|
|
EX-SLAVE
Place of birth: On Kimbrough plentation, Harries County, near Gatemla, Georgia Date of birth: About 1884. Present residence 1889 - 5th Avenue., Columbus, Georgia Interviewed: August 7, 1936
"Aunt Framste" story reveals that, her young "marster" was Mr. Jessie Kimbrough---a man who died when she was about eighteen years of age. But a few weeks later, while working in the field one day, she saw "Marse Jessie's" ghost leaning against a pine "watchin us free Niggers waskin."
When she was about twenty-two years of age, "a jealous Higger oman" "tricked" her. The "spell" east by this "bad oman" affected the victim's left arm and head. Both became numb and gave her great "misery". A peculiar feature of this visitation of the "conjurer's" spits was: if a friend or any one Massaged or over touch ed the sufferer's afflicted arm or hand, that person was also similarly stricken the following day, always recovering, however, on the second day.
Finally, "Aunt" Francis get in touch with a "voodoo" doctor, a man whe lived in Massages County---about twenty-five miles distant from her. This man paid the patient one visit, then gave her absent treatment for several weeks, at the end of which time she recovered the full use of her arm and head. Neither ever gave her any trouble again.
For her old-time "white fokes", "Aunt" Francis entertains an almost worshipful memory. Also, in her old age, she reflects the superstitions type of her race.
Being so young when freedom was declared, emancipation did not have as much significance for "Aunt" Frances" as it did for the older colored people. In truth, she had no true conception of what it "was all about" until several years later. But she does know that she had better food and clothes before the slaves were freed than she had in the years immediately following.
She is deeply religious, as most ex-slaves are, but---as typical of the majority of aged Negrees---associates "hants" and superstition with her religion.
some to chop the wood, while others were busy cleaning up the "big house."
When asked if he believed in signs, Charlie replied: "I she does for dis reason, once jest befo my baby brother died, ole screech owl, he done come and set up in the big oak tree right at the doah by de bed and fo' the next twelve house passed, my brother was dead. Screech owls allus holler 'round the house before death."
The slaves always had plenty to eat and wear, and therefore did not know what it was to be hungry.
The Master planted many acres of cotton, corn, wheat, peas, and all kinds of garden things. Every "Nigger family was required to raise planty of sweet potatoes, the Master giving them a patch." "My 'ole Master' trained his smartest 'Niggers' to do certain kinds of work. My mother was a good weaver, she wove all the cloth for her own family, and bossed the weaving of all the other weavers on the plantation.
Charlie and all of his ten brothers and sisters helped to card and spin the cotton for the looms, Sometimes they worked all night, Charlie orten going to sleep while carding, when his mother would erack him on the head with the carder handle and wake him up. Each child had a night for carding and spinning, so they all would get a chance to sleep.
Every Saturday night, the Megroes had a "breakdown," often dancing all night long. About twelve o'clock they had a big suppor, everybody bringing a box of all kinds of good things to eat, and putting it on a long table.
On Sunday, all the darkies had to go to church. Sometimes the Master had a house on his plantation for the preaching, and sometimes the slaves had to go ten or twelve miles to preaching. When they want so far away the slaves could use 'ole' Master's' mules and wagons.
Charlie recalls very well when the Yankees came through. The first thing they did when they reached 'ole Master's' place was to break open the smokehouse and throw the best hame and shoulders out to the darkies, but as soon as the Yankees passed, the white folks made the "Miggers" taks "all dey had'nt et up" back to the smokehouse." "Yes, Miss, we had plenty of liquor." Ole Master always kept kegs of it in the cellar and big 'Jimmy-John's' full in the house, and every Saturday night he'd give us darkies a dram, but nobody nevah seed no drunk Nigger lak dey does now."
Charlie's mother used to give her "chillun" "burnt whickey" every morning "to start the day off." This burnt whiskey gave them "long life".
Another thing that Charlie recalls about the Yankees coming through, was that they took the saddles off their "old sore back horses." turned them loose and caught some of Master's fine "hossoz", threw the saddles over them and rode away.
Charlie said though "ole Marster" "whupped" when it was necessary, but he was not "onmeroiful" like some of the other "ole Marsters" were, but the "paterolers would sho lay it on if they caught a Nigger off his home plantation without a pass." The passes were written statements or permits signed by the darkies' owner, or the plantation overseer.
Charlie is very feeble and unable to work. The Griffin Relief Association supports him.
Charlie King-------435 E. Taylor Street, Griffin, Georgia September 16, 1936
PLANTATION LIFE AS VIEWED BY EX-SLAVE"
