SLAVE NARRATIVES - Library of Congress

0758
Interviewer Miss Irene Robertson
Person interviewed Wester ^aomas, Marianna, Arkansas
Age 79
n I was born in Sumpter County (Miss-
issippi? )• My mother was sold to Hr* and
Miss Kate Hadley. My mother T s name was Lettie
Williams and she married Wesley Thomas* My name
is Hester Thomas. I'm seventy-nine years old*
Mistress Kate raised me* Dtr* Hadley had more
than a hundred slaves*
W I can tell you about freedom* Two men
in uniforms come and told master* He had the
farm bell rung* They told them the Civil War
was over* They was free* The niggers went
back to their quarters* Some moved later* My
folks never left* Dr. Hadley died* Mistress
Kate took all that wanted to go to Louisiana
then* We cleared up land down there* Later I
farmed•"
306