Thomas Wright's Diary

May/ June

                                   29-30, May 1859

Bloody day it was, our long rifles did the job. They was six ta our four. Must not last more than five ten minutes. Fred say twenty, Poppy say ten at best. John he figures maybe twelve. Guess say short ten longside fifteen minutes.

Poppy gave us a person. The last two we double up on. I have never seen nor heard such noise as four rifles going off at once. Near once, let's say those four couldn't even shoot. If they did, those shotguns do no good at that distance. Me an Fred shot the other, he managed ta fire his pistol once.

Poppy an John didn't fire, waited ta see if the other would quit well he did. That ways we had one ta take back ta Maysville ta be charged. Ifin I let's him live. Might just kill him be done with it. Betsy she looked like they had they way with her. I didn't ask she didn't say. Glad she ain't dead, we caughts thum is all. Well it is 30th of May, called a stop twelve slaves eight free blacks an Betsy.

Betsy started crampin an bleeding, then the water broke. Few minutes later, one very small dead child came inta the world. Mine an Betsy's, never have I felt such pain an sorrow. Betsy cried took all I had not ta cry. We buried her after dark, Betsy asked God ta take her. I say, God we has some talkin ta do! When ever we meets! After that me an God, let's say I won't be prayin much nor do I care ta!

                              4,June 1859

Made home, Betsy been quiet, she hasn't cried in a
day. Hasn't ate much, fear this may have killed her spirit. Gets back ta the Old Place, maybe it get her ta feelin better. Ta be honest been feelin poorly myself. Still won't be doin any prayin! Betsy wanted ta sleep, me an Fred drank a few.

                            5, June 1859

Woke on the front porch, Fred still out hangin off the porch. Looked dead, about startled me. Heard a hell feel like death! That made me laugh a touch.
Betsy seems better, she was hummin taday. Fred helped with the animals gettin thum fed an checked on. Got plants comin up. That one we didn't kill, let's say once in Kentucky he was no more. Say no more than that.

Normal day, hot not normal June hot more like August hot. My emotions finally set in, cried hard like a baby must a been near an hour. Still, find no need ta talk ta God. Poppy say from what he could tell looked like she was about three months along.
Asked if it was mine, told him it was. He say that one may get ya killed. Best find a good lady. Then he say, not sayin Betsy ain't a good lady. Her bein nigra get ya killed son. Well it is late best put this down.

                             8, June 1859

Betsy tell me, I gots an evil side. Say that one didn't make it much further than the Kentucky line. Kept the others in check best he could. What happened with the baby an all, was Gods will. I say no on that Gods will, not hardly. Ifin it was then, me an him are goin ta have a long talk. Gots my share the bounties. After payin Fred my part was little over five hundred. Most that reward for those Free blacks. Thinkin me an Poppy found us a side business.

Rather go after those than runaways. John Willis stopped in taday. Told me, he wouldn't mention what was done, also he say Sheriff is still lookin inta Pattens death. He figures I did it, best watch my back. He say Thom, ya gettin a reputation son.
One ya may not need nor want. I am thinkin may not wants it. Thinkin I needs it, fer Betsy sake.

Fields are fillin up good. Corn near two foot tall, tobacco the same, beans doin well also. Guess call it a day.

                      15, June 1859

Gots a letter from uncle Thom, in Nashville say he don't much care fer it. Be movin south soon, took a job fer a few days get some money. He say it was hard work, had ta oversee bunch of nigras loadin freight on wagons. Ifin it ain't chasin down slaves Thom thinks all work is hard. Truth be known thinks that's why we lost most the Old Place.

Uncle Thom not wantin ta work the land or other jobs. Poppy never said what caused the debt. Ma her ribs healin up good. Me an Betsy are makin it
just fine. Mister Bowman sent some hands out ta work the fields, weed an such check fer worms an other thins.  Fred came by, lookin fer some work.
Told him didn't have any, I could pay him fer.

He could work fer meals an place ta stay. He say he would think on it some. Wants ta move on needs a grub stake. Asks where he wanted ta go. Say not sure just some place besides Kentucky. Then he say maybe north, he thinks thins may get bad this away soon.  Think I am done fer the day.

                             18, June 1859

Ma and Poppy came out, ta check on me an Betsy. Ma wanted me ta move back ta the new place. Told her we is fine here. Not ta worry think my reputation has spread, as hard man ta deal with. Ma didn't care fer my answer, Poppy smiled at her say Kate our boy is a growed man. Can take care himself, remember we were about the same age as him. Poppy an Ma goin ta Wheelin fer Mister Bowman, seems he found a fancy girl.

Sendin Ma an Poppy ta look her over with the money ta buy her. Told Poppy ifin she is pretty an all. Wanted Ma along ta make sure, she has good house manners an all. Thinkin Poppy didn't want ta leave Ma behind is all. Catch a river boat at Dover this evenin. This Farm life is a might boring.
Thom ya chose it could a done an apprentice ship as tanner or somethin. Thins a look up soon as the harvest comes in. Least ways I is a hopin so. Done fer the day.

                              19, June 1859

Took Betsy ta Church, think bein around her friends at Rivers Edge gave her a bit of life. Could be the Church thin also. Mister Bowman asked me ifin I heard from Theo at all. Told him I did, he was doin fine. He has no demerits an his studies but fer
Mathematics is goin well. Say he thinkin Law school after. That pleased Mister Bowman. I say I will pass that along ta him.

As we was leavin Betsy, say Thom I know ya love me. Ever think about what life be like with children. Thinks maybe we best not, have any best try an keep from it. I wants them, Reverend say maybe God don't want us ta co-mingle. That struck me as a bit harsh. I tell her that God don't interfere in or lives. Besides God done angered me, an all he can step aside. Betsy's face went an off color, she say Thom best not think that ways. 

Fred was a waitin fer us. Bed role an a small bag. He tells me he is a headin north. His family moved here from New York. Goin back ta see his family.
Tells him good luck, an hope ta see him again. Me an Fred had a whisky an cup coffee. Gave him some shot fer his shot gun an some powder. As he left out felt I would never see my friend again.
Well it is late an all, put this away.

                              History Bits

June 8th the Comstock Lode, in western Utah Territory, send a rush of Prospectors to the area. This now present day Nevada.

The Pig War begins, 15 June.  Border dispute between America and the British. San Juan Islands
over a death of a Pig. Took place near Washington State an British Columbia, Canada. This Bit of History is worth looking into some.

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