(My View) Celebrating with Texas! Juneteenth! Federal National Holiday Emancipation Day for African-American Slaves (Official -June 21, 2021): Timelines, Texas Ex-Slave Narratives Freedom Testimonies and God’s Signatures

Copyright © 2022 by Sharon Hunt.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Scripture quotations marked KJV are from the Holy Bible, King James Version (Authorized Version). First published in 1611. Quoted from the KJV Classic Reference Bible, Copyright © 1983 by The Zondervan Corporation.

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Rev. date: 05/17/2022

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CONTENTS

Dedication

Disclaimer

Foreword

Chapter 1     Introduction

Chapter 2     Timeline For Texas African-Americans Survival And 2021 National Emancipation Day -June 19, Juneteenth

Chapter 3     Sample Highlights of Texas Celebration of Juneteenth-June 19

Chapter 4     Anderson County-Ex-Slave Mollie Harrell

Chapter 5     Bastrop County-Ex-Slave James Jackson

Chapter 6     Bell County-Ex-Slave Rose Williams

Chapter 7     Bexar County -Ex-Slave Felix Haywood

Chapter 8     Bowie County -Ex-Slave Florence Ruffins

Chapter 9     Brazos County-Ex-Slave Giles Smith

Chapter 10   Brazoria County – Ex-Slave Philles Thomas

Chapter 11   Brown County- Ex-Slave Mrs. John Barclay

Chapter 12   Burleson County-Ex-Slave Mrs. Thomas Johns

Chapter 13   Caldwell County -Ex-Slave Julia Malone

Chapter 14   Cass County-Ex-Slave Andrew (Smoky) Columbus

Chapter 15   Cherokee County -Ex-Slave Stearlin Arnwine

Chapter 16   Collin County -Ex-Slave Steve Williams

Chapter 17   Dallas County -Ex-Slave Eli Coleman

Chapter 18   Denton County -Ex-Slave Andy Nelson

Chapter 19   Ector County-Ex-Slave Wash Wilson

Chapter 20   Ellis County-Ex-Slave Emma Watson

Chapter 21   El Paso County-Ex-Slave Ruben Woods

Chapter 22   Fannin County- Ex-Slave Alice Price

Chapter 23   Fayette County -Ex-Slave Silvia King

Chapter 24   Fort Bend County- Ex-Slave Patsy Moses

Chapter 25   Franklin County-Ex-Slave Josh Miles

Chapter 26   Galveston County -Ex-Slave Pierce Harper

Chapter 27   Goliad County -Ex-Slave Martha Patton

Chapter 28   Gonzales County -Ex-Slave James Cape

Chapter 29   Harris County

1.   Ex-Slave Mary Armstrong

2.   Ex-Slave John Barker

3.   Ex-Slave Jacob Branch

4.   Ellen Betts

5.   Ex-Slave Harriet Collins

6.   Ex-Slave John McCoy

7.   Ex-Slave Mintie Marie Mille

8.   Ex-Slave Van Moore

9.   Ex-Slave Martin Ruffin

10. Ex-Slave George Owens

Chapter 30   Harrison County-Ex-Slave Will Adams

Chapter 31   Hays County -Ex-Slave Clarissa Scales

Chapter 32   Hays County -Ex-Slave Daniel Phillips, Sr

Chapter 33   Henderson County -Ex- Slave Thomas Cole

Chapter 34   Houston County -Ex-Slave Julia Francis Daniels

Chapter 35   Jasper County-Ex-Slave Tempere Cummins

Chapter 36   Jefferson County-Ex-Slave Agatha Babino

Chapter 37   Kaufman County -Ex-Slave Fred Brown

Chapter 38   Lavaca County -Ex-Slave Adeline Cunningham

Chapter 39   Leon County- Ex-Slave Henderson Perkins

Chapter 40   Liberty County Ex-Slave -Laura Cornish

Chapter 41   Limestone County -Ex-Slave John Bates

Chapter 42   Madison County- Ex-Slave William Byrd

Chapter 43   Marion County -Ex-Slave Francis Black

Chapter 44   Mclennan County -Ex-Slave James Boyd

Chapter 45   Medina County -Ex-Slave Austin Grant

Chapter 46   Montgomery County -Ex-Slave Charlotte Beverly

Chapter 47   Narravo County-Ex-Slave Sarah Benjamin

Chapter 48   Newton County -Ex-Slave Bram Sells

Chapter 49   Orange County-Ex-Slave George Washington Anderson (Wash)

