Portrait: artist's interpretation. No photograph of Susanna Rebecca Wright Thompson is known.
Susanna Rebecca Wright Thompson
Recorded in Oldhams, Virginia, 1935
Their Story
Susanna Rebecca Wright Thompson, called "Mrs. Becky" by the interviewers, said her mother's people came from a place she called Providence Hall, Virginia. She named Mariah Travis and Charles Travis in her family, and said her mother married a man named Pat Gray, who belonged to another enslaver. She said some enslavers looked after the people they held and some did not, and that some "suffered mighty bad."
She worked in the fields, hoeing corn and working the garden, with peas planted between the corn rows and melons besides. She remembered picking cotton, picking out the seeds and spinning it, along with wool, on spinning wheels "just before the war," and weaving the cloth. She described hogs killed near Christmas, salted down in the meat house and smoked over pine wood, and the heads and feet made into souse. She explained how winter ice was packed in a deep icehouse under straw or sawdust. She also gave a detailed account of cooking on the open fire hearth, with pots hung from pot racks and pot hooks and meat turned on irons before the fire, "way back in our slave time." She said she never made soap herself, but her sister did.
She said she remembered two wars, and that hard times began with the first one and kept getting worse. She felt the world's troubles came from the fact that "some have all" and some have none. She was in poor health at the time and spoke of pains she could not explain. Her advice to young people was to pray and live close to the Lord.
She was recorded in Oldhams, Virginia, in 1935 by Archibald A. Hill and Guy S. Lowman. Much of the audio is very poor and parts of the transcript cannot be made out.
The Recordings & Transcripts
Part 1 of 6 Oldhams, Virginia, 1935
Captions open at the bottom of the screen when you press play. Click any transcript line to jump to it.
Transcript
Archibald A. HillWhere'd you get ice from back then?
Susanna Rebecca Wright ThompsonWhere we get ice? [Where we (?)] get ice? We used to freeze [it (?)] one time here. Ice freeze ??? icehouse. ??? You go to the icehouse it was full, full of ice. ??? [Great big chunks (?)]. Haul ice. Ice formed. Haul out. Put it in ??? icehouse ??? . ??? [He left the (?)] icehouse. He ??? . It ain't hard like it used to be in times back.
Archibald A. Hill??? [repeats question twice, briefly interrupted by Susanna Rebecca Wright Thompson]
Susanna Rebecca Wright ThompsonYeah, ??? but they put it in the icehouse. Got to put it in the icehouse. And when you put the ice in the icehouse you put in, in ??? straw and everything on it. Straw. Straw will keep ice. Had an icehouse dug deep. And put the ice down in there and put, and put, and put straw over it and, and the straw's going to keep it clean. Sawdust will keep ice [too (?)].
Archibald A. HillDid you have a sawmill here?
Susanna Rebecca Wright ThompsonYes. We have saw, we have sawmills here.
Archibald A. HillI wondered where they got [sawdust (?)]?
Susanna Rebecca Wright Thompson[We must have had (?)] sawmills. Sawmills go till now. Yes, we had sawmills. ??? cold weather ??? the winter.
Archibald A. HillDid you have to work [outside (?)] cold weather or not?
Susanna Rebecca Wright ThompsonYes. ??? w-working and ??? and your stuff you done done raised. ??? So much stuff you raised in the summer and have for the winter.
Guy S. LowmanDid they look after you well back in those days?
Susanna Rebecca Wright ThompsonYes. ??? [First thing they have a girl to look after the people (?)]. Some would look after them and some wouldn't. ??? some of them suffered mighty bad. Some, some would look after them and some wouldn't.
Archibald A. HillHow did you and your mother get along?
Susanna Rebecca Wright ThompsonOh, we got along, got along alright because we ??? [so much, so much (?)] raised to be good gals. Yes, Sir. ??? On down here to ??? on down on [Linden (?)]. On down on ??? another.
Archibald A. HillWas your mother born down here too? Where was your mother born?
Susanna Rebecca Wright ThompsonBorn at [Linden (?)].
Archibald A. Hill???
Susanna Rebecca Wright ThompsonDown here at ??? Down at ??? place. That's why I was born on [Linden (?)]. On old ??? place. [Linden. Linden (?)].
Archibald A. HillYour mother born here too? Where do [Susanna Rebecca Wright Thompson interrupts Mr. Hill]
Susanna Rebecca Wright ThompsonAh I, I think my mother was born down there.
