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Monday, October 8, 2018

Andrews family in Black & White Part II - Sold from the Block - Vergy's Story


The Unwritten History of Slavery
Fisk University, 1945
Reprinted 1968 
I believe that sometime around 1854, a young enslaved girl named Vergy came to be in John T. Andrews' household near his father's large farm on the west side of Franklin, Tennessee. I have extensively outlined the history of the early Andrews family in my previous post and encourage you to read it for background about the family.


John Thweatt Andrews 
(1832-1906)


Around 1850, when he was still living at home and just 17 years old John T. was credited in the Census as operating a 100-acre farm worth $2,750.  He would have been using enslaved laborers to accomplish this.  In 1852, he married Amanda Moore Horton. The following year, their first child was born.

Vergy's Story

Vergy was interviewed in 1929 or 1930 by Mrs. Ophelia Settle Egypt, a member of the Research Staff of the Social Science Institute at Fisk University, Her interview, along with 37 others, was originally published in 1945.  In the interviews, most of the subjects are not identified by name or location.  However, Vergy left some clues that allowed me to identify her somewhat and her slaveholding family.  In Vergy's interview, she recalled, 
I was four years old when I was put on the block and sold . . .  I was born in Wilshire County [Williamson County]; then my home was in Franklin,
She, her mother and brother Dave seem to have been sold together. Her father Jackson lived on a nearby farm. Vergy was given the job of caring for Amanda Andrews' babies, even though she was still a child herself:
. . . I had to set by the cradle and rock my old mistress’ baby, and keep the flies off her before I was five years old. 
The baby Vergy remembers rocking in the cradle was likely the Andrews' first child - a daughter Mary Etta - born in 1853.  In 1856 there were rumors in Williamson County of a planned revolt by the enslaved people. These reports proved to be false, but many whites took steps to prevent possible violence anyway.
Yes, I remember when they took [my father] away from us. They said the n****** was gitting ready for an uprising, and they took me and my brother way down in Cheatham County.  . . we went to Cheatham County and stayed about six months with the white folks. . . .‘Course we wasn’t far away from Pappy, but you know, far enough so he couldn’t come to us, and we cried and cried, and when any of the white people went down that way they would see Pappy, and he would send messages to us by them. Yes, dear, they would tell us exactly what Pappy said. . . . 

The New York Times. Wed Dec 10. 1856
Vergy's mother died when she was still a child, leaving her and her brother Dave alone on the John T. Andrews' plantation. 
Well, dear, it was nobody but me and my brother, .... My mother died when I was young, way before the War. We was both together until way after the War, too. ...
My ole mistress [Amanda Moore Andrews] was good in a way and mean in a way, too. She had to be strict, because I had no mother, you see, dearie, and now I realize that she was just strict as any other mother should be with their children. 
Well, it was just like this, when her children got done eating at the table, me and my brother went to that same table and ate. 
I am estimating that John T. and Amanda Andrews' young children who were allowed to eat first at the table were likely Mary Etta (b. 1853), William Robert (b. 1854), George (b. 1856), Mark L. (b. 1859), and Francis (b. 1861).  

Vergy had to work picking cotton, cooking and weaving.
Well, you see, Honey, picking cotton wasn’t so much fun to me because I was compelled to do it. ...
Then, of course, you know from time to time I had to learn how to cook and do most everything about the house. I had my five cuts a day to make, just like the old folks, you know. Well, that is a roll of five threads, and when it turns over five times, well it cracks, and you wind it in a hook like this, and make a loop of several threads; now five of them is five cuts. You see, I had to pull the thread like this, and pull it over the loom like this, and then cord it. It was real work, I tell you, dear. You had that to do until you got that roll spun up; then you started on another one. Then to put it on, you would thread it like this and sorta turn the wheel ‘til it made a twist, then you was ready to start back and forth, back and forth, just like this. Then you took that thread, and you had to run it on a broach and wet a shuck and run it on a spindle, holding that old shuck all the time. Yes, it really was work. . . . 


. . .You know in those days we had a barrel, you know, and we had to pack water a long ways – that is the drinking water, the fresh water, you see. And in the winter time we had a big sled, sometime like that flower box there, and we hauled water up to the house in the barrel, on this sled.