Chapter 50   Palo Pinto County- Ex-Slave Anna Miller

Chapter 51   Panola County -Ex-Slave Carter J. Johnson

Chapter 52   Red River County-Ex-Slave Mose Hursey

Chapter 53   Robertson County- Ex-Slave Louis Young

Chapter 54   Rusk County-Ex-Slave Millie Ann Smith

Chapter 55   San Augustine County- Ex- Slave Harrison Beckett

Chapter 56   San Jacinto County-Ex-Slave William M. Adams

Chapter 57   Shelby County- Ex-Slave James Hayes

Chapter 58   Smith County -Ex-Slave Preely Coleman

Chapter 59   Tarrant County -Ex-Slave Zek Brown

Chapter 60   Taylor County -Ex-Slave Jerry Boykins

Chapter 61   Tom Green County- Ex-Slave -Alice Houston

Chapter 62   Travis County- Ex-Slave Mary Anne Patterson

Chapter 63   Tyler County- Ex-Slave Larnce Holt

Chapter 64   Uvalde County -Ex-Slave Julia Blanks

Chapter 65   Val Verde County -Ex-Slave O.w. Green

Chapter 66   Victoria County -Ex-Slave Martin Jackson

Chapter 67   Walker County -Ex-Slave Armstead Barrett

Chapter 68   Washington County -Ex-Slave Lorenza Ezell

Chapter 69   Wharton County -Ex-Slave Sam Jones Washington

Chapter 70   Wharton County -Ex-Slave Sam Jones Washington

Chapter 71   Inventions-Former Slaves, Africans And African-Descents

References

DEDICATION

The Series are dedicated to Jesus Christ, all ancestors of slaves, and children of the world. The former slaves of Texas should be given much credit for celebrating the Juneteenth or Jubilee for slaves.

The Book Series were developed to show the appreciation of the hard work our ancestors fought for hundred of years to be free in America. The Israelites spent 433 years in slavery, down in Egypt. The African slaves have almost spent the same amount of time in persecution and slavery around the world.

DISCLAIMER

The words of the slave narratives are those of the ex-slaves. The author obtained permission from the Library of Congress to utilize the slave narratives.

All information used in the book is in the public domain.

The selections of scriptures and slave song titles are of the author’s remembrance from time long gone by and the slave narratives. These quotes were heard from the mouths of grandsons and granddaughters of slaves on many occasions church services, revival’s, homecomings, funerals or in the fields.

FOREWORD

In the year 2021, the U.S. Congress made Juneteenth a national holiday for Emancipation of African -Americans from almost 400 years of some type of servitude, slavery or misery in the United States.

The struggle of Africans began before 1400s with explorers to Africans being sold, captured or stolen from the shores of Africa through the bottom of ships laid from hand to feet for six to eight weeks to the shores of America. Some slaves were shipped from

Places such as Ghana, Senegal or Goree Island or St. Louis

Africa. The slaves were mostly sold in the Southwest States.

The purpose of the Series is to show how Texas

Became free. For many years, slaves had yearned to b free and to be legal. The author will illustrated how the Texas slaves celebrate two years after the issuance of the 1863 Emancipation Proclamation.

All the slaves were freed by the 13th Amendment, two years after freedom to celebrate.

CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION

The purpose of the first Book Series is to show case Texas because the Texas ex-slaves were the first to celebrate Juneteenth for Emancipation Day. The Texas ex-slaves left a legacy of their experiences in the Free America.

A timeline to show the presence of Africans experiences in Texas on expedition trips and slavery up to the passing of the Juneteenth National Holiday in 2021. The freed Texas slaves in the Deep South states who first celebrated emancipation the Junteenth Date -noting the end of slavery in Texas.

The short overview of Texas is below:

ABOUT TEXAS

TEXAS (TX) LONE STAR STATE

CAPITOL: Austin

NUMBER OF COUNTIES:254 counties

HISTORY:

Pineda sailed along the Texas coast in 1519: Cabeza de Vaca and Coronado visited the interior in 1541. Spaniards made the first settlement at Ysleta, near El Paso, 1682. Americans moved into the land early in the 19th century. Mexico, of which Texas was a part, won independence from Spain, 1821; Santa Anna became dictator 1835, Texans rebelled: Santa Anna wiped out defenders of the Alamo, 1836. Sam Houston’s Texans defeated Santa Anna at San Jacinto an independence was proclaimed the same year in 1845. Texas was admitted to the Union.

