“WE LONGED FOR A HOME LIKE HERS. THERE WE ALWAYS FOUND SWEET BALSAM FOR OUR TROUBLES. SHE WAS SO LOVING, SO SYMPATHIZING! SHE ALWAYS MET US WITH A SMILE AND LISTENED WITH PATIENCE TO ALL OUR SORROWS. SHE SPOKE SO HOPEFULLY THAT UNCONSCIOUSLY, THE CLOUDS GAVE PLACE TO SUNSHINE.”
Text from INCIDENTS IN THE LIFE OF A SLAVE GIRL by Harriet Jacobs:
My grandmother’s mistress had always promised her that, at her death, she should be free and it was said that in her will she made good the promise. But when the estate was settled, Dr. Flint (the executor of the estate and Harriet’s tormentor) told the faithful old servant that, under existing circumstances, it was necessary she should be sold.
On the appointed day, the customary advertisement was posted up, proclaiming that there would be a “public sale of negroes, horses % etc.”
Dr. Flint called to tell my grandmother that he was unwilling to wound her feelings by putting her up at auction and that he would prefer to dispose of her at private sale. My grandmother saw through this hypocrisy. She understood very well that he was ashamed of the job.
She was a very spirited woman and if he was base enough to sell her, when her mistress intended she should be free, she was determined that the public should know it. She had for a long time, supplied many families with crackers and preserves. Consequently, “Aunt Marthy”, as she was called, was generally known. Everybody who knew her respected her intelligence and good character. Her long and faithful service in the family was also well known as well as the intention of her mistress to leave her free.
When the day of the sale came, she took her place among the chattels and at the first call, she sprang upon the auction block. Many voices called out: “Shame! Shame! Who is going to sell YOU, Aunt Marthy?” Don’t stand there! That is no place for YOU!”
Without saying a word, she quietly awaited her fate.
No one bid for her.
At last, a feeble voice said, “Fifty dollars.” It came from a maiden lady, seventy years old, sister of my grandmother’s deceased mistress.
She had lived forty years under the same roof with my grandmother. She knew how faithfully she had served her owners and how cruelly she had been defrauded of her rights. And she resolved to protect her.
The auctioneer waited for a higher bid but her wishes were respected. No one bid above her.
She gave the old servant her freedom. (NOTE: According to the bill of sale, Hannah Pritchard purchased Molly for $52.25 and Molly’s son Mark for $400. On April 10, 1838, she filed for the legal papers to certify that Molly Horniblow, Harriet’s grandmother, was a free woman.)
At that time, my grandmother was just fifty years old. Laborious years had passed since then. And now my brother and I were slaves to the man who had defrauded her of her money and tried to defraud her of her freedom.
My grandmother, had, as much as possible, been a mother to her orphan grandchildren. Buy perseverance and unwearied industry, she was now mistress of a snug little home, surrounded by the necessaries of life.
(NOTE: On June 21, 1830, a neighbor sold Molly Horniblow a house and a lot on King Street in Edenton “for many good causes and reasons and also in consideration of one dollar.”)
There remained but three children and two grandchildren, all slaves.
We longed for a home like hers. There we always found sweet balsam for our troubles. She was so loving, so sympathizing! She always met us with a smile and listened with patience to all our sorrows. She spoke so hopefully, that unconsciously, the clouds gave place to sunshine.
There was a grand big oven there, too, that baked bread and nice things for the town.
Posted By: Richard Kigel
Friday, January 29th 2010 at 10:42AM
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