who left wid de Yankees an1 fcer$ sat free, but, poor things, day had no place to go after day got freed* Baby, all us wua helpless an' ain't had nothin'* I wuz free a long time *fo' I knew it* Ify Klstess still hired me out, Hil one day in t&lkln' to de woman she hired me to, she, *God bless her soul", she told me, "Fannie yo1 ard freeman1 I don't have to pay your Master for you now," Tou stay >?lth me* She didn't give me no money, but let me stay there an1 work for vitals an' clothes 'cause I ain't had no where to go* Jesfcs, Jeeus, God help usl Urn, Mm, Wn I Tou CM Hun don't know* I didn't say nothin' when she wua tfcllin1 ma, but done 'elded to leave her an1 go back to the white folks dat fu#a own* me, I plan' to 'tend a big dance* day nighi* Let me see, I think it wus on a Thurs- Some hov it tooken got out, you know how gale will talk an' it got to ol' Bll Buffeys ears (ol' dog $ an', baby do you know, mind you f twont slavery time, but de oman got so wad oauw I runned away from her dat she get a whole passel of *m, out looking for me* Dar wus a boy, who heard fem t&lkin1 an' sayin1 d^y wus goln* to kill me if I were found* I will never forget dis boy com' up to tae while I wufc dancln' wid another man an1 eed, *i body knowaa where you ar1, Miss Moore, dey ie lookin' fer you, an' la gwine kill you, so yo'coaae on wid met* Have mercy, have m*rQ? my &ord, honey, you kfcn jee haagin* my feelin' fer a minute, move* I couldn't Tou know de gale an' boys all got 'round me an1 told me to go wid Squreball, dat he would ithow m de way to my old Mletess house* Out we tftok, an' we ran one straight mile up de road, ti&n through de woods, den we had to go through a straw field, Dat field ee&* like three miles* -4After den* *#e aet another eklt of vroods# - fc Miss Sue, baby iay eye a, (haJh&JM$ \?u& bucked an' too If it is aetch a thin' a being so seared yo* hair stand on yo' head, I know, mine did* an1 sweated like bulls* An' dat wasn't all, dat boy an' me puffed Was feared to stop, cause we might hfrve been tracked* At last we nsared de house an1 I started throwin' rooks on de porch* Child I look an' heard dat white 'oman when she hit dat flooy, bounein' out dat bed she raus' felt dat I wufc eomln1 back to her* She ealled all de men an' had *STB thro^? a rope tome an1 day drawed me up a piece to ie window, den I held my arms up an' dey saatched aae In* de woods* Honey, Squreball fled to I ain't never heard nothin1 'bout him* An' do you knosr, I didn't leave day 'oia&n's house no more for fifteen years? LordJ Lord!honey, Squfeball an1 I use to sing dis song* *Twas 1861, the Yankees made de Rebels run We'll all go stone blin' When de Jofthy's come a marchin' home. Ohild an1 here's another one we use to sing* bin when we v?ould sinp, dese songs* '^fbmber de war don& Listen no^t 1 Ain't no mori blovdn1 of dat fos* day horn _..-.. I will sing, brethern, I will sing* A-eol' frosty mornin* de nigger's mighty good Take your ax upon your shoulder* Nigger talk to de ,/oods, 7 Ain't no mor1 blowin* of tot fo*T day horn* I will sing brethern, I will sing* 4 3 ** SONG Kfi&o, Kimo, dar you are Heh, hojf rump to pume did1die* Set back pinkey wink, Oome Tom Nippeeat Sing song Kitty cat, ean*t You carry me o*er? Up ds darkies head so bold Sing song, Kitty, &anH you Carry me Ofer? Sing Song, Kitty* $&n*t 70* Carry me home? I was at Pamplin an1 d Yankees an1 Rebels were figbtin1 an1 dey were we/ln1 the bloody flap; an1 a confederate soldier ra upon a poet an1 they ware shootin1 terribly* Guns were firin* everywhere* All a sudden dey struck up Yanked Doodle Song# A soldier ame along Awj called to 20*, * Row far is it to the Rebels", an 1 honey, WUSK feared to tell himi So, I said, W I d on*t kno?/% He-called me again* Scared to death* I recollect gittin1 behind the house an* pointed in the direction* You set, ef de Rebels knew d&t I tola the soldier, they would ha^e killed me* Thaw were the Union mn goln* after Lee's army which had don1 bin fore daia t6 ppornattox* The Colored regiment mm xxp behind an.1 when they saw the Colored regiment they put up the white flag* ( Yg1 *iMnber- ffo* die red or bloody flag was up)* How, do you know why dey raised dat white flag? honey, 1st white flag mm a token dat Lee, had surrendered. Well, -6* aioryi Gloryl def 6 yes, child the Negroes are free, an1 when they knew dat w **a free day* Oht Baby! began to eingt Ma y don*t yo1 oook no mo* Yo1 er1 free, yo1 ar1 free* Rooster don*t yo1 crow no, mo1 Yo* ar* frea, yo* ar1 free* 01H hen, donft yo1 lay no mo1 eggs Yo1 free, yo1 free* Seeh rejoicing an1 shouting you never hefrd in you1 life* Tea, I can recollect de blo^in1 up of the Crater* I do know *bout the shellin1 of Petersburg* We had fled* but We left Petersburg when d* ehellin1 commenced an1 went to Pataplin in box ears, gettin* out of de way# Dem were soared times too, cause you looked to be kilt any minute by stray bullets. Juat before the shellin1 of Petersburg* dey were sellin1 niggers for little nothin* hardly* Junius Broadie, a white nian bought some niggers, but day didn*t stay slave long* cause de Yankees same an1 sot 'em free* Interview of Mr. Onarles Cra*?ley, Ex-elave BV Susie Byrd - Petersburg, Virginia Ante - February 20, 1957 t 450003 THE STORY OF CHARLES CHARLEY, IX-SLAVE 4 'V > k- >>>. God ftnow*# how old I am nil I know is/ 1 wua born 9 fore de war. Yes, I wuz a slave an1 belonged to a family of Allen1* in Luenburg County, came here to die Petersburg de srcond week of Lee's surrender. My Marster and Histess wuz good to me as well as all us / slaves. Bey owned 'bout fifty head of Colored people* all de work I did wu* to play an1 drive cows, being only a boy worked around as chillun; do>nf dis, an* dat, little things de white folks would call me to do* Marster alien, owned my Mother, an1 sister too; we emigrant (emigrated) here, came to dis town of Petersburg after Leefs surrender, I mean you Snow .da ending of de Civil War* Uy mother, sister, and I came on down de road in a box car, which stopped outside de outskirts5 hit didn9t go through de city* Yes, I know when de first railroads were built, de Norfolk and Western an9 de Atlantic Coast Line, dey wer^run through Petersburg an1 in dem da4s / it wus called de Southern* Mis and Mars1 Allen didnft want us to leave dat part of de Country to come to dis here place do/n de road, but we corned ourselves to make a home fo1 ourselves* Well now, we worked here an9 dar, wid dis here man an9 dat man* fl^well.wid different people ftil we bought us selvee a home an1 paid for it* Mother died right here in dis here house; twelve years ago, dis comin9 March fleventh I 7 -2 - 8 am yet livin9 in die same house, dat she an9 us all labored an9 worked fo9 bj de sweat of our browf an9 wid dese handsf Lord9 Lord* Le^me finish baby tell'n9 you 9bout Child dem daAs wui some daJPfS. dis house. De groun9 ** bought from a lady (Colored) name Sis Jackey, an9 she wuz sometimes called in dem da*s de Mother of Harrison Street Baptis9 Church* I re^con dis church is de ol9est one in Petersburg. 0, yes| honey, I can 'member when de Yankees came into dis town; day broke in stores an9 told all de niggers to ^o in an9 git anything dey wanted. \%en slaves ran away tey wer^7brought back to their Master and t'istessj when dey couldn9t catch 9em they didn9t bother, but let fem go. Sometimes da slaves would go an9 take up an9 live at tother places} some of 'em lived in de woods off of takin9 thingsf eech as hogs, corn,an1 vegetables from other fo/ks farm, ^ell, if dese slaves wuz caught, dey werd-sold by their TJew JSasters to go down^south. Dey telt me dem Masters down South/ wuz so mean to slaves dey would let 'em work dem cotton fields ftil dey fall dead wid hoes in dare hands* I9m glad to sayf>^e had good owners.9^ 'en would beat dem. There wws a auction block, I saw right here in Petersburg on the corner of Sycamore street and Bank street. to de highest bidder. Lord I Lord! Some refused to be soldifty dat/ I mean,"cried". I done seen dem young 9uns fout a; d kic like crazy foMcej fihild it wux^ ftltiful to see *em. unmerciful. up me. Slaves were auctioned off Den dey would handcuff an9 beat I don9 like to talk 9bout b&cft dar. 9 em It brun9 a sad feelin9 If slaves 'belled, I done seed dem whip 9em wid a strop cal9 "eat mine tails*" Honey, dis strop wuz 'bout fcroad as yo9 hand, from 9 - 3 - Yof done seen dese thum* to little finger, an Hwas cut in etrips up. whips dat they whip horses wid? You sed somethin* '3ell dey wt used too* f bout how we served God* you jest how we