Ser Seshs Ab Heter-Clifford M. Boxley
Natchez, Mississippi
Around 1905, Felix Eugene Houston Hadsell
entered the following entry onto the beginning pages of his memoirs reflecting
what he observed at the Forks of the Roads Enslavement market during the 1850s.
It was entitled "Negro Trading.” According to researcher John Campbell, a
descendant of Felix and provider of this wonderful eyewitness account to the
Friends of the Forks of the Roads Society’s archives*, Felix was born in 1840
and died in 1914.
“Just at the Forks, where the Washington and Kingston, or Pelatin roads diverge, stood a low squatty frame building, used during the winter months principally, for the purpose of quartering Negroes- who were brought to this point from Kentucky, and Virginia by traders who followed this business, more or less intensively, not only at this point but throughout the South, and especially in the cotton districts. This house, or quarter, had a triangular piece of ground, attached to it, and used as a parade, or exhibition grounds. Coming to a point, at the divergence of the two roads & running back on either, 80 or 100 ft. These particular quarters were occupied in the season by a Mr. James a trader of note in Natchez, and throughout the South as far as the city of New Orleans, La. there were other buildings used for the same purpose. One on the right hand side of the Kingston Road was a long two story frame building-which I think, was owned by a man who kept a general grocery and Dry goods stock in a two story brick with a Wagon Yard attached, by name of John O'Ferrel.*** This house was generally occupied by different Traders., and the parade or exhibition grounds were large and roomy-being two or three hundred feet long. Fronting on Kingston Road, stood a two story frame house used for the same purpose, but more recently built. Mr. Ely and Mr. Audobon, occupying one or the other each winter. There were others, but their names have slipped my memory, and they are not essential anyway. They were in the business of selling Negroes.....From 1850 to 59- and as far as I know, up to the winter of 1860, this traffic was carried on without any interruption whatever between these dates, as it was in the fifties I saw these things. I remember, having seen, during the winter months, two, if not as many as three thousand of Negroes on exhibition, parading, and marching, in circles, and performing other evolutions, on their respective parade grounds. These evolutions were always interesting to me, and I have spent hours watching their maneuvers, and manner of drills,- The men dressed in navy blue suits, with shiny brass buttons, and "plug" hats, was intended to capture most any boys attention; as they march single and by two's and three's in circle. The women wore were calico dresses, and white aprons, and for further ornament & effect, a piece of pink ribbon at the neck with their hair matty, and carefully braided. There were no commands given by anyone, no noise about it no talking in the ranks, no laughter, or merriment, connected with the business, silently, & quietly,- they went through those daily drills, headed by a leader who knew his place, as every other one in the ranks knew his or hers. After an hour or so, of this exercise, they would orderly repair to the benches, prepared for them beneath the long gallery at the quarters, and seat themselves in rows. Men first, women following in order of size, height, and sex. I only wish someone could see this picture as I have seen it; then the task would not be quite so difficult to handle; but let me (at this late day),- give as truthful a rendition of the scene as I know and feel, that the story may be treated by the present generation, with incredulity. Even to me, it appears as a dream, yet I know it to be real. Forty-five years of time have a tendency to mellow things wonderfully. There are those, in the "Sunny South Land" that are considered old today, who cannot-bring to recollection any of the features of this affair. Many of them, were not yet born,- And many who could remember them have passed, and are rapidly passing away.
