*Interview with Maria Jenkins, about 90 years old*
*64 Montague Street, Charleston, S.C.*
--_Martha S. Pinckney, Charleston, S.C._
Maria Jenkins, who is about ninety, is very nearly blind, and only by
quiet persistence can she be made to hear; once started, her mind is
clear. She shows no bitterness. Occasionally there are flashes of humor.
Her body is brawny, sturdy and well carried, considering her age.
Maria Jenkins was a daughter of Aaron Grant; her mother's name is Ellen
Grant, all of whom were owned by Mr. Hugh Wilson of Wadmalaw Island.
"I b'long Wadmalaw. When de Yankee come I ole 'nuf for mind chillun, and
take um to de field. I go up to Maussa' house ebery day for de milk for
we; and dey give we clabba (clabber) and cow peas and ting out de
garden. We git ebery evening a bushel ob corn grind and hand ober to de
nurse, and him sift out de flour. Yes Mam. He done grind in de hand mill
in de barn yard--de stone mill. Dat been uh big mill too. And dey gib we
uh big piece ob meat--so--(measuring with hands) and sometime chicken.
Rachel cook in de big pot for we chillun, and he dip um out. (She here
explained the big ladle or dipper.) You know dem big ladle. We put um in
we pan. Yes, Ma'am, he name Rachel, and he lick we. We haffa love um or
she lick we." Her huge mouth was illumined by a humorous smile.
"He teach me to wash de baby clean and put on he dipa (diaper), and if I
ain't do um good he konk my head. When de wah come, my pa put heself
free off to New Orleans; I dunno how he look. I dunno if he libbin or
dead now. My ma dead fust year ob de wah, I hab twelve chillun, and all
dead; I got two grand chillun left--de one in New York--I raise him from
baby atter he ma and pa dead."
"Your grand son helps you?"
"Wat dat?", leaning forward with her hand back of her ear. The question
was repeated.
"Him ain't no man, him my grand daughter, Ellen Jenkins. I raise him
from baby yes, she name Ellen. Him good to me; him help me ebery
minute."
"Are all your people dead?"
"De whole nation dead," reflectively, "De whole nation dead--Peggy
dead--Toby dead--all leaning on de Lord."
"When dem boat come up de ribber, and he shoot, and shoot, de big gun,
dat been de awful time. My ma dead de fust year ob de wah--I dunno if
dem big gun kill um. He kill 'nuf people.
"Maussa come and he say: 'Who-na (all of you) nigger take care ob
yourself, I must leab to take my fambly away. Will is here; and de cow,
and de pig in de pen, and de chicken all ober de place--I gib you your
freedom for take care ob yourself.' W'en he gone, dem nigger break for
the thick woods. Some dead and some ain't dead."
Later a camp was established for this plantation of Negroes, back in the
pine woods. When asked what they did after the war, Maria raised her
hands and said:
"After de wah we all come home, tank de Lord! tank de Lord!"
"But your master didn't have any money to care for you."
"Haffa scrabble for yo'self." Said she.