use to do* we use to worship at different houses* see you would git a remit to go to dese places* your remit. Um, um, child, I tell You would have to show If de Pattyrcllers, caught you dey would whir yof* de wa1 dey done in dem dafs. You Dats Pattyrollers, is a gang of white men git- ting together goin1 through de country catching slaves, an1 whipping an* beatin1 f em up if dey had no remit* Marster Allen wouldn't f llow no one to whip an1 beat his slaves, an1 he would handle anybody if dey did; so, Marster's slaves met an* worshipped from house to house, an honey, we talked to #y God all us wanted* You know we use to call Mareter Allen, Colonel Allen* He wt a home general anf a lawyer, too. Robert. His name wu* vVhen he went to court any slave he said to free, wuz freed anf turned aloose. De white fo'ks as.well as slaves obeyed Marster Allen. Did you know poor whites like slaves had to git a pass? I mean, a remit like as slaves, to sell any thin1 an1 to go places, or do anythin'* Jest as we ^Colored people, dey had to go to some big white man like Colonel Allen, dey did If Mareter wanted to, he would give dem a remit or pass'an1 if he didn't feel like it, he wouldn't do it. It YB*I jee as / he felt f bout hit* Eats what made all feared him. 01f Marster wuz more hard on dem poor white forks den he wus on us niggers* I don't know but two sets of white fo/ks slaves up my wayi one w name Chatman, an9 de tother one Nellovies* Allen's farm as we did* Dese two families worked on Off from us on a plot called Morgan's lot, there dey lived as slaves jea like us Mi ate a s would MXIA out to Mother fer us Fer as I think, if slavery ted lasted , it would have b *en pretty tough. As it ra, some fared good, wile others farad common* You know. slaves who mvL beat an* treated bad; some of dem had started gittin1 together an1 killin1 de white folks when dey carried Aem out to de field to work* Oted is punishin1 some of dem olf sucker an1 their chillun right now fer de wa&/dey uee to treat us poor Colored fo*ks# I think by Ne^ro gittin1 educated he has profited, an1 dis here younger generation is gwlne to take nothin1 off dese here poor white fojk* when dey don't treat dem right* eauae now dis country is a free eountryj no slavery now* 45001J Interview of Mrs. Minnie Fulkes - 459 E Byrne Street Petersburg^ Virginia By -- Susue Byrd Jiarch 5, 1937 r * j[ * - "Ef a black cat crosses yer path going to- de right, 'tis good luck. Ef de cat goes to. de left 'tis bad luck." 4. Ef a girl walks aroung wif one shoe off and one on, she'll stay single as many years as de number of steps she taken. *G 450006 Interview of Mrs* Candis Goodwin Aged 80 Cape Charles, Virginia Ah ainft knowd, f xactly, how ol* ah is, but ah bawntfo,d6Kte-^7 Bawp,o#uh yonder at Seaview, on ol* Masser Scott *s plantation* Tain't fur f'om here. Yes, reckon ah *bout six yeah olf when de Yankees come, jes1 alii1 thin1, you know. My whifc people dey good tuh me. Cose dey gits mad wid you but dey don1 beat non o1 us; jes1 ack lak it. Ihy, ah was jes lak dey's chullun; ah played wid et wid f em, f em an' ebfn slepf wid 'em. Ah kinder chillish, ah reckon. Had muh own way. Muh mommer, she wuck in de quater kitchen. She ain' ha'tuh wuck hawd lak some. Had it kinder easy, too. Jes1 }ak ah tells yuh ah al rys had my way. Ah gits whut ah wants anf e fn dey don't gif tuh me, ah jes1 teks it. nursin1 de babies. *Twas No neber had no wuck to do in dem days 'ceptin* jes* lak play; twan no wuck. lister go ober to Nottinghamfs tuh play, go long wid Missus chillun, yuh know. Ah laks tuh go ober there cause dey has good jam an1 biscuits. Ef'n dey don gi * me none, ah jes1 teks some. Dey don do nuttin'j jes* say, "Tek yuh han* out dat plate11. But ah got whut ah wants den. Wh^f we chillun user hab a time 'round ol Missus1 place. All us chillun uster git togeder an* go in de woods tuh play. Yes, de white and black uns, too. De grea1 big whi' boys uster go 'long wid us, too. Know how we play? We tek de brown pine shadows an1 mek houses outer em an1 den mek grass outer de green uns. Den we go ober Missue1 dairy and steal inything we want an' tek it to our houses in de woods. Dem was good ol* times, ah tel yuh, honey. Tel yuh, whut ah uster do. Ah uster play pranks on ol* Ifesse* Scott. Ah's regular lil* deril, ah was.Come night, ev*y body sit f round big fire place in living room. Soon it git kinder late, Massa git up outer his cheer tuh win* up . de clock* Ah gits bin1 his cheer ret easy, an* quick sneak his cheer f6m un'er him; ah1 when he finish Re set smck on de flow* Den he say "Bogone yuh lil* A-* catting ah gwan switch yuh/" Ah jes* fly out de room. W$nf* steered tiiou^fe 6aise *an J , - -2- * ah knows Massa won1 gon do noffin* f tuh me# What ah know 'bout whippin* . Well ah ain' had uh whippin1 in &y life* But ah hear tel o' how dey whips urn though. Yuh know dey uster tek dat cowhide an1 cut 'em till dey backs beeds. Some jes1 lak see de blood run down. Better not cry neider. Mek yuh holler, *< fo pray.\oh pray l\ Wouldn't say nottin1 else. But Massa Scott neber had none dat kinder stuff on his place. He say tainft right. Didn't 'low no paddyrollers 'round eider. Say dey "trechous*. Massa Nottin'ham neber had 'em on his place neider. He didn' neber strike one o' his niggersJ nobody else better not neider. Honey, ah teh yuh ah growd jesf as good's Any chil' in dis country. 01' Missus Scott gimmie good clothes; cose ah didn't git 'em mone twice a yeah, but deyfs good when ah gits fem. She gimmie Sis1 dresses. Sis1 one ob Missus1 M-i-He girls. An1 de whi ' chillun dey learn me how tuh read, too. Cose de whi' S'folk* din wan1 yuh to learn. Ah 'member jes' as clare as yestidy how one dem chillun learn me how tuh read ficompress-i-bilityM. Thought ah was suppin1 den.' Ah kin read Bible 111** now but ah can1 write; neber learn tuh wr|te. Did ah eber go tuh church? Cose ah didi Went ret 'long wid Missus' chillun. Had tuh set in de back, but dat won1 nottin1. My mommer, she went tuh church too. L Sometime de ol1 folk uster git togeder in de auater-kitchen tuh shout an1 pray, A Dats where my mommer git ' ligion. She kinder tender 'oman^couldn1 stan1 dat preachin* no longer. What 'bout muh pappy? Dat's suppin' ah ain' tol1 yuh 'bout. Well, yuh know imcle Stephen, he kinder overseer fo1 some widow 'omans. He Mommer husband.He come see muh mommer $jiy time he gits ready. But ah fin' out he ain' muh pappy. Ah knowd dat since when ah's a lil1 thin1. Ah uster go ovur tuh mass# William's plantation. Dey tell me all 'bout. De folks ober dere dey uster say tuh me, "Who's yuh pappy? Who's yuh pappy? Ah jes' say "Tuckey buzzard lay me an' de sun hatch me* an' den gwan 'bout my business # Oose all de time dey knows an1 ah knows ^S^^^k^^i^^}/^-- ; ".> iv=k,'- 18 S 19 too dat ^ssa Williams was muh pappy, Ah tell yuh suppin' else. Got uh brother libin1 ret on dis here street; one dermtoof doctors, yuh knowwhat pulls yer teef. Cose he's white. But tain't knowed 'roun' here. 'Twould ruin hinu He's a nice man though. Uster go tuh see muh son an' his wife, lots uh times. Yes dey's good frienlss Yes, dey had overseers. Sometime dey call dem stewards* Had colored uns too. Massa Scott had white overseers, good man though; but Massa Nottin'ham, he had big black boss on his place* ea r' 'member his name. He ain' had to git no p'mission tuh come tuh our place. He jes' come an' goes when he gits ready. Kin ah 'member de war? Yes, indeedi 'Member jes1 lak 'twas yestidy. Well dey had a stow down de conner f'om Massa's plantation, an1 de/al'ys sen' me tuh stow fo' tuh buy things. Uster go dora dere, an1 dem Yankees be sittin1 all 'long de road wid dey blue coats; ret pretty sitej twas. But ah's sceard tuh deaf, when ah gits neah 'em. Ah gits what ah wants f'om de stow, an' flys pass 'em. Dem Yankees show had dey way. Dey went in all de white folks house; tek dey silver, an' inything dey big 'nough carry out. Jes' ruin Missus furniture; get up on de table an' jes' cut capper. Nasty thingsi tuh help 'em fight. Den de Yankees goes 'round at night tek anybody dey wants Twas dey "Civil right". Got my Jake* cose ah neber knowd him den. He twelve yeah oiler ah is Lemmie tell yuh 'bout muh Jake, how he did in He drill soldiers ev'y day. Firs1 de war. He big man in dey war. he be in one dem companies - Company "C" ah bliebe. Den he wucked up to be sergent-Major, in de Tenth Regiment. Jacob &9>dTam his name was. He say, all look up tuh him an1 ' spect him too* See dat n Sowd" ov'in dat coner, fSat's de ve'y sowd he used in de war, an1 ah kep'it ail dese yeahs. No de soldiers neber did no fighting 'round here's ah know of. But plenty ob 'em camped here. My Jake, he hansome man, he was* 'Member, how we firs' got togeder. We all was tuh church one Sunday, an' Jake he kep1 cidin' up to me. An' ah lookin' at him outer de coner muh eye, till finally he come up an1 took holt muh ban's.1 Twas aft de war ah had growd up. Ah was in muh early teens den. Dey say ah's de purtiet girl on de Shore. An' when Jake an' me got married, ev'ybody said, "You show meks a purify -4- 20 couple." De ol" Scott chillun what ah growd up wid? No, mone dem leff now. Dey las' girl died heah las' yeah an' hur daughter come way down here f om up in Maryland tuh tell "An1 Candis" 'bout it. Wouldn1 tell me sceard 'twould 'cite me. But ah hea'd hur tellin' my chil dere all 'bout it. 01' Massa Scott's chiilun, some dem, dey still comes tuh see me. Slip me some money nov/'n den, an' suppin' t'eat, too. Deyfs all moughty nice folks, dem Scotts is# ^^s^m^m^^sfr9* - rYiew of Mr. Charles Grandy, Bx-elave U David Hoggard -February 26, Wl 45QQH ~' 21 ^ { -, *fc History of Ex-slave and Civil War Vet rap- Charles Grandy was born February 19, 1842, in Mississippi. 