Name of interviewer: Martin—Barker
Subject: Ex-Slave
Story:
“Son of Martha and Peter Hinton. Came from N.C. about 12 years ago, at close of Civil War. Mother had nine children, she belonged to Mr. Sam Hinton.
“At close of war mistis called us to her, said we were free and could go. So we went away for about a year, but came back. Sorry we were free.
“We saw about 2000 soldiers. Never went to school. Went to white church on plantation. White preachers said, servants, obey your marster. I was valued at $800.00.
“When I was a small boy I lay at marsters feet and he would let us play with his feet. He always had shiny shoes and we niggers would keep rubbing them so they would shine more. As I grew older, I cleaned the yard, later helped pick cotton.
“I am a Baptist. Have behaved myself. Have prayer meeting at my home.
“During the war we had prayer meetings at the different houses on the plantations. We prayed to be set free. Turned wash pots down in the house to keep the sound down so white folks wouldn’t hear us singing and praying to be set free.
“Overseer would whip neggers when out of humor. Miss Mary would always tell them not to mistreat her help.
“Times were so hard during slave times, white marster took them into the bottoms and hid them, so they wouldn’t run off with the Yankee soldiers.
“Talk of war got so hot, brought us out of the woods and put us in wagons and took us and de older people off to Texas.