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(Ex-Slave) (Verbatim Conversation)
(Aunt Ellen is a misfit in her present environment. Born at Longwood Plantation on Waccamaw in 1837, all she knows is the easy, quiet life of the country. And the busy, bustling 'RACE PATH' near which her Grandson lives with whom she makes her home doesn't make a fitting frame for the old lady. All day she sits in a porch swing and when hungry, visits a neighbor. The neighbors (colored - all) vie with each other in trying to make her last days happy days. She says they do her washing and provide necessary food. When you start her off she flows on like the brook but usually her story varies little. She tells of the old days and of the experiences that made the greatest impression - the exciting times during the 'Confedrick' war - the 'Reb time day.') Visitor: "Aunt Ellen home?"
Aunt Ellen's neighbor (from the washtub):
"No'um. She right cross there on the 'Race Path'" (So called because in Conway's early days races were run - horse races - on this street.)
Visitor: "Are you one of the neighbors who take such good care of Aunt Ellen?"
Neighbor: "No'um. I'm off all day. I work for Miss Bernice."Visitor: "Miss Bernice who?"Neighbor: "Miss Bernice something nother. I can't keep up with that lady title! See Aunt Ellen white cap yonder?"Aunt Ellen (Sitting on chair at back door leaning on cane.)"I want everybody come to my birthday! Seventh o' October coming be a hundred. Baby one dead jew (due) time!
Five daughter - one sanctify preacher. Seven one - one Ports-smith Virginia. All dead! All dead! Marry three times; all the husband dead! My last baby child - when the Flagg storm kill everybody on the beach, (1893) the last child I have out my body been a year old!
"Last time I gone see the old Doctor, rap! rap!Doctor: "Come in!" Gone in.Doctor: "Great God! Looker Aunt Ellen! For the good you take care Daddy Harry God left you live long time!"Ellen: "Flat 'em all up to Marlboro! (All the slaves) Ten days or two weeks going. PeeDee bridge, stop! Go in
gentlemen barn! Turn duh bridge! Been dere a week. Had to go and look the louse on we. Three hundred head o'people been dere. Couldn't pull we clothes off. (On flat.) Boat name Riprey. Woman confine on boat. Name thebaby 'RIPREY!' Mama name Sibby."
(Neighbor: "Aunt Ellen been looking for you all day! Keep saying she got to go home. A white lady coming and she
got to be there!")Aunt Ellen: "Doctor come on boat. By name Doctor Lane. White lady come tend woman. Get to Marlboro wherethey gwine. Put in wagon. Carry to the street. Major Drake Plantation. One son Pet Drake. Wife leetle bit of awoman.
"I see Abram Lincoln son Johnny! Talk with him! Gimme tobacco. I been to loom. Weave. Sheckle flying - flyingsheckle!(Singing): "Tech (touch) me all round my waist!Don't tech my water-fall!Gay gal setting on the rider fence!Don't tech my water-fall!"
"Clothes gone to wash this morning. (Can't go today.) Clothes gone."I been here so long - I ax Jesus one day carry me next day: Can't make up my bed. Like an old hog sleep on atussick." (I always heard it 'Toad on a tussock' - and you?)
(Four lean cats prowled about sniffing around the wood-pile where a boy was scaling some pale, dead fish.)Visitor: "Aunt Ellen, how could you cook on the flat?"Aunt Ellen: "Dirt bank up. Fire make on dirt. Big pot. Cook. Fry meat. Come PeeDee get off flat. Bake. Bake. Iron
oven. Stay PeeDee week. Bake. Pile coals on oven top." (Another slave told of scaffold - four posts buried and logs or planks across top with earth on planks. On this pile of earth, fire was made and on great bed of coals oven could be heated for baking. 'Oven' means the great iron skillet-like vessel with three legs and a snug lid. This oven bakes biscuit, pound cake, and some old timers insist on trusting only this oven for their annual fruit cake. It works beautifully on a hearth. Put your buttermilk biscuit in, lid on and pile live-oak coals on top. Of course only the ones who have done this a long time know when to take the lid off.)
"Dirt camp to stay in - to hide from Yankee." (Her gestures showed earth was mounded up.)