Example of a sled 
 Source here
Well, Pappy used to do all them kinda things to help Mammy, you see. I remember one time the ole missus got mad at Mammy, and my boss was way out in the fields. My Mammy just kept weaving and Ole Missus just kept fussing, and you see Mammy didn’t pay much ‘tention to her, and you know how mad that makes anybody, so she sent me down in the field after the old master; so he could come and whip Mammy. I was a small child, of course, and I never did know what the trouble was one way or the other; but I do know then the ole master [John Thweatt Andrews], he told his ole lady that he didn’t see nowhere to whip her; you see my mammy had carbuncles on her back, and the ole master [John Thweatt Andrews] just bucked against his own wife and wouldn’t hit Mammy a lick, you see. ...

Mammy finally died and left a little bit of a baby, and do you know? I had sense enough to be glad when the baby died, too. Poor little thing wouldn’t have to go through the world like I have come; all alone with no mother. Yes sir, I was a child, but I was really glad when the baby died. It was a girl, too; you see that made it even worse. Yes, I couldn’t see things like that like I can now, but I guess it was just that instinct or something that made me glad when the poor little thing passed away.

Civil War & Emancipation

In 1861, when the Civil War broke out, Vergy was 9 years old.  Early the following year, Franklin was under occupation by US forces.  Vergy provides us with a compelling account of how she and her brother learned of their freedom and the attitude of Amanda Moore Andrews toward Vergy's enthusiasm about the news:
I don’t know how long that was before the War broke out, but we stayed with the same white people until the War ceased. Now you know what happened then. They told us we were free, but of course we didn’t know where to go nor nothing. The ole mistress asked me if I was glad we was free, and I, of course, child like, say yes I sure was; and my ole mistress sure did get mad at me; and she got mad at my brother, and said she was going to send him South, just like he wasn’t free and equal. Well, dear, I didn’t know nothin’ about what they meant, but I just knew that he was going away from me. I didn’t have sense enough to know much, but I knew that much. Well, he was going on a Monday morning – that was on a Saturday. So, on Saturday night I says to my brother, “In the morning you take them clothes you got on now on your arm, as you come through the house, when you go to do your work.” You see, I had to get breakfast, and there wasn’t nobody up that time in the morning but me and my brother. I told him, “I will be in the kitchen and you go down in the field and change your clothes, and go to the courthouse and get yourself a pass.” And then I told him which way to go to get a Pappy’s farm. I didn’t know the names nor the directions, but I just said, “You get such-and such a road and walk till you get to the white fence,” and like that, you know. I knew right where Pappy lived. I told him after he got to a certain place anybody would tell him where Pappy lived.
Well, on Monday morning my old master [John Thweatt Andrews] got up and found my brother’s work wasn’t finished, and I was out there cooking breakfast and he come up and asked me, “Ain’t Dave come to the house yet?” I said, “Naw, I ain’t seen him,” he he [laughing] I told the story and I was scared, too. Well, he looked around a while and went on down in the yard, and then about an hour the men come through the back going to the field across the way to do the plowing, and he asked them about Dave. None of them had seen him. Well, I was so tickled that I couldn’t hardly get breakfast, and then while they was talking a man – he was a friend of me and my brother – from the next farm, and he come up in the yard and I said, “Uncle Bob, Dave’s gone.” He said, “Damn good thing,” and went on through the yard. Don’t nobody know about my brother but me and Uncle Bob.
Eliza Pamela Andrews Balch

 Well, that was on Monday; on Tuesday the old boss [John Thweatt Andrews], went to town and was asking around about Dave. Well, the ole boss’ sister lived right on the edge of town [this might have been Eliza Pamela Andrews Balch -her husband was one of the editors of the Franklin Review newspaper] and she told the ole master that she saw him down by the courthouse early Monday morning.
Well then, by eleven o’clock, I figured he was at my father’s. My Pappy was sure glad to see him; and do you know, they never did know that I had something to do with that. Well, on Saturday I had to churn, so I went to the well to get some water to wash the butter down from the sides of the churn. And just as I got to the well I saw a hat through the grape vines and somebody said, “Make haste,” and I knew it was Pappy. I was the happiest child you ever heard of. Well, I hurried and got that water and went back to the house, and I asked if Pap had been there, and Ole Missus said, “No, I haven’t seen him,” Well, I knew he had done gone on by down to the old boss’ father’s plantation [Rev. Mark L. Andrews' plantation was nearby] to ask his opinion about taking me to my brother. 

