Ann Mickey

Ann Mickey has been an invalid for four years in her home at 214 Powell Street, Beaumont. She was the slave of Lassee (or Lastie ) Hillebrant of Jefferson County. She was seated in a large chair, aimlessly playing with a pillow. Her wooly hair was arranged in places in twists across her head. Yellowish brown in complexion her face was typical with high cheek bones and bright, kindly eyes. Her voice was musical. She wore a long loose calico dress with a design of flowers and leaves on it. Her feet, bare and somewhat swollen protruded from the edge. She is about 90 years of age. Her mind is somewhat erratic and her memory poor.

I was born right here in Beaumont right on this place. My young marster was Lessee Hillebrandt , an' mistus name was Levi . Young marster he went to do war, yessir. Dey had some chilluns but dey was born after freedom come. I was 'bout sixteen year old when freedom come. Seem like my pa name Henry , and my ma name Maria . I had one brother name Lester . He know jes' how old I is but I dunno. I was a house gal. I didn't do no field work. Me, I hafter wash de dishes an' do de sewing. Den I nuss one of de boys. I 'tend to him an' feed him. He was big 'nough to feed hisself but he like somebody else to feed him. None of de rest feed him but I would. Dey say he always love me 'cause I take time to feed him. De slaves dey live in plank houses an' dey was two room in de houses. Dey had table, an' bench an' bed. You could move de bed 'round in de room. It weren't built in 'gainst de wall. Dey cook in spider in fireplace. De slaves eat out in dey cabins. I 'member well what dey had to eat, meat an' bread. Dey give us milk sometimes. De slaves had a patch for dey garden, an' dey raise chicken an' pigs, too. Dey was four or five houses for de slaves. Marster's house was right here. De white an' cullud chillun all play together. De li'l cullud chillun didn't have no work to do 'cepting to sweep de leave an' bring in wood an' such li'l things. De marster's house was a two story plank house. Den he have a house for de horses an' cows, an' pigs. Dey had a big boy to look after de stock. He my brother. Dey didn't have no schooling for de li'l niggers. Dey teach 'em how to 'have demselfs but dat was all. Dey had preachin' in slavery but I didn' go to church. I hear dem preach, dat was all.

After I free I jined de Baptist Church but now I belongs to de Sanctified Church. Back in dem time dey didn't hab no church. Dey done de preaching under a big tree where de darkeys could gather an' hear de preacher. Lots of times dey git happy an' shout. Dey had Sat'day an' Sunday off. Dey give 'em some holidays. Dey kept de holidays holy. Dey uster give us Chris'mas presents. Dey give me a table an' ices. Oh dey give me several things Chris'mas. Sometimes on Chris'mas dey give a big dance. Dem was a big dances during Chris'mas. Dey have all kinds of music. De cullud folks dey make de music. Dey have banjo an' fiddle but dey didn't have no 'cordians in dem times. Dey have different people from different places. Dey 'vite darkies from other farms 'round, an' dey all dance together. Dey have what dey call a 'set dance'. De marster had a pretty good large plantation. He raise lot of cane an' make sugar. Dey have so much of de place for crops an' de rest for cattle. My ma she work in de field. I didn't know nothing 'bout de patter-rollers but I seen de sojers. Dey had a camp an' I 'member dat I see it I dunno now where it was. I go dere an' look over an' see de sojers. I was a good big gal when de war over. Old marster was mean. He beat me. I reckon he beat me jes' 'cause he could. He beat me an' my ma wid sticks. When freedom come he call up all de slaves t'gedder. He tell 'em dey free. He told 'em what to do an' what not to do. He tell 'em dey could stay with him an' dey all stay. He didn't have no overseer. He overseed it himself. Dey was mostly wimmin an' chillun on de place. Sometime a slave run off but dey allus come back an' go to work. He whip 'em an' give 'em a good cussing an' go on 'bout he work. I heard 'em talk 'bout de Klu Kluxes but I never see none. Me, I marry Jim Mickey . De justice of de peace he come to de house an' marry us. I had one daughter name Ella an' I'se got one grandchild. I kin see ghos'es. One time I was talkin' to dat woman dere. Dey was a chain on de gate an' us hear de chain rattle like somebody open de gate. She sorter look 'roun' but ain't see nothing. I ax her ain't she see dat man open de gate an' come in. She say she don't see no man an' turn 'round an' look again. She say, 'Law, Aunt Ann, you oughtn't 'a' told me dat. I ain't see nobody'. She was