mississippi slave narratives volume ix 090.pdf

7/26/2019 Mississippi Slave Narratives Volume IX 090.pdf

1/178

SLAVE

NARRATIVES

A

olkHistory

ofSlaverynhe

nitedStates

From

nterviewswith

ormer

kives

TYPEWRITTENECORDSREPAREDY

THE

EDERAL

WRITERS'

ROJECT.

1936-1938

ASSEMBLED

Y

THEIBRARYF

ONGRESSROJECT

WORK ROJECTSDMINISTRATION

FOR

HEISTRICT

F OLUMBIA

SPONSOREDY

HEIBRARYOF ONGRESS

Illustratedwith

Photographs

WASHINGTON

941


2/178

VOLUME

IX

MISSISSIPPI

NARRATIVES

Prepared

by

theFederal Writers

f

Projectof

theWorksProgressAdministration

f orthe

State

of

Mississippi


3/178

Allen,J i r a

Baker,

Anna

Cameron,John

Clark,

Gus

Cornelius,

James

Davenport,

Charlie

Emanuel,

Gabe

Franks,

Dora

Franks,

Pet

Henry,

Nettie

Hodges,

Fanny

Smith

Holliday,

Wayne

1

Kennedy,Hamp

84

1 1

Lucas,

James

9 1

18

McAllum,Sam 100

2 2

Moses,

Charlie

113

26

34

Necaise,

Henri 1 1 9

44

Singleton,Rev.

James

125

Smith,

^ B e r r y -

128

4 9

Snow,

Susan

135

5 6

Stier,

Isaac

143

Sutton,

Jane

151

6 1

6 8

Williams,

Mollie

157

7 2

Wilson,

Tom

16 5

Johnson,

Prince

7 6

Young,Clara

C .

169


4/178

ILUJSTRATIONS

Facing

page

Mollie

Williams

57

Tom Wilson 65


5/178

MississippiFederal Writers

SlaveAutobiographies

< ^ JimAllen, West Point,age

8 7 ,livesin a shackfurnished


6/178

Page2

241JimAllen,Clay

Co,

FEC

Mrs.

Ed

Join er

fer whiskeyebt.

Yes,

oldMarsterrinked

e m

p.

Den

ey as

car

f

i

e

d

o

Florida y

a m

Oneal,an*

eorge

as

es

aby , You

now,

de

white

olks

wouldnt

ften

eparate

e

a m m y

n*

aby ,

I

in*t

seen

* e m

ince,

r*~^

Did

ork?

Yes a*m,

e

n*

girl orked

n

e

iel*,

I

carryin*

ne

ow ;

you

now,tuk

wo

hulluno

eknean*.

Did

we

ave

oodatins?

Yesa*m,

ld

Marstered

e

o

good,fer

as

is

et.

H eever Mowedone

o

ester

meindither.

N o w

dis

Marster asobAllen ho

ad

uk

e

or whiskey

debt,

oo,

Marseusseyouldn*tay,n*o

Marse

Allen

uk

e,

ittle

oy,

out

* n

e

ard

har

as

layin*

marbles, D eaw

*lowed

eust

hing

de

anaw,

e

could

ake,

*I

erved

Marse

ob

Allen

*til

en*al

Grant

come *longnd

had

e

n*

om e

thers

o

ollow

im

to

Miss*sippi,

W e

as

n

e

oods

hidin*

em u le sn*

ine

are, Dis

was

fter

Emancipation,

n*

Gen

f

al

rant

asom in*

o

Miss

f

sippioell

e

iggersey as

ree,

*As oneol*

ou,

as

MarseAllen

f

s

et

igger

boy,

I

wasalled tray, Ilep*

n

e

lo*

yldMiss

n*Marse ob , I

could

f

a

lep

f

n

e

run*le

bed,

utt as

o

asyea

oollver

an

9

lo w em

ashes

n* ek

at

ireurn*


7/178

Page

241JimAllen,

lay

o*

FEC

Mrs.

d

Joiner

"OleMiss

was soood,

* d

onythingerer.

She

as

sooodn*

eighed

*round00

poun*s*

She

asMarseob

f

s

econ*

wife.

Nobody *posednme,No,Sir.* Iar*igdwateroMarseob's

sto*

loseyn*ewould

allus

ive

eandyye

ouble

an*full,

an*s

anyuicearpss wanted. De

es*

hing

ver

id

atwas

dat

candy.

Marsterwasood

oisnlytrayigger*

"Slave

iggers

idn

f

t farewido

ardens *cept

eig

gardenpte

igHouse,

hen

iel

f

an

f

s

as

alled

o

wuk

ut

ers

(old

Kiss,%

31

e

iggers

ad

ight

f

ood

hings

oat

frum

at

garden

n*

mok e

ouse*

I

ineeld

Lady

allyow,

cookin*

or

s

iggers,

n*

Ruthookedn

e

hiteolk*s

itchen.

Ruthn*ld

M anPleas*n*

old

ad y

usan

wasiveoMarse

ob

when

e ar*ieda

f

c ome

o

Sandford,labam y*

/

No ,

ere

wafrit

oails,

ut guard

ouse* Whenniggers

id

wrong,

ey

wasft*n

ent

ere,

ut

o s*lias

eyvases

hupped

i

when

oo

azyo

wuk,

n*

wheney

wouldteal*

Ourlo*es

was

ll

wovend

ad e

n

delan*ation. Our

\

ever*daynes,e

alled

f

hick*rytrips** W ead*len*yro o d \

]

uns*

W e

was

itted

utn*

utacheason,

n*

ad

woairsf

hoes,

an*lle

nuff

n* *ba^cowe

wantedvery

month*


8/178

Page4

241--JimAllen,

Clay

Co .

FEC

Mrs.EdJoiner

4

"No,

not

any

weddin's.

twaskinder

dis

way.

e re

was

agoodniggerman

an

c

a

good

niggerwoman,anVtheMarster

would

say,

I

knowsyouboth

goodniggersan

f

I

wants

you

to

be

manan

f

wife

di s

\

year

an*

raise

littleniggers;

den

I won

f

t

have

to

buy

'em,

1

*Marse

Boblived

ina

big

white

house

widsix

rooms.

e

had

a

cou

f

thousean*

a

block

whar

he

hiredoutniggers,jes

like

mules

an

f

cows.

"Howma&yslaves

di d

us

ha v e?

Le s

f

see.

1

e re

was

old

Lady

Sally

an

1

he r

si x

chullun

an

1

old

Jake,

he r

husban

f

,

de

ox

driver,

fer

deboss.e n

dere

was

old

Starlin',Rose,his

wife

an

1

fo

f

chullun.

Some

of

de m

was

mixed

blood

by

deoberseer.

I

sees

' e r a right

now.

knowed

de

oberseer

was

nothin*

butpo

f

whitetrash,

je s

a

tramp.

e n

derewasme

an

1

Katherin. Old

LadySallycookedfor

de

oberseers,

s e v e n

milesVayfrumde

Big

House.

'*Ever*body

was

woke

up

at

fo

f

o

f

c

l

o

c

k

bya

bugle

blowed

mos'ly

by

a

nigger,

an

f

was

at

dey

work

by

sun-up.

e nday

quitsat

sunset.sho

f

seedbad

niggers

whu ppad

as

many

timesas

dere

isleaves

on

da t

groun

f

.

otMarseBob

f

s

niggers,

but

our

neighbors.

ewas

called

f

f

re e ,

f

'cause

Marse

Bobt r e a t edusso

good.

he whuppin* was

doneby

de

oberseerordriver,

who

wouldsay

as

heputde

whupto

de

back,Trav

sir,

praysir

.


9/178

Page 5

241Jim

Allen,ClayCo. 5

FEC

Mrs.

EdJoiner

I

eed

lavesol*ft*eneran ouot

ingers

n'

oes.

You

now

ol*

ouere

as

ellin*lock

lose

o

ur

to*.

Den

\ plen*y

iggers

ad

o e

hained

o

reer

ost

f

c

a

usee ould

j

run

* w a y

n

f

ouldn*

uk.