A portion of 1878 Map of Williamson County showing the Andrews farms on the west side of Franklin
D.G. Beers & Co, Courtesy, Tennessee State Library and Archives
I didn’t say a word; I just went on with my work. Well, he come on back – ‘course I learned all this later – he come on back and met my own boss man [John Thweatt Andrews], and they talked and talked; and after a while they both come to the house. When Pappy come in he told me, “howdy,” and my old master said, “Vergy, Dave’s up yonder with yo’ pappy, and your pappy come after you. Do you want to go?” Well, dear, I didn’t’ know what to say, so I just hung my head and said, “I don’t know.” Well, poor Pap just burst out crying. He said, “I don’t want to separate you and Dave til you do yourself.” Well, missus [Amanda Moore Andrews], had mistreated my mother while she was living; and he told him that was why he had done a heap of things he had. Well, Mr. John [Thweatt Andrews] said, “Jackson, I have noticed a heap of things you have done, but I didn’t know why, then.” Well, finally my ole missus owned up to it; ‘course you know, dear, she kinda had to with Pappy right there. So I went on back with Pappy; after I heard how she treated Mammy.
This was the way it happened. 

Post War

After Vergy gained her freedom she, her father and her brother Dave lived together at a new home off of the Andrews' farm.  I have not been able to find any of them in the middle Tennessee area - although based on Vergy's interview she seems to have stayed in the area and maintained ties with the family.  She described a visit back to the Andrews' farm in which Amanda Andrews tried to entice her to return and work for her - but Vergy rebuffed the offfer:
Then along a little while later the ole master [John Thweatt Andrews] went for me to come back for a little visit; and one Saturday they came after me; this was before Ole Missus died [Amanda Moore Andrews died in 1880], you see. Well, I dressed up and they come after me, and I went back to the old farm just as spry as you please. I was a big girl then, you know. “Well, now, how did you like your new home?” that’s the first thing the Ole Missus said when I come. I was smart and young, you see, so I says, “Liked it well enough to go back.” Whew, why Ole Missus nearly had a fit. “Why you ought to get fifty lashes for that,” she said. There was an ole white woman working in the kitchen then and she said, “I’ll bet your ole Marse John [Thweatt Andrews] do give you fifty lashes for that, good as he’s done been to you.” Oh yes, but I tell you this. When I was gitting ready to leave with Pappy, my white folks say, “Now, Vergy, don’t go to stay away from us; you come back whenever you get ready.” I come on over with another young girl that was spending the week on the next farm, to see her folks, and we was going back together.
Now, as I was going to say, this is what ole Marse John [Thweatt Andrews] say, “Why she can go back if she want to; that’s her father, and she wants to be with him. No, I ain’t gonna give her no whipping ‘cause she wants to be with her folks.” Now you see that? Then he turned around and asked me all about how I was getting along, and how was Pappy and my brother, n’everything; you see, nobody had done asked me about them. No sir, he said he wasn’t going to separate us; now you think of that! Just goes to show the difference in people. Well, I stayed on that week and they was real nice with me, for good you see. Well, on Friday, Ole Missus went to town and came back with some real pretty material – they used to call it bird-eyed buff [this was a type of woven fabric patterned with diamond shapes resembling the eyes of a bird]  – to make the girl that was cooking for her a skirt out of and she showed it to me, and said she expected she would give me one if I was there much longer. You see, dear, trying to get me to stay. I didn’t say nothing but I knew what she was up to, and I knew just as well that I was going back to Pappy. Yes, I thought to myself, they ain’t enticing me, ‘cause I am going to Daddy.
I got all my things and I remember I had a pretty skirt with five widths in it, and I took and tied all my things up in it and put the bundle on the top of my head, and me and that girl walked seven miles into the country, and got there before night, too.  I stayed with Pappy ‘till Christmas and then I went back to the white folks again, and got myself some gifts. He, he, he [laughing] That was the last time I saw Ole Missus alive [Amanda Moore Andrews died in 1880], and she gave me some old sorghum molasses and make myself some molasses candy; my ole master give me two dollars and I spent one dollar on myself and give the other one to Pappy.

Marriage & Life in Nashville

When Vergy married she moved to Nashville.  Unfortunately, I have not been able to determine the name of her husband - which would be of a big help in locating her later in life.  But this is what she says about her early romantic life as a married woman and young mother.   
Well, I stayed with my father, and then I married and come up here; but before, I was up here and went into that old Noel [Knowles] school what used to be right over yonder before it was finished. My teacher was a Mr. Atchison, and then there was Miss Molly Tatler, and another white man teacher. I was in the second grade and I married and went across Jefferson Street one pretty moonshiny night to live with my husband. I ain’t forgotten a bit of it.
According to one source, the Knowles Street school opened in 1879 and was only open until 1883, before re-opening in 1890.  It was located in an abanded Fisk University building on the corner of Hynes and Knowles Streets in North NashvilleIf this is the time period when Vergy attended, she would have been about 27 years old.