3 still an infant, he mis brought to Norfolk, %ile then the family arrived in Norfolk his father was arrested on some pretentious charge, and the whole family was placed in prison. After their release , they were taken to a plantation near Hickory Ground, Virginia, and sold. Slaves, at this time, were oftan taken to rural districts in carts, and sold to owners of plantations, as they were needed. Family life, friendships, and love affairs were often broken up; many times never to be united. Following the general routine of slaves, the Grandy family was given a shanty; food and clothing was also issued to them, and Had to last until the master decided to give out another supply. their allowance of food weekly. Usually, he issued them Often the supply was insufficient for their needs, Charles played around the plantation Mbig house", doing small errands until he reached the age of five, then his play days ended. While playing on the wood pile one morning, his master called him,*boy do you see this grass growing along the side of the fence?,; Well pull it al up.* When his first task was finished, he was carried to the field to pull the grass from the young cotton and other growing crops, Tlxis work was done by hand because he was still too young to use the farm implements* Now he went to his task dailyj from early in the morning until late in the evening* long toilsome days completely exhausted the youngster* The Often he would fall asleep Before reaching home, and spend a good portion of the night on the bare grounxL Awakening, he would find it quite a: problem to loj^e hi e &ome in the d^t^j^mB <^ ^^^ 22 - 2 From the stage of grass pulling by hand, he grew strong enough, in a few years, to use the hoe rake and sickle. While attempting to carry out his masters orders to cut corn tassels with a large sharp knife, his elbow was seriously cut. He was taken to the house and treated, the application being chimmey soot, to stop the bleeding. After this treatment the arm was placed in a sling, and eventually became deforned from insufficient care* He was sent back to the fields to pick cotton, with < ne free hand and his teeth, while painfully carrying the other hand in the sling. Fail- ing to obey this command, he would have been given a whipping, or sent to the southlands. Sending slaves to the plantations of Mississippi and other southern states was a type of punishment all slaves feared. Slaves mre not allowed much freedom of worship. The Yankee soldiers and officers played a great part in the slave's moral training, and religious worship. They secretly instructed small gatherings of slaves, at night. points stressed most were, obedience and the evils of stealing. The There were some sections where masters were liberal in their views toward their slaves, and permitted them to worship openly. Slaves were allowed to have small quantities of whiskey, even during the days of their *drship, to use for medicinal purposes* It was a common occur- rence to see whiskey being sold at the foot of the hill near the churchyard. The news of war, and the possibility of Negroes enlisting as soldiers was truly a step closer to the answering of their prayers for freedom. Upon hearing of this good news Grandy joined a few of the others in this break for freedom. One night, he and a close friend packed a small quantity of food in a cloth and set out about midnight to join the northern army. Traveling at night moat of the time, they were constantly confronted with the danger of being recaptured. Successfully eluding their followers, they reached Ports- mouth after many narrow escapes. From Portsmouth they moved to Norfolk* 23 -5 Arriving in Norfolk, Grandy and his friend decided to take different roads of travel. Several days and nights found him wandering about the outskirts of Norfolk, feeding on wild berries, etc. While picking berries along a ditch bank, he was hailed by a Yankee soldier, who having come in contact with run away slaves before, greeted him friendly, and questioned him of his home and of his knowledge of work. as cook. He was taken to camp and assigned At first, he was not very successful in his job, feut gradually improvement was shown. He was asked what wages he would accept. It was such a pleasure to know that he had escaped the clutches of slavery, h& did not ask for wages; but instead, he was willing to work for anything they would give him, no matter how small, as long as he didn't have to return to slavery. Within a short period he was given a uniform and gun; was filly enlisted as a soldier, in the 19th regiment of Wisconsin, Company E. Here he re- mained in service until November, 1862, after which time he returned to Norfolk to spend some time with his mother, who was still living. While sitting in the doorway one day, with his,Mother, he was again confronted with the proposition of reenlisting. as guard at Fortress Monroe. He agreed to do so for one year, to serve He remained there until the close of the War, offering brave and faithful services. Mr. Grandy is now ninty-five years old, residing at 609 Smith Street, Norfolk, Virginia, He is still able to attend the various conventions of Civil War Veterans. He can read, write, and has a fair knowledge of the Bible. His main interest is the organization of Jtogroes into strong groups. He enjoys talking about religion and is quite an interesting and intelligent person to talk with# ^^ y.^v:^W^^!ff^^}i^^!^^ A" 450005 /. , rj < > -"' --/ Interview of Mrs. Delia Harris 2 - E Byrne Street Petersburg, Virginia p-j f|; \'.'."\ By SvisTe^ByFa V\ """ February 5, 1957 ^ '^-^ * ->/ \ I donft know just how old I is. Muma sent/me to private school wid white chillun fo' one week. I was 15 years old at de time uh Lee's surrender I belong to Peter or Billy Buck Turnbull Warrenton, N.C. Put this down. My mother and'family all belong to Peter Buck as his slaves. We didn't work until after the warj then we came to Petersburg. I went to dancing school wid the white folks and can dance any kind of dance sets* My father was a musicianer* He belonged to John Oarthan, in Warrenton, N.C. In dem, days you had to take your Masters and Miatess* name. In slavery time when a slave married he had to ask his Moster and Mistess. "We never went to church. We used to hear de bells ringing loud, baby, yes, clear and strong. No,never seen^Sunday school, and the first time I went in a church I looked all around;and baby, I thought dat I was in heaven. It wasn't long, Miss Sue, before I got 'ligeon, and, yes, I jined ^church, 15 years old I wuz. Never will forget the time, or dat place. Den I lived here with an ant, muiaa's sister, who was named Kate Williams* Her husband wuz my uncle, and he worked and died at de White House in Washington City. n I don't know * de name of de President he worked for, but you can find dat out on dem books. You know you young folks calls urn records. t. ^Tes child I'm proud of my age never gave no body no trouble I have 8 children dead and now only one son living. Peter Turnbull was good to all his slaves, as far as I know. Mama was a cook in slavery time. She died in Petersburg, yes, right here in dis hole. "No muma neverfojrned any thing^ always rented and aint never owned nothing but a pasael of children. ^ "My muma was a geniune Indian. Some people day you can1 i own Indians. I icm't i^k|^ :d9'^ ^^r '^fe;^ ^^?t^g--'^-i'h;;,-;&-f;,v^' : '-: '.';'; -.''