Thomas Wright's Diary

July 1858

5, July, 1858, today is my Birthday just turned 15!
Poppy and Ma gave me this Diary ta keep track of the days. My name is Thomas Wright, son of William Wright and Katherine Wright. Named for my Uncle Tom, Ma calls me Tommy Poppy calls me Thomas.

I lives on The Bowman Plantation, Mason county Kentucky, near Lees Creak closest town is Dover. Name of the Plantation is Rivers Edge, it butts against the Ohio River. The other side is Ohio, town of Ripley is across it. I spend my day feedin and cleaning the stalls and workin our small garden, fish some for food.

Ma she oversees the House Slaves for Mrs. Bowman. Poppy he's a slave chaser, hunts down run away slaves. Uncle Tom helps him. Mind ya we aren't slave holders, no we ain'ts. Ma have no parts of that. Poppy says doesn't knows if it's wrong or right. Just it's the Law and he makes his livin off it.

When Poppy ain't chasin slaves he oversees some of the field hands. Mister Bowman lets us live here so Poppy be close at hand ta start the chase fast.
Sometimes I sees them, the slaves look across that river. Thinks theys a wonderin what Freedom be like. I look across sees different, I see a town full of Abolitionists. Truly I can not form an opinion on Slavery, its wrong but like Poppy says it's legal.

I do like the people though when I cross, they all nice even that Nigra, Freeman bought his Freedom.
Hard workin polite nice house up aways from the river. Owns a Foundry. Parker his last name, Poppy thinks he helps runaways out. He might untellin, why jeopardize your Freedom ta help a runaway. Now that Rankin feller we knows he does.

Gettin late Poppy needs me ta go on a chase with him! A Mister Sophor just came lookin for Poppy my first chase! Poppy and I crossed the river just west of Ripley, that ways we don't get stopped by the townsfolk. I am handling the dogs two Bloodhounds, theys a pullin hard wanting ta go like hell. Poppy told me ta let them run. Theys find that runaway plus two others that he must a found. Poppy just made lot of money. Those two others might bring in 200 dollar a piece. 

We made it back ta home late, Poppy chained thum up in the barn next to the horses. What I thought be a long chase ends in less than two hours. Well its a gettin late need ta go with Poppy ta deliver Mister Sophor's slave ta him, then those two others go ta the Sheriff till claimed. Poppy gets a bounty 200 hundred a head for unknown slaves.  

                                                         6, July 1858 

Me and Poppy heads ta Mister Sophors place. Ma left for the Bowman's house ta oversee the slaves. Mister Sophor was a might pleased we found his slave. he told Poppy ta stop back in two hours, he would pay him his money. Poppy normally doesn't work that way. Mister Sophor knows, Mister Boman, so Poppy will let it wait.

Sheriff gave Poppy 100 a piece cause they was older, been younger 200 a piece. Sheriff said no one claims thum we gets half what they auction for. Poppy made 200 dollars for less than two hours work, that always isn't the case. Seen him get 1000 be gone ten days movin with that run away till he catches thum.

Mister Sophor pays Poppy 50 dollars plus that run aways youngest son, looks about 11 maybe 12 years old. Poppy doesn't want the boy, Ma will raise the roof ifin we bring him back. Poppy only takes him, cause he figures Mister Bowman a give him another 50 for the boy. Slaves name is Benny.

Ma raised a stink over that slave boy, Poppy  yelled at Ma said he was tired. Boy bring at least 50 dollars more ta the house. He can stay in the barn. Far as a place ta sleep good as any. Ma said get him out of the house, he smells of manure. Poppy told me ta take him ta the river, wash the stink off him.

Well I pushed him in clothes and all. He did smell ta high heaven. I could see him lookin at the Ohio side almost like a present or more food than ya can eat, is on that side. Shouts Benny, boy ya best get ta cleanin not lookin. Ma gave him some beans little bread for supper. Poppy chained him up abouts 9.