Vergy's relationship with the Andrews family remained close - they visited her upon the birth of her children.  
Then, dear, when I was getting ready to become a mother I went back to see the white folks. Then I come back here and had my first child, and all my ole white folks come around to see it, and I remember I held the baby out of an upstairs window so they could look at it, and then I never seen any of them no more until I had my second child; then I went back down there in the country and stayed all night with the white folks.
. . . my old master’s brother what lives out here on Kayne [11th] Avenue, you know he runs a coal yard, Mark F. [L.] Andrews. 

Listing for Mark L. Andrews on Kayne Avenue in Nashville in XXXX.
Telephone directory for Andrews Coal - showing Mark L. Andrews as president.  He was the brother of John T. Andrews and had been a Confederate soldier during the Civil War.

Vergy also describes how she had a daughter who attended Fisk University in Nashville.  Sadly, she had outlived that daughter as well as two other children and her two husbands.  She stated that she was living with her one remaining child.
... my oldest daughter died, and she was sick, you see, she went to Fisk, too. ... I’ve lost two husbands and three children. There is nobody but me and my other daughter what lives here now....



Faith

Vergy spoke a lot in her interview about her strong faith and her conversion to Christianity.

Well, I made profession in Christ after I come to Nashville and was married. It was just this-a-way. I think like this – seeking for religion is just like anything else; that is, being converted into the grace of the Lord you just got to pray hard, that’s all. You can’t give up worldly things all at once; it’s practically impossible. You just have to live so to speak with man in the hand and God in the heart, don’t you dear? You can’t change and do that right off, though. You got to have something revealed to you through your soul, you see. You got to push back everything and show that you are really in earnest; dear, you got to give up wordly things, ain’t you? You understand, don’t you dear: Why, after the Lord converted me, I was a different woman.

I went to church right down yonder on Ninth Avenue. [Probably the Mount Olive Missionary Baptist Church located at the intersection of 9thAvenue and Charlotte.]  I made a full surrender to the Almighty that night. I remember they were singing, “Why should we wish to die when the Lord God has set us free?” ...

Why, dear, even up to the time my last child was born I was a sinner. I prayed and prayed but seem like I just couldn’t see and feel that new light in my soul. My baby had done been born and had already done died, and I was sitting here in this very chair one day and just thinking. And I saw my baby just naked like it was when it was born, just as plain as I see you right now; yessir, and that baby was dead. I look down and saw that little naked baby in my lap. The Lord come and put my baby in my lap and I heard him say just as plain as day, “’Cept you come as this little child, you can in no way enter the kingdom of heaven.” Dear, I seen it just as plain as I see you, I tell you. Yessir, that’s the truth if I die today.



Equal Rights

Despite her early childhood as an enslaved person, Vergy had no trouble standing up for herself.  She describes how she would politely but firmly insist that white men remove their hats when in her home:
And I tell you another thing, when the white folks steps in this house, especially the men, I demands respect. I always says, “Won’t you rest your hat?” Yessir, just as I feel. ,,,
She also described a story about how she did not back down to a streetcar conductor when he would not accept her ticket book as a fare one night:
Just like once I was on the street car, and you see my white people that I work for had give me a book to ride on, because I had to come home every Sunday evening to see about my girls I got on the car, and handed the conductor my book, and he just looked at me kinda mean, and said, “Pay your fare,” I kept handing him the book; he kept saying, “Pay your fare.” He let me go on by to my seat, ‘cause I wasn’t studying about paying my fare after I had handed him the book. He come on up to the seat I was in and said, “If you don’t pay your fare, I’m going to put you off this car,” and I said, “Just put me off, put me off, and see if I don’t git you put off, too,” I turned round to a man what was sitting next to me, and asked him, “What’s the matter with this book?” then I asked the conductor, “What’s the matter with that book?” And he just kept saying, “Pay your fare.” Then some poor old colored man said, “here lady, here’s a nickel for your fare;” you see he was scared, ‘fraid the man would put me off, but I wasn’t.
[Photograph of Nashville's Cedar Street electric streetcar, ca. 1900,


Vergy's statement that she wasn't scared of being put off the streetcar for standing up for herself is indicative of how she felt throughout her life.  The way she helped her brother to escape rather than being sold south during the Civil War, and how she resisted the efforts by her former enslaver to get her to return to their plantation after emancipation show her internal strength of character.  I wish that I had been able to locate Vergy during Reconstruction, but I am glad to have been able to re-tell some of her story and hope at some point I will fully solve the mystery of Vergy's identity.