Archibald A. HillOr did your mother come from way off somewhere when she knows that she didn't come ??? ?
Susanna Rebecca Wright ThompsonNo. That she didn't come from way off. Providence Hall. Providence Hall, Virginia.
Archibald A. HillYou don't know where her father and mother came from ??? ?
Susanna Rebecca Wright ThompsonYes um, yes um ??? I know where my, ??? mother's father came, came from. My mother's father. I think my mother's father was. Was, ??? was, was I think she, my mother's father came from Virginia, Charles County. I think it was Providence Hall, Virginia.
Archibald A. HillLonk who?
Susanna Rebecca Wright ThompsonOld ??? the one that owns so much down ???
Archibald A. HillWhat was his name?
Susanna Rebecca Wright ThompsonOh, we used to name ??? ’Oh Lord,' [we (?)] used to call him.
Archibald A. HillThat was your grandfather?
Susanna Rebecca Wright ThompsonNo. I ain't ??? talking about him. I'm talking about my mother's [master (?)], my mother's. My mother's ??? [master (?)] ??? .
Archibald A. HillAnd what about your mother's father? Your mother's daddy? You know where he ??? ?
Susanna Rebecca Wright Thompson??? I believe I try, let me see. I think he was ??? Providence Hall, Virginia. His name is ??? His name is Charles Travis.
Archibald A. HillHis name is Charles Travis?
Susanna Rebecca Wright ThompsonTravis. Yes, Sir. I think he was born Providence Hall, Virginia too.
Archibald A. HillYou think he was born there?
Susanna Rebecca Wright ThompsonYes. He was born in [Virginia (?)]. ???
Archibald A. Hill[Can you understand me (?)]? Your mother's mother, what about that?
Susanna Rebecca Wright ThompsonYeah, she ??? Providence Hall, Virginia too.
Archibald A. HillWhat was her name?
Susanna Rebecca Wright ThompsonMy mother?
Archibald A. HillYour mother's mother. Her mother.
Susanna Rebecca Wright ThompsonMy mother's name is Mariah Travis.
Archibald A. HillWhat was her mother's name?
Unidentified Woman InterviewerYou say your own mother was named Mariah Travis?
Susanna Rebecca Wright ThompsonNo. My mother's name was Mariah Travis.
Unidentified Woman InterviewerI see. I see. [Okay, fine (?)]. What was your own mother's name?
Susanna Rebecca Wright ThompsonMy mother's name?
Unidentified Woman InterviewerYes.
Susanna Rebecca Wright Thompson:My mother's name ??? name. She married a man that belonged to another man, and she named Pat, ah, ah,Pat, ah, Gray. Pat Gray.
END OF SIDE A
Part 2 of 6 Oldhams, Virginia, 1935
Transcript
NoteThe audio recording from which this transcript was based is of very poor quality.
[indistinct conversation]
Archibald A. Hill[I don't know, that's what makes life happen (?)].
Susanna Rebecca Wright Thompson??? long time cause ??? [touch no one's spirit (?).] Certainly know what's ??? some got some and some got some, and some got some and getting all, ??? and some get none. And, and them was [that are getting all they holding (?)] back from you. ??? till you get it. ???
Archibald A. HillI don't know, [you (?)] can get it in the next world.
Susanna Rebecca Wright Thompson??? [with the (?)] hard times.
Archibald A. Hill??? [better relations (?)].
Susanna Rebecca Wright Thompson??? [throughout (?)] the world to me. I reckon ??? . Some, some in the world now getting more than they come out of. Some getting all and some getting none.
Archibald A. HillSeems like things are getting a little better around my way [at Castle Mont (?)] ??? what [about (?)] with you?
Susanna Rebecca Wright ThompsonI don't know. I don't know. ??? Seem like every time I look there's one thing. ??? Savior comes. When he comes ??? Better not the things go [against (?)] he says. Do as he say do. Lord comes, see everything grind up. Better to get your soul right.
Archibald A. HillYou were talking about the things you used to grow on that farm. Did they have pigs?
Susanna Rebecca Wright ThompsonHave what?
Archibald A. HillDid they have pigs?
Susanna Rebecca Wright ThompsonPigs?
Archibald A. HillYeah.