STATE DATA: Entered Union: December 29, 1845, rank 28th

Famous texas historically black colleges and universities

(for many years, african-americans were prohibited from attending public white colleges and universities in texas.)

1. Paul quinn college1872

2. Wiley college 1873

3. Houston tillston university 1875

4. Prarie view a m university 1875

5. Texas college 1894

6. St. Phillips college 1898

7. Jarvis christian college 1913

8. Texas southern university 1947

9. Thurgood marshall school of law 1946

10. Southwestern christian college 1948

Facts about slavery and plantations in texas:

Texas -slave state from 1845-1865

Slave territory before statehood

1. Owner of plantation – masters, massa, marsters, or mistress

2. Size of plantations -range 30 acres up to 1000

3. Slaves on plantation -20 up to 500 called servants -called hands field and house servants

4. Managers of plantations -overseers and nigger drivers

5. Law on the plantation-patterollers, ku klux klan, nigger dogs, whipping tree, masters

6. Housing -big house, overseers houses, slave Cabins in row (quarters)behind big houses

7. Crops- cotton, corn, cane, rice -orchards, vegetable gardens

8. Livestocks-horses, mules, goats, sheep

9. Grist mills, cotton gins on most plantations

10. Shoemakers, blacksmith and weavers of thread cloth nd maker ov clothes on the plantation

11. Work hours – sun up to sun down

12. Church -slaves set behind whites or had church in the groves; no black church

Organization of Book

Each chapter of the book contains name of the county, slave narratives given by the ex-slaves who lived or had moved to the county, a freedom phrase assigned to each slave, Bible Scriptures heard in black churches, groves and slave cabins and a title of a Negro spiritual made popular by Geechees sang in the fields of South Carolina, Georgia and Texas before the Civil War. Most of the slaves could not read the Bible scriptures were popular scriptures quoted by slaves they had remembered by rote.

It has been said that the Geechees in the South Carolina and Georgia Sea Islands formed the first weaving of baskets, fish nets and many other things from sweet grass, birch trees and other vines and trees, These products looked similar to the baskets that came from Canaan land. The question remains if the Geehees came from the tribe of Gibeonites from Georgia?

The slave narratives are placed in the counties where the ex-slaves either were born, grew up, sold to or moved to after slavery. Some moved to a county

CHAPTER 2

TIMELINE FOR TEXAS AFRICAN-AMERICANS

SURVIVAL AND 2021 NATIONAL EMANCIPATION

DAY -JUNE 19, JUNETEENTH

And texas(with masters) -auction, sold,specalators, slave thiefs, slave traders, runaways, cattle hands and drivers, field hands, land clearers

1500s According to historians, Africans were among the first to explore Florida in the 1500s. Many of them joined Ponce de Leon and Pedro Mendendez as soldiers.

1619            Slaves and indenture servants bought to Virginia

1738 African Americans established the first free Black Settlement,

Fort Mose in 1738 located almost 2 miles north of St. Augustine, Florida. Fort Mose is known as the first Black town in what would become the United States.

Fort Mose was founded to help protect St. Augustine city from British invasion. The Spanish freed the slaves at the time in return for their service to the King and to the Catholic faith.

1740 -In 1740 when General James Oglethorpe attacked from Georgia, it was the Battle of Fort Mose that reportedly turned them around.

St. Augustine is considered the birth place of African- American History.

1776 Americans Won freedom from Britain

I. Slaves methods of freedom before emancipation (1619-1863) - underground railroad-possible 146 years of runaways

(Slaves fought to Free the American Colonies from the British. However, slaves were not freed in the Deep South.

The British established some former slave communities in Canada, Belize

Slaves started to run away before and after the July 4, 1776

MASON-DIXON LINE

The Mason -Dixon Line was a demarcation line separating free states borders of Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware and Virginia. Some slaves crossed south of Philadelphia.

Runaway slaves routes:

1820 Route from North Carolina to Indiana established

1826 Indiana Quakers Created Secret Stations -basements, cabins, homes, barns or caves or other sites.

1845 Texas admitted to the Union

1850 Fugitive Slave Act installed. The Fugitive Slave Laws (1790-1850)

Passed by the U.S. Congress an suggest that the fugitive was criminal to escape from bondage.

