|
|
MAGGIE JACKSON was born a slave of the Sam Oliver family, in Cass Co., Texas, near Douglasville. She is
about 80 years old and her memory is not very good, so her story gives few details. She lives with her daughter near
Douglasville, on highway #8.
"I am about 80 years old and was a chile during slavery times. My papa's name was Ton Spencer Hall and my
mama's name was Margaret Hall. My brothers and sisters was Maria and Barbara and Alice and Octavia and
Andrew and Thomas and Hillary and Eugenia and Silas and Thomas. We was a big fam'ly.
"My mama was Sam Oliver's slave, but my papa lived a mile away with Masta Sam Carlow. We lived in box houses
and slep' on wood beds and we et co'nbread and peas and grits and lots of rabbits and 'possums. Mama cooked it on
the fireplace.
"Masta Sam's house was bit and had six big rooms with a hall through the middle and the kitchen not way off in the
ya'd and had a big cellar under it. Masta Sam had a big orchard and put apples and pears in the cellar for the winter.
My brothers use' to slip under there and steal them and mama'd whip 'em.
"The big house set 'mong big oak trees and the slaves houses was scattered roun' the back. Masta Sam had a ole
cowhorn he use' to blow for the niggers to come outta the fiel'.
"Mos' all us chillen wen' fishin' on Saturday and we'd fish with pins. One day I slipped off and caught a whole string
of fish.
"We learned to read and write and we wen' to church with the white folks. Masta Sam was good to us and gave us
plenty food and clothes.
"I never was 'fraid of haints and I never see none, but I know some seen 'em.
"I married John Jackson in a white muslin dress and we was married by Dan Sherman, a cullud preacher from
Jefferson. I married John 'cause I loved him and we didn' fuss and fight. I has five chillen and five grandchillen.
Jackson, Maggie -- Additional Interview
Maggie Jackson: Born a slave of the Sam Oliver family, in Cass County, Texas. 1 mile west of Douglassville. Later
Married John Jackson. Now resides 2 miles north of Douglassville on Hy. #8, with her daughter and son-in-law.
Has been taken from the pension rolls. Her husband died about two years ago.
"I am eighty years ole' now and was child during slavery times, but can remember all about it. My papa's name was
Tom Spencer Hall and my mother's name was Margaret Hall. My papa came from Alabama or Georgia one. My
brothers and sisters was name: Marriah, Barbara, Alice, Octavia, Andrew, Thomas, Hilliary, Eugenia, Silas and
Thomas.
"My mama was Master Sam Oliver's slave, but my papa lived a mile away with Master Sam Carlow. We lived in
box houses and slep' on wood beds. I wasn't ole' enough to work in the fiel' but my mama did. We et co'nbread,
peas, grits and lots of Rabbits and 'possums. Mama cooked on the fireplace. The plantation was large and had three
families livin' on it. Master Sam's house was large and had six big rooms with a hall through the middle with the
kitchen off to itself. It sot way up off'n the ground and had a big cellar under it. Marster Sam had a big orchard and
would put apples and pears in the cellar for the witner. My brothers use to slip under there and steal them and mama
would find it out and whip them, but not let Master Sam know it. The house sets 'mong big oak trees. The slaves'
houses was scattered around the back. Master Sam had a big ole' cow horn that he use to blow for the Niggers to
come out of the fiel'. Most all the chillens use to go fishin' on Saturday. We would bend straight pins and use for
hooks. One day I slipped off and went fishin' for I was scared if I ask mama that she wouldn't let me go. I caught a
'hole string of fish and she couldn't believe her eyes when she saw them, and with a pin. We learned to read and
write. The Niggers didn't have no church. We went to church at Douglassville with the white fo'ks. Master Sam was
good to us and gave us plenty of clothes to wear. Mama had to wash and iron on Saturday."
"I never was 'fraid of haints. I always trusted the Good Lord to take care of me and knew he was watchin' over me
all the time. I sure do love the Lord and reads the Bible and prays all the time." She had a big family Bible with all
the marriages, deaths, names and etc. in it. She was reading the Bible when I went to interview her.
"I married John Jackson in a white muslin dress, when I was grown. We was married by Dan Sherman a colored
preacher from Jefferson. I didn't marry John 'cause I wanted to leave home. I married him 'cause I loved him and he
loved me. We never did fuss and fight. John died two years ago.
I have five chillens. One lives at Douglassville with me and the others are in Dallas. I have 5 grandchillens.
Nixon (February 9, 1938 (Yes))