Visitor: "Like a potato bank? A potato hill?"
Ellen: "Dat's it! Pile 'em! Gone in dirt camp to hide we from Yankee. Have a Street Row of house. Yankee coming. Gone in dirt camp.
"I been weave. My loom at door. Six loom on dat side! Six loom on dis side! I see 'em coming. Hat crown high as this." (She measured off almost half of her walking stick - which had a great, tarnished plated silver knob.) "And I tell 'em 'Yankee coming!' I talk with Abram Lincoln own son Johnny and, bless your heart I glad for Freedom till I fool!"
(Singing)
'Freedom forever!
Freedom everymore!'
Want to see the Debbil run
Let the Yankee fling a ball
The Democrack will take the swamp!'
"Massa been hide. Been in swamp." (This is history. All the old men, too old for the army, hid in Marlboro swamps and were fed by faithful slaves until Yankees passed on. My grandmother and mother gave vivid accounts of this -my mother telling of the sufferings of the women - mental - worrying about her feeble old grandfather down there with the mocassins) Ellen: "Yankee officer come. 'Where Nahams Ward and John J. Woodward? Come to tell 'em take dese people out the dirt camp! Put we in flat. Carry back!' (In first story Aunt Ellen told the Yankee Captain said, 'Tell 'em be Georgetown to sal ute the flag!')
"Put food and chillun in flat. We been walk." (Walking back to Waccamaw) We gone. (See 'um! See their feet like the children of Israel in Green Pastures!) In man's house. Man say, 'Come out! You steal my turnip!' Brush arbor. Night come. Make camp. Way down the road somewhere! Make a big bush camp. All squeeze under there. Left Marlboro Monday. Come Conway Friday sun down! Hit Bucksville, hit a friend. Say 'People hungry!' Middle night. Snow on ground. Get up.
Cook. Cook all night! Rice. Bake tater. Collard. Cook. Give a quilt over you head. I sleep. I sleep in the cotton. I roost up the cotton gone in there." (Burrowed down in the cotton - 'rooted' it up)" December. Winter time. Cook all night. Corn-bread, baked tater, collard. Git to Bucksport, people gin to whoop and holler! Three flat gone round wid all the vittles." (And with the very young and very old) Easier coming home. Current helped. Going up against the current, only poles and cant hooks - tedious going) "Git 'Tip Top' (Plantation) all right. Come home den! Git to double trunk (rice-field trunk) at 'Tip Top' Whoop! Come bring flat! Mother Molly dead on flat! Bury she right to Longwood grave-yard. Nuss. (nurse) Sam'l Hemingway bury there. Horse kill 'em in thrashing mill. Child name Egiburt bury there too. Horse gwine round in thrashing. He lick the horse. Horse kick 'em. Whole gang white jury come!
"Sing and pray all the time. Pray your house. Pray all the time. (I wish to God I could get some of you clam!)
"Salem Baptist? I helped build Salem! I a choir in Salem!"
Aunt Ellen Godfrey
Age 99 years 10 months
Conway, S. C.
Godfrey, Ellen -- Additional Interview "I'm waitin' on the leese (RELIEF). He was to have my birthday the seven of October. "Slavery time Maussa buy'em. We Maussa buy me one good shoe. Send slam to England. Gie me (give me) good
clothes and shoe. I been a-weave. When the Yankee come I been on the loom. Been to Marlboro district. A manplace they call Doctor Major Drake. Got a son name Cap and Pot. Oh, Jesus! I been here TOO long. In my 99 now.Come seven o' October (1937) I been a hundred.
"Three flat (big flat-boats) carry two hundred head o' people and all they things. We hide from Yankee but Yankeecome and get we. Ask where Maussa! Maussa in swamp. I in buckra house. I tell Yankee: Them gone! Gone tobeach!' Yankee say:
"'Tell 'em to be in Georgetown to bow unto flag'."That time I been twenty-three years old. Old Doctor Flagg didn't born then. He a pretty child and so fat. Love thedoctor too much. Born two weeks after Freedom. He Ma gone to town. Melia Holmes? She ain't no more thanchillum to me. Laura and Serena two twin sister. When the Freedom I was twenty-three --- over the twenty-five.Great God, have-a-mercy! McGill people have to steal for something to eat. Colonel Ward keep a nice place.