Slave definition

Slaves were human beings held in bondage and forced to performed labor or services against their will under threat of physical mistreatment or death. The slaves did not get paid for their work.

Slaves were held in the United States from sixteenth, seventeenth, eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.

Slave Holders –

People who held slaves against their will.

It was against the law to teach slaves to read and write in the Southeastern states before the Civil War.

Slave Patrol

People keeping enslaved people working and not running away.

Sample Underground Railroad Directions:

Directions-Canada, Mexico, Spanish Florida, Indian Territory, the West, Caribbean Island and Europe.

Station A connective from Camden to Burlington and to Princeton

Station B -Which concluded a system from Woodberry to Mount Laurel

Station C which connected around from Greenwood to Statesboro.

Words to Know:

CHATTEL

Using this term for an enslaved African _American, a human being is equated with livestock or furniture a other tangible, portable personal property chattel could be left in a will or sold or transferred without permission of the enslaved person.

Conductor -This refers to an individual who escorted or guided freedom seekers between stations or safe need not have been a member of an organized section of the Underground Railroad, only someone who provided an element of guidance to the freedom seeker.

Slave types -House, Field, Octorooms, Quadrooms, mulatto, Sub-Hara, Congo, Geechee

Creole)

II. Texas slaves freed in 1863 -turned loose in 1865 Emancipation Proclamation

Enslaved in the District Columbia were freed by an Act of Congress in 1862, the Compensated Emancipation Act. The word as familiar because of the Emancipation Proclamation in January 1, 1863.

Emancipation proclamation Issued January 1, 1863

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

• Where as on the 22nd day of September, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, a proclamation was issued by the President of the United States containing, among other things, the following to wit:

"That on the first day of January, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight -hundred and sixty-three, all persons held as slaves within any State or designated part of a State, the people where of shall then be in rebellion against the United States, shall be then, thence forward and forever free: and the Executive Government of the United States, including the military and naval authority thereof will recognize and maintain the freedom of such persons, and will do no act or acts to repress each persons or any of them, in any efforts they may make in any efforts they make for their freedom.

That the Executive will on the 1st day of January aforesaid, by proclamation, designate the States and parts of States, if any, in which the people there of, respectively, shall then be in rebellion against the United States; and the fact that any State, or the people there of shall on that day be, in good faith, represented in the Congress of the United States by members chosen thereto at elections wherein a majority of the qualified voters of such State shall have participated, shall, in the absence of strong countersuing testimony, the deemed conclusion that such State, and the people thereof, and not then in rebellion against the United States.

"Now, therefore, I, Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States, by virtue of the power on Commander -in-Chief, of the Army and Navy of the United States in the time of actual armed rebellion against the authority and government of the United States, and as a fit and necessary war measure for suppressing said rebellion, do, on the first day of January, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, and in accordance with my purpose so to do publicly proclaimed for the full period of one hundred days, from the day first above mentioned, order and designate as the States and parts of States wherein the people thereof respectively, are this day in rebellion against the United States the following, to wit:

Arkansas, Texas, Louisiana (except the Parishes of St. Bernard, Plaquemines, Jefferson, St. John, St. Charles, St. James, Ascension, Assumption, Terrebonne, LaFourche, St. Mary, St. Martin and Orleans, including, City of New Orleans), Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Virginia (except the forty-eight counties designated as West Virginia, and also the counties of Berkley, Accomac, Northampton, Elizabeth City, York, Princess Ann and Norfolk(including the cities of Norfolk and Portsmouth), and which excepted parts, are for the present, and which excepted parts are for the present, left precisely as if this proclamation were not issued.

And by virtue of the power, and for the purpose aforesaid I do order and declare that all persons held as slaves within said designated States, and parts of States, are, and henceforward shall be free, and that the aforementioned government of the United States, including the military and naval authorities, thereof, will recognize and maintain the freedom of said persons.

And I hereby, enjoin upon the people to declared to be free to abstain from all violence, unless in necessary self-defence, and I recommended to them that, in all cases when allowed, they labor faithfully for reasonable wages.

And I further declare and make known, that such person of suitable condition, well be received into the armed service of the United States to garrison forts, positions, stations, and other places, and to man vessels of all sorts in said service.

