Portrait: artist's interpretation. No photograph of Ann Scott is known.
Ann Scott
Recorded in St. Helena Island, South Carolina, June 27, 1932
Their Story
Ann Scott lived on St. Helena Island, South Carolina, and was enslaved by a man named Drummond. She said her master took part of the enslaved people over to a place she called Collington. After the master died and the Union army had arrived, her father and others came for them one night, close to midnight, and brought them back home to the island, where she was still living when she was recorded.
In slavery she worked in the house taking care of the children. She described her mornings: washing the children's hands, brushing their hair, laying the tablecloth and mats, and setting out knives, forks, and plates before the family sat down, while the other workers were in the field.
In later life she belonged to Ebenezer Baptist Church, where she said Gary Austin was the leader, and she went to choir on Tuesday and Thursday nights and Sundays. She said she had mothered nineteen children. Much of the second part of the recording is very hard to hear; it contains a long spoken prayer and ends with her stating her name, "Ann Scott after slavery," from St. Helena Island. She was recorded by Dr. L. Turner on St. Helena Island on June 27, 1932.
The Recordings & Transcripts
Part 1 of 2 St. Helena Island, South Carolina, June 27, 1932
Captions open at the bottom of the screen when you press play. Click any transcript line to jump to it.
Transcript
Ann Scott[loud distortion] ??? . Master take a part of the Negro and carried it over on Collington. After he carried him over on Collington now, after master died. We come back after master died. My father who brung come over back on the [Main (?)] bring us back to the Yankee. Bring us back to the Yankee, back to the same where we came. [pause] It close to midnight and we come back—
Guy Lowman??? .
Anne Scott—right to the island. Home to the island. We are here up to now. Over, over on Collington after the Yankees had took [Bull Pine (?)]. After they took [Bull Pine (?)]. After master died. The two [Browns (?)] and Drummond carry, come on the [Main (?)] for us that night. And take us right back onto and carry [us (?)] to the same place master where carried me from.
Unidentified Woman Interviewer[asks an inaudible question possibly phrased like: What was your master's name and where did you work?]
Ann ScottDrummond. I was in the house. Take care of the children. In the morning. Get up. Put on the [cereal (?)] and stop and wash the children hands, brush their hair. Then I put the table cloth upon the table. And get the mat and put them on top the tablecloth. Then I get this knife and fork and plate, put them upon the table, then I [cook his (?)] ??? then put in some of the ??? . Now the ??? difficult let her ??? get ??? . I can't put it on the table. And where missus and master and company sat down I told them, really, and they get up and go.
Unidentified Woman Interviewer[Just before they (?)] ??? ?
Mrs. Ann ScottThey in the field. They are, they in the field. They ain't been here. They in the field. They ain't been here. Take care the ??? . After all, I couldn't do no more but that.
Unidentified Woman Interviewer??? what about the church?
Mrs. Ann ScottEbenezer.
Unidentified Woman InterviewerEbenezer?
Mrs. Ann ScottEbenezer Baptist.
Unidentified Woman InterviewerUhmm.
Unidentified Woman InterviewerThank you.
Unidentified Woman InterviewerHow many children do you have?
Mrs. Ann ScottHumm? I mothered nineteen. All dead. All the ??? [Canada (?)]. Sought after when I ??? .
Unidentified Woman InterviewerWhere are they?
Mrs. Ann Scott??? out of the twelve of them married and they gone off.
Guy S. LowmanHow long have you been a member of the church?
Mrs. Ann ScottI couldn't tell you, but it's sometime. Sometime since I been in; couldn't tell you how much though. I could tell you ??? could tell you what; month and tell you what year, but I can't do that.
Unidentified Woman InterviewerWho is the leader?
Mrs. Ann ScottHmm?
Unidentified Woman InterviewerWho is the leader?
Mrs. Ann ScottWell, now that all the old ones dead, but come through Austin over there. He our leader. ??? [elected to be our leader (?)] ??? . Gary Austin is the one leading us.
Unidentified Woman InterviewerWhat nights do you go to choir?
Mrs. Ann ScottHmm?
Unidentified Woman InterviewerWhat nights did you go to choir [and sing music (?)]?
Mrs. Ann ScottTuesday night and Thursday night and Sundays.
Unidentified Woman InterviewerWhere did you go?
Mrs. Ann ScottRight in the ??? of the church. A little ways off from the schoolhouse.
Unidentified Woman InterviewerWhat you call it?
Mrs. Ann Scott[My dear (?)], I say this is we put our coal. ??? of me. ??? this one a little ways off from the school house.
END OF SIDE A
Part 2 of 2 St. Helena Island, South Carolina, June 27, 1932
Captions open at the bottom of the screen when you press play. Click any transcript line to jump to it.
Transcript
Ann Scott[opening incomprehensible, very poor recording until one minute sixteen seconds] ??? Collington. The ??? . ??? . ??? . ??? in the field. ??? in the right field. ??? . [We offer this ??? here (?)]. [??? open and set up (?)]. I ??? . Wish I had ??? . I don't have to ??? they don't bother me. I guess they didn't bother me. Bother me. They don't bother me. ??? My father ??? one portion of ??? . [she delivers a prayer] My former father who gave me [hands (?)] for the [distance (?)] to bring me over to here. My old father. They all dead before me and still my [drink is full (?)]. Then I asked her to talk to me, to pardon and forgive me for my sins that I had. [And I say (?)], I know [disc skips] I have [problems (?)] ??? you. Call your ??? my father should be ??? for them. [When I ask father to forgive me now (?)]. Oh, father I ask that you [forgive me (?)]. Hear the change of hope. And I ask you to [save (?)] me. Oh, please be ??? and ??? . And I ask of my father to remember the [slave revolts (?)]. Give them better [protection (?)]. Let them know that you going ??? [for them (?)]. I asking my people remember my people I leave. Oh, give us ??? . Give them [enough knowledge (?)] and honesty. Oh, [disc skips] remember the ??? my father whose [disc skips] ??? . Oh, bless them ??? . And I ask you to spare the ??? your people. Let me get a long ??? . [disc skips] ??? But the one that do the [disc skips] ??? my father the same ??? . All I ask them give the Lord to Jesus Christ and to all that's out there. [recording gap] ??? . And when they don't come, what they do ??? for a man? I never want them things but she be with them and she realize. [pause] ??? she realize. ??? . [recording gap] ??? that was woman. [recording gap] My name. Ann Scott after slavery. Ann Scott from after slavery from St. Helena Island, South Carolina.
END OF SIDE B
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Recorded by Dr. L. Turner, St. Helena Island, South Carolina (Gullah), June 27, 1932. From Voices Remembering Slavery: Freed People Tell Their Stories. Bracketed notes and question marks in the transcripts mark sounds or words that are hard to hear.