Slaves Interview
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This is the account of an ex-slave by the name of William Barker who now resides in Bethany, AL. He is approximately 95 years old and lives in a little shack with a plot of land. He has worked for some local townsfolk doing some grounds keeping and gardening since he was freed when he was 20. But for the most part, Barker keeps to himself. He has no wife and no children. He is only 5 foot 4 and may weigh about 145 lbs. As a slave he worked as a gardner, and later learned to cook, but soon thereafter was freed. Gardening is all he seems to know. However, he seems very proficient at hunting. He says that is the only way he keep alive, living off what God gives him from the land and water. He was son to Frances William and Eliza William. His father died in the war. Because of his size and ability to cook, William Barker did not go to war. His mammy died within weeks of being free due to starvation. Here is his account
What is your name:
My name is William Barker. Thats not my name when I was a slave. It then was Scott William.
Why did it change?
Well my Messas name was Nole William, and we were named for him. But when we was freed, we were told to take freed names.
How old are you?
Well I spose I am 95. But I am not so sure. Most days I feel olders, others I feels a bit younger.
Why dont you know your age?
My Messa told me whens I was freed I was 20. He wasnt so sure though. Some days I count my birthday as the day I was freed.
Were you born a slave?
Oh yessa, I was. An my mammy and daddy was too.
Did you know your parents?
I knew my mammys real well. My daddy went to fight in the war. He never did come back. Before that, he was working in the fields. He was a big man, not like me. I was too little, too small to do dem fields work. So I nevers did see him. Sometimes I would see him by the moonlight. He worked from the time the sun came up till just before it came up again. They sho did work him to the ground.
And your mother?
Well, yes, I knew her. She raised me good too. She worked as a spinner, sometimes as a gardner, and even as a cook sometimes. I even once saw her work in the fields with the mens. The Messa wife said my mammy could do anything on the plantation, even plow.
Were there other children in your family?
Oh, there was. I had me a brother. He was big like my daddy. He got killed by another slave over some woman. He was always fighting. Just like my daddy.
Were you ever beaten?
No, no I wasnt. But my daddy was. Oh and he sure did get whipped some days. I could hear him cry. But my mammy said if my daddy would just hush, no harm would ever come his way. So I should just hush and do as I am told. So thats what I did.
What were your Masters like?
They were good people most days. But mess was one to get angry. Thats mostly when his wife was being rotten as women do some months. But they lived so well. I dont know why she complained so much. Big white house with floors. Even had rugs. Row and rows of rooms, filled with pretty furniture and silver. I can still see the silver.
Were they Christian?
Oh, yes they were. On Sunday anyway. They even let us go to church. They were good Babtists.
Did they let you be educated?
I dont know nothing about being educated. Never did learn to read or write. You got whipped for even wanting to read. They said the only thing worth reading was being read to us on Sunday. We werent sposed to be smart. Just strong.
What were you quarters like?
Oh, better than some as far as I heard from the other slaves. So I wont complain. It was a one room shack, just rows of shacks just like mine. Dirt floor and a sack to sleep on. Kept me warm and away from the bears. All I cared about.
What did you wear?
Jus some shirt my mammy made me. No shoes though. Really didnt know what shoes was for.
Did you have anything you looked forward too?
Oh, on a good day, the dinner bell. But Saturdays, dem some good nights. We danced. We didnt work but half the day. So we danced.
How did you hear you were freed?
Well, one day, some Yankees showed up and talked to Messa. He came and lined us up and told us we were just as free as he was. Didnt really know what he meant. But we soon learned.