And I further decline and make known, that such persons of suitable condition, will be receive to the armed service of the United States to garrison forts, pontoons, stations, and other places, and to man vessels of all sorts in said service.

And upon the act, sincerely believed to be an act of Justice, warranted by the Constitution, upon military necessity, I invoke the considerate judgment of mankind, and the gracious form of Almighty God. In witness, whereof, I have here onto set my hand and caused the seal of the United States to the affixed.

Done and the City of Washington, the first day of January, in the year of the Lord, one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, and of the independence of the United States of America the eighty-seventh.

By the President

ABRAHAM LINCOLN

What the Emancipation Proclamation Proclaimed-

On January 1, 1863 the Proclamation changed the legal status under the federal law of more than 3.5 million enslaved African Americans In the secessionist Confederate States from enslaved to free.

III. TEXAS -SLAVES’ FREEDOM RULED BY THIRTEENTH ADMENTMENT IN THE CONSTITUTION

SUPREME COURT AND THE CONSTITUTION

Justice, insure domestic Supreme Court was created by the Constitution. The Court decides if the country’s law are in keeping with the Constitution.

Preamble to the Constitution

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more prefect Union, to establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

-TIMELINE FOR SUPREME COURT AND BLACKS-

FAMOUS SUPREME COURT ACTIVITIES WITH BLACKS

BLACK VOTERS

Keeping blacks from voting

The voting rights struggle took many years. Some state governments passed laws especially written to keep blacks from. These laws made voters:

– Pay poll taxes. Most blacks did not have money to pay a tax to vote

– Pass literacy tests. Many blacks could not read and write.

– Prove that their fathers had had the right to vote. This called the "grandfather clause:. This kept men who had been slaves from voting.

Supreme Court Protecting Black Voters

The voting rights struggle took many years.

Black voting rights have been protected in three ways:

– By law: Between 1957 and 1965, Congress passed laws protecting black voting rights.

– By law: Between 1957 and 1965, Congress passed laws protecting black voting rights.

– By amendment: 24th Amendment, approved in 1964, outlawed the poll tax in national elections.

– By Supreme Court rulings: In 1966, it ruled that poll taxes in state elections were illegal.

SUPREME COURT AND EQUAL RIGHTS

For many years, the Supreme Court left it up to the states to protect the rights of its citizens. Some states passed special laws called Jim Crow laws that helped set up segregations (laws that kept blacks separated from whites).

CIVIL RIGHTS

In the 1960, the fight for equal rights was le by many people, including Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

The Civil Rights Law of 1964 banned discrimination or segregation in all public places. It also called for equal opportunities for jobs and education.

FAMOUS SUPREME COURT CASES ABOUT RIGHTS OF BLACKS

1896

Plessy v. Ferguson

In 1895, Homer Plessy, a black, refused to leave a railroad car reserved for whites only. HE WAS PUT IN JAIL BECAUSE a Louisiana law held that blacks had to ride in separate cars. In 1896, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that blacks as long as black facilities, or public places, were equal to those of whites. Under this law, such places as school and restaurants were also, segregated, although they were not equal. This ruling would stand for more than 50 years, until the Supreme Court decided that the separate but equal ruling was not fair.

SUPREME COURT AND EDUCATION

In 1954, the Supreme Court ruled that segregated schools were no longer legal and that white public schools had to admit black students.

The Supreme Court rule used the 14th Amendment in making this ruling. The court said the black students were not getting an equal education. They should be allowed to attend schools along with whites.

Ten years later, less than 10 percent of the Southern black students had been assigned to white schools. School systems still struggle to abide by this law.

WAR BETWEEN THE STATES -THE UNION VS. THE CONFEDRATES

1860-1865 -Civil War

1600s to 1865 -Confederate States With Slaves

1. Alabama

2. Arkansas

3. Georgia

4. Kentucky

5. Louisiana

6. Maryland

7. Mississippi

8. Missouri

9. North Carolina

10. South Carolina

11. Tennessee

12. Virginia

13. West Virginia

14. Texas

1863 Emancipation Proclamation -Issued

VS

1865 THIRTEENTH AMENDMENT

Section 1

Neither slaves nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crimes whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.

Section 2

Congress shall have power to enforce this article to appropriate legislation.