So in a few fleeting yeas, at most, the survivors of the Antebellum days of
the Sunny South, will have passed off the face of the Earth, leaving the younger
generation now springing up, probably to deny the truthful rendition of
conditions prior to the War between the Northern and Southern states, to settle
this same question once, and for all time. This is presuming a great deal, but,
I dare say, in the course of your numerous years, you never saw, a human being
sold, in the manner, and way, I speak of it in this memoir. If not, you can form
no conception of the inhuman practice, carried on, in the cruel slavery days,
and in our boisted free, civilized, and Christianized, America. The people of
the South were deeply rooted in this mode and manner of barter and sale; and the
constitution of the United States guarantied the right, yet it does say, that
all men are born free and equal, before God and the Law leaving to the
conscience of the people, to carry out these fundamental principles. These
Black, or Negro-people were generally sold at private sale, and not on the Block
at auction to the highest bidder, as is sometimes done in other stocks. A
planter needing more field hands, and ready to purchase the same, comes to this
Market, where this particular species of goods and chattels are usually kept for
sale. When you are in need of groceries such as coffee, Sugar, or Butter you go
to the nearest grocery, or market to procure them. This want, and the manner of
supplying it duplicates the planters want, and manner of supply, both having the
same end in view. I am not speaking of the act in itself, or the difference in
the two commodities, the same thought that actuates the one leads up to the
other, with no change, or difference, of feeling, or sentiment, in either. If I
need sugar, and have the money, I feel free to buy it. With the same feeling,
nothing prohibiting it, If I need a slave, and I have the money to pay for him,
I go to the Market and get him. No one at this time objected (at least in the
South, to this traffic, and yet there were a few people, even in the South, who
did not favor it, but they were powerless and unthought of. I often thought, and
do now think, it was not quite right for these people to be sold away from their
homes, and loved ones, wives and children, separated forever in many instances,
I always entertained a more human idea about this, But sometimes we have
mistaken ideas about these matters.
A Negro, belonging to wealthy planter, pertook somewhat of his masters, universal contempt for a poor man, i e he the Negro would very often insult his more - I mean less fortunate white neighbors, with an (ephitec) common in the South " you nothing but po' white trash anyhow". Meeting a Negro on the highway you know he belongs to someone of the many rich men of your district. This is all right, pass him by, but should he insult you, and you have an altercation with him, and you injure him, in anyway, you must pay the penalty assessed by the court. But if he injure you, you had to work out your own salvation. The Negro as a general thing was well fed, was clothed and when injured, or sick, well doctored. On the other hand the poorer class if white men, often will have a large family depending on him, had to struggle hard to eke out a living, And again, there was such a vast difference between the poor man, and the wealthy planter, in regard to the conditions, and positions; That it is not out of the way to say, that the Negro partook somewhat of the lofty tone, and independent feeling of his wealthy Master.”
***Note: Kingpin long distance enslavement trafficker Isaac Franklin sold the Negro Mart across what is now Liberty Road to John J. O’Ferral. It is not now readily know by Friends of the Forks of the Roads if John J. O’Ferral actually operated the second Negro Mart at the Forks or if he leased it to others. O’Ferral descendants are still in Natchez today. The County probate records for John J. O’Ferral file were not found in his folder.
Copies of newspaper ads support Felix Hadsell’s Observation of “Mr. James a trader note in Natchez.”
Ads are extracted from Ser Seshs Ab Heter-CM Boxley’s National Park Service National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Program and private donors funded research project: Proving the Mississippi River a Major Underground Railroad Uhuru (Freedom) Route From Memphis to the Gulf of Mexico and permission to for public use is permitted. 12-15-03, Natchez, Mississippi
FRESH ARRIVAL!
125 NEGROES FOR SALE
I HAVE just received a large addition to my former lot of NEGROES, consisting of every description of servants; amongst them are three fine seamstresses and other house servants. I have now on hand 125 likely Virginia Negroes, to which I invite the attention of those who wish to purchase. JOHN D. JAMES. Forks Road, Natchez, April 26, 1850-tf.
(Concordia Intelligencer 1-13-1850]
FRESH ARRIVAL OF FIFTY NEGROES.
I HAVE just received a lot of Fifty Negroes, direct from Richmond, Virginia. I have now on hand about One Hundred and twenty Negroes, as likely a lot as I ever saw together, consisting of field hands, house servants, carriage drivers, one first rate weaver, three blacksmiths. I have made arrangements to receive regular shipments during the season and in the lot that is to arrive in January, there will be a No. 1 carpenter. Those wishing to purchase will do well to call before doing so elsewhere, as I am determined to sell under the New Orleans prices and no mistake. JOHN D. JAMES. I will also sell on liberal terms, the House and Lot in which I now reside; I have also several Waggons and Harness and several Horses for sale. Natchez. December 22 &wtf.
