Rachel A. Austin, Field Worker
Monticello, Florida
November 10, 1936

DOUGLAS PARISH

Douglas Parish was born in Monticello, Florida, May 7, 1850, to Charles and Fannie Parish, slaves of Jim Parish.  Fannie had been bought from a family by the name of Palmer to be a “breeder”, that is a bearer of strong children who could bring high prices at the slave markets.  A “breeder” always fared better than the majority of female slaves, and Fannie Parish was no exception.  All she had to do was raise children.  Charles Parish labored in the cotton fields, the chief product of the Parish plantation.

As a small boy Douglas used to spend his time shooting marbles, playing ball, racing and wrestling with the other boys.  The marbles were made from lumps of clay hardened in the fireplace.  He was a very good runner, and as it was a custom in those days for one plantation owner to match his “nigger” against that of his neighbor, he was a favorite with Parish because he seldom failed to win the race.  Parish trained his runners by having them race to the boundary of his plantation and back again.  He would reward the winner with a jack-knife or a bag of marbles.

Just to be first was an honor in itself, for the fastest runner represented his master in the Fourth of July races when runners from all over the country competed for top honors, and the winner earned a bag of silver for his master.  If Parish didn’t win the prize, he was hard to get along with for several days, but gradually he would accept his defeat with resolution.  Prizes in less important races ranged from a pair of fighting cocks to a slave, depending upon the seriousness of the betting.

Douglas’ first job was picking cotton seed from the cotton.  When he was about 12 years of age, he became the stable boy, and soon learned about the care and grooming of horses from an old slave who had charge of the Parish stables.  He was also required to keep the buggies, surreys, and spring-wagons clean.  The buggies were light four-wheeled carriages drawn by one horse.  The surreys were covered four-wheeled carriages, open at the sides, but having curtains that may be rolled down.  He liked this job very much because it gave him an opportunity to ride on the horses, the desire of all the boys on the plantation.  They had to be content with chopping wood, running errands, cleaning up the plantation, and similar tasks.  Because of his knowledge of horses, Douglas was permitted to travel to the coast with his boss and other slaves for the purpose of securing salt from the sea water.  It was cheaper to secure salt by this method than it was to purchase it otherwise.

Life in slavery was not all bad, according to Douglas.  Parish fed his slaves well, gave them comfortable quarters in which to live, looked after them when they were sick, and worked them very moderately.  The food was cooked in the fireplace in large iron pots, pans and ovens.  The slaves had greens, potatoes, corn, rice, meat, peas, and corn bread to eat.  Occasionally the corn bread was replaced by flour bread.  The slaves drank an imitation coffee made from parched corn or meal.  Since there was no ice to preserve the left-over food, only enough for each meal was prepared.