Thomas Wright's Diary

Maysville 1933/ September 1858

William Wright's home late the same day of Mommas Funeral.

Pops, Momma? I don't understand knew Poppy chased slaves and Pops. Owning a slave Gramma Wright a slave owner. I didn't know that. Pops why wait till both you and Momma were gone, to let me read these. This makes more questions than answers. Why the Confederate flag? 

                               19, September 1858

Betsy didn't look over at me. She just kept her eyes across that river. After what seemed an eternity, she said, Mister Thom, I didn't do a thing wrong.
Gots whipped for it, hurts to sit. Lor it does. Told her Ma Bowman is off a touch, mind about gone an all. Don't think that done much good. Think Betsy was just born ta be a time in the sheets.

For the owners pleasure an all. She was meant ta be sold, maybe uncle Mike's Poppy couldn't sell her. Maybe he hads a heart kept her, bein she was blood an all. Betsy stood lifted her dress, welts covered her backside, one place the skin broke open. Just below her butt on the thigh her right one. She was lucky, seen Ma Bowman near rip hide ta pieces with a switch when I was a child. Course didn't tell her that.

                              
                             22, September 1858

What I thought be 2 weeks work. Turned ta no work. Boss told me was my last day. Still put in good 10 hour day. Gave me an extra 10 cents with what I was owed. Told me he would send word ifin I was needed again. Good thin too, Poppy decided ta clear 20 acres fer next season. Start that when cools down some, probably mid October, near abouts. Mister Bowman bought the wood fer his sawmill. He supplies the labor. Poppy didn't do bad won't gets rich, stumps removed land cleared Poppy a make near 200 dollars. Plus the extra plantin field, Mister Bowman of course comes out way aheads. I knows they is more board foot than that. We still end up on the good end.

                                   24, September 1858

Ma left the Bowman's, think she just had nough.
Ma and Betsy makin soap, Ma a sell some ta Mister Owen over in Ripley an Mister Tanner in Dover. Both own General Stores. Poppy found a good Bounty fer us, pays 1,200 dollars. Fella out of Mays Lick. Three of them family 2 adults 1 child near 4 years old. Poppy gots these river crossins down, they probably head north and west cross near New Richmond. He thinks these Conductors haves a pattern. Guess we finds out. Poppy has a shirt one them wore. Help us track them down. Big hurry Poppy wants ta leave now near dark.

                           26, September 1858

Sunday no rest fer us. Near place called Milford in Ohio. We founds them, hid inside a springhouse. Owners tried ta stop us, Poppy had his Griswold out, my shotgun ready. Theys shoutin we had no right. We was trespassin! Thum two holding guns we a holdin guns. I know Poppy ain't about ta give these three up, I ain'ts myself. Hell been trackin thum two days. Lot of money involved here.

Poppy politely says, these three are runaways, Law says I can take thum back. Ifin ya want I can bring the Law in, or we can shoot each other probably die. Thinks they seen total of 8 shots from us. Plus just bein farmers, they thought we be a bit better at shootin than them. Real glads we didn't finds out.

About 3 we made New Richmond. I must say, this part scared me even more than those two farmers.
Poppy told me these Folks, take real pleasure in tryin ta scare ya, son. Theys haven't tried ta stop me yet. One day they may just try, bein Sunday an all. The deep thinkin ones may try.

Before town, Poppy took made a leash keep the slaves in our hands. Me and that Buck took turns carryin that child on our back. Told him from now till we cross the river he has the child. Came inta town from Keg Town downhill run ta New Richmond past the Brewery straight shot down ta the ferry. We was bein followed from about the Brewery down ta Front street. Runner the Bloodhound was gettin foul think he could sense trouble.

The Ferry launch was blocked, least ten town folk blockin it. Closer we gots ta the Ferry more people were about either followin or blockin the way down Front street. We couldn't turn around or left or right, blame Ferry was straight it was blocked.

They was shoutin let thum go! Poppy slowed us down some, told me ta keep movin straight for the Ferry, told the slaves best not stop. This gets ugly that child might get hurt. Knew Poppy wasn't about ta give up. Maybe twenty yards from the Ferry, whisky bottle broke not two foot from me!

I didn't stop, kept on goin. Theys started ta move around us. They had us circled, some had clubs few had rocks. Most they were just a mix of shouts and yells. Honestly thought we was dead. Poppy stopped us, could see he wasn't done. Look on his face, never seen that look before. Ta the end of my life, I will remember this.

Poppy looked at the one that was the biggest in the group, ya the leader this unlawful bunch! That feller shook his head, Poppy shouted best back aways now! Might just get these 3 hurt ya don't.
Poppy had his shotgun ready. Ya may get me and my son! How many these 2 scatter guns goin ta hurt or kill? He tugged on that leash, started walkin. First theys didn't move, closer we gots they moved let us pass. Might happy once that Ferry was half way across.

                         28, September 1858

Good day taday Poppy paid me my share 300 dollars! Keep ten last long time. Set the rest back.
Thinks I am good on set back money now. Gets another good bounty like that. My who knows.
Ma put Betsy ta work in Dover three days a week
Mister Tanner has her cleaning his store and house those three days. 25 cents a week Betsy gets none of it. Well she is a slave an all earns her keep I reckon. Is a might mean though. Still gots a warm feelin when ever I sees or thinks about her.

Think Ma is tryin ta keep us a part really do. Betsy comes in my room late at night. Ta talk, if she sees my candle lit. Behind the burlap curtains I hung.
Dear most times I can control my feelings, sometimes can't. I holds her hand we talk. Her eyes have tan color not brown or deep black. Can't explain it. Her hair is straight little curl ta it coal colored. Her smile is like the sun and the moon, when its full, bright. This comin spring ifin I feels this way. I will tell her how's I feel. Till then might have ta ask her ta spread those legs as she put it.