Sam Jones Washington

Sam Jones Washington was sixteen when the surrender came; he knew it because every freedperson was given a written statement of their age. He was born on Sam Young's small farm along the Colorado River in Wharton County, Texas. His mother had six children there, and another woman, Majoria, had four. He never knew his father, who was brought in from another plantation, he said, only to father children and then sent back; the women on the place were not allowed to marry. Sam slept in the enslaver's room. He was whipped once, for falling asleep instead of staking the horse.

As soon as he could sit a horse, Young taught him to ride, and he spent most of his time with the cattle, which he loved. He learned to turn a stampede by riding alongside the leader until the herd ran in a circle, "dangerous riding," since a thrown rider would be trampled. Once in town a drunken white man threatened to slap him; Sam told him he'd better not, and Young stepped up and said he'd put a bullet through any man who touched him. At twelve he outran a patroller after being caught breaking cane stalks to chew, twisting through the fields so his tracks couldn't be followed.

After freedom Young paid him $15 a month, and he stayed until 1868. He farmed until 1905, then worked in the Fort Worth packing plants until 1931. When interviewed at 88 he lived at 3520 Columbus Avenue in Fort Worth on an $11 pension, a garden and a few hogs.