Thomas Wright's Diary

1933

Spoke with Austen again in New Richmond. Seems his sister, remembers a younger couple living on the farm. They refer to as Fiddlers Knob. She said the woman appeared Mulatto, Moma was Mulatto?

She said they stayed maybe a year, just after the War ended. Thought the young man served with her father in the War. She wasn't certain on that.
Sense her father enlisted in Zanesville Ohio, no way to check with locals on this.

Momma being Mulatto, they could only Marry in Ohio, being illegal to Marry in Kentucky. Wonder if that is why they stayed in Ohio awhile? If it was them. We have no real way of knowing. Just know they loved each other more than most people I have met.

Grace said she would look into this more, on her end. Thomas is checking the Virginia records see if we can find something out that way. I've sent out a request on Military records for Poppy and to see about Pops if he served or not. That can take awhile. Few here that would know anything have passed on,  I have maybe one person who might know. Theo Bowman junior, that I have arranged a meeting with him. This should be interesting, considering we worked together.

Meeting with Theo went well, learned a few things. I have passed that along to Thomas on his search. Momma's name was Betsy like she said she came from Virginia. She was a Slave owned by, a Mister Seller Plantation name The Homestead. Grandma Wright's sister was married to the man.

Pops and his father were good friends. My schooling was paid for by him. Often wonder how Pops paid for Law School. We weren't poor by no means. Still not money like that. Theo sold Pops most of the Land from Rivers Edge. Pops, in turn, gave some of it to the Freed Slaves that stayed on.
They worked the land, giving Pops one eighth of what they made. Theo said more like he sold them the land, payment was the eighth they made.

I asked why Momma was called Beth, not Betsy. He wasn't sure, his Father never said. Far as my schooling, seems Pops kept his Father from going belly up after the War. No not his father his Grand father. Guess he helped because Pops helped them. He didn't know much more than that. Learned more than we knew. Just hope this puzzle comes together.

I checked into the Law, for Miscegenation in Ohio.
They couldn't of went to be Married. Ohio didn't repeal the Law until 1887. Closest State would of been Pennsylvania they repealed it in 1780. So if Momma was Mulatto, they probably never married. Theo told me also, Pops had a few miss haps with the Klan.  I don't remember any of those.

Do remember a few nights of shouting and shooting as a young child. Maybe those summers at Grandma Wrights on the River, were protection for us children. Theo also told me best keep Momma being a slave quiet. Any that knew are dead. He told me he should of said something long ago. He didn't know if Pops fought in the War or not. Still not a lot of answers. Only time will tell.

Thanks for reading comment vote if you please.

Mulatto is a person of mixed race, normally one white and black Parent.

Miscegenation, means interbreeding of races.

Miscegenation was overturned on 12, June 1967. By Loving v. Virginia. That's when most of the Southern States had to change the Law, even Kentucky a border State had the law till then. You kind find this case by looking up Loving v. Virginia. Very interesting case how they were arrested.

No History Bits this time. Again thanks for reading.