D e y

would

rack

e

unways

w id ogs

n

1

ometiws

whitecal*wag

r

lacker ud

eotched odgin*

uty*

Ieeds any

deserterss eeorn

talks

b er

n

at

iel*. Dey

would ideut

in ay

ime

n

f

teal

t

night*

* N o * m idn

f

earno

ea d

n

#

write

ut

y

olkse ched

m e

o

eonestn*

in

1

ldMissn* ranny. Deydidn

f

ant

s

o

learnowo oo

e

ree

ountry.

W ead eighborhoodhu*ch

n

bofelackn

f

white ent

to

t.

Dere

as

white

reachern*

om etim es

igger

reacher

would

sit

n eulpit

id im . De

laves

et

n

ne

ide

feisle

n*

white

olks

n

e

ther.

I

allus

iked

reacher

Williams

dem,

an*

his rudder

Daniel,

de

tSlidin*

Elder*

(l).

Dey

om erum

Ohio. Marse

Bob

Allen

as

ea d

teward.

I

f

membersots

f yav

f

ri

te

ongs.

Somefemwas.

m

orn

o

Die

AlasndDid yaviorBleed,

n*

Must

o

e

udgm ent

e

roufaht

The

reacher

*ov&

sa y

f

Pull

own

de

ine

nd

et

epirite

witnes,

orkin*

er

aithn e

\

x

~

future

frum

on

high.

f

* I

seed

depatyroilers

every

week.

f

de

niggers

didn*

( 1 )ackslider


10/178

Page

241--Jim

Allen,Clayo.

F E C

Mr8.

d

oiner

get

pass

n an

f

ight

frum

ne

lan

f

ation

o

f

nother,em

paty-

rollers

wouldgitou.

Dey

would e

ixn*welven

drove,an

f

dey

oul'd

git

ou

f ouidn*ave

a tiece

f

aper. No

un

ould

go

ownn pass. Dere aso

rouble

wixtiggers

en.

W e

ayownn

f

es

1

t

night

in e eekime.\

Niggers

in lav

f

r

y

imeizp

n

e

Quarters,

you

ouldhear

f

emormiles. \

Den eornshuckinguk

place.

Den e

would

ave

ingin

f

Whenne

foun* ed

ar

f

orn,

ey

would

ake rinkf

whiskey

rum e

jug

n

1

up.

We'd

et

hrough

'bout

en

f

clck.

D e

en

didhcare

f/T*

dey orked

all

night,

fer

e

ad

he

f

Heav

f

nly anners*2)by

s*

Som etim es e orkednat

f

d

a

yHernoon,

owin

f

o

e

grtapej

but

omen

all

nocked

ffnatMayHernoon. O n

SaVday

night,

e

os

f

ly

ad

un,layin

1

n

drinking

whiskeyn

1

eer

noime

oool

f

roun*n e eekime.

*Some

ent

ohu*ch

n

f

some

ent

ishin*

h

unday.

O n

Chris

f

m as

e

ad

ime

allinds

atin*

-wimran

ot

ew

dresses

m enobacco

ad

tuff

o

as

f

f

til

ummer.

Niggers

ad

oodimes

in

nos

1

waysnlav

Vy

ime. July

th,

e

would

wash

p

n

f

ave

good

ime.

W eallowedat

ay

w id

e

whiteolks.

Dere

as barbe-

cue?

ig

able

etown

n

ottom a

#

Dere

asiggerstrollin

1

Youn

f

like

nts. W e as

avin

1

ime

ow .

White

olks

oo.

When lave

died,

ere

was

ao-do

ver

dat,

ollerin*

n

f

ingin

f

Moreuss

(2)

omen

ndwhiskey


11/178

Page

241

Jim

Allen,

Clay

o,

F B C

Mrs.

d

oiner

7

f'

dan

ittle

'Well,sich

ne

asassedut

an

we

wine

o

e

graveo

*tend

e

un

f

r

a

lj

ewill

alk

bout

Sister

Sallie.*

De

niggers

would

e

um pin*

s

igh

s owrm ule*

A

ong

esedo

ing

was;

Come

nhariot

n*

akeerHome,akeerHome,

Here

o m eChariot,es

f

ide,

C o m e

n

es*

ide,o m enes

f

ide.

f

*Yessumwebelieved a*ntswould

e

t

erave

ard*

I

didn*

ay

o

*tentiono

emho*,or

nowevil

pirit

s

ere*

Iffen

ou on*tbelievet,

et

nef* e m

lap ou.

I

in*teed

one,

ut*seeard

*esu

I

eedom eone,deyaid

was ghos*,

ut

itot * w a y

uick*

W h en

e

ot

ickeoctorom etnce,nd

Mistiss

was

right

ere

o

ee

e

as

ared

er. A

doctor

ivedn

urplace* If

you

runt

e

was

ight

ere*

W e

ad

astor

oiln*

pillsn*

urpentine

an*

uinlns

whenneedful,n*erbs assed* I

anin*

at

tuff

now

hat e

sed

hen as oy*

Same

f

us

wore

brass

ings

n

ur

ingers

o

eep

off

roup.

Really

ood

~

ood

ow

*

See

m ine?


12/178

Page

8

241JimAllen,Clay

Co.

FEC

Mr8*

Ed

Joiner

Yessum

nowsall 'bout

hen

Yankees

ome*

Dey

ots

outer ewamp. I

as

ayin

f

own

y whiteak

ree

#

s

l

ep,an

f

when oke

p

n

f

ooked

pn*awothin

f

ut

blue,

blue,

aid,

Yondersyoss

f

s

ine

aleboss,

Alfred*

H e Handeddatorse

hisself** H eookt

o

eart,

an

1

e

idn*

ive

ong

fte

f

de lu e

Coat8

ookAlfred*

Peace

as

eclared

o

s

ust

n anuaryn

Alabam y ,

ut

not

n

as

t

sip

pi

f

tilrantom eback,a yth *

*I

in't

seen

e y

oss

ince

a m

Yankees

ook

e

Nray*

I

was

even

milesownn e

wamp

hen asuk. Iwouldn

f

f

ol

f

him

oodbye*

I

es

ouldn

1

f

ef

f

im *

N o

ir,

ouldn*

ave

ef

f

m yoodoss*

He

ol

f

e

em

Yankeeswas

omin

9

oakeeff*

I

never

wanted

o

eeim

cause would

ave ent

ack

'cause

e

pertected

e

n*oved

ne.

Idke

dis

eek,

ef

1

e

rowd*

One

ay,

ap

f

in

ob

licDaniel

am eby,

n

f

sked e

f

antedo ek

ires

n

1

uk

round

eouse*

I

aid,

l

I

f

d

ike

o

ee e

own

whar

ou

want

e

togo,n*

en om eoWest

Point.

It a*nt

ot

hi n'

ut

otton

rows

otfld

habbyhanties,

with

esnerickto*,n't

b'longed

o

enRobertson,n* opel)buildalleto'einWest

(1)

helped


13/178

P a g e

9

2 4 1 - - J i m

I l l e n ,C l a y C o ,

F B C

M r s . Sd J o i n e r

P o i n t s i n c e

d e n .

* I

s e e d

d e

K u K l u x .W e

would

b e

w o r k i n * .em p e o p l e

w o u l d

b e

i n d e f i e l * ,

a n

f

m u s t g e t h o m e

f

f o d a r k a n

f

s h e t d e d o o r .

Dey wo

f

t h r e e c o r n e r e d w h i t e h a t s with

d e e y e s w a y u p

h i g h .

e y

s k e e r e d d e

b r e e c h e s

o f f

f

n

m e .

i r s t

o n e s I

g o t

t a n g l e d

u p wid w a s r i g h t d o w n

h e r e

b y d e

c e m e t e r y .

ey j u s t

w a n t e d

t o

s c a r e

y o u .

N i g h t

r i d e r s

was

d e

s a m e

t h i n g .

was

o n e

o f

d e

f e l l e r s

w h a t

b r o k e

f

e

m u p .

y

' O l d

man

T o l e s o n was

d e

h e a d l e a d e r

o f

d e

N e g r o e s .T r y i n

f

k

^ t o

g e t

N e g r o e s

to

g o

f

g a i n s to u r

w h i t e p e o p l e .

s p e c

1

h e

w a s

a

t w o

ff a c e d

T a n k e e

o r

c a r p e t b a g g e r .