Gie'em (give them) rice, peas, four cook for chillum, one nurse. Make boy go in salt crick get'em clam. That sameDoctor Flagg Grandpa. Give you cow clabber. Share'em and put you bittle for eat."Gabe Knox? (A very old colored man who has been dead ten years) I nurse Gabe! I nurse'em. He Pappy my
cousin. I been a big young woman when he born.
"Albert Calina? He a Christian-hearted people. Christian-heart boy. I give my age. My birthday get over I want togo right home to Heaven."I gone to see Doctor Wardie when I in my 95. He say:"'Great Dow! Looker Aunt Ellen! In you 95! What make you live to good age you take such good care you
husband---Harry Godfrey.' " Godfrey, Ellen -- Additional Interview "Oh, I buss (burst) one time. Buss from here till it get to my groin it stop." (Dropsy) "Every time I get family, I
swell. Never have a doctor granny for me yet. My mammy good old Granny. She catch two set o' twin for me -
Isaac and Rebecca; David and Caneezer."Been to Marlboro four years. Yankee foot where they put on stirrup RED. Most stand lik-a Mister Smoak. I seeAbraham Lincoln own son Johnny. He say: 'I Abraham Lincoln own son Johnny! You just as free as the ribbon onmy hat band.'
"Conch?" (whelk) "Many times! Take 'em. Bile 'em. Grind 'em up."Welcome Bees son get killed to Charleston. Was courtin' my girl."Tom Duncan a CHILD to me. He wife Susannah. I know the family. I gone to door. I gone knock to the door.
'Come in! Come in! Come in! Here the beard. See my Doctor!"Mom Ellen SingsOld Daddy RogersAnd merry was she
The old man was cripple
And Mary was blind
Keep your hand on your head
Keep your head warm
And set down under that sycamore tree!
My kite!
My kite!
Two oxen tripe
Two open dish o' cabbage!
My little dog
My spotted dog
My two young pig a-starvin'!
Godfrey, Ellen -- Additional Interview
Conversation of Aunt Ellen Godfrey---age 99 years, County, S. C. June 25th.
"Would gone wid you Missus, but I waiting on the 'Relief'. He was going to bring me the dress and shoe and thing. My birthday the seven of October coming. We Massa have give we good shoo. Right here longwood Plantation. Massa was kind---you know. Send slam to England gie me good clothes and shoe. I been a weave when the Yankee come. I been on the loom to Marleboro destrict. A man place they call Doctor Major Drake. Got a son name Cap and Pot. Oh, Jesus, been here too long! In my ninety-nine now. Come seben of October been a hundred. Three flat "(flat teats used for rice field work)" carry two hundred 'o people and all they things. We hide from Yankee but Yankee come and git we. Ask whey "(where)" Massa. (Massa in swamp! I in buckra house. I say, 'Don Gone! Gone to beach.' Say, 'Toll 'em to be in Georgotown to bow unto the flag.' Dat time I been twenty-three year old. Doctor Flegg didn't born, He a pretty child and so fat! Love duh Doctor too much! Born two weeks after freedom. He Ma gone Georgetown. Grenny git 'em there. Melin Holmes! Aint no more den children to me! "(Aunt Melia is eighty-eight or nine ---bony and cripple)" She have two twin sister Laura and Serene. When the Freedom I was twenty-three years old.---over the twenty-five. Great God hab a mercy! Couldn't do dat! Colonel Ward keep a nice place. Doctor McGill people hab to steal for something to eat. Gie 'em rice---peas. Four cook for chillun. One nurse". (Aunt Ellen said 'Nuss') "Make the boy go get'em clam. That same Dr. Ward Grandpa. Great big sack 'o clam! Give you cow clabber. Shay'm/" (Share them ---the clabber)" and put on bittle for eat.
"Hager Brown! She darter (daughter) got a abscess in her stomache Save Rutledge! I nuss (nurse) Sabe. I nuss'em. Her pappy my cousin. I been big young women, I nuss Sabe.
