Joseph Anderson
From:
North Carolina
N. C. District: No. 2 [ ]
Worker: Mrs. Edith S. Hibbs
No. Words: 275
Subject: Story of Joseph Anderson
Interviewed: Joseph Anderson
113 Rankin St., Wilmington, N. C.
Edited: Mrs. W. N. Harriss
[TR: No Date Stamp]
[HW: Unnumbered]
STORY OF JOSEPH ANDERSON
1113 Rankin Street
Wilmington, N. C.
Yes'm I was born a slave. I belong to Mr. T. C. McIlhenny who had a big
rice plantation "Eagles Nest" in Brunswick County. It was a big place.
He had lots of slaves, an' he was a good man. My mother and father died
when I was fourteen. Father died in February 1865 and my mother died of
pneumonia in November 1865. My older sister took charge of me.
Interviewer: "Can you read and write?"
Joseph: "Oh yes, I can write a little. I can make my marks. I can write
my name. No'm I can't read. I never went to school a day in my life. I
just "picked up" what I know."
I don't remember much about slave times. I was fourteen when I was
freed. After I was freed we lived between 8th and 9th on Chestnut. We
rented a place from Dan O'Connor a real estate man and paid him $5 a
month rent. I've been married twice. First time was married by Mr. Ed
Taylor, magistrate in Southport, Brunswick County. I was married to my
first wife twenty years and eight months. Then she died. I was married
again when I was seventy-five years old. I was married to my second wife
just a few years when she died.
I was on the police force for a year and a half. I was elected April 6,
1895. Mr. McIlhenny was an ole man then an' I used to go to see him.
I was a stevedore for Mr. Alexander Sprunt for sixty years.
Joseph is now buying his house at 1113 Rankin Street. Rents part of it
for $8.50 a month to pay for it. He stays in one room.
NOTE: Joseph's health is none too good, making information sketchy and
incoherent.
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Mary Anderson
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Martha Allen
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