* W e

h a d c l u b s a l l

f

r o u n d W e s t P o i n t .a p

f

i

n

S h a t t u c k

o u t

a b o u t

P a l o

A l t o

s a i d

t o

u s

n i g g e r s

o n e

d a y ,

* S t o p

y o u r

f o o l i s h n e s s

~

g o

l i v e

a m o n g

y o u r

w h i t e

f o l k s a n * b e h a v e .H a v e

s e n s e

a n *

b e

g o o d

c i t i z e n s . *H i s a d v i c e

w a s

g o o d

a n

1

w e

s o o n

b r o k e u p

o u r

c l u b s .

* I a i n * t

been

t o n o s c h o o l

f

c e p t S u n d a y S c h o o l s i n c e S u r ~

^render.g o o d

w h i t e

man

I w o r k e d with t a u g h t m e* n o u g h

to

s p e l l

(

f

c

om p r e s t i b i l i t y

f

a n d

f

co m p a s t i b i l i t y . I

h a d

g o o d* m e m b r a n c e a n

f

I

l

\

ouldave

earned

what

white

olks

aught

e,n

1

eyees

eym anners

I

nm e.

* I

m ar

f

ied

hen

was

urnin*9,n* y

wife,

5.

I

m ar* ied

at

ig

Methodist

hu*ch

n

Keedm ore.

Same

ld

hu*chs

ere

now.

I

ope

build

t

n

865*

unt

Km aline

Robertson

n*VincentPetty

n*

9


14/178

Page

0

()

241 Jim

Allen,

i* y

o.

F B C

Mrs.doiner

Van

McCanley

tarted

chool

n eortheast

art

f

cw n

wo

ears

afte*eWar*

Em aline

as

Mr,

en

Robertson

f

s

ook,

n

9

er

darter,

Callie,

as

isousekeeper,n

9

eorge

n

1

Walter asmechanics,

George

ecam e

chool

eacher,

Abraham

Lincoln

worked

ypinions

f

eBible,

Heotis

meanin's

rom e

Bible,

9

Svery anhould

ive

nder

is

wn

ine

nd

fig

ree,

9

Dis as braham 'som m andm ents, Dis

s

where

Lincoln

started,

9

no

ne

houldworkornother*

9

,

"JeffersonDavis

wanted

o

9

ano orkor

ich an. He

was

rong

n

ne

9

pinion,

n'

ight

n

t'other.

H e

riedo

ake

are

ofhisXation, Innenstance,

Lincoln

wasdestroyingus,

~

I

9

ined

he

hurch

oobetter

n

9

o

e

withChristians

an

9

erve

Christ, Dis

earned

y

f

soc

i

ation

n?

arm onious

ivin

9

with

blackn

9

white,

ld

n

f

oung,n

9

oiveustice

o

ll*

De

ust ork did

fter

e

a r

asorMr,ob

McDaniel

who

ived

earWaverlyn

e ombigbeeRiver,Yes a

9

am ,

nowed

de

Lees,n

9

e

oiners,

utn e

iver en

n

9

ongafte*,n

9

worked

or

em

ots

nClay

County,


15/178

241-Anna Baker,Ex-slave,MonroeCounty

EEC

MrsRichard

Kolb

Rewrite,

Pauline

Loveless

Edited,Clara E .

Stokes

ANNA BAKER

Aberdeen,

Mississippi

Anna

Baker,

80-year

old

ex-slave,

is

tall

and

well

built.

She

is

whatthe Negroes term

a"highbrown"er

highforeheadand

prominent

cheek

bonesindicate that

there

isastrain of otherthan

the

pure

Africanin her

blood.he

is

infair

health.

"LemmaseehowoldIi s .

ell,I tells

you

jus

f

lak I tol

f

dat

Home

Loan

man

#hat

was herelas'

week

'membersa

pow

f

fullot

f

b

out

slavery

times

an

1

b

out

f

f

ore

surrenderknow

Iwas

a

right

smart

si

den,so's

f

co

rding

to

datI wks'

be

f

roun

f

'bouteightyyear

old.

aint

sho

f

'bout

dat

an

1

I

don't

wanttotellno

untruth.

know

I

was right

smart

size

f

rore

de

surrender,as

1

was

a-sayin'

f

'cause

I

members

Marster

comin'

down

de

road past

de house.he n

I'dsee

'im

'way

off

I'd run

to

de

gate

an'

start

singin'

di s

song

to

' i m :

'Hers

come

de

marster,

root

toot

tool

Herecome

Marster,

comin'

my way

Howdy,

Marster,

howdy

dot

What

you

gwine

a*bringfrom towntoday?'

Patwould mos'nightickle

himto deathan'

he'd

say,

' . L O o s a 2 r a a ( d a twas

hi%pet

name for me)whatyou

wanttoday?'

f

d

say,'Bring

meseme

goobers,

or

a

doll,

orsome

stick

candy,

or

anything.

n'

youcan

bet

y'bottom

dollar

he'd

always

bring me

s o r n p ' a

1

*


16/178

12

"One

reason

Marse

Morgan thoughtso

much o

r

me,dey

say

I wasarightpeartyoung'n

1

an

f

caught

on

to

anything

pretty quick.

Marster

wouldtell

me,

L

o

osanna,

ifyoukeepyo

f

ears

open an

1

tell

me

whatde

darkies

talk

f

bout,

dey

1

1

1

be

somp

f

n

f

good

in

i t

for

you.

1

( H e

meantformetolistenwhen dey

f

d

talk

f

bout

runnin*

off

an

1

such*)

I

f

d

stay

f

r

oun

f

de

old

folks

an

1

make lak I wasa-playin

f

.ll

de time

Fd

be

a-listenin

1

*

en

I

f

d

go

an

f

tell

Marster what

I

hear

f

d

.

ut

all

de

time

I

mus*

a-had

a

right

smart

mind,

c

a

use

I

f

d

play

f

r

oun

f

de

white

folksan

1

hear

what

de y

f

dsay

an

f

de n

go

tellde Niggers*

Don

f

tguess

de

marster everthought

f

bout

medoin

f

dat*

*I

wasbornan

1

bred

f

b

out

seven milesfrom'Tuscaloosa,

Alabama.

was de baby of

de

fam

f

ly.

ehousewas

on

de

right

han

f

side

o

f

de

road

to

town.

had

foursistersan

1

one

brother

dat

I

knows

of.

De ywasnamedClassie,

Jennie,

Florence,

Allie,an

1

George*| y

aame

was

Joanna,

butdey

done

drap

de

Jo partalong

timeago*

"Ido n

f

trecollec

1

what

my ma

f

smammy

an

f

pappy

was

named

*

butI know dat her pappywas

a

full

bloodedInjun. ( I guess

dat

iswhere

I gits

my

brown

color.)

ermammywas

a

full

blooded

Africanthough,

a

great

big

woman.

"I recollec?

atale

my

mammy

tol

1

me

f

b

out

my

gran

T

pa.

he n

hetook

up widmygran

f

m

ammydewhiteman

what

owned

her

say,' I f you

want

to

stay

wid

her

I'llgiveyou

a

home

ifyou

1

1

1

work

for

me lak

de

Niggers

do.

1

e

f

greed,

'cause he thought

a

heap

o

f

his

Black Woman.

(Dat

f

swhathecalled

her*)

ver*thing

was

allright

f

t

ilone

o *

dam

uppity

overseerstriedto

act

smart.

esayhe gwine

a-beathim.y

gran

1

pa ppy

went

home

dat

night an

1

barred

de

door*

he n

deoverseer

an*


17/178

13

some

o'.hisfrien's

comeafter

him,

he

say

he

aint

gwine

a-open

dat

door.eysay

if

he

do n

f

t de ygwine

a-break

i t

i n *

e tell

e

mto

go

'head.

"Whilstdeywas

a-breakin'

in

he

filled

a

shovel

full

o '

red

hotcoalsan

f

whende y

come

in

he

th

f

o

we dit

at

f

a

nu

en

whilst

:

deywas

a-hollerin'he

run

away*

eaint

neverbeen

seenagainto

dis

good day.

f

s

e

hear

f

dsinceden

dat

white

folkslearnt

dat

if

de y

started

towhip

a

Injun

de y

f

dbetter killhimrightden

or

elsehe

might

git

dem.

