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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
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VOLUME
IX
MISSISSIPPI
NARRATIVES
Prepared
by
theFederal Writers
f
Projectof
theWorksProgressAdministration
f orthe
State
of
Mississippi
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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
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ILUJSTRATIONS
Facing
page
Mollie
Williams
57
Tom Wilson 65
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MississippiFederal Writers
SlaveAutobiographies
< ^ JimAllen, West Point,age
8 7 ,livesin a shackfurnished
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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*
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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*
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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
.
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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
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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
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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?
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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
7/26/2019 Mississippi Slave Narratives Volume IX 090.pdf
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
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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,
7/26/2019 Mississippi Slave Narratives Volume IX 090.pdf
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
*
7/26/2019 Mississippi Slave Narratives Volume IX 090.pdf
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*
7/26/2019 Mississippi Slave Narratives Volume IX 090.pdf
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
7/26/2019 Mississippi Slave Narratives Volume IX 090.pdf
18/178
7/26/2019 Mississippi Slave Narratives Volume IX 090.pdf
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 ^
7/26/2019 Mississippi Slave Narratives Volume IX 090.pdf
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
7/26/2019 Mississippi Slave Narratives Volume IX 090.pdf
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
7/26/2019 Mississippi Slave Narratives Volume IX 090.pdf
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
7/26/2019 Mississippi Slave Narratives Volume IX 090.pdf
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
7/26/2019 Mississippi Slave Narratives Volume IX 090.pdf
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
7/26/2019 Mississippi Slave Narratives Volume IX 090.pdf
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
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\
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
7/26/2019 Mississippi Slave Narratives Volume IX 090.pdf
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
7/26/2019 Mississippi Slave Narratives Volume IX 090.pdf
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
7/26/2019 Mississippi Slave Narratives Volume IX 090.pdf
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
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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
7/26/2019 Mississippi Slave Narratives Volume IX 090.pdf
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
7/26/2019 Mississippi Slave Narratives Volume IX 090.pdf
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
7/26/2019 Mississippi Slave Narratives Volume IX 090.pdf
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
7/26/2019 Mississippi Slave Narratives Volume IX 090.pdf
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
7/26/2019 Mississippi Slave Narratives Volume IX 090.pdf
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
7/26/2019 Mississippi Slave Narratives Volume IX 090.pdf
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*
7/26/2019 Mississippi Slave Narratives Volume IX 090.pdf
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
7/26/2019 Mississippi Slave Narratives Volume IX 090.pdf
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
7/26/2019 Mississippi Slave Narratives Volume IX 090.pdf
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
7/26/2019 Mississippi Slave Narratives Volume IX 090.pdf
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
7/26/2019 Mississippi Slave Narratives Volume IX 090.pdf
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
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