Raynors HCA 2016-10
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/21/2016
A nice slave commentary letter from Kentucky, 3pp. 4to., written by Gloriana Haven Cowles (1811-1879), Eddyville, KY, Feb. 5, 1843 to her mother Desire (Brown) Cowles of East Granby, CT, giving a fantastic look at the institution of slavery thorough the eyes of a daughter of an abolitionist leaning Connecticut family. In part: "…I have got along with the help of a little black girl. The same that I have had every since I have been here…our water has to [be] brought quite a distance from the spring…difficulty thus far…is the arrangement, or the way in which the houses are built in this country. The one in which we occupy, although eh rooms are very good size…theater is not a butler or cupboard…expect one little catchall under the stairs…the servants sleep in the loft as they call it…some of the houses have cellars, kitchens and then the negroes sleep in small buildings a little back of the house. A traveler from the north will notice the little buildings, called negro quarters, as soon as he gets into a slave state. The Southerners generally builds in the manner owning whole families of negroes to wait on them. They do not consider the labor they are subjected to, but when a Northern family goes among them without slaves they find out very soon the disadvantages of this style of building. I do not envy them. Their wealth in slaves, the constant care and watchfulness…the scolding and whipping which is often necessary in order to keep them in order subjects the slave holder to [be] the greater [slave] of the two. As a general thing the blacks live very comfortably, are well fed and have no care but when their work is done retire to their houses. Occasionally [they] have their candy parties and and their quilting. I do not think the whites here…live as pleasantly as they do at the north. Altho they do not have hard labor to perform…their time seems to be…taken up in keeping their business operations in order & in seeing for their slaves and families…I have now a woman who promises to do very well…she has 2 children. She will do my work and has done it well so far. She is stout, healthy & appears to be very faithful…I have made no use of the kitchen until I got my little girl…our washing and ironing has been done out back. The little nigger has brought my water…your affectionate daughter, Gloriana F. H…". VG to near fine.
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