"Albert Calina a christian-hearted people. Christian hearted boy. Belief come. I gie'em my age. My birthday over, I wanter go right home to Heaven. Great Dow! 'Looker Aunt Ellen!" (That is what Dr. Wardie say when I gone (see'um) 'In you ninety-five! What make you good, you take care of you husband! Harry Godfrey waiting men! Marry twice time. He duh last--
"Andrew Johnson? Dropsy? I have wid every chillun---Oh, I buss (burst) one time. Buss here" (Illustrating by drawing line across stomach) "Till it get to my groin it stop! Every time I get family I swell. Never have a doctor 'Granny' for me yet. My Mary good old Granny. Catch two set 'o twin for me. Isaac and Rebecca; David and Caneexer.
"Sell all my fowl and ting---five dollars---me and old man two come to town to we chillun.Been Marlboro four year. Yankee foot where they put on stirrup red. Most stand lak a Mr. Sneak--- Bigtall---Abraham Lincoln own son Johnny! 'You jess as free as ribbon on my hat!' That what he say. I been weave.
Sheckle! "(Aunt Ellen worked foot and hand and mouth in illustrating how the shuttle worked back and forth---andthe music it made)"."Conch? Eat'm many time! Take'em bile! Grind'em up!"Welcome Beas? She son get kill in Charston, Welcome Beas son courting my gal."Tom Duncan? He child to me. He wife Suzannah. I know duh fambly. I gone knock to duh door."Come in! Come in! Come in! 'Here duh beard!" (And Aunt Ellen measured on her chest to show how long Dr.
Flagg's beard was)."Old Daddy Rodgers and merry was she!The old man was crippleAnd Mary was blind.Keep you hat on you head.Keep you head warmAnd set down under that sycamore tree!My kite! My kite!My kite! My kite!Two oxen tripe!Two open dish 'o cabbage!My little dog!My spotted hawg!My two young pig a starving!"Cow in the cotton patch. Tell boy call dog drive pig out cotton!Heah duh song;"Send Tom TaggumTo drive Bone BaggumOut the world 'o wiggy waggum!"(This last song chanted out by Aunt Eleanor Godfrey, age 99, is really a gem. She said 'Bone Baggum' boney old
white cow. 'Wiggy waggum' is a picture word making one see the soft, wagging tufts of white cotton)Given by Aunt Eleanor Godfrey Age 99 (100 come seben of Oct.) June 25th, 1937 Conway, S. C.(Project 1655, Genevieve W. Chandler, Georgetown County, S. C., FOLKLORE.)
Godfrey, Ellen(MOM ELLEN SINGS*****) BONE BAGGUM (Bag o' bones?)Send Tom Taggum (a man)To drive Bone Baggum (a boney critter)Out the world o' wiggly waggum. (cotton patch)Rock-a-bye!Rock-a-bye!Down come baby cradle and all!Roll'em! Roll'em! Roll'em!Roll'em and boll'em!And put'em in the oven!"I KNOW when I was a woman Ben was boy!" (Ben now 88)"Go to writin'!":If you want to know my nameGo to Uncle Amos house.Big foot nigger and he six foot high.Try to bussin' at my waterfall! (Kissin' her 'waterfall--- head-dress.)Oh, the gay galSettin' on the rider (fence 'rider' on 'stake and rider fence')Gay gal waterfall.Don't tech (touch) my waistBut bounce my shirt!Don't touch my waterfall!""I sing that sing to'em and man buss out and cry! 'My God! You talk ME?' I ain't want him! I kick him with that
same word."They was Zazarus and Lavinia. Dead can't wash for myself. I go wash and lay Lavinia out. And he husband wanter
(want to) marry with me. I kick him with that same sing. Hint to wise. If he couldn't understand that he couldn'tunderstand nothing."Mr. Godfrey my last husband, he worth all the two I got. I have the chillun. Wonus, Jane, Pationt, Kate, Harry,
Edmund, Jeemen---"SOURCE: Mom Ellem Godfrey Age 100 October 1937 Conway, S. C.
