Slave Narratives

Allen, Parson and Hannah

Western Historical Manuscripts Collection
University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri.

     The writer being a stranger in Fredericktown, Missouri, learned of
an aged, and respected citizen in this community. This man, Mr. R. C.
Arnett, was asked to name any ex-slaves whom he knew living in the
county. Mr. Arnett inquired among the Negroes and compiled a list of
eleven ex-slaves, together with their ages and former owners.

     Mr. Arnett, unknown to the writer, submitted a list of the names to
the local newspaper which printed it. The printing of the names had
little effect upon the Negroes, except that they registered some pride
in having their names in the paper. The next step was to learn where
these persons to be interviewed lived.

     The next thing to do was to go and see each ex-slave. Approaching
them was a simple matter since Mr. Arnett had broken the ice. The writer
told them where he lived and found that most all of the ex-slaves were
acquainted with Negroes living in the writer's home town. This created a
personal contact that led to further interest. The writer asked each
individual if he or she was busy and then finally told them his purpose,
that he was there to find out the truth about slavery, that what they
said would be written down and that now that slavery is over and gone we
want to be able to preserve for the future some of the things that
actually happened. We did, they were told, not want all good nor all bad
but things that were the truth. The writer found that by strict honesty,
and sincerity, he could easily draw out most of the ex-slaves. They did
not like high pressure. These people quickly detect false pretense.

Allen, Parson and Hannah
Page 2

     Here is an actual preliminary conversation carried on with "Parson
and Aunt Hannah" Allen in Fredericktown:

    Writer: - "Is this where Parson and Aunt Hannah Allen live?"
    Parson: - "Yes, dis is de place".
    Writer: - "I was not sure, but Mr. Schulte up at the feed store told
me how to get here. I just wanted to talk to both of you for a little
while."
    Parson: - "Well, come on in out of de sun."
    Writer: - "I'll have to do a little writing so will have to sit down
right here. My name is Miles and I live in Farmington, Mo. Do you know
Annie Bridges up there?"
     Hannah: - "Lord, yes; havn't seen her for twenty years. We know a
good many colored people in Farmington."
     Writer: - "Now I've come to see you to ask you some questions about
the time you both were slaves. They tell me Aunt Hannah that you are 107
years old."
     Hannah: - (Rather proud) "Yes sah! That's right. I's born in 1830
and dey got de records up at de court house to prove it."
     Parson: - "Yes sah, she is dat old alright."
    
     Writer: - "Well, you were old enough to remember some things about
the war, were you not? I would like for you to tell me some of the
things that happened to you when you were a slave. Don't talk too fast
because I want to write the things down just as you say them."

     Then the writer asked a few questions and these led to others, etc.
Then the Parson was interviewed. The writer spent about two and one-half
hours here.