Rev. Mark L. Andrews family - in black and white - Part I

In it, On May 27, 2004, a historical marker was dedicated on a hill next to the Indoor Soccer Complex near the intersection of Boyd Mill Avenue and Downs Boulevard in Franklin, Tennessee. It was placed at the Andrews Family cemetery honoring Rev. Mark Lyell Locke Andrews. Rev. Andrews' son enslaved a young girl named Vergy before the Civil War and when she was an elderly woman she gave an interview to Fisk University researchers.  I have used her words to help piece together her life's story.  But first, I wanted to trace the history of the Andrews family and some of those they enslaved.

Mark Andrews (1740-1821) and Winifred Lyell

The first Mark Andrews (1740-1821) moved from Virginia to Williamson County around 1800 with his wife Winifred Lyell. The couple – using Mark Andrews’ Revolutionary War veteran status - purchased a $600 North Carolina land grant for 320 acres in the Bethesda community of Williamson County from John Donelson - one of the earliest settlers of Nashville. Three of Mark and Winifred Andrews' sons soon followed to Williamson County including, George and his wife Sarah Pearson Locke. Later their remaining children followed. 


In the 1820 federal Census, Mark and Winifred Andrews were counted as enslaving seven people; Mark and Winifred were the only free white people living on their farm. On December 23, 1820, Mark Andrews, wrote his will. Interestingly, he described the disposition of nine people, not seven:

1. Lucinda: a "negro girl”
2. Alice: "a negro woman”
3. Lahan: a “negro boy”
4. George: a “negro boy”
5. Dick: a “negro boy”
6. Luke: a “negro man”
7. Matilda: “a “negro girl”
8. Kizzia: a “negro girl”
9. Armon: a “negro woman”
Mark Andrews' will dated December 23, 1820,
filed in the January 1821
session of Williamson County, TN court
According to Mark Andrews' will the futures of these enslaved people were spelled out this way:
  • after the death of his wife Winifred, 
    • Lucinda was to be inherited by their son John 
    • Alice and Lahan were to “be sold to the highest bidders"
    • George was to be inherited by their daughter Leannah Andrews Yarborough
    • Dick was to be inherited by their daughter Tilpah Andrews Murrell 
    • Luke and Matilda were to be inherited by their son George
  • upon his death, Kizzia and Armon were to be inherited by his daughter Polly Andrews Dean - provided Polly paid off a debt against her in a court case - if she didn't Armon was to be sold to settle the debt
In 1821, Mark Andrews died.  His wife Winifred received his assets.   However, in 1824 a "lunacy petition" was filed to obtain control over her estate - the document states that "from the shock she received on the death of her husband Mark Andrews, & from extreme old age being about ninety years of age or some other cause is incapable of managing her business."  The document stated that her husband had left to her "seven negroes (to wit) a negro man named Luke about fifty-seven years of age. Alice, a negro woman between thirty six and forty years of age, a negro woman named Lucinda about eighteen years of age, George, a negro man about twenty four or five years of age, Dick a negro boy about fifteen years of age, Matilda a negro girl about fifteen or twenty years of age & a negro boy named Lahan about twelve years of age. . ."  This was the first indication of the ages of the people enslaved by the Andrews family that we were able to obtain.


December 9, 1824 Portion of Lunacy Petition hearing held at Winifred Andrews' home in Williamson County

Winifred died in 1827 and it appears as though at that time, the futures of her enslaved people were followed out according to her late husband Mark Andrews' will.

George Andrews (1765-1842) and Sarah Pearson Locke

George Andrews (1765-1842) was the second child of Mark and Winifred Andrews. In 1795, when he was 29 years old, he married Sally Pearson Locke. The couple appears to have soon after moved from Virginia to Fayette County, Kentucky and started a family. By 1810 the couple was living near Lexington, KY and raising a family of 8 children under 15 years old - 6 boys and 2 girls. They also were enslaving two people of African descent.

On February 28, 1813, George Andrews purchased Land Grant #17832 in Williamson County. He and Sally moved their large family to Williamson County to be near his parents and siblings.

By the time of the 1820 federal Census, the household contained 10 free white people and five enslaved people. Of the enslaved people, one was a male aged 14-25 years old, the other 3 were females. One female was aged 26-44 years old; the other two were females under 14. George and Sarah’s part of the household was made up of themselves and their eight children including two young daughters recently added to to the family. Also, most of their oldest sons were still living at home as well as their teenaged children.


In 1827, according to the provisions of his father's will, George inherited "one negro man named Luke and one negro girl named Matilda."

