Thomas Wright's Diary

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           6, March 1859

We loaded on the Packet Steamer Clara, this trip should be faster. She is full up no more room fer cargo. She is bound fer Huntington Virginia. Should be no stops unless we need coal or wood fer the boiler. Mister Bowman bought what they call a Fancy Girl light skinned like Betsy bred ta be a sexual consult fer the owners and his sons.

Mister Bowman's son is about 18 he is off ta school in Virginia. Should be back this summer. Thinkin he got her fer him. Lan sakes poor girl, only about Betsy age an all. Fer the owners pleasure an all. Know that was what Betsy was meant ta be.

It saddens me in such away, can't explain it, maybe Betsy is doin her job, ya know pleasin me an all.
Damn Thomas don't be a thinkin that way. Betsy has feelins fer ya, know that deep down.

Mister Bowman asks ifin I wanted a night with Lazza that is the Fancy ones name. I say no Sir, might fine girl don't need ta partake of her. He smiled I offered guess she'll spend the night with me, he smiled say should be real nice do thins the wife won't. He laughed took her up ta his room.

Poppy slept I has the first watch, don't think they jump off, never know drownin maybe better than they new home. Jeff an I spoke some, seems Poppy gave up wealth ta be just a Farmer in Kentucky. His Pops offered him the small Farm in Georgia.
Ta run him an Thomas, they chose ta move away.

His sister Karen stayed only if the slaves split the property she got nough to live off of. Jeff say slave traders raided the place took all that was black killed Miss Karen an her Husband Andrew.

Surprised Poppy ain't fit ta be tied, ready ta ride off find those, that did that. Think maybe he wants ta, Ma maybe what's holdin him back. Then before he walked away, he say ya Poppy is a good man, we were real friends. We was young, he promised ifin his Pops didn't free me he would. Ya Poppy only does what he does fer that Bowman fella cause he has ta make money. He may not likes it, but it's the law. Yo Poppy believes in the Law.

Out the thirty Bowman bought, he gots that Fancy Girl an two breedin winches. Rest were field hands an such. We breeds thum like cattle. Well they is called Chattel ain't they. Slavery grows more disgustin by the minute on this trip.

        8, March 1859

Made it back ta Rivers Edge, Mister Bowman drew up the papers of Freedom fer Jeff. Poppy said Betsy could leave with him, ifin I wanted. Loose Betsy give her Freedom ta go with him, asks Jeff well tells him I loves her. Don't know ifin I could let her go. He say love, ya both fools end up dead. I'll honor what ever ya do Young Thomas.

After thinkin it through I asks Betsy. Ifin she wanted Freedom, Jeff was headed ta Canada.
He would take her. Make sure she made it. He say die ifin he had ta get ya ta Canada. I tell her this alone in the barn. Thom she say I is free, ta love ya and take care of ya. Don't needs Freedom needs you. Tell Poppy an Jeff she wanted ta stay on here at the Old Place. Poppy shook his head, say she may just get ya killed son. I'll honor what ya want.

Jeff left later that day, Free man again. Poppy looked a might happy fer him. Gettin close ta plantin season. My I am might happy it is close about two months can start ta plantin.

                 9, March 1859

Woke about two I reckon, place quiet fire still as a good glow ta it. Place couple small logs on it. It took off in no time at all. Stacked the wood good.
Sat down ta writtin. Can'ts sleep ya see, worried I made the wrong decision on Betsy. Maybe should of freed her, had Jeff take her away. Betsy meet a nice fella, gets a long real good. Know that Jeff let no harm come ta her.

Was it my needs over her? Maybe I can still free her. Let her live a proper life up north. Her happy all that matters. Looks outside the stars are covered in clouds. The moon just shines through them. My such thins amaze me clouds an such. Stars moon, why they up in the sky? What is they purpose? Thom I think ya think way ta much, on thins that don't matter.