AMERICA WON FREEDOM IN JULY 4, 1776 FROM THE BRITISH AMERICA FREED THE SLAVES IN 1865. The time line was 89 years of semi -freedom, because the former slaves went through reconstruction, Jim Crow, segregation, and separate but equal until 1965.

The amendment was passed by Congress on January 31, 1865 and proclaimed on December 18 it was the first of the three Reconstruction amendment adopted following the American Civil War 1861-1865

(Due to the harshness of slavery, most African-Americans cannot trace their ancestors to specific parts of Africa-East, West, North, South or Central. They know about Africa but do not know their tribal connections.)

TEXAS SLAVES AND JUNE 19, 1865

1865 -Texas Union soldiers came to Galveston, Texas with the news that Civil War was over and slavery was over June 19, 1865, two years after the Emancipation of slaves. Major General Gordon Granger of the Union army read the federal order in the city of Galveston, Texas. Texas was the last state of the Confederacy to free enslaved people in the month of June and the date of 19.

1866 -Texas Ex-Slaves first Celebration of Juneteenth

1936 -Slave Narratives published by the Library of Congress

1980 – Texas was the first state to make Juneteenth, Texas Independence Day as a legal holiday

2021 Official National Holiday- Juneteenth -known as Juneteenth National Independence Day has been called Jublilee Day, Emancipation Day and Freedom Day. June 19 was made a federal holiday in the United States in 2021.

CHAPTER 3

SAMPLE HIGHLIGHTS OF TEXAS

CELEBRATION OF JUNETEENTH-JUNE 19

In the past, when the ex-slaves would celebrate the Juneteenth Holiday by having programs celebrating freedom with speeches, spiritual songs, prayers, parades, remembrances of ancestors, rodeos, cook outs, family reunions, musicals and church experiences. They would sing Slave songs and the Negro National Anthem -Lift Every Voice and Sing. The author got ideas from Exodus chapter 15 in the Bible to write verse three. The verse was based on the Jewish freedom from the Egyptians.

(The author observed one Juneteenth celebration in Houston, Texas on June 19,1970. She has included what she witnessed.)

Activities – Parades, Programs, Picnic, Ball Games or Rodeos

1. Group Celebrations were held in churches, out doors or stadiums

Sample Program for One Texas Juneteenth Celebration

I Thessalonians 5:18

In every thing give thanks for this is the will of God in

Christ Jesus concerning you.

Opening Song -Lift Every Voice and Sing-Negro National Anthem

(Written by James Weldon Johnson and lyrics by his brother.)

Jubliee – I Leviticus 25

Opening Prayer : 23rd Psalm

Reading of Scripture

Slave History

READING OF EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION OF 1863

TESTIMONIES

Songs -Selected NEGRO Spirituals

Sermon –‘HOW WE MADE IT OVER’

Remarks

Closing Ceremonies

FOOD FESTIVAL

*****************************************

SAMPLE

1970 TEXAS JUNETEENTH PICNIC DINNER

OBSERVED IN ONE PARK IN HOUSTON BY THE AUTHOR

Appetizers

Fried Jumbo Shrimp

Boiled Crab Legs

Soups

Texas Chili

Texas Gumbo

Entrees

Barbecue Hot Links

Texas Barbecue Ribs, Pork and Beef

Pulled Pork

Barbecue Armadillo Slices

Starches

Boiled Corn

Fried Okra

Vegetables

Boiled Collard Greens

Breads

Corn Patties

Texas Toast

Desserts

Pound Cake

Watermelon Slices

Beverages

Red Pop Strawberry Flavored

Red Punch

Lemonade

Red Wine

Snacks

Texas Roasted Goobers

CHAPTER 4

ANDERSON COUNTY-EX-SLAVE MOLLIE HARRELL

Freedom: Mollie Harrell said: The master read us a paper after dat and said us free.

1. Molly Harrell

Galveston, Texas

BIOGRAPHY

"Molly Harrell was born a slave in on the Swanson Plantation, near Palestine, Texas. She was a house girl, but must have been too small to do much work. She does not know her age, but thinks she was about seven when she was freed. Molly lives at 3218 Ave. N., Galveston, Texas.

INTERVIEW

"Don’t you tell nobody dat I use to be a slave. I ‘most forget it myself till you got roun me jes’ den. Course, I ain’t blamini’ you for it, but what you done why ‘bout all de plantations havin’ school was wrong, so I jes’ had to tell you I been a slave myself, It jes’ slip out.