--v"';,^/\ v ; ; ;: "\ ' ''" .".' ;'.- A'':';'?::f^g/S^'.. ' these people*-^IDU^/S^ ... .""-. . -; . 1 r : . ' '. . '. .... ;. -:-..' ' " -.".' v, '; ' .-" ^^^^^SiS^^^MM^MX^^^M^^?^- - ''-AA A AAMAA \i - ' '"";-.' -'*%%Z'A:':-i\AAAA^ ^'EilJilBiiil 5 -2"When I use to be in dinging room service I would hear de white folks talk, and, da you know, Miss Sue you can hear a lot that way? "Moster said he couldn't sell me l cause I was so little,^ust kept me fur to wait on de little chillun in de house* "Miss Sue, you'll have to give me something for telling you all dis here, if it ainr nothing but a horse cake. "I've seen lots of dis world in travel. Done bin to BaltimoreJ3ity; done bin to Philadelphia. "I aint gwine give you no more, gal. "Yes, to Lynchburg, den I worked at Mont Royal School, Baby , where Mrs ' McDaniel was manager. "The man gwine say, w dat woman bin some where. w If I stayed long enough I might^a got some learning but I stayed only one year. Got tired of that place. From one season to another is a year, aint it? Aft i Lordi "Young folks now adays are just fur a- good time, and a good time too they have. Yes, Siree Bob! "Gwine stop now,Miss Sue, aint gwine give you no mo*. Man gwine say, Miss Sue, where in the devil did you get this stuff. Gal, you are a mess. You gonna write most ail dat book about Delia. Go on now,dats nough. "In.dem days chillun were chillun, now every body is grown. Chillun then were seen and not heard, ffhen old persons came around muma sent us out and you better not be seen. Now every body^grown. Make the man laugh. 11 I've always enjoyed good health.Ajever had a Doctor in my life,not even when* my chillun wuz born. Dis rubbing when people much and late hours is cause you young got pain just rubs it in. Eating so folks dying. All. muma'a chillun wuz healthy. "ffood in dem days, yes>muma fed us good vituals from white folks. I tell youx we had good owners. I didn't h:& m see sun set when I wuz a chilcLftlways went to bed early, 26 -3 hild, I wish I could call back dem daysj ijuma said people lived so much longer because they took care of themselves. "All dis here education an1 people just now got it.* (5uAt4^ Do you think, Mrs.Harris, education has helped our race? "Well, child, I don1 }fxio\ folks are so indifferent now I am afraid to say. Pshaw.. Colored folks now# Some are messy^don't know how to be polite. "Talking about lightning* days^Xts lightning at every bodysjiouse. Lord have mercy on dese here young folks and deliber me from the plantation.I pray. "Courting dem days wuz like everything I reifcbn you all do now *a4ays. $ou promise to bey the man,but before you finishing its cussing^Honey. In olden days husbands loved. Sho Sod did tend to wife and t^S^oare oiL~. them and they had to stay home cause it wuz always a new baby. I tell you/Miss Sue, man ought not never had you to find history cause you gwine tell it all. A3 I said, we loved *s de young folks marrying fur love? Dey don't stay to- gether long enough to warmjiands^ We went to church together and praised G-odj led prayer meetings and^yes siree^ would feel good. Now you ail done start opening theatres.on Sunday. Miss Sue, all dat stuff you putting down will sure make the man laugh. 450004 Interview of Mrs. Marriah Hines - S. Avenue R.F.D. 1. Oakwood NorfoT "" ")akwood Norfolk, Virginia Jy By David Ho Hoggard arch 26, 1937 27 /;T. ^ 4fi^ ^ f$ ''--.,- f ^ ..4 Lrrs. Marriah Hines - Born July 4, 1835, South Hampton County Virginia* a slave on James Pressrnans plantation. Now residing on Avenue, Oakwood ,Norfolk, ._- "" Even though the general course of slavery was cruel, iuarriah Hines was fortunate enough, not to have to endure its severities. James Pressman was one of the few slave masters that looked upon the slave with a certain degree of compassion, to whom Marriah was fortunate, to be owned by. Although slavery in its self was cruel; but the fact that Mr. Pressman was generous and kind to the slaves that he owned, because of necessity in the process of his farming, should not be overlooked. It is quite true that slave masters near him did not grant their slaves such priviliges ae he did. I do not wish to impress the idea that IT. Pressman did not approve of slavery, but only his general attitude toward his slaves was different from the majority of the slaves holders. From the following story of Karriah's life in slavery, it may be clearly seen that her master was an exception. t?ptnx"interviewing her, she relates hBr -liftr story as ^foriwre *M I lived with good people, my white folks treated us good. There was plenty of 'em that didn ft fare as we did. Some of the poor folks almost starved to death. ?hy the way their masters treated them was scandalous, treated them like cats and dogs, ve always had plenty of food, never knowed what it was to want food bad enoujgh to have to steal it like a whole lot of fem. Faster would always give us plenty when he give us our rations. Of/course we slaves were given food and clothing and just enough to keep us goin good. Why master would buy cloth by the loads and heaps, shoes by the big box full; den he'd call us to the house and give each onfus our share. Plenty to keep us comfortable, course it wapriif,$ silk nor satin, no ways the best there was, but 'twas plenty good fnough for us, and we was plenty glad to git ~2[it. H?hen we would look and see how the slaves on the fjining farm was fareing, 'twould almost make us ^ed tears. It made us feel like we was gitting 'long most fine* Datfs why we loved 'spected master} 'course he was so good to us. I Cause master was good and kind to us, some of the other white folks used to | call him *nigger lover#tt He didn't pay dat no mind though. He was a true Christian [man, and I mean he shor lived up to it. He never did force any of us to go to church, [if we didn't want to, dat was l#pfc to us to 'cide. If you wanted to you could, if you [didnft you didn't have to, but he'd always tell us, you ought to go. Not only was master good but his whole family was too. When the weather was jgood we worked in the fields and on other little odd jobs that was needed done. We slaves would eat our breakfast, and go to the fields, dare wont no hurry-scurry. Lots o'times when we got in the fields the other slaves had been in the field a long time* Dar was times though we had to git to it early, too, 'pecially if it had been rainy |weather and the work had been held up for a day ob so. Master didn't make us work a 'tall in bad weather neither when it got real cold. The men might have to git in fire [wood or su^piri* of that sort but no all day work in the cold - just little odd jobs. We didn't even have to work on Sundays not even in the '*housef The master and the preacher both said dat was the Lord's day and you won't spose to work on that day. So we didn't. We'd cook the white folks vittals on Saturday and lots o'times dey eat cold vitals on Sundays. Master would sometimes ask the preacher home to dinner. *You M * plenty welcome to go home with me for dinner, but you'll have to eat cold vitfals 'cause there aint no cooking on Sundays at my house. Lots of times we slaves would take turns on helping em serve Sunday meals just fc<\use we lifted them so much* We hated to see Missie fumbling *round in the kitchen all out fa*her place. Weldidn't have to do itiwe just did it on our own fret* will* Master sometimes gives us a little' money for it too, which made it all the better* Master and Mitel** was so good to us we didn't mind working a little on Sundays, in the house Master had prayer with the vhole family every night, prayed for us sl&ve* too. Jay of the slaves thit wm i*d to / 29 -3to church and stayed the biggest portion of the day. No body had to rush home. On our plantation we had general prayer meeting every Wednesday night at church. 