Augusta County: "Weevils in the Wheat: Interviews with Virginia Ex-Slaves," by Melinda Ruffin, 1941
Summary: Scattered notes from an interview with a former slave from Waynesboro
MRS. MELINDA ANN ("ROTY") RUFFIN (b. 1839)
Uledi, Playford Mining Works,
Waynesboro, Va.
Interviewer: Unknown
Date of Interview: Unknown
Source: Pencil Copy, Lewis Papers
[The following sketchy notes are all that were found for Melinda Ruffin. They are given here as written.-Ed.]
1839-102 yrs-17th Aug. (16th). David E.
Corner-master-
No "slave now." Didn't buy nigger, didn't sell nigger.
Mary Ann Corner
Roty Brent-mother-cooked
Edmund West
Andy
Thomas
Woodson Brent
Joshua Brent
Henry Brent
Cyrus
Brent
Married that thing sittin' up.
Wheat,
oats, rye, flax.
Edmund West belonged to Jack Ellis-Oben
2
Charles-Big, Little.
Ant Polly, Uncle Bob,
Henry-Whip 'em every morning before they eat mouthful.
Slip over nightfall & get mother to grease back to gitde shirt on-keep from sticking.
Ring
& twistle-whipping post.
Sellin'
block-Ballard Smith-auctioneer-wanted me for nurse-Put her on block.
Walked
down just as big as gall.
Sell her for nurse.
That's why I ain't no
Democrat.
Uncle hedman-let soldier in-soldier-nobody to hurt you.
Came
in-canvas covered wagon.
To see who's got good massa-8-9 days you're gonna be free. Stay widMassa if he good.
Monroe
Orcutt-fiddler.
Wm Smith-husband-died after 15 yrs.
Working on bldg-collapsed-bricklayer-heard crash-looked over-saw him fallin' in cloud of dust.
Cross
river-fish biting legs-run right-busted all my clothes-found him in wreckage-2
ribs broke, arm fractured-plaster saved him.
Oldest son-blind
(Henry)-Willie Smith dead in Ptsbg.-Massa raised-Dr. said had to
take leg off-Alice Thomas sold me out, brot me here.
Lizzie-Leona-dead-Harry-Jessie-Deola.
Husband worked for
undertaker-sick-poisoned by fellow (Jettie Meads) who wanted job-put something
on seat-behind swolt up-testaments [testicles?] swell
up-& that's this big-other thing-Oh, Lordy-stood up like my arm-swolt up to his neck-died 3 days later. Jettie wouldn't
dare drive the hurse.
Wm Ruffin-77-Fla.-Pa. 50 yrs.
Smell like cigarats.-Reckon folks think I'm a monkey.
Doctor Ford lives with
Thomas.
Calls self same as family.
Mother did all the whippin' on our place.
Hands feel mighty soft-you
don't work none.
Want's to be lookin' saintly
when you take my picture.
Bibliographic Information: Source copy consulted: Weevils in the Wheat: Interviews with Virginia Ex-Slaves, Edited by Charles L Perdue, Jr., et al., p. 243-244