Susanna Rebecca Wright ThompsonYeah. My lord. They had pigs. Pigs and sows and things.
Unidentified Woman InterviewerWhat did you say they had?
Susanna Rebecca Wright ThompsonYou said, “Did they have pigs?” Yeah, certainly we used to have pigs. How we going to have hogs if we didn't have pigs? [laughter from all]
Archibald A. HillWell, when were they butchered? What time of year?
Susanna Rebecca Wright ThompsonWhat time of year? ??? towards Christmas ??? near Christmas ???
Archibald A. HillWhat [did you do (?)] with them after you killed them?
Susanna Rebecca Wright Thompson??? [not much to (?)] do with them. Put in the meat house.
Archibald A. HillAhha?
Susanna Rebecca Wright ThompsonPut the meat away. Salt the meat up and put away.
Archibald A. Hill??? what?
Susanna Rebecca Wright ThompsonIn the meat house. Salt it up.
Archibald A. Hill??? salt.
Susanna Rebecca Wright ThompsonYes. Salty meat. Salty meat. Got to have a meat house to put their meat in.
Archibald A. HillDid they have a smoke room?
Susanna Rebecca Wright ThompsonAnd them didn't have a meat house they have a ??? everybody [come over (?)] ??? everybody didn't ??? everybody ??? the cow ??? But everybody ??? they put the cow ???
Archibald A. HillYou have a smoke room?
Susanna Rebecca Wright ThompsonYes, smoke ???
Archibald A. HillWhat kind of wood ???
Susanna Rebecca Wright ThompsonYes.
Archibald A. HillWhat kind of wood ??? they smoke ???
Susanna Rebecca Wright ThompsonPine wood ??? smoke meat.
Unidentified Woman InterviewerWhat would they make out of the [head and feet and (?)]??? ?
Susanna Rebecca Wright Thompson??? souse.
Unidentified Woman InterviewerMake what?
Susanna Rebecca Wright Thompson??? souse. Souse. Souse ???
Archibald A. HillEver have to travel down there?
Susanna Rebecca Wright ThompsonYes. ???
Archibald A. Hill[Why'd you have to travel there (?)]?
Susanna Rebecca Wright Thompson???
Archibald A. Hill???
Susanna Rebecca Wright ThompsonHuh?
Archibald A. Hill and Unidentified Woman Interviewer: ???
Susanna Rebecca Wright ThompsonYes.
Archibald A. Hill??? cows ???
Susanna Rebecca Wright ThompsonCows?
Archibald A. HillYeah.
Susanna Rebecca Wright Thompson??? I had to put salt on it. Put the meat out. ??? [season (?)] salt it out. ???
Archibald A. Hill??? not down here, so it ??? that way or do you have to do it???
Susanna Rebecca Wright Thompson??? salt ??? [hamburger (?)] keep meat. Ain't got to, we ain't killing meat ???
END OF SIDE B
Part 3 of 6 Oldhams, Virginia, 1935
Captions open at the bottom of the screen when you press play. Click any transcript line to jump to it.
Transcript
Archibald A. Hill??? they didn't have cantaloupes. ??? Is that right?
Susanna Rebecca Wright ThompsonYes. To my knowledge always did have cantaloupes.
Archibald A. Hill[They always(?)] ???
Susanna Rebecca Wright ThompsonYes.
Archibald A. HillEver grow any cotton around here?
Susanna Rebecca Wright Thompsonhuh?
Archibald A. HillAny cotton?
Susanna Rebecca Wright ThompsonYeah. Some people had cotton. Down South [they had (?)] cotton. Didn't have cotton fields, [big fields of cotton like they did down South (?)]. They had fields of cotton ??? . They used to have ??? cotton right here. You pick it. Cause you see it grows in a bud, you see. Cotton bud. And then that cotton and then it get, had a seed in it, and it got ripe, you know, and then you, you'd, you'd took it out of them buds. You took it out.
Archibald A. HillDid you do that?
Susanna Rebecca Wright ThompsonI used to do some of it, [not (?)] much.
Archibald A. Hill[Right hard (?)] work isn't it?
Susanna Rebecca Wright ThompsonNo. It's [not so (?)] hard.
Archibald A. HillSo, what did you do with the cotton? Did you just spin it here on the place for your own use?