'c^use some of the masters didnft like the way'we slaves carried on we would turn pots down, and tubs to keep the sound from going out. Den we would have a good time, shouting singing and praying just like we pleased. The paddarollers didn't pay us much f coused they knew how master let us do. Dey would say nasty things '"bout master tention f cause he let us do like we did. We had plenty time to ourselves. Most of the time we spent singing and praying cause master was sich a good Christian and most of us had 'fessed religion. Evenings we would spin on the old spinning wheel, quilt make clothes, talk, tell jokes, and a few had learned to weave a little bit from Missus* We would have candy pulls, from cooked molasses, and sing in the moonlight by the tune of an old banjo picker. Ch^llen was mostly seen, not heard, different from youngens of today talking backward and foward cross their mammies and pappies. Chftllen dat did dat den would git de breath slapped out on fem. Your mamies didnft have to do it either; any old person would 0 A ' and send you home to git another lickin'. We slaves had two hours off for dibner, when we could go home and eat before we finished work fbout sun down. We aint had no colored overseers to whip us nor no white ones. We just went flong so and did what we had to, wid out no body watching over us. Every body was just plum crazy 'bout master. Doing the day you could see him strutting down the field like a big turkey gobbler to see how the work was going on. Always had a smile and a joke wid you. He allu's tell us we was doing fine, even sometimes when we want. We'd always catch up our work, so he wouldn't have to fuss. We loved lasses and the clplllen so much we wouldn't even let *em eat hardly. 1 LI0%8 didn't have to do nothing, hardly. Dare was always some of us round the house. Bout a year fore we heard 'bout freedom, master took sick and the slaves wouldn't fer looked sadder if one of their own youngens had been sick. Dey 'spected him to die, and he kept calling for some cabbage. Misses finally let me cock him some cabbage, and let him have some Hpot licker* (the water the cabbage was cooked in). 30 He didnft die den but a few years later he did die* Bat was the first and the last time any cooking ever was done in that house on Sunday. When master told us we was free it didn't take much f fect on us. He told us we could go where we pleased and come when we pleased that we didn't have to work for him any more 'less we wanted to. Most of us slaves stayed right there and raised our own crops. Master helped us much as he could. Some of us he gave a cow br a mule or anything he could spare to help us. Some of us worked on the same plantation and bought our own little farms and little log cabins, and lived right there till master dies and the family moved away* Some of us lived there right on* Master married me tocne of the best colored men in the world* Benjamin F* Hines. I had five chullun by him, four girls and one boy, two of the girls and the boy are dead. Dey died 'bout 1932 or 33 I stay with one a while, den I go and gtay a #iile wid the other one* We didn't have no public schools in dem days'n time. What little learning you got it from the white ch|illen.M >/" Marriah is about four feet and a half tall near fivo feet weigh fag. about one hundred pounds* w fcjt a pretty head of white hair covering her round brown face. Her memory of her mother and father is very v^gue.due to thi^|eath when she was young. She is able to dress herself practically with out help, and to get about from pla$e to place alone, enjoying talking about religion and the wonJtftoday* v ?#5%%iigg^^ w$ c, Interview Saturday, November 8th at Ms home on the LG( .lPQQttQSQn,,.iftlver. (Recorded from aeaory within I hour after*being talked to by him i x Uncle Jfoble hobbles unsteadily froE his little shade besi.ie tne outhouse into the wi-rn, kitchen, leaning heavily on the arci of Ms niece. He looks 'op on rearing my Vuiee, and ex- tenas a gnarled ana tobacco-stained band. into a chair. He sinks fu&blingly It is then th*t I see that Uncle Kobla.ls blind* "No, don!t ciilnd effen yuh ast me questions* 'eat, I will, best ways I kin. ae whut yuh want to know. right her Try tun answer Don't taina et all, eiTen yuh tell Bornfd in fifty-two, I wts# yessuli, over theer wheer dat grade big eluui tree usta be* Mamcy was uh. Injun an' auh pappy was uh hite m&n, least-ways be warntfc no slave even effen he was sorts dark-skimi#d# w 01e p&pw tale me *kout: how an* the Injuns get all qilxed up CUGP the whites an* the blacks ; Way back *long in dere it *?<* be ms to^X mr4m* *$ $$. y ar* -'4ey, wm-m t*tfc ,.m .liiJ^r^ll^i;^ S^^tesicM^,. :'* ^Musfea^fei^^ l> long dis ribber. Day" was kin to de Klnk-ko*tans, but dey wasn't de same* Dey had ober on the Janes de Klnk-ko-tans an1 dey had dis tribe oberjfeire. "Well, de white sen .come* Not X'um ob.r dcre* De white Jen he_ an cum cross de Potomac, an'Ads cross de York rlbber an1 den he cum on cross de Poquoson ribber into dis place* tell me jes' how cum dey cross all uh d^ose fibbers* Jay pappy He ain't see it, yuh unnerstand* but he he*.r tell how et happen. "Dis whut a white man ao He pick hisself a tall ellua long side de ribber an* he cl&i,b to ae top en' he ark out on de trunk wid he ax uh section 'long 'bout, oh, 'long 'bout Den he cut de top off an', den ha cut d thlrty-fo'ty feet* /bottom off so de thick, trunk fall right on de edge uh de ribber*. ; An*'den he hollar fl-ut dat elluai log tell he teake hisself uh bm% an' he skin, off de bark so et don't ketch in de weeds* I>m he I Bake hlsse'f uh pattle an' dey all stakes patties aa dey floats i ./' f I dat boat en1 Battles cross to,d udder side*. > j- ' ' -. : .'.. ' . ' ' \ ..... m tt;:48|i|^^ 3jfMi&: -ci^^ffl^e>:v'j^ia^ ' Jmr'tuih..!f$%$^10-V^Ji|^' | aey Ui^t 'livi^ci 3. or run *em way. When dey cross de Poquoson no work at ail dat day* "An1 when 1m Yanks Ae##*- dey ain't n^n- &k de slave-holders no whers round* Dey ail cleared out an' de blocks ia singin' an' prey in* an* shoutin1 To' joy cause *ttarc?e Lincoln dunfc.set em free. "Well, dey tufc de blacks an' aey inarch em down ae turnpike to Haiupton an' 4*9 *y put en, tuh work at de lort. ,h ain't nevuh go ober dere' but an heer tell how de bi&ck^ coae dere turn all 'round tell d&j get s^ cany dey ain't got work fov'fea tuh dOjSO dey put 'e& tuh piiin* up lugs an' tekin& fem d.vm &gin.sua' de Yankees come ana &o an' new ones coat, but dey ain't iwiimt notnin' ffiueh 'oeptin* tuh poach ub. ha % or turkey-n^w an* den* All.war -ti *' :ti*t3*e ' lartNH?;#itt$a* in ^'Ue^r^tfi-^iltt^reJi'' '.-.' 35 * 8* battle up Bethel w&y an* dey say dey kilt up dere/uh bunch ua men, tie (federates an' de Yankees both. But ah .ain't seed it, though Oncle Shep Brown uun tale &e all " bout eU "Qaole 8hep Brown lived down sways v>n de rlbber* 'I^ang 'fore de Yankees come he Jiaed up vid de 'federates*' he fit- in dat battle at Big Bethel but he ain't get uh scratch. He tell me all 'bout de mv when he eoiee back home. -lie tall juc' alX:"'Jrbeut ee-war a*n ha cma back homo* He tell mm ail 'bout de tall uh Bitsto&md, he did* en "Was one day aown A de lower woods in de shaae hi tell 'bout liehstond, uncle Shep dia. was yestiddy* Why, I re&efeber et jes' lek it W&s.whifctlin1 uh stick, he was, se'vtin* an uii stumfe wid hii g&ise laij huneheaVup Oi^uhuh bent sapiia/ He W4is whifctlin' away fo* uh 'long time 'tbout s&yin' much an' all ai one he ,}ui& up in de sir an* -de saplin* sprang up &a hss.start-in:tuh cms* #fcV ^ P*^' 'I &, gswia^tt,1;- m kep% vmi * *%& Ms*- n.u &&:' ,|^f^<|ipe2:#^. :^*: ^^Miiiii*;. A ;iiii#:::^:v|^iiii? e iea i jiiiitlii w-w^w-w 36 ed he always got uh lot tun say. *CSawdaeiaH, * ae say, ''twas de niggd<\s tatf Riehs&asii *'*' "How tiey CJ d*t Cncle Shep?w all ast, though an knowed he waa gonna tell ise anyway* " De niggahs done tuk Richmond, ' ne tep on .say in* an* finally he tell me how cue ciey tak RichBMad. H 'Ah seed et )mise,r,,tt he say, B*ay coinp'ny was stationed on de turnpike clu, he toll a e, tuh Richmond. We was in uh ole warehouse,' w, wld de winners an1 de doors all barred uj> an* a . 4crfc pacfced wid tohaooy bales swaitin' fo* 6 tanks tuh corse* An1 w was a liateninf an1 peepin* out an' we been waitin1 dare most all dsgr. An* den we iieer whistlin* an1 uh ro&rin- like uhMg blow an' it k Is ,biapi*:; 39 9. dc<\ An* A dey tell d Injuns yuh kain't arry no more cie whites.^* den aey tell usen dat we kainft CUD; no more tuh Church school* An* dey won't let us a no bisness wid de whites so wu is th*own in wid de blacks. U(j cur folk "Sone nave- &v*x.yybut aey warn't no use uii tiovin* cause ah hear tel J. et be ae same ev'y wheer. Go perty sown et cose time tuh marry ; ' dey ain't no white wofean fo* &e tuh carry so ah marries uh black v/o&an* ...n' a&t tt^Ke use black, ah 'spose 'cause ah ben livin* black evfy sence. "But Bah brother couldn't fine no black won&n u&t suited hiis, ah reckon, cause h* carriea his fust comsin, who was- a Hopson huhs ,f "Den dere only chile aarrieu'uisse'f anotfanr Hopson, and Hopsons been eiarryln* Hopson*fc ev*y sence, ah reek's*" Uncle Mobile Tells Where to Di* A Wall * **'' "That ^ell out dere? Naw, dat ain't old* Dat ain't been dere ao'un fifteen twenty year* De ol veil, she sras ol*.