|
|
The following narrative was found in the original field note form and is reproduced in full as it appeared. Editor's
note.
Circumstance of interview:
State-Arkansas
Name of Worker-Bernie Babcock
Address-Federal Writers' Project, Little Rock, Arkansas
Date - January 9, 1939
Subject - An ex-slave
Name and address of informant - Matilda Shepard, Route 1, Box 24, Moro, Arkansas
Place of Interview - This information was given in a letter.
Name and address of person, if any, who put you in touch with informant - Rand Barker, Federal Writers' Project,
Little Rock, Arkansas
Personal History of Informant
1. Ancestry - Father, George Catherbery; mother, Susie Catherbery.
2. Place and date of birth - Georgia. No date. She is 107 years old or older.
3. Family - never married. Has one daughter.
4. Place lived in with dates -
5. Education with dates - None
6. Occupations and accomplishments, with dates - Field hand and house work.
7. Special skills and interests -
8. Community and religious activities -
9. Description of informant - Very old. She can't stand up straight.
10. Other points gained in interview - Her master was very cruel. She worked in the field under hard task master.
She also did house work. She wasn't allowed to read or write. Neither was she allowed to attend church. Slaves sang
and prayed around a black kettle. Remembers the patrolers, Yankees and Rebels.
The following appeared in Babcock's handwriting: "This page is for anything you like to tell about at more length
than questions above."
"I was at hard labor when I heard a voice from somewhere up in the sky say, "You are free." I had such hard way to
go. I prayed so hard to come where I could eat some flour bread and get shoes and warm clothes to wear. I didn't
used to be lazy. I wanted to be free and get some things the Lord had prepared for His people to enjoy in life.
"My boss had so much money he hid a big trunk of money. The colored house boy told where the money was
buried, so they took the boy and found the money and away they left. My boss made me have a child for him. I
couldn't help myself.
"I can't stand up straight. My daughter is doing the best she can by me. I will appreciate all the help I can get. I work
so hard until I almost walk like er cow or any other four-legged animal or four leg beast. My health is poorly.
"You may send my mail in care of Mrs. Estella S. Greene. I can't [write] she is nice to me. Box 58, Route 1, Moro,
Arkansas."
Tell about singing and praying around the black kettle. How did you fix it so your voices could not be heard? Did
you ever get caught praying this way?
My mother and other negroes turned the Black Kettle bottom side up left a hole so voices could be heard out of the
room. Then after all my old Master and Mistress could hear us. Yes I got caught and they stripped all of our close
off - ant put us on the whipping block. Beat us so we could not half walk. What were some of the songs you used to
sing? What kind of stories do you know?
Give me that old time religion. It is good enough for me. It is good when I am dying, it has lan'd many a thousand
will land may a more, it is good when I am in trouble, it is enough for me.
I can't recall enymore just now.
Stories: run negro run old Paddy rollers will catch you. I went upon the mountain give my horn a blow. I think I
hear them say yonder comes old Paddy Rollers Run Run Negro Run.
Tell about Abraham Lincoln. What did you hear about him? Did you ever see anybody who knew him? What kind
of man was he?
Abraham Lincoln. I was told he first man to free the slaves. He was a true and honest man. I can't remember any one
that knew him.
I was told he was kind, and believe all men to be free.
(This is fill out to the best of my knowledge.) What do you remember about the "paddy rollers"?
They would run negroes if they didn't have a pass from their old Master or Mistress, and whip them. They would
not let us eat mulberrys from trees in the woods and could not go from house to house to talk to each other. What do
you know about 'hants'? Did you ever see or hear any ghosts? Have you had signs? If so, where do the signs and
voices come from?
"Hants? As far as I know of them, they appear like a cat dog hog or snake. Then disappears. Ghost sometimes
appear in in form of people. Sometimes go like some one coming in the [house ?]. Go look dont see anything. Signs
and voices from the air above are around you. The Lord reveals things to people when we cant read or write so we
can understand.
Tell about any fighting you saw or were near during the war. Did you see both Yankee and Rebel soldiers? What
did they do besides fight?
I didn't see any fighting. Ony heard shells burst at a distance while they was fighting. I heard that blood ran in the
ground like water. Yes. I saw both kinds of soldiers. I saw them in larger numbers. They hunted money. Set gins a
fire, tore down fences. Split my Master back bone open because he didn't tell where his money. Told the house boys
if you tell where the money is buried I wont kill you so got a large trunk of money and away they went on horses,
our mother took their childrens a in the woods hide them leave day and nite until we could get away. (Following in
original were with question typed, answers written in.)
When and where were you born? Ans.: in Georgia.
Who was your father? Who your mother? Ans.: George and Susie Chaterbery.
Was your master good to you or cruel? Ans.: Very very cruel. Did you work with the white folks or in the field?
Ans.: Field and house under hard hard task master.
Were you married? Did you have children? Tell about them.
Ans.: No. I have since war I girl no boys.
Were you allowed to read or write? Ans.: No.
Did you attend church? Ans.: No.
Did you ever sing and pray around a black kettle? Ans.: Yes.
Do you remember the "paddy rollers?" Ans.: Yes.
Do you remember any of the stories or songs of slave days? Ans.: Yes.
Tell about slave life before the Civil War (see extra page).
Did you see any fighting during the war? Ans.: Yes.
Did you ever hear of Abraham Lincoln? Ans.: Yes.
How did you hear about freedom? Ans.: I heard a voice spoke to me told y' is free. I told Mistress what I heard. She
said yes.
Did your master give you any land or mule after the war? Ans.: No.
How did you make your living after freedom? Ans.: going from field to field.
Did you ever vote? Ans.: No.
Do you think freedom was good for the Negro? Ans.: Yes.
What do you think of young Negroes today? Ans.: They are progressing very fast.
Do you believe in hants or signs? Ans.: Yes.
Name of Interviewer: Nrs. Bernice Bowden"
