Will was owned by Lewis Oats and his sister; they lived in a two story house, built of log and weather boarded.  They were very wealthy people.  The farm consisted of over 230 acres; they owned six slaves; and they had to be up doing their morning work before the master would wake.

When working and the slaves would disobey their master, they were punished in some way; but there was no jail.  They didn’t know how to read or write, and they had no church to attend.  All they had to do when not at work was to talk to the older folks.  On Christmas morning they would usually have a little extra to eat and maybe a stick of candy.  On New Year’s Day their work went on just the same as on any other day.

Will, as a boy loved to play marbles which was about the most interesting game they had to play.  Of course, they could play outside as all children do now when they had spare time.

At that time there were few doctors and when the slaves would get hurt or sick, they were usually looked after by the master or by their overseer.

After the war had closed, Will’s grandmother walked from Monticello to Camp Nelson to get her free papers and her children.  They were all very happy, but they were wondering what they were going to do without a home, work, or money.  But after Will and his mother and grandmother got their freedom, the grandmother bought a little land and house and they all went there to live.  Of course, they worked out for other people and raised a great deal of what they ate.  Will lived there until he grew older and went out for himself; and later moved to Mercer County where he now lives.

Bibliography: 
Interview with Will Oats, Ex-Slave of Mercer County.

Garrard County.  Ex-Slave Stories.  (Eliza Ison)

Aunt Belle Robinson: 

I found Aunt Belle sitting on the porch, dressed nice and clean with a white handkerchief pinned on her neck.  When I went to her and told her who I was and the reason for my visit her face beamed with smiles and she said “Lawdy, it has been so long that I have forgot nearly everything I knew”.

Further investigation soon proved that she had not forgotten, for her statements were very intelligent.  She was working on a quilt and close investigation found that the work was well done.  Aunt Belle tells me “I was born June 3rd, 1853 in Garrard County near Lancaster.  My mother’s name was Marion Blevin and she belonged to the family of Pleas Blevin.  My father’s name was Arch Robinson who lived in Madison County.  Harrison Brady bought me from Ole Miss Nancy Graham and when Mr. Brady died and his property was sold Mrs. Brady bought me back; and she always said that she paid $400 for me.  I lived in that family for three generations, until every one of them died.  I was the only child and had always lived at the big house with my mistus.  I wore the same kind of clothes and ate the same kind of food the white people