^hou^h she nevuh war much 30od* Paw ain't dug et in de right place* Old Shep Bro n tolt him, but my old man ain't nevuh pay no mine to old Shep* But old Shop sho' did know ho > up de lane T hen paw iias adig^in'* uh di uh well* Ah kin see nowjiim afa comin' Mobile he cay m my t>aw an1 me had de same name- Mobile, ye ain't digfein' dat veil de rir;ht place* "Dig^iri1 et vsrheer ah wants et$n anneimons paw, a di/j^in* away en de hole shoulder deep* "Hell* ye ain't ~onna ^it much water* ^Don' need, no ellum stick* et jes' wheer ah wants et 0 ghta got yo'ee'f uh ellum stick*11 Dir^in1 dio well in my om ye> d an' ah'm ;;onm dig Go haid an' dig yo1 own well*n "ell* old Shep musta got sorta mad, cause he-goes home an1 de nex1 day he di^s hisse'f uh wall* Ah seen him* Ah ssfttched him when he fi^^ered wheo r tuh dig dat well* ^ A^CVI Shorn, Adr was to^^, nuf old Shep got hisse'f uh prime ellum stick ftim^efl^ood eifced forked branch*First he skint all de bark off* M "XainH fine no water lessen dfo bark ttktgrti affly* he tell me* feet on each limb, et was* *Long 'bout 2 *j5 Well, old Shep tek dat ellum stick wld one fork in 41 each hand mkr* do bif, end straight up in de air an1 he holt It tight an1 etarted tuhw vmlk around* >ld me followin1 right on his heela* An sho1 nuff # party aoon ah seed dat branch cornmence tuh ahake an1 Aen at started tuh bend an1 old Shep lef et lead him across de field wid at bendin1 lower all da time tall party oon de big; end uh dat ellua stick point straight down* Old Shep marked da spot an1 ?rot hla pick an1 commence tuh dig out dat spot* An1 fof old Shep had got down mo1^ five uh six faet ah be dawg ef he don1 hit uh stream uh water dat filt up de well in uh hurry so dat he git his laigs all wet fo1 he eaiftld girt out* An1 yuh moughten believe et but ah knowflfli dat tuh be uh fac, cause ah tide dat ellum stick in seuh own hanfa an1 ah felt dat stick apullin1 me back tuh 4s water# No matter which way ah turn, dat stick ke ^ atwistin1 ma roun1 toward dat water* An* ah tried tuh pull et back an1 old Shep tuk hbl4 uh et aid me an1 tried tuh hole et up atraight but de big end uh dat ellua branch pult dostn and pointed tuh dat wall spite uh both uh ae** "Still deret Nawsuh. ah reckon data old well been crumbled in an1 fllledpi lon time now* Old Shep died back en 95, ah reckon* *h reckon dat ole well all covered up* Gave mo1 water dan all de udder walla in Ills oldJHhadc blowed down* an1 But dat was soiae wall while Poquoson* ah reckon* she lasted* w * 450008 i Interview of Ex-slave and Civil War Veteran Portsmouth, Virginia.., By Thelraa Dunston January 8, 1937 42 I i Civil War Veteran of Portsmouth, Virginia On the out shirts of Portsmouth, Virginia where one seldom hears of or goes ^ *s* ) for sight seeing lives Mr. Albert Jones* In a four room cottage at "726 Lindsey M Fer twenty years I stayed wif mastah, and I didn't try.to run away. When I wuz twenty one, me and one of my brothers run away to fight wif the Yankees. Us left Souf Hampton county and went to Petersburg. Dere we got some food. Den us went to Fort Hatton where we met some more slaves who had done run away. When we got in Fort Hatton, us had to cross a bridge to git to de Yankees. De rebels had torn de bridge down. We all got together and builded back de bridge, and we went on to de Ya&kees. D#y give /us food and clothes. f 43 -2- The old man then got up and emptied his mouth of the tobacco juice, scratched if his bald head and continued. Yer know, I was one of de first colored cavalry soljers, and I fought in Company "KH. I fought for three years and a half* Sometimes I slept out doors, and sometimes I slept in a tent* De Yankees always give us plenty of blankets." "During the war some un us had to always stay up nights and watch fer de rebels. Plenty of nights I has watched, but de rebels never Hacked us when I wuz o .lf "Not only wuz dere men slaves dat run to de Yankees, but some un de women slaves followed dere husbands* Dey use to help by washing and cooking." ."One day when I wuz fighting, de rebels shot at me, and dey sent a bullet through my hand. I wuz lucky not to be kilt. LookS See how my hand is?" The old man held up his right hand, and it was half closed* Due to the wound he received in the war, that was as far as he could open his hand. Still looking at his hand 3LT. Jones said, "But dat didnH stop me, I had it bandaged and kept on fighting." "The uniform dat I wore wuz blue wif brass buttons; a blue cape, lined wif red flannel, black leather boots and a blue cap. I rode on a bay color horse - fact 4 every body in Company "K" had bay color horses* I tooked my nap-sack and blankets A on de horse back. In my nap-sack I had water, hard tacks and other food." MShen de war ended, I goes back to my mastah and he treated me like his brother. Guess he wuz: scared of me 'cause I had so much ammunition on me. My brother, who went wif me to de Yankees, caught rheumatism doing de war. He died after de war ended..* Writer * ^ ,7. / - / / /x - v\>5\ Autobiography of Richard Slaughter (3lven by hiiseelf a* an oral aeeount during an interview beta en hircsaif\J and writer* December 27* 19J6*) Claude \Y. Anderson Hampton, Virginia fy ; u;iiy "Cotse int son* Flave a seat, who are you and how ara you? Ky life? Ch{ eertainly you don1! want to haar thai* ^eli# son, have you bean born again? Do you know Christ? %I1# that*e good* Oood for you* MMB* lfW glad to haar it* Always glad to talk to any true Christian li^ert God blese you* son* *I was born January 9# Iff49 oh tha J&mn at a plaoe called Epps Island, Oity Point* 1 was bom a slave*. Haw old am I i Well* there's tha data* Count it up for youraelf* My owner*a muie was Or* Riehard 3* Bpps* 1 stayed there until I ^s around thirteen or fourteen years old when I cane to Hampton* *X donft know muoh about the meaimeee of slavery* There was ao mny degrees In slavery* and I belonged to a **ty niee man* He never eold but otm tmn0 furfa I can res&eeber* md that m& eousln &en* *oid him South* tea* My star w&e a nice old isan* V* ain't living now* Dr* Kppn died and hie eon wrote tie aiy age* I got it upstairs in a letter now* 11 It happened ihie a~way# Hampton was already burnt when I oa*?ie Star** I cause to ?:fempton in June 1A62* The Tankage burned Hampton and the f le^t went up the Jmmm River* My father and mother and eousins went aboard the Merita*** with wi* You aee* my father and three or four man left in the d*rkne** first and got aboard* Th*' gua, ^oats would fire on the towns and plantations and run the whit* folks off* After that they would oarry all the eolored folks baek down here to old Point and put ' * behind the Union Unas* I know the naitea of all tha gunboats that eai&e up tha river* Y **tr* There was th alati*> m called bsr the old eheeae box* tfe* Salwar** tha Yai^ee# the t'oskar, and the MmHUm* which waa the ship I mm board of* That aft&a year tfea U t#lm r and. Monito? fought off t -^ Kenport "a^a Point* $a* I didn't aae lt# I didn't aos?*a down all tha way on tha minboat* I had tha maasia on tha Karltanaa and ma put off at r^arrison'a fiinding# an tfc-ellantt ratraated from Richmond through th paninaula to 9aahington* I oama to Hanpton a a govarnmant ssatar boy# w place c&llad Mia I i aa aboard tha gunboat* aha capturad a rabal gunboat at a Orury'a Bluff* Whan 1 firat caa to Hampton, thara wara-only barr&cka tfhare tha Instituta laj whan 1 raturmid Sanarai Armttrong had dona rite assart* f 'X la ft Hampton atill working a a a mi tor boy and mt& to Quiro Creak, dell Plains, '/a*, a placa naar Harpar'a Farry* 1 laft the craak aboard a staa&ar, tha lon&r&l Hookar, and want to Alexandria, */a* Abrahaa Lincoln oai aboard tha ataamar and tz carried hint to Mt# ^arnon, Oaorga Washington1 a old hotaa* 3 hat did he look Hka? ^hy, ha lookad mar* lika an old ptmoh&r than ar^ything I know, Hahl HehJ Rah! J*v you aver aa n any picturaa of him? iali, if you aaanr a picture of M.% you m^n him* Ha1 a just lika tha ptotura* "Tou aay you think I apaafc vary good Kn$jliah* Hah! Hah! Hah! *all, aon I ourht to* I baan avary^hare* *?o I mr&r want to what you stould call aehool except to achool aa a soldier. 1 want to Baltimora in 1^64 and snliated* I ma about 1? yaara old than* My offioera* mm& wara Oapt* Joa Fiaadt Llautanant Stimaon* and Colons 1 Joaaph E* Psrklna* I #aa aaalgnad to tha Nlnetaanth iWgimant of Maryland Company * I nant to tha hi la I aa in training, thay fought at Patarsburg* ragiaant in < * and atayad in until * ? 