"My mammy's name

was

Harriet

Clemens,

S h e n

I wastoo

little

to

know

anything

'bout

it

she

runoff

an'lef'us.

don't

'member

much

'bouther'foreshe

run off,

I

reckon

I was

mos

f

too

little.

"Shetol'

me

when

she come after

us,

afterde warwas

over,

all

f

b

out

why

she had

torun

away:

twas

on

'count

o

f

de

Niggeroverseers. (Dey

hadHiggers

over

de

hoers

an'

white

mens

over

de

plow

ban's.)

eykep'

a-tryin'

tomess

'roun'wid

he ran*

shewouldn'

have

nothin'

todo

wid' e m .ne

timewhileshewasin

de fiel'de over-

seer

asked

her

to

go

over

to

de

woods

wid

h im

an

1

she

said,

All

right,

I'll

go

finda

nice

placean'

wait.'

he

jus'

kep'a-goin.

he swum

de

river

an'

runaway.he

slipped

back

onct

or

twict

atnight

tosee

us,

but

datwasall.hehired

out

to

some

folks

datwarntrich

'nough

to

haveno

slaves

o 'dey

own.

eywas

good

to

her,

too.

She

never

lackedfor

work

to

do*)

"When

my ma went

off

a

old

woman

called

AuntEmmaline

kep'

me.

She

kep'

allde

orphunt

chillun an

1

de m

who's

mamas

hadbeen


18/178


19/178

15

askedmeif

Pdever

seen

Marster

wid

any

little

bright

*roun*

shiny

things. (He

held

his

handupwid his

fingers

inde

shapeofa

dollar.)

I ,

lak

acrazy

littleNigger^said,

*Sho*,

Marster

draps

*em

f

h

ind

de

mantelpiece.

f

en,

ifdey

didn

f

teardat

mantel

down

an*

git

his

money,

I*s

a

son-of-a-gunj

* * A f t e r

de warwas

over

my

magot

some

papers

from

de*progo

marshal.

he

come

to

de

placean*tol*

de

marster shewant

her

chillun.

He

say

sh e

can

have

all*cept me.

hesay

shewantme,too,da tI

was

her*n an*

she

was

gwine

a-git

me.

he

went

back

an*

gotsome

more papers

an*

showed*em

to

Marster

Morgan*

e n

he

lemma go.

* * S h e

come

out

tode

house

to

gitus.

t

firs*I

was

scared

o *her, cause Ididn*

know who

she

was.

he

putmeinhe rl ap a n *

she

mos*

nigh

cried

when

sheseende

back

o *

myhead.ey wasawfulsores

where

de

lice

had

been

an*

I

had

scratched

* e m .

(She

sho*

jumped

Aunt

Bnmaline*bout

dat.)

s

lef*

da tday

an

f

wentright onto

Tuscaloosa.

My

ma

had

married

again an*

she

an*him

took

turns

*bout

carrying

me

when

I

gottired.s had

to

walk

de

wholesevenmiles.

I

went to

school

after

dat

an*learnt

to

read

a n *write.

Us

hadwhite Yankee teachers.

learnt

to

read

de

Biblewell

*nough

an*

den

I

quit.

* * I was

buried

inde

water

lak

de

Savior.

f

s

a

realBaptis*.

De

Holy

Sperrit

sho*

come

into myheart.

"I

b*lleves

in

de

Sperrit.

b*lieves

all

o *

us

when

us

dies

is

sperrits.

s

jus*hovers

*roun*

in

desky

a-ridin*ondeclouds.

Course,

some

folksi s bornwid

a cloud overdey

faces.

ey

cansee

things

da t*s

can*t.

I

reckon

de y

sees

de

sperrits.

p r o v o s t ^


20/178

1G

I know'boutdam KlooKLuxes.had

to

go

to

court

onetimeto

testify

'bout

f

em.

nenight afterushad movedto

Tuscaloosa

de ycomeafter

my

step-daddy.

hilst

my

ma

an

1

de

res

1

went

a n *

hid

I

went

to

de

door.

I

warntscared.

says,

MarsterWill,

aintdat

you?

1

esay,Sho

f

,

it's

me.har

f

syo

f

daddy? tol

f

i

m

dat

he'dgone

to

town.

e ndeyhead

out

for

f

i

m.

n

de

meantime r a y

mashahad

started

out,

too.he

warned

himt ohide,sodey

didn

f

git

f

im.

"Soon

after

dat

de Yankees

hel

f

a trialinTuscaloosa.

ey

carried

me

#

man

hel

1

me up an

f

made

me

p

f

i

nt

out

who

i t

wasdat

come

toour

house.

say,

*Dat

f

s

de

man,

aintit

Marster

Will?

1

e

couldn

1

say

"No",

c

a

use

he*d

tol

f

metwas

h im

dat

night.ey put

f

em

in

jail

for

six

monthsa n *give

f

e

m

a

big

fine*

"Us

moved

from

TuscaloosawhileI

was

still

ayoung

girlan

f

went

to

Pickensville,

Alabama.

s

stayed

dar

on

de

river

for awhile

an

1

den

moved

to

Columbus,

Mississippi.

lived

dar

f

t

i

lI

was

old

f

n

ough

togit

out

to

myse

f

f.

"Den I come to

Aberdeenan

1

marriedSamBaker.ean

f

Sam

donewell.e f e a d e

good

money

an

f

us

bought

disveryhouse

I

livesin

now.s

never

had no chillun,

but

Iwaslef

f

one

by

acousin o

f

mine

what

died.

raised

her

lak

she

was

my

own.sont

her

to

school

an

f

ever

1

thing*helives

in

Chicago

now an

f

wantsme

to

come

live

wid

her.

Butshucks

I

hat

would

a

old

woman

lak

me

do

ina

place

lak

dat?

"I

aint

got

nothin*

lef

f

now

f

ce

pt

a

roofover

my

head.

wouldn*

have

dat

f

c

e pt for

de

President

o

f

de

UnitedStates.

eyhad

loaned

me

some

money

to

fix

up

de

house

to

keep

it

from

fallin

1

downon

me.

ey

saidI'dhavefifteen

year

topay it

back

i n .ow

course,

I


21/178

.7

knowed I

f

d

be

dead

in

dat

time,so I

signed

up

wid

f

em.

"Las

1

year de

me ndatcollec

f

nearly

worrit

me

todeath

a-tryin

f

to

gitsome

money

from

me.

didn'have

none,sodeysay

de y

gwine

a-take

my

home.

"Now

Ihear

tello '

dat

barefoot

Niger

down

a t

Columbus

callin'

depresidentan

1

himbain'

so

goodto' i m .

o

I

f

ci

de

d

to

write

an'tell'im what a

plight

dis

Nigjer

wasi n , I d i d i r *saynothin

*noxious,

but

I

jus

f

tol

f

him

plain

facts.

e

writ

me

right

back

an

f

pretty

soon

hesonta man

down

to

see

m e.

esayI

needn

1

bother

no

more,

datdey

won't

take

my

houseway

from

me.n

f

please

de

LawdJ

ey

aintnobody

else

been

here

a-pesterin'

me

since*

"Dat man tol

f

me

soon

a sde oldage

pension

wentth

f

o

ugh

I

f

d

git

thirty

dollars

a

mont

f

*stido

f

de

four I's

a~gittin'now.

ow

won't

dat

be gran-?

could

live

lak

de

white

folks

on

dat

much.

"I'sehad

f

li

g

ion allmy

born

days.I

neverlearntto read

de

Bible

an'

te rpet

de

Word

f

tilI

wasright

smartsize,

but

I

mus'

o

f

b'lieved

in

de

Lawd

since

f

way back.)

f

segwine

a-go

right'longan

f

keep

a-trustin'

de

good

Lawd an'

I

knows

ever'thing

gwine

a-comeoutall

right.

