Mose’s Father was the family coachman.  “All that he had to do was to drive the master and his family and to take care of the two big grey horses that he drove.  Compared to my mother and the other slaves he had an easy time,” said Uncle Mose, shaking his head and smiling:  “My daddy was so crazy about the white folks and the horses he drove until I believe he thought more of them than he did of me.  One day while I was in the stable with him one of the horses tried to kick me and when I started to hit him Daddy cussed me and threatned to beat me.”

His mother, brothers, and sisters, were all field hands, but there was never any work required of Mose, who was play-mate and companion to Manning, the youngest of Colonel Davis’ five sons.  These two spent most of the time fishing and hunting.  Manning had a pony and buggy and whenever he went to town he always took Mose along.

Field hands were roused, every morning by the overseer who rang the large bell near the slave quarters.  Women [TR:  and] young children were permitted to remain at home until 9 o’clock to prepare breakfast.  At 9 o’clock these women had to start to the fields where they worked along with the others until sundown.  The one break in the day’s work was the noon dinner hour.  Field hands planted and tended cotton, corn, and the other produce grown on the plantation until harvest time when everybody picked cotton.  Slaves usually worked harder during the picking season than at any other time.  After harvest, the only remaining work was cleaning out fence corners, splitting rails building fences and numerous other minor tasks.  In hot weather, the only work was shelling corn.  There was no Sunday work other than caring for the stock.

On this plantation there were quite a few skilled slaves mostly blacksmiths, carpenters, masons, plasterers, and a cobbler.  One of Mose’s brothers was a carpenter.

All slaves too old for field work remained at home where some took care of the young children, while others worked in the loom houses helping make the cloth and the clothing used on the plantation.  Since no work was required at night, this time was utilized by doing personal work such as the washing and the repairing of clothing, etc.

On the Fourth of July or at Christmas Colonel Davis always had a festival for all his slaves.  Barbecue was served and there was much singing and dancing.  These frolics were made merrier by the presence of guests from other plantations.  Music was furnished by some of the slaves who also furnished music at the mansion whenever the Col. or some of the members of his family had a party.  There was also a celebration after the crops had been gathered.