By the time of the 1830 Census, George Andrews was 65 years old. He and his wife Sally still had children at home - 5 boys and 3 girls – all teenagers and young adults. They were also enslaving ten people - among them were possibly Luke and Matilda.
1836 Tax List Record for Williamson County, Tennessee
In 1836, George Andrews (now recognized as George Andrews, Sr) was assessed taxes in Williamson County. He owned 200 acres of land for which he paid $3 of tax. He was also charged for six taxable slaves (more than anyone else on this page); he paid $5.00 in taxes for that privilege. He owned no carriages and paid no poll tax - probably due to his age.

Four years later, at the time of the 1840 Census, George Andrews’ household had decreased to nine free white persons. They had increased the number of enslaved people since the last census by three to thirteen. Interestingly, George Andrews had also taken on a free, biracial man as an apprentice. When he was 21,
 David McLemore  "was bonded out to George Andrews ... to learn the skills of a blacksmith."

On June 9, 1842, George Andrews wrote his will. In it he – as his father had 21 years earlier- described the disposition of the enslaved people he was holding in bondage.
  • He left Adaline, a “negro girl”, to his daughter Elizabeth
  • He left Celia, a “negro girl”, to his daughter Parmelia
  • He left Lotty, a “negro woman” and her child, to his grandchildren Gustavus and Sarah Andrews 

George Andrews' Will, dated June 9, 1842, in which he leaves to his daughter
Elizabeth "a negro girl named Adaline", to his daughter Parmelia "a negro girl
named Celia", to his grandchildren Gustavus and Sarah Andrews he left "a
negro woman named Lotty and her child".

However, apparently, when George Andrews died on July 4, 1842, his estate owed debts that it could not pay. The executors (two of his sons) appeared in Williamson County Court in November 1842 to obtain a decree granting them permission to sell the estate’s slaves and some land to raise the funds. 
August 1842 Probate in Williamson County - Enslaved people from the estate of George Andrews were sold to settle debts.

On December 30, 1842, at George Andrews’ home the following enslaved people were sold:
  • James [45 year old] to E. B. [Ephraim Beverly] Andrews for $305
  • Marcus [40 years old] to B. B. [Brockenbrough] Andrews for $400
  • Martin [20 years old] to John T. Andrews for $650
  • Robert ["Bob" 22 years old] to John T. Andrews for $650
  • Peter [18 years old] to M. M. [Mark Montgomery] Andrews for $295
  • Matilda [aged 35 years old] & child [aged about 9 months] to M. L. [Mark Lyle] Andrews for $490
  • Amanda [aged 7 years old] to M. L. [Mark Lyle] Andrews for $240
  • Malissa [aged about 5 years] to M. L. [Mark Lyle] Andrews for $200
  • Clay [aged 3 years old] to M. L. [Mark Lyle] Andrews for $175
  • Luke [aged about 75 years old] & Celia [aged about 55 years] to Jno T. Andrews for $1
"Negro girl" Named Matilda. The woman Matilda who appears on this list was probably the same “negro girl” named Matilda described in Mark Andrews’ 1820 will and inherited by his son George Andrews 15 years earlier. Per these probate documents, in 1842, Matilda was sold to George Andrews’ son Mark Lyle Andrews for $490. Also sold to Mark Lyle Andrews were three children under the age of ten. I suspect those children were Matilda’s children; thankfully this means they would have been kept with their mother and siblings.

"Luke, A Negro Man."
 Regarding the elderly Luke, sold as part of a lot along with 55-year-old Celia for $1, I assume that this is the same Luke who was described as “Luke, a negro man” in Mark Andrews’ December 23, 1820 will. George inherited Luke from his father and appears to have enslaved him for the next 15 years until his own death. Luke was sold to John T. Andrews, George Andrews’ son, continuing the tradition of Luke’s enslavement by fathers and sons.

All of the people enslaved by George Andrews were sold to his sons and relatives – keeping the enslaved people within the Andrews extended family. It’s worth noting that typically enslaved people who were sold as part of probate sales in Williamson County were sold at the courthouse door on the square in Franklin to the highest bidder. In this case, the executors chose to hold the auction out of town at the family home. Perhaps this is because they intended for family members only to bid on those people previously held in bondage by their father.

I mention this not to make it appear that the Andrews were “good slave owners” or “kind” or any of the other terms that people sometimes use. I don’t believe there was such a thing. I do not think it was possible to have been holding someone against their will (with the power to sell them, their spouse, their siblings, their children, or their parents – even if you never did those things - and still be a “good slave owner” or a “kind slave owner.” No matter how well you "treated" or fed or clothed the people you enslaved you could not be a kind slave owner and still participate in this barbaric arrangement.

