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Showing posts with the label freedom papers

A LIVING HISTORY

An interview with HAPPY PAYNE a descendant of slaves, talked about his family's history and his own long life. The interview with Harry Payne took place at his home on 10/23/99.   ----------------------------------------------- Harry Payne is a ninety one year old descendant of slaves. His paternal grandfather, John, came from Barbados, where he was not a slave, as a twelve-year-old child, in about 1820. Here he was bound as a slave in South Carolina. The wife of the slave holder gave him his freedom papers prior to the Civil War when her husband was killed in a duel. She then sold the farm and freed her slaves. Less is known about his mother's (Minnie Watson) side of the family except that her father, Kayto Watson, was born into an African/Asian American slave family. Kato's father "Yellow Toby," was brought to America as a slave from Mongolia. As a slave he was used as a "breeder." It took John Payne about four years to get from South Carolina t...