Louisa and Sam last heard the ringing of this bell in the fall of 1865.  All the slaves gathered in front of the “Big House” to be told that they were free for the time being.  They had heard whisperings of the War but did not understand the meaning of it all.  Now “Big Jim” stood weeping on the piazza and cursing the fate that had been so cruel to him by robbing him of all his “niggers.”  He inquired if any wanted to remain until all the crops were harvested and when no one consented to do so, he flew into a rage; seizing his pistol, he began firing into the crowd of frightened Negroes.  Some were killed outright and others were maimed for life.  Finally he was prevailed upon to stop.  He then attempted to take his own life.  A few frightened slaves promised to remain with him another year; this placated him.  It was necessary for Union soldiers to make another visit to the plantation before “Big Jim” would allow his former slaves to depart.

Sam and Louisa moved to Boston, Georgia, where they sharecropped for several years; they later bought a small farm when their two sons became old enough to help.  They continued to live on this homestead until a few years ago, when their advancing ages made it necessary that they live with the children.  Both of the children had settled in Florida several years previous and wanted their parents to come to them.  They now live in Mulberry, Florida with the younger son.  Both are pitifully infirm but can still remember the horrors they experienced under very cruel owners.  It was with difficulty that they were prevailed upon to relate some of the gruesome details recorded here.

REFERENCES

1.  Personal interview with Sam and Louisa Everett, P.O.  Box 535 c/o E.P.J.  Everett, Mulberry, Florida

FEDERAL WRITERS’ PROJECT American Guide, (Negro Writers’ Unit)

Pearl Randolph, Field Worker
Madison, Florida
November 24, 1936

DUNCAN GAINES

Duncan Gaines, the son of George and Martha Gaines was born on a plantation in Virginia on March 12, 1853.  He was one of four children, all fortunate enough to remain with their parents until maturity.  They were sold many times, but Duncan Gaines best remembers the master who was known as “old man Beever.”

On this plantation were about 50 slaves, who toiled all day in the cotton and tobacco fields and came home at dusk to cook their meals of corn pone, collards and sweet potatoes on the hearths of their one room cabins.  Biscuits were baked on special occasions by placing hot coals atop the iron tops of long legged frying pans called spiders, and the potatoes were roasted in the ashes, likewise the corn pone.  Their masters being more or less kind, there was pork, chicken, syrup and other foodstuffs that they were allowed to raise as their own on a small scale.  This work was often done by the light of a torch at night as they had little time of their own.  In this way slaves earned money for small luxuries and the more ambitious sometimes saved enough money to buy their freedom, although this was not encouraged very much.