Susanna Rebecca Wright ThompsonSometimes you spin it here. And sometimes, see, yes sir, sometimes you spin it here. And sometimes you wouldn't. Yes, we spin it here. Spin it here. [Spin that (?)] cotton we had spinning wheels. Spin that cotton here. Pick it. Pick the seed out, you see. Pick the seed out that cotton. Yeah, we pick the seed out you see. And, and, andpick it, you know, and, and have spinning wheels spin it. That cotton, yeah, sure, just before the war
Archibald A. HillYeah.
Susanna Rebecca Wright ThompsonBefore the war. Before the war. The way they used to do before the war. Spin that cotton, you know, had [cars (?)].[Cars (?)] you know you and [cart it (?)] make loads out and then spin, spin, spinning wheels. ???
Archibald A. HillDid you ever have a gin here?
Susanna Rebecca Wright ThompsonYeh, yeh,yes sir.
Archibald A. HillDid you have a gin?
Susanna Rebecca Wright ThompsonHuh?
Archibald A. HillDid you have a gin? ??? . [All the time (?)].
Susanna Rebecca Wright Thompson[What do you mean spinning (?)] ??? ? You have a spinning wheel, you know.
Archibald A. HillYeah.
Susanna Rebecca Wright ThompsonYou have a spinning wheel, you see [when (?)], [when (?)] you spin, ??? use that cotton. And have a spinning wheel and, and spin that cotton. You have these wheels you know why you spin the cotton. Spin it. ??? . We do so to the wool. ??? Sheep woo, wool. [Spin rows (?)] ??? Yes sir.
Archibald A. HillAnd did you weave it here?
Susanna Rebecca Wright ThompsonWeave it? Yeah.
Archibald A. HillDid you weave it here?
Susanna Rebecca Wright ThompsonYeah. Some, sometimes we weave it. ??? Since the war broke. Just before the war broke we used to weave cotton. Weavers used to weave. Used to weave cotton and everything like that.
Archibald A. HillDo you remember the war?
Susanna Rebecca Wright ThompsonYes, my lord, do I remember. I most certainly remember. I remember two wars.
Archibald A. Hill??? which war was [worse (?)]?
Susanna Rebecca Wright ThompsonWhich war the worst?
Archibald A. HillWhich war was worst?
Susanna Rebecca Wright ThompsonYou say which was the worst? Which war what you—
Archibald A. HillWhich war do you remember?
Susanna Rebecca Wright ThompsonI remember both of them. I remember the Civil, ah, the southern kind of war, the first war. I remember that and then I remember this other one done come and gone.
Archibald A. HillYeah. I can only remember one.
Susanna Rebecca Wright ThompsonHuhh?
Archibald A. HillI can only remember one.
Susanna Rebecca Wright ThompsonI remember both.
Archibald A. HillWell, which do you think was worse, the hard times after this war or hard times after the first war?
Susanna Rebecca Wright ThompsonHard times [then (?)] start from the first war. Hard times start from the great first war. Kept on growing till it got worse. Hard times started with the first war. Of course [it wasn't like it is now (?)].
Unidentified Woman Interviewer[presents an indistinctquestionthat seems to have been cut off by one of the men]
Archibald A. HillHave you been hard hit lately?
Susanna Rebecca Wright Thompson[Yes, sir. Now's hard (?)] ??? he'll never know it.
Archibald A. HillWhat's been the trouble?
Susanna Rebecca Wright ThompsonSir?
Archibald A. Hill[What makes it so hard here (?)]?
Susanna Rebecca Wright ThompsonWell, of course you ??? so much people. It's so much people in the world. ??? one another and doing every kind of thing. More people, more people in the world the worse it got.
Archibald A. HillYeah.
[Guy S. Lowman: I'm sorry (?)].
Archibald A. HillWell, there seems like there ought to be enough food [co-operatives (?)] if everybody works.
Susanna Rebecca Wright ThompsonTwo be a ??? for that. But you see some have, some have, some have, ah, some have, ah have none and some have all. That's what does it. Some getting all.
END OF SIDE A
Part 4 of 6 Oldhams, Virginia, 1935
Captions open at the bottom of the screen when you press play. Click any transcript line to jump to it.
Transcript
NoteThe recording that this transcription is based on is of very poor audio quality.
