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“…Montgomery, a metropolis…”

Chase, M. I. (1936). The old Federal Road in Alabama. Birmingham, unpublished thesis for Master of Arts program, Birmingham-Southern College, p. 78.

“It’s possible that Anarcha’s parents…”

While it is very doubtful that Anarcha was born in South Carolina, it is possible that Jerry and Sue—who along with their children accounted for 15% of the total Westcott wealth in 1828 (see “Anarcha left her first trace,” above)—were originally from South Carolina. The suggestion that they were a present given on the occasion of David Westcott’s marriage to Eliza Railey is consistent with Sims’s marriage, when he received a slave couple as a present (see below).

“…pushed from behind…”

Featherstonhaugh, G. W. (1844). Excursion through the slave states, from Washington on the Potomac to the frontier of Mexico; with sketches of popular manners and geological notices. By G.W. Featherstonhaugh. London, J. Murray, Vol. 2, p. 285.

“Eliza remained…”

This was communicated to me orally, as family lore, by Gerald Thompson, a Westcott family descendant.

“…in 1820…”

Glick, J. W. (1991). The story of James D. Westcott and his ancestors & descendants as it appears in the book Waistcote, Westcoatt, Wastcote, Westcot, Wescoat, Westcott, Wescott, Wescote, Westcoat, Wasgatt, Wesket, Yescut, Wisgitt, etc. Clayton, N.J: J.W. Glick, p. 807.

“…drivers who traveled through Alabama…”

Narrative of W.L. Bost.

Library of Congress. (2018). Slave narratives: A folk history of slavery in the U.S., North Carolina Narratives, Vol. 1, p. 139.

W.L. Bost

“…mules and horses.”

Narrative of D. Davis.

Library of Congress. (2018). Slave narratives: A folk history of slavery in the U.S., Arkansas Narratives, Vol. 2, p. 103.

D. Davis

“The Westcotts’ slaves…”

Narratives of Frank T. Boone, an unidentified man from South Carolina, Harrison Cole, and Robert Prout.

Library of Congress. (2018). Slave narratives: A folk history of slavery in the U.S., Arkansas Narratives, Vol. 1, p. 203; South Carolina Narratives, Vol. 4, p. 14.

Rawick, G. P., Hillegas, J., & Lawrence, K. (1978). The American slave: A composite autobiography: supplement, series 2. Westport, Conn: Greenwood Pub, Vol. 3, Texas, p. 772; Vol. 8, Texas, p. 3197.

“The cabins formed a semicircle…”

Narrative of Mose Davis.

Library of Congress. (2018). Slave narratives: A folk history of slavery in the U.S., Georgia Narratives, Vol. 1, p. 268.

Mose Davis

“…no window that was wide enough…”

Narrative of Daniel Dowdy.

Library of Congress. (2018). Slave narratives: A folk history of slavery in the U.S., Oklahoma Narratives, Vol. 1, p. 76.

Daniel Dowdy

“The women were mostly kept pregnant…”

Derived from a number of narratives, including those of Peter Brown, Douglas Parish, Lucy Galloway, and Rose Holman.

Library of Congress. (2018). Slave narratives: A folk history of slavery in the U.S., Arkansas Narratives, Vol. 1, p. 311; Florida Narratives, Vol. 1, p. 257.

Rawick, G. P., Hillegas, J., & Lawrence, K. (1978). The American slave: A composite autobiography: supplement, series 1. Westport, Conn: Greenwood Pub, Vol. 8, pp. 809, 1040.

“…called their increase.”

“Increase” was language common to legal documents transferring ownership of an enslaved woman or a group of enslaved people from one person to another—the use of “increase” stipulated that any future offspring of the named enslaved persons were also bound by the contract. The example here is in a deed involving the sale of land and enslaved persons, one of the parties being Nathan Harris, who was Betsey’s original owner. The document is in a deed book in the probate office in Autauga County, Alabama.

“…Robbin and Lucinda…”

This is from the 1828 inventory of David Westcott’s estate, conducted after he died. The inventory is held at the Montgomery County Archives in Montgomery, Alabama.

“…Bet whose husband died…”

This is from the 1828 inventory of David Westcott’s estate, conducted after he died. The inventory is held at the Montgomery County Archives in Montgomery, Alabama.

“…Jerry and Sue…”

This is from the 1828 inventory of David Westcott’s estate, conducted after he died. The inventory is held at the Montgomery County Archives in Montgomery, Alabama.

“There was Frank and Notice…”

This is from the 1828 inventory of David Westcott’s estate, conducted after he died. The inventory is held at the Montgomery County Archives in Montgomery, Alabama.

“…Tom and Ann…”

This is from the 1828 inventory of David Westcott’s estate, conducted after he died. The inventory is held at the Montgomery County Archives in Montgomery, Alabama.

“…Jonas and Silvey…”

This is from the 1828 inventory of David Westcott’s estate, conducted after he died. The inventory is held at the Montgomery County Archives in Montgomery, Alabama.