Rev. Mark Lyell Andrews
Rev. Mark L. Andrews

Eliza Dean Andrews
1799-1878
In 1842, when George Andrews' son Mark Lyell Andrews purchased 35 year old Matilda, Amanda, Malissa, Clay and her infant, he was 45 years old. He and his wife Eliza Dean had been married for 26 years. He had been a preacher in the local Methodist Church for 20 years and was an ordained elder. The couple had seven children – three girls and four boys. The youngest Andrews child, Mark L. Andrews, Jr. was born shortly before the purchase of Matilda and her children and would have been about the same age as Matilda’s infant. 

In order to support his family and cover the expenses for the farm where he kept those he enslaved, Mark L. Andrews was the clerk of the Circuit Court of Williamson County from 1840 - 1874. During this time, some of his sons were farming the family property located two miles west of Franklin near the intersection of Downs Boulevard and Boyd Mill Pike where the historic marker is located.

Mark L. Andrews family home
During the 1850 census, their sons Ephraim and John T. were enumerated living at home and were listed as farmers. The couple’s real estate was valued at $5,300 – which included their substantial brick home and real estate. Their son William Andrew was working as a tobacconist in Franklin and later opened a grocery store.

1850 Federal Census, Williamson County, TN District 5 - Entry for Mark L. Andrews and family

During the next ten years, many of Mark and Eliza Andrews’ children grew up and left home. In 1841, their daughter Elizabeth married Natus Jared Hayes - a newspaper publisher in Nashville and Franklin. 

By 1854, I believe the little 4-year-old Vergy joined the farm of Mark L. Andrews' son John T.  See my next post for her story.

Below is a list of all the names of the people enslaved by the Mark Andrews, George Andrews, Mark L. Andrews and John T. Andrews family that I came across - as well as year of birth when I was able to calculate it.  I hope this might help some families with their genealogy searches some day.
  1. Adaline (enslaved by George Andrews, left to daughter Elizabeth)
  2. Alice b. 1786 (enslaved by Mark Andrews, and then his son George)
  3. Amanda b. 1835 (perhaps Matilda’s daughter) (enslaved by George Andrews, then sold to Mark Lyle Andrews)
  4. Armon (woman) (sold by Mark Andrews)
  5. Celia b. 1767 (enslaved by George Andrews, then sold to John T. Andrews)
  6. Clay b. 1839 (perhaps Matilda’s son) (enslaved by George Andrews, then sold to Mark Lyle Andrews)
  7. Dick b. 1809 (enslaved by Mark Andrews, and then his son George)
  8. George b. 1800 (enslaved by Mark Andrews, and then his son George)
  9. James b. 1797 (enslaved by George Andrews, sold to Ephraim Beverly Andrews)
  10. Kizzia (sold by Mark Andrews)
  11. Laban (man) b. 1812 (enslaved by Mark Andrews, and then his son George)
  12. Lotty (enslaved by George Andrews, left to grandchildren Gustavus and Sarah)
  13. Lotty’s child (enslaved by George Andrews, left to grandchildren Gustavus and Sarah)
  14. Lucinda b.1806 (enslaved by Mark Andrews, and then his son George)
  15. Luke b. 1767 (enslaved by Mark Andrews, and then his son George, and then sold to John T. Andrews)
  16. Malissa b. 1837 (perhaps Matilda’s daughter) (enslaved by George Andrews, then sold to Mark Lyle Andrews)
  17. Marcus b. 1802 (enslaved by George Andrews, sold to Brockenbrough Andrews)
  18. Martin b. 1822 (enslaved by George Andrews, sold to John T. Andrews)
  19. Matilda b. abt 1806 (enslaved by Mark Andrews, and then his son George, and then sold to Mark Lyle Andrews)
  20. Matilda’s child b. March 1824 (enslaved by George Andrews, and sold to Mark Lyle Andrews)
  21. Peter b. 1824 (enslaved by George Andrews, sold to Mark Montgomery Andrews)
  22. Robert “Bob” b. 1820 (enslaved by George Andrews, sold to John T. Andrews)
During and in the lead up to the Civil War, many white, slaveholding families in Williamson County made the calculated financial decision to sell the people they were holding in bondage to slave traders who would take them further South. They were speculating that they could get some cash for these people by selling them. If the Confederacy failed and slavery was abolished, the value these enslaved people represented would be lost to them entirely.  