Susanna Rebecca Wright Thompson??? Fry the meat and then cook the meat, and skin the meat and that's the way they bake it. And then have them ??? in the kitchen and then turn them things and they can cook the meat, and ba, bake it you know. Because you can't [eat if you don't fry it (?)]. Fry it in a pot and then ??? in the pots, you know ??? and fry it; used to have, you seen these big pots ??? pots, iron pots,iron pots? You never seen them [things (?)]?
Archibald A. Hill[No (?)].
Susanna Rebecca Wright ThompsonYou see. Fry the meat in an iron pot and then stick the meat out of there and stick down it in a skillet. And then ??? put it ??? in the kitchen and ??? in the iron, you see and, ah [hand (?)] iron, [most hand irons (?)] ??? you know and bake your meat. Bake it. After skin it. After [fry it (?)]. That's the way your ???
Archibald A. HillEver make soap?
Susanna Rebecca Wright ThompsonNo. I never made no soap in my life, but my sister, my sister used to make soap. I never made none.
Archibald A. HillHow did she do that?
Susanna Rebecca Wright ThompsonGet your iron, what you call it ??? ?
Archibald A. Hill[Did you do that out in the yard (?)]?
Susanna Rebecca Wright Thompson[Yes, out in the yard (?)] or in the kitchen [usually (?)].
Archibald A. HillMake your own vinegar in those days?
Susanna Rebecca Wright ThompsonI never made no vinegar ??? People in the ??? they made soap. I never made. My sister made soap. I never made soap.
Archibald A. HillWhat did you [make (?)]?
Susanna Rebecca Wright ThompsonWell, I do other things [with her (?)]. Other things.
Archibald A. HillWhat were you doing?
Susanna Rebecca Wright ThompsonHuhh?
Archibald A. HillWhat were you doing?
Susanna Rebecca Wright ThompsonWhat do I do? Working like people do now these days. Some doing one thing, some do another. See. ??? Some working in the fields and some a,a,at the kitchen working. And some working in the fields. That's the way it was. That you was doing one day and, and, and, and the other doing one thing and, you do another. All didn't work together.
Archibald A. HillYou work in the field or in the house?
Susanna Rebecca Wright ThompsonYes. I used to work in the field. Used to work in the field.
Archibald A. HillWhat kind of ??? were they growing? [What did they have you do (?)]?
Susanna Rebecca Wright ThompsonCorn.
Archibald A. HillCorn?
Susanna Rebecca Wright ThompsonCorn. Worked in the garden. Hoed. Worked with the stuff hoe there. Worked with the stuff in the garden. That's what they used to do. Worked with the stuff in the garden. In the field. Stuff in the field working. Corn up in the field. I know in times back all the corn [was worked (?)] in the hogs ??? . Wheat fields ??? people ??? working ??? the hogs.
Archibald A. HillThey didn't have machinery?
Susanna Rebecca Wright ThompsonHuhh?
Archibald A. HillThey didn't have machinery?
Susanna Rebecca Wright ThompsonYes. They had machinery. Cultivators, cultivators and [terrible (?)] things like that. ??? still you would.
Archibald A. HillGrow tobacco?
Susanna Rebecca Wright ThompsonNo. He didn't grow tobacco too. I know people who did grow tobacco.
Archibald A. HillWhat did he do with the corn?
Susanna Rebecca Wright Thompson??? there wouldn't be none. He would use the corn. Live off it. Corn and wheat. Live off it. How you going to live? You living just like you live now. Off corn and wheat.
Archibald A. Hill???
Susanna Rebecca Wright ThompsonYeah.
Archibald A. HillDid you grind it here on the place?
Susanna Rebecca Wright ThompsonYes. Grind it here. Had these mills. These mills. Mills grind it here.
Archibald A. HillDid he sell the corn?
Susanna Rebecca Wright ThompsonSold it? ??? ah, did he it sold it?
Archibald A. HillYeah.
[Guy S. Lowman (?)]: ???
Susanna Rebecca Wright ThompsonNo, sir. No, sir. He didn't sold the corn. He plant the corn. He had ??? that way he plant the corn. He had the corn like this. See. [For the crop (?)]. ??? cultivate it. Had that corn, corn like this. A hill here and a hill here. That's the way you had your corn.
Archibald A. HillDid you grow beans between the rows?
Susanna Rebecca Wright ThompsonHuhh?
Archibald A. HillGrow [anything (?)] between the rows?
