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Yes'm I was born in slavery times. Born in Alabama in 1862. My old master was W.B D'Ampert. I never will fergit
it.
My mother was the mother of seventeen children. Mr. D'Ampert thought as much of her as hisself. She raised every
one of 'em too. Ten boys and seven girls. I was the seventeenth. All dead but me and I dont know what's gwine
come of me.
I was livin' over here on Fourth and my husband died in 'twenty-four. Then I started to take Henry Gardner to board
and they said the law would get me unless we was married, so I up and married him and now the bureau cut me off.
They say I ought not to have married. Looks like they're frettin' cause I married. But I'd a been dead if it hadn't been
for him. I been sick. The doctor said it was the pleurisy and my husband took care of me.
We have to pay a dollar a week for one room---cook and eat and sleep right in one little hole.
My mother's name was Lucretia Thornton and my father was Rheuben Thornton. They was born in
Alabama---Marion, Alabama we called it. They bought my mother and father and took 'em to Alabama.
I had four brothers in the old war. Which side? They fit on the white folks side, is all I know. My father was a
hostler. He took care of the hosses. I think they fought with the "Revels". You know I was young and I can't
remember much nohow.
I member hearin' mama and papa talkin' bout freedom
All o' my white folks and all my relatives gone but me.
I went to school a little. I got to be a eighth grade scholar, but since then I been goin' backwards and my recollection
got so short.
My old Master W.B. D'Ampert had a son down here at and we lived there till we come to Pine Bluff.
I been here in Pine Bluff thirty-five years, going six.
I worked for Mrs. Marcus, a Jewish woman, twenty years and for Mrs. Gray five years. I'm well known here by
white colored.
I belong to the First Baptist Church but I think they 'bout to turn me out cause I'm not able to pay. Preacher got so
much.
I had three children but they all dead. Oldest on fourteen.
I think I scuffled right smart.
Emma Gardner
507 West Fifth (Servant house)
Occupation---Odd Jobs, Age 78.
Beulah Sherwood Hagg"
