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But Not Her Child

I’m not a radical person.

I never really have been.

And I never thought much about slavery.

And it seems odd that what brought me to where I am now was a curiosity about my grandparents, two white people who lived long after slavery’s end.

But here I am.

Reading these words from a Will:

Thirdly to his daughter Francis Redgell one negro women Named Bede but not her child which she is pregnant with which is previously disposed of to his son Hansel Beckwith.

Please stop expecting me to entertain the the benevolent master trope or any other kinder, gentler telling of chattel slavery.

Moorer Plantation

Moorer Plantation in a few pictures.

Back on the Mountain

This is more of a housekeeping post than anything. We made the trip to South Carolina — hit Orangeburg and Abbeville, met some amazing people along the way and had the opportunity to put something real to all of this. I’m exhausted right now in every possible way. Not depressed, not sad, just exhausted. It’s so much to take in, so many projects going on, so much to do before the baby gets here. I’m getting everything together to post, but it may be awhile. Everything in this house is in flux right now. Hell, everything in my body is in flux right now. Bare with me. It’s kind of one day at a time in the best possible way.

Private J. Campbell Martin, Washington Light Infantry, Company B, mortally.

This is really more of an aside than a post.

 

The times and democrat., June 19, 1909, Page 4, Image 4

Casualties in Eulaw, regiment (25th S. C. V.) :

Killed.

[…]

Wounded.

Private J. Campbell Martin, Washington Light Infantry, Company B, mortally.

[…]

Private A. B. Glover, Washington Light Infantry, Company B, severely.

[…]

G. M. Dantzler, St. Matthews Rifles, slightly.

[…]

J. C. Martin survived and now lives in New Brocton, Ala.

 

In 1909, Pearl Campbell Martin (daughter of Ina Holcombe and the younger J. Campbell Martin) would’ve been 25. Her only bother was 27. All of this means that their first cousins carrying the Martin name — the fruit of seven of the first J. Campbell Martin’s seven or so sons — were of the age to serve in the Army.