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"I doan member much bout slav'ry days, but I does member peekin' t'ru de fence at Yankee hosses eatin' cawn in Paynes' fiel'."
"I was bawn in Stokes County, Nawth Cah'lina. My fathah en mothah was Henry en Leethy Payne, en us tuk ouah name fum Marse Bob Payne who owned us. Dey was nine chilluns in my fam'ly; Mille, Lett, Jim, Adeline, Willum, Dave, Hunter, en me."
"I doan member much, kaze I was jes' a little tot. I done heerd my pappy say how dey faired; he was glad when we was freed, kaze he say he allus want to raise his chilluns free citizens en give em as good a eddication as he could."
"I know us moved fum Paynes, en had a little place ouah own whar us raied terbaccer en farmed, en had cows en hosses. When de school open us chillun went to school."
"I doan member any games us played, jus' now; but I know us chillun played jus' like de othah chilluns."
"I member folks singin' er song bout, "Ole Jeff Davis T'inks He's Mighty Smart", en de name of Abra'm Lincum was poplar den en folks t'ink he was a moughty big man."
"I done heerd Booker T. Washington speak; he was sho' a great speaker en a man whut done lots fer his people."
"I moved up here fum Stokes County, in 1903; Us goes to de
Church er God. I never seed no babtizin's tel atter freedom, but I done saw lots since."
"I heerd fathah en mothah talkin' bout patrollers whippin' slaves, en treatin' some of em awful bad, en dey talked bout de Ku Klux Klan doin' so much meanness."
"Us had doctors when folks got sick, but sometimes folks jes' used home remedies. Dey made tansey tea en jimpson salve, en us tuk sulphur en 'lasses in de spring of de year ter purify de blood. En I guess people still drink sassafras tea in de spring."
Interviewed at their residence: 809 Dibert Ave.
Editor's note:
Tap and Susie Hawkins, ex-slaves, man and wife, the only ex-slave married couple, both of whom are still living, on record at this date, in Springfield or its surrounding area.
Tap Hawkins is 87, with broad stooped shoulders, and weighs about 175 pounds. His skin is dark, much wrinkled, and he is almost bald. He occupies himself with the care of his garden, flowers and door yard.
Susie Hawkins is 79, rather light in color and has white hair. She is a little over five feet in height and weighs 135 pounds. Slight of figure and quick in her movements, she takes care of her own housework and keeps her home clean and comfortable.
Tap Hawkins and Susie Hawkins 19/3/270 Ex-Slaves Tap Hawkins, age 87 (Minnick District # 6 Clark County Racial Group File Copied 1-15-41 B.M.)