"Like I jes’ say, I knows what I’s talkin’ ‘bout, ‘causr I use to be a slave myself and I don’t know how to read and write, Dat why I can’t see as good. It don’t do let folks know dey’s marster’s you, ‘cause den dey got you right where dey wants you. Now, well, dat de man I’s marry to, am younger’s man, but he don’t know it, when you git marry, you don’t tell de man how old you is, He wouldn’t have you if you did, ‘course, will ain’t so young hiself but he’s born after de war and I’s born durin’ slavery, so dats make me older.

"Mr. Swanson use to own de plantation in Palestine. Everybody in dat part de country knowed him. He used to live in a plain wood house on de Palestine road. My mother use to cook and wait on tables. John was my father.

"Dey use to have de little whip dey use on de women, Course de field hands got it worse, but den, dey was men. Mr. Swanson was good and he was mean. He was nice one day abd mean as hades de next. You never knowed what he gwine to do. But he never punish nobody ‘cept dey done somethin’. My father was a field hand, and Mr. Swanson work de fire out dem. Work, work—dat all dey know from time dey git up on de mornin’ till dey went to bed at night. But he wasn’t hard on em like some masters was. If dey sick, dey didn’t habe to work and he give dem de med’cine hisself. Course I don’t blame him for dat, ‘cause dere ain’t anythin’ lazier dan a lazy nigger. Well am ‘bout de laziest one in de bunch. You ain’t never find a lazier nigger dan Will.

"I was purty little den, but I one up share, I help my mother dust and clean up de house and peel ‘tatoes. Dere some old men dat too old to work so dey sot in e sun all dey and holp with de light work. Dey carry grub and water to de field hands.

"Somebody run ‘way all de time and hide in de woods till dre gut pinch em and den dey have to come back and gits somethin’ to eat, but dat didn’t worry dem none, and it set long till dey gone ‘gain.

PARENTS

"My mother sold into slavery in Georgi, a round dere. She tell me funny things ‘bout how dey use to do up dre. A old white men think so much of de old nigger when de die he free dat nigger is will, and lef’ him a little money! He open de blacksmith shop and buy some slaves. Mother allus say dos free niggers make de hardes’ masters. One in Palestine marry a nigger slave and buy her from her master. Den he tell everybody he own a slave.

CIVIL WAR

"Everybody talk ‘bout freedom and hope to git free ‘fore dey die. I ‘member de first time de Yankees pass by. My mother left me up on de fence. Dey use to pass by with de with bags on de mules and fill dem with stud deom de houses. Dey go in de barn and holp deyself. Dey go in de stables and turn out de white folks’ hosses and run off what dey don’t take for dey self.

FREEDOM

"Den one night ‘member jes as well, me and my mother was settin’ in de cabin getting ready to go to bed, when us hear somebody call my mother. We listen and de overseer whisper under de door and told my mother dat she free but not to tell nobody.

I don’t know why he done it. He allus like my mother, so I guess he do it for her. The master reads us de paper right after dat and say us free.

Me and mother lef’ right off and go to Palestine. Most everybody else go with us. We all walk down de road singin’ and shoutin’ to beat de band. My father come nex’ day and fine us. My sister born dere. Den us go to Houston and Louisiana for a spell and I hires out to cook, I works till us come to Galveston ‘bout ten years ago.

Source: Molly Harrell- Pages 120-122, Volume 16, Part II.

God’s Signatures:

PSALM 107:2

Let the redeemed of the LORD, say so, whom he hath redeemed from the enemy:

SLAVE SPIRITUAL:

‘Goin’ Up Yonder to See My LORD’

(Note: Anderson county was begun in 1846. The county seat is Palestine.)

ANDERSON COUNTY

1. James W. Smith-Ex-Slave James W. Smith

Fort Worth, Texas

Freedom: James W. Smith said: My folks were house servants and lived better than field hands.

BIOGRAPHY

James W. Smith 77 was born a slave of the Hallman family, in Palestine, Texas. James became a Baptist minister in 1895, and preached until 1921, when poor health forced him to retire. He and his wife live at 1936 E. Fourth St. Fort Worth, Texas."