"'Twixt

de

Lawd

an'de

good

white

folks

I know I's

gwine

always have

somethin

1

feat.

residentRoosevelt

done'tended

to

de

roof

overmy

head."

o

bnoxious

instead


22/178

JOHN

CAMERON

Jackson,

Mississippi

JohnCameron,

ex-slave,

livesinJackson

e was

born

in1842andwasownedbyHowellMagee*eisfivefeetsix

inches

tall,

and

weighs

about150 pounds*

is

general

coloring

isblackish-

brown

with

white

kinkyhair*

e

isinfairly

goodhealth*

"I

9

s

e

alwayslived

right

herein

HindsCounty.

f

s

seen

Jackson

grow

from

de

groun

9

up *

M y

old

Marster

wasde be s

f

man

inde worl

f

*jus*

wish

Icould tell,an

9

make

it

plain,jus*howgoodhim

an

1

oldMist is

was*

arster was

a

rich

man*

eowned

f

b

out

a

thousand an*

five

hundred

acres

o

9

Ian

9

an

9

roun

9

a

hund

f

e

dslaves*

arster*s

big

two-storywhitehouse

wid

lightning

rods

stand

i n *

all

9

b

o

ut

on

de

roofsetontop ofahill*

"Deslave cabins,cross

a

valley

from

de

Big

House,was

builtin

rows*

s

was

lo

wed

to

sing,

play

defiddles,an

9

have

a

good

time*

s

had plentyt

9

eat

andwarmclo

9

e

s

an

9

shoes

in

de

winter

time*

e

cabins

was

ke p

9

in

good

shape*

s

aint

never

min

9

workin

9

for

old

Marster,

causeus

got

good

returns*

at

meant

good

livin*an

9

bein

9

took

care

of

right*arster

always

fed

his

slaves

in de Big

House*

"De

slaves

would

goearlytode

fiel

f

s an work inde

cotton an

9

corn*e y

had

differentjobs*

"De

overseerswas

made

to

un

9

erst

an

9

to

be

9

si

derate of

ue *

ork

went

on

all

de

weeklakdat*

ey

g ot

off

from defiel

9

s


23/178

19

early

onSatu

9

d

9

y

evenin

9

s

,

washedup

an

f

donewhat

dey wanted

to*omewenthunt

in

1

or

fishin

9

,some

fiddled

an

9

danced

an

9

sung,

while

de

othersjus

9

lazed

roun

v

de

cabins*arse

had

two

of

de

slaves

jus

1

to

be

fiddlers.ey

played

for

us

a n *ke p

9

things

perkedup *owus

could

swing,

an

9

step-

9

bo

u

t

by

datold


24/178

20

usdere

*til

de warended*

"Den

he

come to

camp

lateone

evenin*antol*us

dat

us

was

free as he

was;

datus

couldstay

inVirginny an

work

or

us

could

come

toMississippi wid

him*ightnighde

wholepassel

bun*led

up an

9

come

back*

a n *

glad

todo

it*

too*

ar us

all

stayed

*til

de

family

all

died*e

las*

one

died

a

few

years

agoan*

lef*us

few

old

darkies

to

grieve

over

* e m - T

"I

don*

know

much

*bout

de

Klu

Klux

Klan

an*

all

dat.

De y

rode

f

b

ou t atnighta n *

wore

long whiteghos*-lak

robes*

ey

whupfolksan*hadmeet

i n *

swayoffin

de woodsat midnight*

ey

doneall

kindso *curious things*

onenever

did bother

'bout

Marster*8

place,

s o

1

don*

knowmuch

*bout*em*

"After

de

Wari t

took

amighty

ong

timetogit

things

a-goin*

smooth*olks

a n *

de

Gov'ment,

too*

seem lak

de y

was all

up-setan*

threatened

lak*

or

a long

timei t

look

lak

things

gwine bus*looseag*in*

os

f

ever*thingwas

tore

up an*burneddown

to

de

groun*.

t

took along

time

to

build

back

dout

no

money*en

twantde gran*

oldplaceitwasde firs*time*

"I

married

when

I

was

a

young man*

was

lucky

*

no

ug h

to

gitde

nex*

bes*

woman

in

de

worl**Old

Mis*

was

de

bes**)

at

galwas

sogood*tilI hadto

court

*er

mos*

two

years

v

foreshe'd

say she'dhave me*

* t J s had

six chilltuu

hree

of

*em*s

still

livin**

can'tsaymuch for my chillun*don*lak tofeelhard*butItried

to

raise

my

chillun

de

bes*

I

could*

educated

*emj

even

bought


25/178

21

f

e

m

a piano

an*

give

e m *

music*

ne

of

*em

is

in

Memphis,nother*n

inDetroit,

an*

de

other*n

in Chicago*

writes

to*em tohe*p me,

but

don*

never

hear

from

*em.

*s

old

an*

dey

is

forgot

me,

I

guess*

"Datseems to

be

de

way

ofde

worl*

now*ver*thing

an*

ever*body

is

too

fas*

an*

too

frivolessdese

here

times* I tell

you,folks

ought

tobe

more

lak

old

Marster

was*

"I^sa

Christian

an*

lovesde

Lawd.expects

togo

to

him'forelong*

en

IknowI*sgwineseemy

old

Marster

an*

Mist i s

ag^n."

BIBLIOGRAPHY

JohnCameron

ackson,

Mississippi

frivolous

r h


26/178

\

MississippiFederalWriters

SlaveAutobiographies

V

ncle

GusClark

and

his

aged

wife

live

ina

poverty-

strick endeserted villageaboutaneight h

of

amile

east

of

Howison*

Their

oldmill

cabin,

a

relic

of

a

forgotten

lumber

\

industry,istumbling

down*h e y

receiveddirect

reli effrom

;

th e

ERA

until

May,

1934*

when

the

ERA

changed

th e

dole

to

work

elief*

ncle

Gus,

determined

to

have

a

work

card,

work ed

on

jth e

road

with

the

others

until

hebrokedown

a

few

days'later

andwasforced

to

accept

directrelief*ow,

n eit her

Gus

nor

is

\

isa

s

b la

o

ork,

and

he

nlyhelp

vailableor

hems

I the

m eager

tateOld geAssistance*

Gus

still

anages

oend

Itheir

iny

arden*

H e

iveshistory*

*I

f

sewine

n

bout

ighty-five*

AX'Sy

ge

ow*

I

asorn t

ichm ond,Virginny,ut

ef

ereightfte*

e

War*

Dey ad one

urrendered

den,n

f

yld

marster

oan

have

o o

f

owerver s* W e

was

all

ree

n

f

os#

urned s

loose*

*tiymammy' s

am e

asudy,

n

f

y

appy asob *

Clark

was

e

Boss's

ame .

I

oanmember

y

a m m y ,utappy

was

workin

f

n

e

ailroad

afte

1

reedom

n

f

ot

illed*

22


27/178

23

w

>

"A

man

come

to

Richmond

an*

carried

me

an

9

pappy

ah

9

alot

of

other

niggerster

Loos

9

anna

trworkindesugarc a n e * .

/

was

littlebuthe

said

I

couldbe

a

water

boy.

tsho

f

was

a

rough

place.

em

niggers

quar

f

l

an

1

fight

an

f

kills

one

n

other


28/178

24

"Slav*ry

wasbettern

om e

ays *an

hings

sow .

W e

llus

otlen

f

yerat,which

weoan ow.

W e

an't

ake

buto

f

bits ay

workin*utow,n

1

f

a

toan uynothin

f

t

desto\

Co

f

seoss

nly

ives

ork

lo'es. When

as

id

I

ot

wo

s'berg

1)

shirts ear*

I

ever o

f

ohoes*

I

didn*

now

hut hoe

as

ade

ar,

*til

f

s

eyelverhirteen.

WeM o

abbituntin*

barefoot

n

e

now.

Didn* ea ro unday

lo

f

e

s

Dey

a*nt

ade

er

m e, 'cause ad owhereer

go.

You

better

ot

et

oss

etch

you

ff

f

n e

place,less

f

n

e

ive

ou

pass

oo. M yoss

didn

f

'low

so

o

ohurch,r

o

ra y

r

ing.

Iffen e

ketched

s

rayin*

r

ingin*

e

hupped

s.

He

better

ot

etch

you

with

ook

n

o

s

an*.

Didn* Mow

t.

I

oan now

whut

de reason

was.

Jessmeanness,

eckin.

I

oan

b*lieve

y

marster

ver

went

o

hurch

n

hie

ife,ut

e

wa*nt

ean

o

Ms

niggers,

*cept

eroin*

hings

e

oan

Mow

s

o.

H eidn*are

ferothin*

f

cept

armin*.

*Bere a*nt

o

chools

erulludeopleen. W e

idn*

know

whut

choolwas.

