Slave Narratives: A Folk History of Slavery in the United States | Page 8

by
her mother, Mrs. Margaret King, deceased.
Mrs. Angie Boyce was born in slavery, Mar. 14, 1861, on the Breeding
Plantation, Adair County, Kentucky. Her parents were Henry and
Margaret King who belonged to James Breeding, a Methodist minister
who was kind to all his slaves and no remembrance of his having ever
struck one of them.
It is said that the slaves were in constant dread of the Rebel soldiers and

when they would hear of their coming they would hide the baby
"Angie" and cover her over with leaves.
The mother of Angie was married twice; the name of her first husband
was Stines and that of her second husband was Henry King. It was
Henry King who bought his and his wife's freedom. He sent his wife
and baby Angie to Indiana, but upon their arrival they were arrested
and returned to Kentucky. They were placed in the Louisville jail and
lodged in the same cell with large Brutal and drunken Irish woman.
The jail was so infested with bugs and fleas that the baby Angie cryed
all night. The white woman crazed with drink became enraged at the
cries of the child and threatened to "bash its brains out against the wall
if it did not stop crying". The mother, Mrs. King was forced to stay
awake all night to keep the white woman from carrying out her threat.
The next morning the Negro mother was tried in court and when she
produced her free papers she was asked why she did not show these
papers to the arresting officers. She replied that she was afraid that they
would steal them from her. She was exonerated from all charges and
sent back to Indiana with her baby.
Mrs. Angie Boyce now resides at 498 W. Madison St., Franklin, Ind.

Special Assignment Walter R. Harris District #3 Clay County
LIFE STORY OF EX-SLAVE MRS. EDNA BOYSAW
Mrs. Boysaw has been a citizen of this community about sixty-five
years. She resides on a small farm, two miles east of Brazil on what is
known as the Pinkley Street Road. This has been her home for the past
forty years. Her youngest son and the son of one of her daughters lives
with her. She is still very active, doing her housework and other chores
about the farm. She is very intelligent and according to statements
made by other citizens has always been a respected citizen in the
community, as also has her entire family. She is the mother of twelve
children. Mrs. Boysaw has always been an active church worker,
spending much time in missionary work for the colored people. Her
work was so outstanding that she has been often called upon to speak,
not only in the colored churches, but also in white churches, where she
was always well received. Many of the most prominent people of the
community number Mrs. Boysaw as one of their friends and her home
is visited almost daily by citizens in all walks of life. Her many acts of

kindness towards her neighbors and friends have endeared her to the
people of Brazil, and because of her long residence in the community,
she is looked upon as one of the pioneers.
Mrs. Boysaw's husband has been dead for thirty-five years. Her
children are located in various cities throughout the country. She has a
daughter who is a talented singer, and has appeared on programs with
her daughter in many churches. She is not certain about her age, but
according to her memory of events, she is about eighty-seven.
Her story as told to the writer follows:
"When the Civil War ended, I was living near Richmond, Virginia. I
am not sure just how old I was, but I was a big, flat-footed woman, and
had worked as a slave on a plantation. My master was a good one, but
many of them were not. In a way, we were happy and contented,
working from sun up to sun down. But when Lincoln freed us, we
rejoiced, yet we knew we had to seek employment now and make our
own way. Wages were low. You worked from morning until night for a
dollar, but we did not complain. About 1870 a Mr. Masten, who was a
coal operator, came to Richmond seeking laborers for his mines in Clay
County. He told us that men could make four to five dollars a day
working in the mines, going to work at seven and quitting at 3:30 each
day. That sounded like a Paradise to our men folks. Big money and you
could get rich in little time. But he did not tell all, because he wanted
the men folk to come with him to Indiana. Three or four hundred came
with Mr. Masten. They