SLAVE NARRATIVES - Library of Congress

30806
Interviewer Miss Irene Robertson
Person interviewed Ida Rigley, Forrest City« Arkansas
Age 83
11 1 was born in Richmond, Virginia* Colonel Radford and Emma Radford
owned my mother* They had a older girl, Emma and Betty and three boys, I
called her Miss Betty*
"My mother was Sylvia Jones and she had five children^ Bill Jones was
my father« He was a born free man and a blacksmith at Lynchburg, Virginia
in slavery times*
"He asked Colonel Radford could he come to see my mama and marry her*
They had a wedding in Colonel Radford f s dining room and a preacher on the
place married them* They told me* My father was a Presbyterian preacher»
I heard papa preach at Lynchburg* He had a white principle but no white
blood* I never knew him very much till long after freedom*
"Miss Betty Radford was raising me for a house girl* I was younger
than her children* Mother was a weaver for all on the place* Old iunt
Caroline was the regular cook but my mother helped to cook for hands he
hired at busy seasons of the year* My sisters lived in the quarters and
nrana slept with them* She helped them* They worked in the field some*
They was careful not to overwork young hands* They cooked down at the
quarters* They had a real old man and woman to set about and see after the
children and feed thenu The older children looked after the babiest When
Hiss Betty went off visiting she would send me down there* I did love
it.