I

everdidearn

oead.

W e

idn*

aveomattressesn

ur ed s

ike

eas ow .

De

hullua

lep*

nderebig

high

beds,n

acks.

W e as

ut

under em eds

*boutight'clock,n*

e

f

desbetterotay

(1)

Osnaberg* the

heapest

rade

f

otton

cloth


29/178

25

nothin'

r

ake

ooise

fte

f

en/ All

e

ullud

olks

lep'

onrokeracksull

f

ay

r

traw*

Did vereenyiggersunished?

Yessum ,

sh o

f

as.

Whupped

n*

hained

oo. Dey

as hupped

f

til

e

bloodcome, 'til

ey

ackplit

allopieces. Dent as

washed

ffw idalt,

n

1

e

ger

as

ut

ight

>ack

n

e

fiel

f

Dey

as

hupped

erunnin

1

way .

Som etim es

eyun

afte

f

f

em

er

ays

nnights

with

em

big

ld

lood

oun's*

Heap

f

eopleoan

f

lieve

dis. But

does,

f

c

a

use

seedt

myse'f.

"I'se

ived ere

orty-five

ears,n

1

hipped

turpentine

os

f

all

y

ife

ince

as

ree.

I*se

ad

hreewives.

I

idn

1

aveoweddin's,ut

I ar

f

i

ed emcordin

o

aw. I

oan

tay

with

ne

other

ay.

M y

ust

wo

wives

s

ead*

Liza

n'

eas

een

ar

#

i

e

d

f

bout

leven

ears.

I

everadutnehile,

n*

f

aty yustwife,

an

f

e

f

s

ead.

But

y

ther

wo

wives

ad

een

mar'ied

befo',

an*

ad

hullun.

Simon

here,"ointing

o

big

uck

f

ifty-

five

ittingnhe

ront

orch,isLiza's

ldestoy."

rh


30/178

230059

Mississippi

Federal

Writers

Slave

Autobiographies

JanesCorneliuslires

in

Magnoliain

t he

northwestern

part

ofthe

town,in

the

Negrosettlement.e drawsaCon-

federate

pension of

four

dollars

pe r month*

erelates

events

ofhis

life

readily.

"Idoes

not

know deyearIwas

borned

but

de y

said

I

was

15

years

old

when

de

War broke

out

an

Y

dey

tell meI

9

s

e

past

90now*e y callmeJames

Cornelius

an

1

allde

white

folks

saysI

9

s

e

agood

*spectable

darkey*

"Iwas

borned

in

Franklin,Loos

f

anna*

y

mammywas

namedChlo

an

1

dey

said

my

pappy

was

named

Henry*ey

b

f

l

onged

toMr*AlexJohnson

an

f

whil

9

st

Iwas ababy my mammy,my brud-

der

Henry*

an

9

me

was

sol

9

to

Marse

Sam

Marry

Sandell

an

9

we

was

brung

toMagnoliato

live

an

9

I

niver

remember

see

inmy

pappyag

9

i

n*

"Marse

Murry

dldm

9

havemanyslaves*is

place

was

rightwhar young

MisterLamp

ton

Heid

isbuild in

f

his fine house

jeaeast

of

de

town*

y

mammy

had

to

work

in

da

house

an

9

in de

fiel

9

wid

all

de

other

niggersan

9

I

played

in

de

yard

wid

de

little

ehulluns*

bofe

white an

9

black*

ometimeswe

played

f

toss

in

1

de

ball

9

an

9

sometimes we played

f

r

ap-jacket

9

an

9

some-

times

9

keteher*

9

n

9

when

itrainedwe had

to

goin

de house an

9

Old

Mistessmadeusbehave*

26


31/178

27

"I

was

taught

how

to

work

v

round de

house,

how to

sweep

an*

draw

water

f r u a i

de

well

an*

how to

kin

9

le

firesan

1

keep

de

wood

box

filled

w id

wood,but

I

was

craxy

to

lamhow

to

plow

an

1

when

I could

Iwould

slip

of f

an

1

get

a

old

black man

to

let

m*

walkbyhissidean

9

hold

de linesan*

1

thoughtIwas big

9

n

ouf

to plow.

/

f f

Marse

Marry

didn

9

have

no

overseer.

e made

de

slaves

/

work,

an

9

he wasgoodan

9

kind

to

9

em

f

but

when

dey

didn

1

do

right

he would

whip

9

e

m,but

he didn

9

beat

9

em*e

niver

stripped*em

to

whip

9

em.

eama

f

n

f

he

whipped

me

but

1neededit*

ne day

I

tol

9

h imI was

not

goin

9

to do

whut

he

tol

9

me

to

do -

feed

de

i

\

mule

-

but

w hen

he

got

through

wid

me

I

wanted

to

feed

dat

mule*

j

w

~ "I

c c a a eto

live

widI f a r s e

Murry

9

f

o

darw as atown

here*

arw as

only

f o

9

housesin dis

place whenI

was

a boy*

seed

de

fust

train

dat

come

todis here

townan

9

it

made

somuch

noise

dat I

run

frum

it .

at

smoke puffed out

9

n

de

top an

9

de

bell

was

ringin

9

an

9

all

de

racketit

did

make made

me

skeered*

"I

heered

dem

talkin

9

9

b

out

de

war

but

I

didn

9

know

w h u t

dey

meant

an

9

one

day

MarseMarry

saidh e

hadjined

de

Quit-

manGuards

an

9

wasgoin

1

to

de

w ar

an

9

I

had to

gowid

him*ld

Iissuscriedan

9

my mammy criedbutI

thought

it would

be

fun*

\

He

t uk

me'long

an

9

I

waited

onhim.

kept

his

bootsshinin

9

so

yercould

see

yer

facein

f

em.brung

h im

water

an

9

f ed

an

9


32/178

28

cur*led

his

boss

an*put

his

saddle

onde

boss

ferhtm.

ld

Mis*

sus

tol*

ma

to

be

good

to

him

an*

I

was,

( 1 )

/ "One

day

I wasstandin*bydeboss

an'

aball

kiltde

( 2 )

boss

an*

be

felloyer

deadan*den

X

cried like

it

mout

be

my brud-

der.

went

way

up

in Tennessee

an*

denI

was

atPort

Hudson.

;

seed me nfall

down

an

9

die;

dey

waskilt like

pigs*

arse

Hurry

\

as

shotan*

I

stayed

wid

him

f

t

i

l

deycouldgit

him hone*

ey

;

lef

f

me

behin*an

1

Col*

Stoekdalean

9

Mr*

Sam

Matthewsbrung

mo

ome.

"Marse Murry

died

an

9

OldMissusrun

de place She

was goodan*

kind

tousallan

9

de n

she

mar

9

ie d afte

9

while

to

Mr.

Gatlin*

at

was

afte

9

de

war wasore

r e

*Whil

9

s

t

I

was

in

de

war

I

seed

Mr.

Jeff

Davis.

o

was ridin

9

a

big

hoss

an

9

he

lookedmighty

fine*

niver

seed

him'eeptin

he

was

on

de

hoss*

"Deysaidoldman

Abe

Lincoln was

denigger

9

sfriend,

i but frum

de way

old

Marse

an

9

desojers

talk

9

b

out

him

I

thought

' he

was

a mighty mean man*

/Idoan recollee

9

whendey tol

9

uswe was freedbut

iIdo know MrOatlinwould

promise

to p ayusferour workan

9

\

wben de tin*wouldcome fer

to

p ay be saidbedidn*bareit

an*

ikep*

put

tin

us

off,

an*

we

would

work

some

more an*

git

notbin*

fe r

it.