[Mississippi Free Trader & Natchez Gazette 4-6-1850]
NEGROES
THE undersigned has just arrived from Virginia, with a lot of NEGROES, which he now offers for sale, at the Forks of the Road, near Natchez. He respectfully solicits a continuance of the patronage of the public, heretofore so liberally extended to his brother, John D. James, and hopes by honesty and fair dealing, to gain the patronage of the public. Himself and brother David D. James, will keep a consistent supply on hand during the trading season. They will occupy the same Old Stand, at the Forks of the Road. N. B. For sale, a good MAN COOK, likely and young. Nov 1tf. THOS. G. JAMES.
[Mississippi Free Trader & Natchez Gazette 1-15-1851]
“NEGROES, NEGROES, NEGROES—We would respectfully state to the public that we have leased a stand in the forks of the Road, near Natchez, for a number of years, and intend to keep a large lot of assorted A No. 1 Negroes on hand during the year. We will sell as low or lower, than any other trader at this place or in New Orleans. We have just arrived from Kentucky with a very likely lot of field men and women; also, house servants, three cooks and a carpenter. Call and See. Blackwell, Murphy & Ferguson”
[Natchez Free Trader, October 16, 1852]
{Extracted from Lexington’s Slave Dealers and Their Southern Trade page 17}
Slaves, Slaves.
Forks of the Road, Natchez.
THE UNDERSIGNED have recently arrived in Natchez with choice and carefully selected assortment of No. 1 Kentucky Negroes, male and female, consisting of House Servants, Field Hands, and Mechanics, to which they invite the attention of Planters and others wishing to purchase. They have also received since their arrival, three other choice lots of hundred and fifty slaves, consisting as above, and will continue to receive during the season a regular supply. BLACKWELL, MURPHY & FERGUSON. Natchez, Oct. 29, 1859---d:wtf
[Weekly Courier 11-9-1859 Natchez]
[Please note Blackwell, Murphy & Ferguson were kingpin long distance enslavement traffickers operating mainly from Louisville, Kentucky and was listed in the Adams County Record Book for 1858 to 1861 found in 1999 at the Adams County Mississippi Court. Please go to http://www.forksoftheroads.net/ to view the names of all the enslavement traffickers that were listed and the whole names of five and fifty (550) of the roughly 1500 names of enslaved person brought in captivity to more than likely the Forks of the Roads because it was the central Market place.]
VALUABLE NEGROES.
THE UNDERSIGNED invites the attention of Planters and others purchasers in the large and very valuable collection of NEGRO SLAVES, offered by him for sale at his old quarters at the Forks of the Road. They comprise FIELD HANDS, HOUSE SERVANTS, MECHANICS and selected with great care, and presenting as good an opportunity to purchase from, and at as fair prices, as ever before offered in this market. He asks his old friends and the public to examine them, and promises entire satisfaction to purchases. T ARTERBAUM nov 8—d;w1m.
[Weekly Courier 11-9-1859]
{Please note T. Arterbaum was a long distance enslavement trafficker operating mainly from Lexington, Kentucky and was listed in the Adam County Enslavement Record book for 1858 to 1861 found in 1999 at the Adams County Mississippi Court. Please go to http://www.forksoftheroads.net/ to view the names of all the enslavement traffickers that were listed and the whole names of five and fifty (550) of the roughly 1500 names of enslaved person brought in captivity to more than likely the Forks of the Roads because it was the central Market place.]}
$25 REWARD.
