Page 149
“Anarcha met her son Washington…”
See “…the plantation’s doctor woman…,” above.
“…E.Y. Fair bought a number of slaves…”
See “…E.Y. Fair and his wife…,” above.
These documents, along with others showing transactions involving enslaved persons owned by Nathan Harris, are held at the Montgomery County Archives in Montgomery, Alabama.
“…another baby in 1850.”
See “Anarcha learned she had been sold…” above.
“…men began to visit her at night.”
See “Anarcha was grabbed from the rear…,” above.
As with her initial rape, there is no indication who fathered any of Anarcha’s first five children. It is certainly the case, however, that she still would have been expected to produce more “increase,” and in suggesting that Anarcha was compelled to engage in sexual relations with a number of enslaved men—as opposed to a single man, as on the Westcott plantation—I am attempting to represent the range of forms a plantation breeding program could take.
“…in possession and control…”
This is from Nathan Harris’s original bequest of enslaved persons to his wife, held at the Montgomery County Archives in Montgomery, Alabama.
“…sent them to her.”
Documents detailing Harris plantation transactions involving enslaved persons are held at the Montgomery County Archives in Montgomery, Alabama, and, in the case of Abram, Barney, and Israel, at the probate office of the Autauga County Courthouse in Prattville, Alabama.
“…named the girl Venia…”
See “Anarcha learned she had been sold…,” above.
Later documents reveal that in 1870 Anarcha had a daughter named Delia (whose records I was able to trace through to her death in Washington D.C.—see below) who was then nineteen years old, born approximately 1851. I have suggested that this child was originally named “Venia,” but others on the Harris plantation at that time are also possible.