John
Perry, generally known as Pedro, recalled to an Appeal man,
Saturday, the fact that twice in one day he was sold as a
slave at Paris. John was 5 years old at that time. In the
first auction, which was held in front of the court house,
Tom Noonan bought him for $400. Later in the day Noonan sold
him to the late Jeff Bridgford for $500. He remained with
Mr. Bridgford until emancipation.
Asked
how he got along after becoming his own master John said he
didn’t fare so well. The first three years he worked as a
farm hand, getting $40, a pair of boots and his board per
year.
John’s
mother was sold to Pryor Sanford, southwest of Paris, for
$800. His father, sold to Phil Williams, just east of Paris,
brought $1,500. He was permitted to spend every Saturday
night and Sunday with his wife. The husband, says John
cleared the timber from most of land in the north part of
Paris and across the river, his master hiring him out for
that purpose. Speaking of his treatment while in slaver,
John said:
“Nobody
could have asked for better treatment than we slaves got
from Mr. and Mrs. Bridgford. At one time there were thirty
of us. Mr. Bridgford once talked of trading me for 80 acres
of land but Mrs. Bridgford wouldn’t hear of it. Yes, we
sometimes were whipped and I guess we needed it. I know I
never got a lick I didn’t deserve. One of these whippings
broke me from lying. Mr. Bridgford left me in charge of his
cattle while he was away for two days. The cattle were
bawling when he got back. Old master asked me if I watered
them. I said I had, though I hadn’t given them a drop of
water. It didn’t fool Mr. Bridgford. There wasn’t any
foolishness about the licking I got, either.”
John
and his parents originally belonged to the Donaldsons, near
Florida. When Mrs. Donaldson became a widow they were sold.
Asked
if Aunt Seely Hinton was about his age, John said she was a
grown girl going around to dances when he was a small boy.
Aunt Seely now a widow contracted her last marriage after
she was 80 years old.
Paris
Appeal, unknown date
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