The greatest event in the life of a slave was about to occur, and the most sorrowful in the life of a master, freedom was at hand.  A Negro was seen coming in the distance, mounted upon a mule, approaching Mr. Jamison who stood upon the porch.  He told him of the liberation of the slaves.  Mr. Jamison had never before been heard to curse, but this was one day that he let go a torrent of words that are unworthy to appear in print.  He then broke down and cried like a slave who was being lashed by his cruel master.  He called Mary’s mother and father, Phyliss and Sandy, “I ain’t got no more to do with you, you are free,” he said, “if you want to stay with me you may and I’ll give you one-third of what you raise.”  They decided to stay.  When the crop was harvested the master did not do as he had promised.  He gave them nothing.  Mary slipped away, mounted the old mule “Mustang” and galloped away at a mules snail speed to Newnansville where she related what had happened to a Union captain.  He gave her a letter to give to Mr. Jamison.  In it he reminded him that if he didn’t give Mary’s family what he had promised he would be put in jail.  Without hesitation the old master complied with these pungent orders.

After this incident Mary and her family left the good old boss to seek a new abode in other parts.  This was the first time that the master had in any way displayed any kind of unfairness toward them, perhaps it was the reaction to having to liberate them.

MARRIAGE.

There was no marriage during slavery according to civil or religious custom among the slaves.  If a slave saw a woman whom he desired he told his master.  If the woman in question belonged on another plantation, the master would consult her master:  “one of my boys wants to marry one of your gals,” he would say.  As a rule it was agreeable that they should live together as man and wife.  This was encouraged for it increased the slave population by new borns, hence, being an asset to the masters.  The two slaves thus joined were allowed to see one another at intervals upon special permission from the master.  He must have a pass to leave the plantation.  Any slave caught without one while off the plantation was subject to be caught by the “paderollers” (a low class of white who roved the country to molest a slave at the least opportunity.  Some of them were hired by the masters to guard against slaves running away or to apprehend them in the event that they did) who would beat them unmercifully, and send them back to the plantation from whence they came.