Susanna Rebecca Wright ThompsonYes. [Oh, Lord (?)]! Plant peas down in the corn. Grow peas between the corn. Between the ???
Archibald A. HillGrow any kind of melon?
Susanna Rebecca Wright ThompsonHuhh?
Archibald A. HillGrow any kind of melon?
Susanna Rebecca Wright ThompsonHuhh? Yes. Grew melons too.
END OF SIDE B
Part 5 of 6 Oldhams, Virginia, 1935
Captions open at the bottom of the screen when you press play. Click any transcript line to jump to it.
Transcript
NoteThis recording sounds like it was recorded at the wrong speed. Recording quality is extremelypoor.
Archibald A. HillShe says she has ??? Well, and, and you say you haven't been feeling very well since I was last here.
Susanna Rebecca Wright ThompsonNo. I—
Archibald A. HillWhat seems to be the trouble?
Susanna Rebecca Wright ThompsonI don't know what the trouble is. ??? I have sometimes. Pain inside. [I don't know what to do about it (?)]. ??? I can't do it. [I ain't got nobody to take care of me (?)]. I can't get till somebody ??? I got to ??? [car and nothing (?)] and all like that.
Archibald A. Hill???
Susanna Rebecca Wright Thompson??? you see ??? the Lord ???
Archibald A. Hill[Do you have a doctor check you (?)]?
Susanna Rebecca Wright ThompsonHuhh.
Archibald A. Hill[Did you have a doctor check you (?)]?
Susanna Rebecca Wright ThompsonYes. I got a doctor to see.
Archibald A. Hill???
Susanna Rebecca Wright ThompsonYes. ???
Archibald A. Hill???
Susanna Rebecca Wright ThompsonIt's all kinds now. ??? up above. ??? Lord.
Unidentified Woman InterviewerWhat do you mean by that, that's it's “up above?”
Susanna Rebecca Wright ThompsonI mean it's the Lord up above—
Unidentified Woman InterviewerOf course.
Susanna Rebecca Wright ThompsonThe Lord, [he's the man. He's the man has to ??? (?)]—
Unidentified Woman InterviewerBut now what kind of message do you think the younger people need most; what would you say to them if you were advising young people today?
Susanna Rebecca Wright ThompsonWhat do they need? Young people need?
Unidentified Woman InterviewerYes. What would you say to them?
Susanna Rebecca Wright Thompson??? try to pray. Try to live as [the Lord lived (?)]. Live close to the Lord, [he's the man (?)]. ??? what to do. The Lord is all and all you know. The Lord is all and all.
Archibald A. Hill[Compare to what now and what you seen in your life (?)]?
Susanna Rebecca Wright ThompsonSome [areas (?)], you know, so much change in some areas. Like there is—
Unidentified Woman InterviewerYes.
Susanna Rebecca Wright ThompsonSome is ??? you know. All don't stand one thing. Some is ??? and some ain't.
Archibald A. HillYou like your pastor over there?
Susanna Rebecca Wright ThompsonHuhh?
Archibald A. HillYou like your pastor over there?
Susanna Rebecca Wright ThompsonYes, sir. I like all them [to tell the truth (?)]. All them [tell the truth (?)] from up above. That learned to know something about up above, of course that's ??? over. To know something about the man up there. This generation born to [doom (?)]. And ??? Lord, Jesus Christ. I know when I was [getting (?)] born ??? . You can feel it. Feel it in the generation born since. ??? If you want to know where to ??? you must go. See.
Archibald A. HillDid the young people like church as much as they used to?
Susanna Rebecca Wright Thompson??? righteous. But they didn't like the foundation. ??? time. Don't like the foundation. Some, just like that in the world now. Some like it and some don't. Some like the way and some don't like the way. But the way is the way. That is the truth. The way is the way. You certainly know when your [new (?)] generation grown up, do anything the Lord Jesus Christ ??? . If he's with you. When [he] take [you over (?)] you certainly know. ??? don't leave his work for the devil to finish. When God ??? you know God ??? you.
Archibald A. Hill??? goes to church now ???
Susanna Rebecca Wright ThompsonYes. [I (?)] goes to church.
Archibald A. HillHow many ??? do you have on [there (?)]?
Susanna Rebecca Wright Thompson??? church ??? tell you ??? about that.