1 aaa a cook* ?hay takan Riahmand tha fifth day of April IP6S# On that day I aalked up tha road in FUohmoiuL * bsn m laft Richmond, my brtfada aaa ardarad to 3ro matri 11a, Taxaa* *a #ant thara by my af Old Point Comfort, whara a waist aboard a transport* ^han wa got to Bfoaiwrilla* I *aa datailad to a hospital staff* $e arrivad in 3rownev'lla in January 1W57 ?fc* only thing that happaisad in Srownavllla . * 48 M while I waa there is the hanging of throe exicans for the murder of an aide* In September we left Srowneville and ca^e ba$k to Saltliaere* Before we left I *m aent up the Bio Or&nde to Ringo Berraoke ae boee eook* M I then returned to Hampton and lived ae an oyatensan and flehanaan for forty yeare* QVQT n l have mvQr been wounded* My clothes have been out off me by bullet but the f^rd kept thea aff my back* I *ueei*# 11 1 tell you what I did one** My eoueln and I **ent down to the ahore once# The river ahore, you knee, up where I was bom* ^hlle we were walking along ofttohlng tadpoiae, mimowe, and anything we oould eateh, I happened to see a big reocoaeln amke hanging in a wxmc bush Juat a awinglng hie haad baok *n& forth* I mv*ng at ira with a etiek and he awelled hia head alt up big and rared b&ek* Then 1 hit fim and knoeked hi on the gfmxni flat* Hia belly w*e very big ao vm kept hittin1 *^n on it until he opened hia mouth and a eat~ fieh as long ae my arm (fore&ra), juaped out jeet a flopping* Sell the eatfieh h**d a big belly to, ao we beat *en on hia belly until he or>ened hie A nouth &n& out eame one of theee women 9e &mpp r poefcetfeooka* Toy know the i-.ind that oloeee by a amp at the top* Well the noafeet book wae ewelli&g all out, eo we opened It* ^n& ^ueae what ssae In it? 'Two big ooriper i>enni#a# I ?jftve my eoueln arm and I took one* flow you tsaynlt believe that* but it*a true* ' be*n trying to make people believe that for m&r fifty yeare* Tou ean put it In the book or not* pBt as you please, but it1 a true* That fieh disallowed sicmie woman*a pooketbook and that enake juat ewallowed hits* I have told mn that for yeara and they wouldn't believe **e* *-lhile I w&e atsay my father died in Hampton* fJe waited on an offieer* Vy aether lived in Italian and saw ise carried in l*7* * bought a lot on Union Street for a hundred dollare aaeh* I reared a nephew* gave hl the lot and the beuee I built on it an he threw It away* When 1 awed around here, I paid caefc for thie horse* *l>id elatee e*er r\m aneyi lord 3fa*# All ths tltae* here 1 *ae born* tiara la a lota of water* '**hy there weed to be ae high aa tan and twelte Hatch three ts&etera In tha habor at a tiiae* I uaed to eateh llttla anakee and othar thlnge Ilka tempine and aall faa to tha sailor for to aat roaehee on tha ehipe* In thoaa daya a good oaptain would hi da a eiav* way up In tha top mil and earry him out of Virginia to .New York and Soeion* **! newr $*ent In tha %anlsh Afi^rlsen *ar* too oldt but I had etaae oouaina that enliatad*' That a&a during &eKinley,e Una Ha want down tha ?exae and eo& of thea othar ahlpe thay gawa Puerto Hioo Hail Columbia* Thay blew up tha &alne with a mine* She wae biased up inward* Tha Maine loft Hampton ? 3oade goln^ towarde 3awennahi ""hen they looked at what *ae left of her all the ateel aae bent inward whieh ehowe that aha wae blowed up from the out-* aide In* Underetand* inuring the $erld *ar 1 #ant to Waahln^ton end he van11 boon anyplaee einee* I1 a little hard of hearing and haw high blood preaaure* So 1 haire to ait aoat tha tlae* 'Sot an invitation in thara now v*antinf *ae to eeiae to a ^pend reunion of Taakeaa and tha Rebele thia yea* but I e&n't go* letting too aid* $ell goodbye* eon* 3 lad to hew you cause affaln eoneti&e** J& 45001D * ^ % 50 Autobiography of Elisabeth Spark. (Interviewed at Matthews Court House, Virginia January 13f 193? By Qaude%; Ander eon.) Come in boys* Sure am glad ter see ya* You're lookin' so well. That's whut I say* Fight boys/ Hold em** You're doin' alright* f~e, I fm so mean nothin* can hurt me* what's that*' You want me to tell yer 'bout slavery days* Well I kin tell yer, but I ain't. S'all past nowf so I say let 'er rest too young to know all that talk anyway, f s too awful to tell anyway* yer're ell I'll tell yer some to put in yer book, but I ain'ta goin' tell yer the worse* My mistress's name was Miss Jgnrie Brown. Nof 1 guess I'd better not tell yer* Done forgot about dat* Oh well* I'll tell yer. Some*. 1 guess* She died years ago* Bless her* She 'ui a good woman. 'bout four Course I mean she'd slap an' beat yer once in a while but she warn't no woman fur fighting fussin' an' beat in1 yer all day 3ak some I know* She wae too young when da war anded fur that* Course no while folks perfect* Her parents a little rough. Abut dat? Kin I tell yer about her parents? Lord yej I wasn't born then but my parents told me* But I ain't a goin' tell yer nuffin* i o I ain't* Tain't no sense fur yer ta know 'bout all those mean white folks. Dey all daid now* They meany good I reckon* Leastways most of 'em got salvation on their death beds* Well I'll tell yer some, but I ain'ta goin' tell yer much more. No sir. Shep iller was my master* His ol' father f he was a tough one* Lord.1 I've seen 'Im kill f em. He'd git the meanest overseers to put over 'em* Why I member time after he was dead when I'd peep in the closet an9 Jes* see his old clothes hangln' there an' jes' fly. Yessir, I'd run from them clothes an' I was jes' a little girl then. He wus that way with them black folks* Is he in heaven.' No, he ain't in heaven*' Went past heaven. He wae eierk an' was he tough.' Sometimes he beat 9 em until they couldn't work. Give em more work than they could do. They'd ;git beat in1 if they didn't get work done. Bought my motheri a little girl* when he was married* She wus a real Christian am* he respected her a little. Didn't beat her so much. Course he beat her once in a i 2while. Shep Miller was terrible. There was no end to the beat in' I saw it wif my own eyes. Beat womeni' %hy sure he beat women. Beat women jes9 lak men. Beat women naked an9 wash 9 em down in brinef Some times they beat 9 em so bad, they jesf couldn't stand it an1 they run away to the woods. If yer git In the woods, they couldnH git yer. Yer could hide an* people slip yer eemepin9 to eat. Then he call yer every day. After while he tell one of colored foresmn tell yer come on back. He ain'ta goin9 beat yer anymore. They had colored oraman but they always have a white overseer. Foreman git yer to come back an* then he beat yer to death again. They worked six days fum sun to sun. If they they start to work forcin1 wheat or other crops, long *fo day. Usual work day began when the horn blew an9 stop when the horn blow. They git off jes9 long 9nuf to eat at noon. Didn't have much to eat. They git some suet an9 slice a bread fof breakfao, &ell, they give the colored people an allowance every week. Fo9 dinner they9d eat ash cake baked on blade of a hoe. I lived at Seafcrd then an9 was roun9 fifteen or sixteen when my mistress married. Shep Miller lived at Springdale. I 9 member jes9 as well when they gave me to Jennie, &e wus all in a room helpin9 her dress. She was soon to be married, an9 she turns 'roun an9 sex to us. hich of yer niggers think I'm gonna git when I git married? We all sayffl doan know,1 An9 she looks right at me an9 point her finger at me like this an9 sayed 9 yer." I was so glad. I had to make I 9us cryin9, but I was glad to go with 9 er believe 9 er. She didn9t beat. She wus jes9 a young thing. Course she take a whack at me sometime, but that werenH nuffin9. Her mother was a mean ol9 thin9. She9d beat yer with a broom or a leather strap or anythin9 sbefd git her hands on. She ueter make my aunt Caroline knit all day an9 when she git so tired aftah dark that she'd git sleepy, ehe9d make 9 er stan9 up an knit. She work her so hard that she'd go to eleep standin9 up an9 every time her haid nod an9 her 51 52 -3knees sagf the ladyfd come down across her held with a switch* That wus Miss Jennie's mother. She'd give the cook Jes9 so much meal to make bread fum an1 effen she burnt it, she9d be scared to death cause they fd whup her* I 'member plenty of times the cook ask say* 'Marsa please too brown* 'Yessir*9 Beat the devil out f scuse dis bread, hits a little 9 er if she burn dat bread* I went *rif Miss Jennie an9 worked at house* I didn9t have to cook* I got permission to git married* Yer always had to git permission* -hit folks 9 ud give yer