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Sarah Debro

“Anarcha was born…”

In the documents cited and pictured later in this chapter, Anarcha (“Anaky”) is listed as the fourth of five children of Jerry and Sue in the estate inventory of David Westcott, created when Westcott died in 1828. While it may be remotely possible that Anarcha was not born on the Westcott plantation, there is no evidence to suggest that she was not.

“In 1833…”

See below for documents showing that in 1828, Anarcha was the fourth of five children of an enslaved couple known as Jerry and Sue. I believe this puts Anarcha’s birth at 1825, give or take a year or two. This is mostly, but not always, consistent with ages, as indicated on a variety of documents, through the rest of Anarcha’s life.

“…none of their business.”

Narrative of Fannie Brown.

Perdue, C. L., Barden, T. E., & Phillips, R. K. (1997). Weevils in the wheat: Interviews with Virginia ex-slaves. Charlottesville: University Press of Virginia, p. 32.

Fannie Brown

“Families would recall…”

I am characterizing in this brief passage the spirit of a great many references to the date of the night the stars fell. A few examples from the narratives of Peter Brown, Eliza Washington, Edward Taylor, and Ann Matthews.

Library of Congress. (2018). Slave narratives: A folk history of slavery in the U.S., (respectively) Arkansas Narratives, Vol. 1, p. 331; Arkansas Narratives, Vol. 7, p. 55; Missouri Narratives, Vol. 1, p. 338; Tennessee Narratives, Vol. 1, p. 44.

“…the strangerest days…”

Narrative of Bud Jones, speaking specifically of astronomical events.

Rawick, G. P., Hillegas, J., & Lawrence, K. (1978). The American slave: A composite autobiograph : supplement, series 2. Westport, Conn: Greenwood Pub, Vol. 6, Texas, p. 2081.

Bud Jones

“…more stars in Heaven…”

Narratives of Sarah Gudger and Belle Caruthers.

Library of Congress. (2018). Slave narratives: A folk history of slavery in the U.S., (respectively) North Carolina Narratives, Vol. 1, p. 357.

Rawick, G. P., Hillegas, J., & Lawrence, K. (1978). The American slave: A composite autobiography: supplement, series 1. Westport, Conn: Greenwood Pub, Vol. 7, Mississippi, p. 368.

“…through cracks in the roof…”

Narrative of Sarah Debro.

Library of Congress. (2018). Slave narratives: A folk history of slavery in the U.S., North Carolina Narratives, Vol. 1, p. 252.

Sarah Debro

“…one of her brothers…”

This references the list of children in Anarcha’s family, as it appears in the 1828 Westcott plantation inventory (see below). I am assuming that the children are listed in order, and that Joe is younger than Anarcha in 1833, perhaps four or five. As is suggested in later documents, Ben and Manuel are in the range of ten to thirteen, likely already compelled to perform adult work.

“…sorrel horses and the bay steed…”

Sorrel and a bay steed are listed among the possessions of David Westcott in the estate inventory conducted not long after he died in 1828. The inventory is held at the Montgomery County Archives in Montgomery, Alabama.

“…running back into the cabin…”

Narrative of Rachel Bradley.

Rawick, G. P., Hillegas, J., & Lawrence, K. (1978). The American slave: A composite autobiography: supplement, series 2. Westport, Conn: Greenwood Pub, Vol. 1, Multiple States, p. 51.

Rachel Bradley

“Anarcha left her first trace…”

See later in the printed chapter for a detail from the 1828 Westcott inventory documents. These are slightly larger versions. The inventory is held at the Montgomery County Archives in Montgomery, Alabama.

“…David Westcott…”

I’m very grateful to Gerald Thompson, a descendant of the Westcott family, for having made his extensive genealogical materials about the family available to me. Thompson is in possession of a great trove of photos and documents, and has done extensive work to recreate the history of the family.

“…one of five children…”

A profile of the Westcott family prior to David Westcott’s departure for Alabama in 1817-1820 was provided to me by the South Carolina Historical Society in Charleston, South Carolina. The profile is included in book entitled 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.

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. 804.

“…a twenty-one-year lease…”

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. 803-04.

“…Goose Creek…”

I’m very grateful to Gerald Thompson, a descendant of the Westcott family, for having made his extensive genealogical materials about the family available to me. Thompson is in possession of a great trove of photos and documents, and has done extensive work to recreate the history of the family.

Eliza was born in 1801 on Edisto Island but later lived in Goose Creek, SC. She was sixteen when she married David Westcott, who would have been fifty-seven at the time of their marriage. I’m assuming that Westcott traveled to Goose Creek to meet Eliza, rather than the other way around.

“…a thick brogue”

A number of sources report on Eliza Westcott’s heavy accent. This is from the Montgomery Genealogical Society Quarterly, Summer 2005, p. 52.

“He first went to Alabama…”

I’m very grateful to Gerald Thompson, a descendant of the Westcott family, for having made his extensive genealogical materials about the family available to me. Thompson is in possession of a great trove of photos and documents, and has done extensive work to recreate the history of the family.

Westcott appears to have been traveling back and forth between South Carolina and Alabama between 1817 and 1820. Alabama became a state in 1819.