RANAWAY FROM THE SUBSCRIBER at the Forks of the Road, on Tuesday, the 24th instant; my negro man “WASH” of yellow complexion with hazel or gray eyes, six feet high, and weighs about 185 pounds. He is between 28 and 32 years of age, and had on at the time he left, a drab ecat and blue pants; he is also inclined to be kockkneed. Wash can read and write. Any information given to the undersigned will be thankfully received. JOSEPH BIGGS Forks of the Road. Isn27—d:wif.
[Weekly Courier 11-9-1859 Natchez]
{Please note: Joseph Biggs was an enslavement trafficker from St. Louis Missouri listed in the Adams County Enslavement Record Book for 1858 to 1861 found in 1999 at the Adams County Mississippi Court. Please go to http://www.forksoftheroads.net/ to view the names of all the enslavement traffickers that were listed and the whole names of five and fifty (550) of the roughly 1500 names of enslaved person brought in captivity to more than likely the Forks of the Roads because it was the central Market place.] }
Our newly found friend of the Forks of the Roads, John Campbell also wrote:
“Felix served in the 12th MS Reg Inf and then in the 3rd Maryland Reg Inf. during the War. {Civil War}
I discovered at the courthouse, my wife's family owned the # 1 lot located from the marker to the carwash on Franklin St. And about half of Junkin St. which was not there in the 1850s and 60s. This was home to two of Felix's half sisters during the times mentioned in his memoir. So it is no wonder he spent hours watching. He was only a half a block away.
{Please see a picture of the historical marker at the Forks of the Roads by going to http://www.forksoftheroads.net/ To see a modern picture of the tri-angle property still extant at the Forks that was recently brought under public domain: open Gallery # 1. The white wooden frame building on the left side in the picture is located in the tri-angle property.
Lot # I of the Nancy Paul Lots... It was co-owned by Julia M. Wilson/Horn & Winnifreda Louisiana Stier, from 3-13-1857 to 7-15-1860. If you look on a map of about 1865 used during the occupation I believe they lived in the house closer to town from the larger building you show on your flyer on St. Catherine St. Say about where you have a ship. Or standing on the sidewalk by the marker for Forks in the road.”
{The map is an extant 1864 Union Army map of its defensive positions at Natchez during the Uncivil War. It can be purchased in Natchez. Adams County born author of international fame, Richard Wright’s two grandfathers were Union Army soldiers of African Decent, historical known as United States Colored Troops. Freedom Fighters is what Ser Seshs Ab Heter-CM Boxley and others called them}
{Please see a picture of the historical 1853 map showing the “Negro Marts” at the Forks of the Roads by going to http://www.bjmjr.com/forks_roads/index.htm and open Gallery # 5. Notice the triangle shaped piece of property Felix Hadsell wrote about.
*Ser! It will be a pleasure to allow you to put this document on your website. I typed it as it was written, without, "cleaning it up." If you would, attribute the writing to Felix Hadsell, This was taken from his memoirs which have never been published except among family. My main interest is in preserving history. I had never heard anyone describe the slave trade as Felix did. I knew someone out there would love to read it. I maybe of further help to you as time goes on.
[Email from John Campbell dated 12-12-03 10:20:28 PM Pacific Standard Time]
Sir, After much thinking today.....I've changed my mind on something. You also have my permission to use my email or name in the posting of Felix memoir. How can I say I support your effort and refuse to be willing to use my name? I guess it was an attempt to avoid controversy, but I believe what Felix said to be very correct in the situation and times. So I will back him up and you.
[Email from John Campbell dated 12-13-03 2:41:01 PM Pacific Standard Time]
{Note} John Campbell gave permission to post up his email address; however, it is not included here at Ser Seshs Ab Heter-Cm Boxley’s discretion.
To view the current official public work for erecting educational exhibit panels at the Forks of the Roads: open the Special Report on the Forks web page.
Prepared by Ser Seshs Ab Heter-Clifford M. Boxley
*******************************
Copyright © 2006. Ser Seshs Ab Heter-Clifford M. Boxley, Natchez, Mississippi. All Rights Reserved.
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