Slaves Interview
This is the account of an ex-slave by the name of William Barker who now resides in Bethany, AL. He is approximately 95 years old and lives in a little shack with a plot of land. He has worked for some local townsfolk doing some grounds keeping and gardening since he was freed when he was 20. But for the most part, Barker keeps to himself. He has no wife and no children. He is only 5 foot 4 and may weigh about 145 lbs. As a slave he worked as a gardner, and later learned to cook, but soon thereafter was freed. Gardening is all he seems to know. However, he seems very proficient at hunting. He says that is the only way he keep alive, living off what God gives him from the land and water. He was son to Frances William and Eliza William. His father died in the war. Because of his size and ability to cook, William Barker did not go to war. His mammy died within weeks of being free due to starvation. Here is his account
What is your name:
My name is William Barker. That's not my name when I was a slave. It then was Scott William.
Why did it change?
Well my Messas name was Nole William, and we were named for him. But when we was freed, we were told to take freed names.
How old are you?
Well I spose I am 95. But I am not so sure. Most days I feel olders, others I feels a bit younger.
Why don't you know your age?
My Messa told me whens I was freed I was 20. He wasn't so sure though. Some days I count my birthday as the day I was freed.
Were you born a slave?
Oh yessa, I was. An my mammy and daddy was too.
Did you know your parents?
I knew my mammys real well. My daddy went to fight in the war. He never did come back. Before that, he was working in the fields. He was a big man, not like me. I was too little, too small to do dem fields work. So I nevers did see him. Sometimes I would see him by the moonlight. He worked from the time the sun...
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