INTERVIEW

"Yes, suh, I’m birthed a slave, but never worked do with, ‘cause I’s too young. But I ‘member hearin’ my mother tell all about her slave days and our master. He was John Helliams and owned a place in Palestine with my mother and father and fifty other slaves.

PARENTS

My folks was house servants and lived better’n the field hans. De cabins was built cheap, though, no money, only time for buildin’ am de cost. Dey didn’t use nails and helt de logs in place by dovetailin! Dey closed de space between de logs with wedges covered with mud and straw. De framework for de door was held by wooden pegs, and so am de tables and benches.

"We was lucky to have de kind master, what give us plenty to eat. If all de people now could have jus’ so good food what we had, there couldn’t be no beggin’ by hungry folks or need for milk foods for starved babies.

"We didn’t have purty clothes sich as now, with all de dif’rent colors mixed up, but dey was warm and lastin’, dyed brown and black. De black oak and cherry made de dyes. Our shoes wasn’t purity, either, I has to laugh when I think of de shoes. There wasn’t no careful work put on dem, but dey covered de feets and lasted near forever. ‘Master always wanted to help his cullud folks live right and my folks always said de best time of they lives on de old plantation. He always ‘ranged fer parties and sich, yes, suh, he wanted dem to have a good time, but a foolishment, jus’ good, clean fun. There am dancin’ and singin’ moistest every Saturday night.

CONTESTS

"He had a little platform built for de jingin’ contests. Cullud folks comes from all round, to see who could jig de best. Sometimes two niggers each put a cup of water on de head and see who could jig de hardest and see who could jug de hardes without spillin’ any. It was lots of fun.

"I must tell you ‘bout de best contest am ever had. The nigger in our place wuz de jigglement feller ever was. Everyone round tries to git somebody to best him. He could put de glass of water on his head

And make his feet go like triphammers and sound like de snaredrum. He could wheel round and sich, all de movement from his hips down. Now it gits noised round a fellow been found to beat Tom and a contest an ‘ranged for Saturday evenin’! There was a big crowd and money am bet, but master bets on Tom, of course. ‘So dey starts jiggin’! Tom starts easy and a little faster and faster. The other fellow doin’ de same. Dey gits faster and faster and dat crowd am a -yellin’.

"God! There am ‘citement. You jus’ keep a-gwine. It look like Tom done found his match, but there am one thing he ain’t made de whirl. He done it. Everyone holds he breath, and de older fellow stats to make de whirl and he makes it, but jus’ a spoonful of water sloughs out his cup, so Tom am de winner.

FREEDOM

"When freedom come, his master tells his slaves and says, ‘What you

Gwine do?" Well, suh, tuk one of dem know dat. De feet am, dey’s scared dey gwine be put off de place. But master says dey was stay and work for money or share crop. He says they might be trouble, ‘twict de whites and niggers and likely it be best to stay and not git mixed in dem and out org’isation. Mostest stays, only one or two goes away. My folks stays for five years after de war. Den my father moves to Martha Creek, where he done ‘range for a farm of his own. They hated to leave master’s plantation, he’s so good and kind.

Some the cullud folks thnks they’s is take charge and run the gov’ment. They asks my father to jine their org’ization. He gone once and some eggs and served. Dey am served by de crowd and dem eggs ain’t fresh yard eggs. Father ‘cides he wants his eggs served dif’rent, and he likes dem fresh, so he takes master’s advice and don’t jine nothing.

COLORED ORGANIZATION

"When de Klux come, de cullud org’ization made their scatterment. Plenty gits whipped round our place and some what wasn’t ‘fittled to it. Den soldiers come and puts orders in de section. Dey has trouble about votin’! De cullud folks in dem days are non-knowledge, so, how come dey vote ‘telligent! Dat am foolishment to ‘sist on de right to vote. It de non-knowledge what hurts. Myself, I never vote and me, too far down de road now to start.

I worked at farmin’ ‘till 1895 when I starts preachin’ in de Baptist church. I kept that up till 1931, but my health got to bad and I had to split. I hate de presence bad when I preaches, I preaches hard, and he doctor says dat am danger for me. The way I learns to preach am dis: After surrender, I ‘tends the school too fo me and den I studies de Bible and I’s a nat’ral talker and gifted for de Lawd’s work, so I starts preachin’!

"Jennie Goodmand and me marries in 1855 and her $14.00, and I gits by on dat. It me for de rations