ld

Missuswouldery

an*

sbe

was goodtous but

dey

bad

no

money*

(1)

illed

( 2 )

ight


33/178

\ - 29

9 9 1

To

da

war

Marse

Murry

would

wake

all

de

niggers

by

blow*

in

9

a big

f

k

onk

f

an

1

de n

when

dinner time

would

come

OldMissus

wouldblow

de

f

k

onk

f

an

1

call

dam

to

dinner

gotso

I

could

blowdat

9

k

onk

9

fer

Old

Missus

but

ohtittuk

mywind*

t 9

Marse Murrywould

lo

w

me

to

drivehisteam whenhe

would

go

to

market*could haulde

cotton

to

Cotln

9

t

on

an

9

bring

back

whut

was

to

eat,

an

9

allde

oxen

could

pull

was

puton da t

wagon*

e

allus

had

good

eatin

afte

9

we

had beento

market*

"Every Chris

9

a

us

wouldcomeI

gotaapplean

9

somecandy

|

n

9

mamywould

cook

cake

an

9

piesfer

Old

Missus

an

9

stack

da m

i

\

on

deshelfin

de

big

kitchenan

9

we hadevery

thing

goodto

eat*

I

Dam

people

sho

9

was

goodan

9

kind

to

all

niggers*

>*

"Aftede wardetimeswas

hardan

9

de white an

9

black

people

wasfightin

1

orer

who

was

to

git

debig

office,

an

9

de n

dare was

mighty

leetleto

eat*

ar

was

plen

9

y

whiskey,

but

I

9

se

kap

9

way

from

all dat*was raised

right*

ld

Missus

taught

ma te r

9

spect

whitefolks

an

9

some

of

dempromised

meland

but

I

Hirer

gotit *llde land Z

9

se ev ergot Iwork mightyhardfer

itan

9

I

f

segoti t yit*

"One

dayafte

9

Mr*Gatlinsaidhe

couldn

9

p ay

ma

Irun

f

w

ay

an

9

wantto

Ne w

Orleans

an

9

got

a

job

haulin

9

cotton*an

9

L e

ay

50cents an

9

dinner

every

day*

sho

9

had

ma

plan

9

y


34/178

30

moneydan*

stayed

deremightyclose

onto

fo

9

yearsan

1

denI

went

to

Tylertown

an

9

hauled

cotton

to

de

railroad

far

Mr*

Ben

Lampton.r.

Lampton

said

Iwasde

bes

9

drirer

of

histeamheerer

hadcaze

I

ke p

9

his team

fat

"Afte

I

come

back

to

Miss

9

ss

ippi

Imar

f

iedawoman

named

Maggie Ransom.

e stayed together51

years*nirer

hit

he r

but

one

time*

he n

we wasgit tin

9

mar

9

iedIstopped

de

preacher right

inde

ceremony

an

9

said

toher,

9

Maggie,

iff

en

you

nirer

call

me

a

liarI will nirercall

youone

9

an

9

shesaid,

9

J

T i m

f

I

won

f

t

call

yo u

a

liar*

9

said,T

hat

9

sa

bargain

9

an

9

dende

preacher went

on wid de weddim

9

*

ell,

one

dayafte

9

we

had

been

mar

9

ied

9

b

out

( 1 )

fo

9

years*

sheast

me how

come

Iwasso lateeomin

9

to

supper,an

9

I

said

I

found

some

workto

dofer

a

whitelady*

an

9

she

said*

that

9

salie*

9

an

9

right

de n

I

raised

my

han

9

an

9

let

her hare

it

rightbyde

side

ofde head*an

9

shenirer called

me

a liarag

9

in*

No

ma

9

m*

da tis somethin

9

I

won

9

t stand

fer*

* B f t r oldladyhadserenohulluns

dat

liredto

git

grown*

Twoof

9

em liredherein Magnolia

an

9

de

others

gone

North*

aggie

is

daid

an

9

I

lire wid

ay

boy

Walter

an

9

his

wife

Lena*

e y

is

mighty

good

to

me*ownsdis

here

house an

9

fo

9

acres

but

dey

lire

wid

me

an

9

I

gits

a

Confed

9

r

atepension offo

9

dollarsa month*

Dat

giresme mycoffee

an

9

f

bacco*

9

se proud

I

9

se

a oldsojer,

I

seedde me n

fallwhen

de y

wasshotbut

I

wasnot

skeered*

e

et

( 1 )

sked


35/178

31

bread

when we

could

g i ti t an

9

if

weeouldn

9

git i t

we

donewidout.

*Afte

9

I

lef

9

Mr*

Iampton

I

f

s

e

eome

here

an

9

went

to

work

fer Mr*

Enoch

at

lernwood when

his

mill

was

jes

a

old

rattletrap

of

a

mill*

workfe r

him

45ears*

t

fust I hauled

timber

o u t

f

n

de

woods an

9

afte

9

whil

9

st

I

hauledlumber totown to

build

houses,

I

sometimes eollee

9

fer

de

lumberbut

I

niverlost

o n e nickle,

an

9

dem whitefolkssays I

sho

9

was

a

honest

nigger*

" I

liredhere

on

dis

spot

an

9

rode

awheel

to

J t e r n w o o d

every

day,

an

9

fe dde

teams

an

9

hitehed

9

e

mto

de

wagonsan

9

Z

was nive r latean

9

nirerstoppedfer

anything,

an

9

my

wheel niver

was in

de

shop*

nirer

9

lowed

anybody

to

prank

wid

i t , an

9

dat

wheel was

brokeupby mygran

9

chulluns*

"Afte

I

q u i t

work

at

de

mill

I

f

s

e

come

home

an

9

plow

gardens

fer

de

white

folks

an

9

make

some

moremoney*

sho

9

could plow*

" I

jined de New Zion

Baptist

Churchhere in Magnoliaan

9

was baptized

in

de

TanghipoaRiver

o n e

Sunday evenin

9

*

was

s o

happy

dat

X

shouted,

me

an

9

ny

wife

bofe*

9

se

still

a

member

of

dat

church

but

I *s^do

not

preach

an

9

I

f

m

notno

deacon;

I

9

s

e

jes

a

bench

member an*

a

mighty

po

f

one

at

d a t *

y

wife

wasburied

frum

dat church*

f f

Doanknow why

I

was

not

called Jim Sandell,

b u t

mamay

said wy

pappy wasnamed

Henry

Cornelius

an

9

IreckinI

was

give


36/178

32

my

p ap py

f

3 name*

"When

Iwas

a

youngman

de

whitefolks*

Baptist

Church

was

calledSalem

an*

i t

was

on

de

hill

wharde

graveyard

now

is*t

burntdown

an*

de n

de y

brung

it

to

town,an*

as I

was

goin*

to

tellyer

I

went possum

huntin*inda t

graveyardone

night.

tuk

my

ax

an*

dog

*long

wid

me an*de

dog,

he

treeda

possum

rightin

de

graveyard*

cut

downdat tree-an*started

home,

when

all

to

onee

some

thin*

run

by

me

an*

went

down

dat

big roadlaklightening an*my

do g wasafte*i t *

e n

de dog come

back

an*

lay down

atmyfeet

an*

rolledon his

back

an*howled an*

howled

|

an*rightde n Iknowed itwas asperit an*Ithroweddown

y opossum an*axan*beat de dog

home*

tell

youda t

was

a

sperit- I*seseed

plentyof

f

e m*ataln*tdeonlysperit

I

e v e r

seed**se

seen*em

aheapof

times*

ell*

dattaught

me

nivertohunt

in

a

grave

yard

ag

9

i

n.

"No

ma*m,

I

niver

seed

aghost

but

I

tell

ye r

Iknow

dere

is

sperits.e tmetell

yer,

anudder

time

Iwas

goin*

by de

graveyardan

9

I

seed

aman*s

head*

ehadno

feet,but he

kep*

lookin*

afte

9

me

an*

every

way

I

turned

he

wouldn*

take

his

eye

offen me,an

9

Iwalked fastan*he

got fasteran*denIrun an*

den

herun,an*

when

I

gothomeIjes

fell

ondebeda n*holler-

ed

an*holleredan*tol*myold

lady,

an*she

said I was

Jes

keer-

ed,butI*sesho

9

s*#d

dat speritan

9

I ain*tgoin*by

de

grave

yard

at

night

by

myse*f

ag

f

i

n*


37/178

33

"An

9

letme

tellyerdie*ightinfront

of

dis

house

~

yer

seedatwhite house? -

Well,

last

3sbr*ary

agood

old

cullud

lady

died

in

dathouse,an

1

afte

9

shewas

buried

de

rest

ofde

fambly

moved

away,an

9

everynight

I

kin

look

orer

to

dat

house

an

9

see

a

lightin

de

window*

at

light

comes

an

9

goes,

an

9

no-

body

lires

dar*oanX

knowdatisde speritofdatwoman

ccmin

9

back

here

to

tellsomeof

herfambly

a

message?

e s

ma

9

m,

da t

is

he rsperitan

9

dat

house

i shanted

an

9

nobodywill

live

dar

ag

9

i

n

"No ma

9

m

f

Ican

9

t

readnor

writer"

l b


38/178

30379

v

241-CharlieDavenport,Ex-slave,

damsounty

F E C

EdithTSyatt

Moore

Rewrite,

Pauline

Loveless*

Edited,

Clara

*

tokes

CHARLIE DAVENPORT

Natchez,

Mississippi

"I

was

named

Charlie Davenp ortan

f

*eneordin

f

to

de

way

I

figgers

I

ought

to

be

nearly

a

hund

f

ed

years

old.obody

knows

my

birthday,

ca

use

all

my white

folks

is

gone*

n

I

wasborn

onenight an*de

very

ne x

f

mornin

1

mypo

f

little

mamny

died*

e r

name was

Lucindy.

y

p a wasWilliam

Davenport.

