Thomas Wright's Diary

May 10-29

                   10, May 1859

Supper was good, Ma and Betsy fixed a fine meal.
Grits, ham, lima beans. Nice cake after. Thom say he not sure if is stayin or not. Has ta think on it some. Poppy told him, I replaced him an doin a fine job at it. Thom smiled at me, say good fer me.

He has a bit of money, may think on what he wants ta do some. Thom stayed the night with Poppy an Ma. Ride home was over dark, cloudy no moon.
Made fer a rough ride home. Overseers were just lockin down the slaves as we got back. They had a beds made in the stables. We had a drink tagether.

Betsy was sleepin when I came in. Thought I best sleep also.

                             13, May 1859
Looks like we should be finished on Saturday, made good time on the plantin. Friday was a good day. Betsy been hummin all day, happy can't say about what. Just real happy. This keeps up, get good weather might have a good season.

Finally gots around ta askin Betsy why she been so happy. She smiled looked at me say, Mister Thom thinks we may have child on the way. Lan sakes I about fell. About brought a tear to my eyes.
I hugged her, then looked at her. This could  bring trouble, nothin I can't deal with.

Betsy kinda looked upset, asked ifin I was upset. Lan sakes told her, upset no. Just surprised is all,
not ta worry. They just think ya bed warmer is all.
That a bother me some. Late now best get some sleep.

                             16, May 1859

Uncle Thom left taday goin ta Mississippi, say figure maybe even Louisiana. Always wanted ta see New Orleans. Those Traders made another raid took the whole family, over Georgetown way in Ohio. Poppy say no bounty posted but keep an eye out. Me an Betsy bein alone an all.

Told Poppy I sleep with the Griswold under my pillow. Shot gun at the head of the bed. Trouble comes, they best turn away. Rained some taday not much, need just a little more. Get those crops ta growin. Caught few catfish had that an grits fer supper. Normal day, Betsy still all smiles. Gettin late best get ta bed.

        
                               19, May 1859

That Parker fella done good job on those brackets.
Just got ta puttin those on the pulley. Works much better doesn't wobble like it used ta. Heard tell another raid over in Aberdeen Ohio, just across from Maysville. Looks like they headed this away.

Damn Slave Trader agents. Can't do it the right way. Ask the owners an such about unwanted slaves. Guess best start carryin the Griswold till this calms some. Best stay away, not afraid ta kill thum they show here. Thursday rained most of the day. Worked in the barn an stable taday.

Betsy been gettin that mornin sickness. Lan sakes know fer sure. Child is on the way. My I am ready ta be a Pops? Ain't told Poppy or Ma yet. Think best wait a spell. Do I have nough put back ta take care of a child? Lan sakes Thom quit frettin over somethin that ya can't control.

Got a letter from Theo, seems VMI ain't that bad. Lot of hard work, but he thinks he will do fine.
That I knew he would do good. Rain started again it is late. Betsy is sleepin think I will too.

                          21, May 1859

Forgots ta mention plantin is done. Rained a touch taday. Nough ta give that seed some water. Poppy brought word, they took another Free Black man and woman, out near Augusta. Ta close fer comfort ya ask me. Those two even had slaves, reward been placed on those out of Aberdeen. Poppy thinks they headed ta Lexington. Betsy a stay with Ma couple days. Goin with Poppy, can't see him taking this alone. Leave in the mornin ta pick up the trail. Won't be hard ta follow, least twelve nigra be walkin three maybe four traders ridin.

If they do like me and Poppy thinks, they be headin towards Lexington. Let's hope we is right. Hope this don't take long, good friend a mine Fred be looking after the farm fer me. Feed the animals an such. Didn't want no money, best least share a whisky with him. Late gots ta leave outs early. All fer now.

                                 24, May 1859

Been followin them near three days, they done swung back northeast towards Mayslick about Oddville. If theys tryin to throw us off. They about did. I caught the turn, before Poppy. Made me feel good catchin it first. Late so we couldn't track thum
made camp. Dear me, well after dark. Fred rode in hard. Told him they probably headed ta Lexington.

Took the best route thinkin he would find us. Theys raided the New Place on the river. Took Betsy! Beat Ma bad! Thought I best write that down! We is movin fast ta check on Ma!

                                 25, May 1859

Not even sun up, made it home Ma has a swollen right eye. Doctor say maybe couple broke ribs. She managed ta shoot one of them. He still kickin, Poppy done gots where they was a goin from him.
That was not pretty, put it this aways feller probably won't live ta see the sun go down. Not one bit ashamed what he done. Tore that wound back open an cut it open even more. They a goin ta Northern Virginia, Harpers Ferry. I am beat can't sleep, worry over Betsy an all. Mad worry, beat Ma took my Betsy! They was not a thinkin at all, everyone knows the Wrights live there. What we do fer a livin, they just brought death on themselves. Best try an sleep.

                                  29, May 1859

Weston Virginia, about sun up not more than hour two behind thum. Rode through the night, theys haven't made a raid sense our place. Gotta close here movin fast an on!

Befer I gets inta what happened, best write down that Fred Ingles an Mason county Deputy Sheriff John Willis rode with us. Poppy wanted the Law along ta speak fer us in case we needed it. Been so upset didn't write that down. Caught thum about four hours from Weston.

We didn't stop thum, we rode well ahead of thum.
Set an ambush, Poppy an John figured best ta just end it, fast as we could.