Rev. Mark L. Andrews' son-in-law, Natus J. Haynes, considered this option.  In 1921, Haynes' son, Benjamin F. Haynes, wrote a piece for a Methodist publication.  Rick Warwick, Williamson County historian, found this article and reprinted it in the Williamson County Historical Society Journal.  In it, B. F. Haynes recalled how, 

"My father, Natus J. Haynes, owned slaves. I well remember how, from my old colored nurse I early imbibed abolition sentiments, and all through my childhood and maturer years I was an honest abolitionist though my parents were true to the Southern Confederacy. The songs dear old Aunt Nancy used to sing as I stood by her as she scrubbed on the wash-board or made biscuit, did very much to form both my political and my religious views and character. Where she got them I never knew. They breathed most pathetically the sorrows of slavery and the sighs of the enslaved for the sweets of freedom. Really these sweet songs were but prayers set to the most plaintive music expressive of the soul's appeal to the Father to hasten the time of the deliverance of His enslaved children. How the kitchen used to ring with the melody of her sweet voice! Often she would stop her work and with her head turned to one side and looking down into my face, clap her hands and shout and say: "Chile, bless yoe heart, honey, de good Lord is a hastening de good time acomin' when I is to walk forth free with all my chillun." How I would sit by her side and cry with her and drink in the sweet music! My anti-slavery views became more and more fixed as the years went by! When the four-years' long and bloody war came I remained unmoved in my political views. Being only in my tenth year I was too young to discuss these matters, and having no sympathy in my home on this question, I felt it my duty to keep my views to myself. All along through these years I mentally protested against slavery. In looking back now over the sweep of years I am impressed how in the question referred to above I find prophecy of what my life necessarily became in after years - a protest against evils honestly believed to exist and which I felt called upon to combat."

It is likely that Natus J. Haynes was enslaving about eight people at this time.  A few years earlier, the 1860 Census had credited him with a 26-year old female, a 16 year-old boy, four girls under the age of 12 and two boys under the age of 6. I suspect that the woman was Nancy along with her young children, referred to in this account.

Contradictorily, Haynes continues his story:

"I never knew as humane, indulgent and kindhearted an owner of slaves as my father except in the person of my grandfather, Rev. Mark L. Andrews. They were both exceedingly kind to their slaves and were warmly loved by them. This is one of the sweetest memories of my childhood. I loved to remember the kindness of my father and mother to our colored slaves. While, of course, they made them work, they were well and comfortably clothed, had the very best medical care and attention in sickness, and had every kindness and favor shown them that heart could have wished.

I remember at one time during the war my father, as well as a number of others, had lost all hope of Confederate success. A number of people on this account were selling their slaves to negro buyers who were shipping them south. By selling them they were saved their value in money instead of having them freed on their hands and losing them entirely. I remember after consultation between my father and mother, father decided to sell his slaves as he did not feel able to sustain the loss involved in their freedom. I well remember the grief and dismay that filled my young heart at this decision and how these emotions were intensified by my father. The colored people were called into my mother's room and the buyer stood in the doorway leading into the hall and scanned them closely. After a few words with my father, which I was not near enough to hear, they turned and stepped into the hall. I had perhaps discovered signs that others had not noticed. The negroes had heard enough to know what was going on and I saw plainly were bitterly grieved. As my father turned into the hall, Nancy, the eldest, and who had been my nurse and companion from babyhood rose with streaming eyes, crossed the room and with uplifted hands pathetically addressed my father in tones which still linger in my memory. Looking into my father's eyes she said: "Good master! We loves you, please don't sell us to strangers to be sent away from our kinsfolks and loved ones away down south, whar we may be sold to some cruel man what won't be good to us like you." She did not proceed much farther with this plaintive appeal for my father motioned her back with his hand and clearing his throat under the deepest emotion, said to the buyer: "Well, they are not for sale, you may go." The remonstrances of the buyer were perfectly fruitless and scarcely heard by my father who was a man of few words and always came quickly to a decision. The buyer departed and my father made his exit in another direction, leaving mother the pleasing task of informing the family of slaves that they were not to be sold. You may rest assured there was jubilation in that room rarely seen outside of a camp-meeting, and the little bare-foot boy who had been a most profoundly interested observer was as jubilant as any of the negroes but did not show it as much."

I think it is very telling and often very common that people from slave holding families managed to see the humanity in those they held in slavery, and even acknowledge the cruelty in doing so, while somehow also being able to believe that people who were doing it were "humane, indulgent and kindhearted."  A young girl was enslaved by Haynes' grandfather - the so-called human, indulgent and kindhearted "master." You can read her full story here and decide for yourself.