W h e n

I

was

a

little

mitede yturnt

me

overto

de

granny

nurseon

de plantation.he

was

de

one

dat

f

t

endedtode

little

picka-

ninnies.he

got

a i o m a n tonurse mewhathadayoung baby,

so

I

didn*

know

no

di f

f

e

nce.

ny woman

what

had

a

baby

f

b

o

ut

my

age

would

wet

nurse

me,

so

I

growed

up

in

de

quarters

an

f

was

aa

well

an*

ashap pyas

any

other

chil

f

*

"When

I

could

tote

*taters

dey'd

let

me

pick

f

e

m

up

in

de

fiel

1

*

salways hid apile

away

whereus

could

git

f

e

m an*

roast

*em

at

night*

"Old

mammy

nearly

always made

aheapo

f

dewberry

an

1

*

f

Simmon

wine.

"Us

littletykeswouldgatherblack

walnutsin

de

woodsa n *

store

f

e

m

under

de

cabins

todry*

a

ccording

sweet

potatoes

34


39/178

"At

night

when

de

work

was

all

done

an

1

de

can'les

was

out

us

f

dset

f

roun

f

de

firean

1

eatcrackednuts.an*

taters.

s

picked

out

de

nuts

wid

horse-shoe

nails

an

f

baked

de

taters

in

ashes*

De n

M a m r p y

would

pourherse

f

fan

1

heroldman

a

cup

o *

wine.s

never

got

none

o

f

dat*less'nus be

f

s

sick.enshe'd

mess

it

up

widwild

cherry

bark.

t

was bad den,

but

us gulped

i t

down,anyhow.

w

0

1d

Grannyusedto

sing

asong to

us

what went lak

dis:

f

K

i

nkyhead,whar-fore

you

skeered?

Old

snake

crawled

off,

c

a

us e

he

f

s

afeared*

Pappy

willsmite* i m . onde back

Wid a

great

bigclub

- k i e r whack:erwhackl

1

"Aventine,

whereI

was

born

an

f

bred,

was acrost

Secon*

Creek.

twas

a

big

plantation

wid

*bout

a

hund'edhead o *folks

a-livin

f

on

i t .twas

onlyone

o

1

de

marster

1

splaces,

'cause

he

was

one

o

f

de riches*ah

f

highes

1

qualitygent

f

men

inde

whole country.

I

f

stellin*you

de trufe,usdldn*b*longto

nowhite trash.emarster

was

de

Honorable

MisterGabriel

Shields hisse

f

f

.

ver*body

knowed

f

b

out

him*

e

married

aSurget*

"Dem

Surgetswas

prettydevilish;

for

all

dey

was

de

riches

1

fam

f

ly

in

de

Ian*.

ey

wasde out-fightin*es*,

out-cussin

f

es

f

,

fastes*

ridin

f

,

hardes*

drinkin*,

out-spendin*es*

folksI

ever

seen.utLawdJ

LawdlDey wasgent

f

m

enevenindey

cups.

e ladies

was

beautiful

wid

bigblackeyesa n *

sof

f

whitehan

f

s

,but

deywas

high

strung,

too.

"De marster

had a

town

mansion

what

f

s pictured

in

a lot

o

f

books.

t

was

called

*Montebella.

f

e

bigcolumns

still

stan

f

at

de

end

o *

Shields

Lane.

t

burnt

*bout

thirty

years

ago(1937).

* * I * spart

Injun.

aint

got

no

Nigger nose

an

1

my

hair

is

unless


40/178

3G

so

long

Ihas

to

keep it*wropped.

f

se

often

heardmy mammy

was

redlsh-lookin*

wid

long,

straight,

black

hair*erpa

wasafull

blooded

Choctaw

an

f

mighty nigh

a s

young

as

she

was.

f

se

been

tol

f

dat

nobody

*dast

meddle

wid

her.

he

didn

f

do

much

talkin

1

,

butsheshoVwas

a

good

wDrker*y

pappy

had

Injun

blood,too,

but

his

hair

was

kinky.

w

DeChoctaws lived

all

f

roun

f

Secon*

Creek.

ome

of

f

e

m

had

cabins

lak

settledfolks.

can

'memberdey

las

1

chief.e

was

a

tall pow'fulbuiltman named

f

Big

Sam.

f

hat

he said

was

de

law,

1

causeh e

was

de

boss

o

f

de whole

tribe.nerainynight

he

was

kilt

ina

saloon

down

in

f

N

atchez

Under

de

Hill.

f

e

Injuns

weht

wildwid

rage

an

1

grief.e ysungan

f

wailed

an

1

done

aheap

o

f

low mutterin*.

De sheriffke p

f

a

steady

watch

on

f

en i ,ca

us e

he

was

afeared de y would

do

somethin

1

rash.

fter

a

long

time

he

kinda

let

upin

his

vig

f

l

a

nce.

De n

one

night

some

o

f

de

Choctaw

mansslipped

in townan

1

*stobbed

de

man

deyb'lieve d

had

kilt

Big

Sam.

membersdat

well.

"As

I

said

Vfore,

I

growedupinde

quarters.e

houses

was clean an

1

snug.swas better

fedden dan

I

is

now,

an

f

warmer,

too.

s

had blanketsan

1

quiltsfilled

wid

home

raisedwoolan

1

Ijus

1

loved

layin

1

inde

big

fatfeatherbed

a-hearin*

de

rain

patteronde

roof.

AH

de

littledarkeysh^'ped

bring

in

wood.

e n

us

swept

de yardswid

brush

brooms*

e n

sometimes

us

playedtogether

in

de street

what

run

de

length

o

f

de quarters*

s

th'owed

horse-shoes,

jumped

poles,

walked

on

stilts,

an

1

played

marbles.ometimes

us

made bows

an

1

arrows.

s

could

shoot

v

e

m,too,jus

lak

de

little Injuns*

^wrapped

f l a r e d


41/178

37

"Aheap o

f

timesold Grannywould brush

us

hide

wid

a

peach

tree

limb

f

butu s

need

i t

#

J s

stole

*aigs

an

1

roasted

f

em.

She

sho

f

wouldn

f

stan

?

for

no

stealin*

i f

she

knowed

i t .

"Us

wore lowell-cloth shirts. It

wasa coarsetow-sackin

f

.

In

winterushad linsey-woolseypantsan

f

heavy

cow-hide

shoes.

ey

was

made

in

three

sizes

-

big,

little,

an

1

*mejum.

want no right

or

lef.ey wassortaclub-shapeds o us

could

wear

f

em

on

either

foot.

"Iwas

a

teasin*,

mis-che-viouschil*

a n *

de

overseer

1

s

littlegal

goti t

in

forme .e

was

abig,

hard

fisted

Dutchman

bent

on

gittin*riches.e

trained

his

pasty-facedgalto tattleon us

Niggers.

hegot

a

heap

o

1

folks whipped.

knowed

i t ,

but

I

was

hasty:

One

day

she

hit

me widastick

an

1

I

th

f

owed

i tbackather.

f

Bout

dat

timeup walked

her pa.eseen

what

I

done,but he

didn

f

seewhat

she

done

to

me.

ut

i t

wouldn

f

a-made

no

dif

f

e

nce,

if

he

had.

"Hesnatchedme inde

airan

mississippi slave narratives volume ix 090.pdf

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