“Fairview” is located in the upper part of what was called the “Forest” of Prince Georges County, a few miles southwest of Collington Station.  It is a fine type of old Colonial mansion built of brick, the place having been in the posession of the family for some time previous.  “Fairview” is one of the oldest and finest homes in Maryland.  The mansion contains a wide hall and is a typical Southern home.

Baruch Duckett married Kitty Bean, a granddaughter of John Bowie, Sr., the first of his name to come to Prince Georges County.  They had but one daughter, whose name was Kitty Bean Duckett, and she married in 1800 William Bowie of Walter.  Baruch Duckett outlived his wife and died in 1810.  He devised “Fairview” to his son-in-law and the latter’s children, and it ultimately became the property of his grandson, afterward known as Col.  William B.[TR.?] Bowie, who made it his home until 1880, when he gave it to his eldest son, Oden, who in 1868 became Governor of Maryland.  Governor Bowie was always identified with the Democratic Party.

“Parson” Williams’ wife, Amelia Addison Williams died August 9, 1928, at the age of 94 years.  The aged negro is the father of 14 children, one still living,—­Mrs. Amelia Besley, 67 years old, 2010 Pierpont Street, Mount Winans, Baltimore, Maryland.  His brother, Marcellus Williams, and a single sister, Amelia Williams, both living, reside on Rubio street, Philidelphia, Pa.  According to “Parson” Williams, they are both more than a century old and are in fairly good health.  Besides his children and a brother and a sister, Williams has several grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren living.

President Lincoln, Williams says, was looked upon by many slaves as a messenger from heaven.  Of course, many slave masters were kind and considerate, but to most slaves they were just a driver and the slaves were work horses for them.  Only once during his lifetime does Williams recall tasting whisky, when his cousin bought a pint.  It cost three cents in those days.  He said his mother used to make beer out of persimmons and cornhusks, but they don’t make it any more, so he doesn’t even drink beer now.  He would much rather have a good cigar.  He has since a boy, smoked a pipe.

By special permission of plantation owners in Prince Georges, St. Marys, Baltimore and other counties in Maryland, he was often permitted to visit the darkeys and conduct a religious meeting in their cabins.  He usually wore a long-tailed black “Kentucky” suit with baggy trousers and sported a cane.

Usually when servants or slaves in those days found themselves happy and contented, it was because they were born under a lucky star.  As for eating, they seldom got chicken, mostly they ate red herring and molasses—­they called black strap molasses.  They were allowed a herring a day as part of their food.  Slaves as a rule preferred possums to rabbits.  Some liked fish best.  Williams’ favorite food was cornpone and fried liver.