Page 368
“…an ‘X’ where the clerk told them to.”
See the portion of the contract included in the printed book.
An untitled contract of indenture signed by Charles Mason and several formerly enslaved men who agreed to work the land of the former Alto plantation. Retrieved from the website for the Freedmen’s Bureau records, associated with the National Museum of African American History & Culture.
“…Oliver…”
See “…pregnant again,” above.
This is approximately when Oliver Jackson would have been born. The name included in the printed book comes from the 1870 Census Report for King George County, Virginia.
“…a chair outside the cabin…”
Apart from the letter of Charles Mason describing Anarcha as sickly and incapable of work (see “…Anarcha was of little value…,” above), there is no document that describes Anarcha’s final days. I have described her condition, and imagined what she might have been capable of, based on the experiences I had with fistula survivors in Africa, particularly Asrebeb and Zewditu, whose stories are told in the afterword of this book.
“…Wilson died in 1866…”
See “…Wilson was six and sickly…,” above.
“Only the Mason boy Jack…”
See “…liked Lorenzo very much,” above.
“…taverns stayed open…Fire-bell ringers…”
The Philadelphia Inquirer (Philadelphia, PA), November 14, 1866, p. 8.
“…just as she had known as a girl…”
See “…Anarcha knew the stars weren’t falling…,” above.
“…woken by flashes…”
See “…through cracks in the roof…,” above.
“A crescent moon hung low…”
The Philadelphia Inquirer (Philadelphia, PA), November 14, 1866, p. 8.
“Very few stars…”
The Philadelphia Inquirer (Philadelphia, PA), November 14, 1866, p. 8.