Among them two very refined house maids, Kitty Hopson and Adeline Norfleet; Frank, the carriage driver; Mary, the cook, and Louis, a roustabout.
Of these, only one survive, Adeline, who in her old age, finds no greater pleasure than in talking of her white people.
Although the Norfleets were the acknowledged aristocrats of the country, they were also benevolent to a marked degree.
Apropos of their liberality, I deem it not amiss to mention the case of Ed and Fronie Hawkins, a very unique, feeble minded couple of white people, who lived in a small one-room log cabin, near Turnersville, in Robertson county, and subsisted mainly on charity.
Mr. Hawkins, familiarly known as “Old Ed,” was a tall, lank figure, with a shock of long sandy hair, that hung in strings around his neck, while his sallow complexion and deep set small blue eyes, completed the make-up of an unattractive personality.
Fronie, his dumpy dame, in point of height, measured very little above her husband’s slender waist. She had small brown eyes, fair complexion, and an abundant suit of coarse red hair, which she wore in a massive club, or coil, at the nape of her neck, held in place by a rusty horn tuck comb.
About three times a year, they made begging trips to Port Royal, Dr. Norfleet’s home being their objective point.
Fronie would generally start a few days in advance of her husband, in order to get her charity donations together.
He would follow later, and help carry them home.
Dr. Norfleet wore white linen suits in summer, and on one occasion, gave Fronie a second hand suit for Ed.