away* Yer jump cross a broom stick tergether an9 yer wua married. My husband1 lived on another plantation* I slop* in my mistress9s room but I ain't slep9 in any bed* Woeir*' I slep9 on a carpet, an9 ^E^Tug, befo9 the fiahplace* I had to git permission to go to church, everybody did* We *e^**d set in the gallery at the white folks service in the mornin9 an9 in the evenin9 the folk held baptise service in the gallery wif white present* Shep went to war but not for long* -e didn't see none of it, but the slaves knew what the war wuz f bout. After the war they tried to fool the slaves 'bout freedom an9 wanted to keep f em on a workin9 but the Yankees told fem they wus free* They sent some of the slaves to South Carolina* ^Phen the Yankees came near to keep the Yankees from gittin* c em* Sent cousin James to South Carolina* I nevah will forgit when the Yankees came through* They wuz takin' all the livestock an9 all the men slaves back to Norfolk, wld 9 em to break up the system, vvhite folk head wus jesf goin9 to keep on havin9 slaves* The slaves wanted freedom, but they1 s scared to tell the white folks so* Anyway the Yankees wus givin* everythin9 t> to the slaves* I kin heah *am tellln9 ol9 Missy now* Yes*9 give'er clothes* Let'er i 9 9 take anythin she wants* They even took some of Miss Jennie s things an9 offered '*m to me* I didn't take fem tho9 cause she'd been purty nice to me* hut tickled ft* wus my husban9, John Sparks* He didn't want to leave me an9 go cause he didn't know wh&h they9a takin9 9em nor what they1 a gonna do, but he wanted to be freej lie he played lame to keep fum goin9* He was jes* a limpin9 'round* It was all X could do to keep fum laffin9. I kin hear MlssJennie now yellin1 at them Yankees* No.* who are yer to judge. Ifll be the Judge* If John Spark* wants to stay here, hefll stay? they was gonna take 'la anyhow an9 he went inside to pack an9 the baby started cryin9. So one of 9 em said that as long as he had a wife an9 a baby that young fehey guess he could stay* They took all the horses, cows, and pigs and chickens an1 anything they could use an9 lefts I was about nineteen when I married* I wuz married in 1861, my oldest boy was born in 1862 an9 the fallin9 of Richmond came in 1865. Before Miss Jennie was married she was born an9 lived at her old home right up the river heah. Yer kin see the place fum ou side heah.On the plantation my mother wuz a house woman. She had to wash white folks clothes all day an9 huh9s after dark. Sometimes she9d be washin9 clothes way up 9 round midnight. Nosir, ceuldnH wash any nigguh9s clothes in daytime. My mother lived in a big one room log house wif an9 upstairs. Sometimes the white folks give yer 'bout ten cents to spend. A woman with children 9 ud git 9 bout half bushel of meal a week) a childless woman 9ud git 9 bout a peck an9 a half of meal a week. If yer wus workln9, they9d give yer shoes. Children went barefooted, the yeah f round* The men on the road got one cotton shirt an9 jacket. I had five sisters an9 five brothers. Might as well quit lookin9 an me. I ain9t gonna tell yer any more. CalnH tell yer all I know. 01 Shop might come back an9 git me. hy if I was to tell yer the really bad things, some of dem daid white folks would come right up outen dere graves. Sell, I911 tell somemore, but I cain't tell all. Once in a while they was free nigguhs come fum somewhah. They could come see yer if yer was their folks. Nigguhs used to go way off in quarters an9 slip an1 have meetins. They called it etealln9 the meetin9. The children used to teach me to read. Schools* Son, there warnft no schools for niggers. Slaves went to bed when they didn't have anything to do. Most time they went to bed when they could. Sometimes the men had to shuck corn till eleven and twelve o9clock at night. If you went out at night the paddyrols 9ud catch yer if yer was out aftah time without a pass. Mos9 a the slaves was afeared to go out. Plenty of slaves ran away. If they ketch 9em they beat 9 em near to death. -5- >.. But yer know deyfs good an* bad people every where. That's the way the white folks wux. Some had heartsj some had gizzards 'stead o' hearts* %en ray mothers's master died, ^e called my mother an' brother Major an' got religion an1 talked so purity* He say he so sorry that he hedn't found the Lord before an' had nuttin' gainst his colored people. He was sorry an' scared, but confessed. My aether died twenty years She since then at the age of seventy-fo'. wuz very religious an' all wite folks set store to 'er. Old Massa done so much wrongness I couldn't tell yer all of it. Slave girl Betty Lilly always had good clothes an' all the priviliges. She wuz a favorite of his'n. But cain't tell all. God's got allJ *"e uster sing a song when he was shlppin* the slaves to sell 'em 'bout "Massa's Qwyne Sell Us Termerrer." No, I cain't sing it for yer. My husban' lived on the plantation nex' to my mistress. He lived with a bachelor master. He tell us say once when he was a pickinnany oi' tearse Williams shot at 'ia. He didn't shoot f em| he jesf shoot in the air an' ol' man wuz so sce^red he ran home an9 got in his mammy's bed. Uassa Williams uster play wif 'em; then dey got so bad that they'ud run an* grab 'is laige so's he couldn't hardly walk so when he sees 'em he Jes' shoots in de air. 01' Massa, he. jes' come on up ter the cabin an1 say "mammy whah dat boy?* She say. in dah undah the bed. Yer done scared 'im to deafJ 01' Massa go on in an' say, Boy.' that's the mattah wid yer. Boy say. yer shot me master yer shot me. Master cayt Ar Gwan.1 Git up an' come along. I ain't shot yer. I Jes' shot an' scared yer. Heh.' Heh' Heh.' Yeseir my ol' husban' sayed he sure was scared that day. Now yer take dat an' go. Put that in the book. Yer kin make out wif dat. I ain't a gonna tell yer no more. Nosir. The end a time is at hand anyway. Tain't no use ter write a book. The Bible say when it git so's yer cain't tell one season from t'other the worl's comin' to end*:here hit is so warm in winter that.feels like J summer. Goodbye. Keep lookin' good an' com &g&in* . 54 |j^erviaw of Hiss Mary Jane Wilson Xx Portsmouth, Virginia /^/V By - Thelma Duriston /">/ NEGRO PIONEER TEACHER OJ PORTSMOUTH, VIROBtlA 450002 * -. ^i^ % One of the rooms in the Old Folks Home for Colpiw^n Portsrouthj/rir- ginia is occupied by an ex-slave -- one of the first NegW^^aehexs of Portemouth* ^sr On meeting Miss Mary Jane Wilson, very little questioning was needed to get her to tell of her life* Drawing her chair near a small stove, she said, "my Mother and Father was slaves, and when I was born, that made $e a slave was the only child I My Mother was owned by one family, and ay Father was owned by another family. My mother and father was allowed to live together. One day my father 9e mastah took my father to Norfolk and put him in a jail to stay until he could sell him. My missus bought my father so he could "be with us.* , "During this time I was small, and I didn't have so much work to do. I jus helped around the house." "I was in the yard one day, and I saw so many men come marching down the street, I ran and told my mother what I*d seen. all about, but I couldnft understand her. She tried to tell me what it was Not long after that we was free.* Taking a lon& breath, the old woman said, "My father went to work in the Norfolk Navy Yard as a teamster. He began right away buying us a home. one of the first Negro-land owners in Portsmouth after emancipation. builed his own house. We was My father It's only two blocks from here, and it still stands with few improvements." With a broad smile Miss Wilson added,ftI didn't get any teachings when I was a slave. Ihen I was free, I went to sfehool* held in a church. The first school I went to. was Soon they builded a *feho& building that was called, 'Chest- nut Street Academy8, and I went there. I went to Hampton Institute, After finishing Chestnut Street Academy, In 1874, six years after Hampton Institute was \ ,s started, I graduated*" ^. reefer.'; ^-2- \ 2 - At this point Miss Wilsonfs pride was unconcealed* She continued her conversation, but her voice was much louder and her speech was much faster. She remarked, "My deaire was to teach* had lots of students* I opened a school in my home, and I After tto years my class grew so fast and large that my father built a school for me in our back yard* five pupils at one time. I had as maiiy as seventy- Many of them became teachers* exercises in the Emanuel A.- U. S. Church. I had my graduation Those were my happiest days.*1