END OF SIDE A
Part 6 of 6 Oldhams, Virginia, 1935
Captions open at the bottom of the screen when you press play. Click any transcript line to jump to it.
Transcript
NoteThe audio recording from which this transcript was based is of very poor quality.
Archibald A. HillMrs. Becky, can you tell us something about when you were a little girl?
[Guy S. Lowman: Tell us what it was like when you were a little girl (?)] ??? ?
Unidentified Woman InterviewerI think ??? little girl.
Susanna Rebecca Wright ThompsonHuhh?
Unidentified Woman InterviewerI think ???
[indistinct conversation]
Susanna Rebecca Wright Thompson:. ??? Don't make bread like they made bread in the old days, you know, young days ??? bread ever since the word for bread got to make bread, ??? mix it up with a spoon, ah, with your hand.??? Flour, flour bread with your hand. And, and, and, spoon with, with, with, with your corn bread up w, with a spoon. [long spoon (?)].
Archibald A. HillHow'd you bake it? ???
Susanna Rebecca Wright Thompson??? or other in a oven. We bake loaf bread in, in a oven, you know. Big oven. Round oven. ??? . Bake loaf bread in big oven.
Archibald A. HillA lot, a lot of work that way.
Susanna Rebecca Wright ThompsonHuhh?
Archibald A. HillMust have been a lot of work that way. [overlapping conversation]
Susanna Rebecca Wright Thompson??? mix it up and bake it, have, have fire hearths [you see (?)]. Fire hearths. Didn't have stoves. ??? . Did, didn't have stoves.
Archibald A. Hill??? [Didn't have stoves (?)] ??? .
[overlapping conversation]
Susanna Rebecca Wright Thompson??? . Fire hearth. Fire hearth. Put your shoes on, on [right (?)], put the coals [under (?)] ??? . Throw the coals under it. ??? a [sp— (?)] on the [oven (?)] or something like that. Or your pots hang you put out. Pot rack. And apot rack to hang your pot out, in fire hearth—
Archibald A. Hill???
Susanna Rebecca Wright ThompsonAnd then, then pot hooks, pot hooks, pot hooks [to take out the different pots (?)], or put it on—
Archibald A. Hill???
Susanna Rebecca Wright ThompsonHooks you know. Hooks you know ??? all hooks and then, you see; the, the hook, you know. The pot hooks, you know. The whole thing, and, and their, and the, the, the, the, the pots had [ears (?)] to it you see. ??? . And, and hook them pots hooks to the [ears (?)] take them pots off, or put it on, hang it on. In times past.
Archibald A. HillHow did you roast meat in a place like that?
Susanna Rebecca Wright ThompsonRoast meat? Well they had big ovens. Had these hand irons. These, ah, six foot irons, you know. And had the oven, and, and put, had prongs, ??? your hand irons, almost like hand irons, but no hand irons, it's all the same, with prong in them, and put your irons in there, and then cook your meat and hang your meat, and put your meat in that, in the, the iron in the hand iron and [slice (?)] and put your meat into, you know ??? into the fire and the fire cook it. Fire bake it ??? and sit underneath ??? catch the, the gravy and things. Big oven. Sit underneath. ??? catch it and, and turn ??? in prongs, like hand-irons. You turn them, turn them hand irons and, and prongs and things and bake them meat. Bake your meat and have the, the them irons hanging [before (?)] the fire. Over, over that oven. And, then that's the, the way they used to cook your meat. Your, your oven sitting down on the earth in the fire hearth. ??? fire hearth ??? and then that's the way you turn your, your, your, your hand-iron and, and bake your meat, turn your meat. And ??? the browner the better.
Unidentified Woman InterviewerWhat color was it?
Susanna Rebecca Wright ThompsonThe meat?
Unidentified Woman InterviewerYes.
Susanna Rebecca Wright Thompson??? , brown. Toast brown, you see. And the oven sitting underneath it. Oven sitting underneath and you turn that, turn hand-iron. They like hard-irons, but they want ??? like them. You could turn them hand-iron and [prongs (?)] and bake your meat to suit yourselves. ??? your meat or turkey, whatever it is. Turkey or ham meat. That the way they used to do it ??? . Way back in [our (?)] slave time.
Archibald A. HillWell, who had— [recording abruptly ends]
END OF SIDE B
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Recorded by Archibald A. Hill and Guy S. Lowman, Oldhams, Virginia, 1935. 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.