Former Slave Letter - Dying Friend - African American Woman Arkansas VTG Antique for Sale

Former Slave Letter - Dying Friend - African American Woman Arkansas VTG Antique For Sale

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Former Slave Letter - Dying Friend - African American Woman Arkansas VTG Antique:
$68.00

1891 letter written to Lydia (Furrow) Miller from Eliza Morton concerning the health of Lydia\'s half-brother Samuel H. Brooks. Earlier, Samuel had traveled from his home in Helena, Arkansas to visit his sister and family in Urbana, Ohio. According to his obituary he was stricken with a paralyzing illness which eventually claimed his life on December 6, 1891. Eliza\'s words reveal the conflict between her burning desire to see and take care of Samuel and her equally-powerful fear of offending Lydia\'s racial and social sensibilities.

In the 1880 census I found a 30 year-old African American seamstress named Liza Morton living in Helena. I have not been able to find out much else about this woman, but considering she was born in Tennessee she probably spent her first years as a slave. I am not sure of Eliza\'s connection to Samuel but they appear to have shared a very close relationship, perhaps even romantic. Samuel died four months have Eliza wrote her heart-felt letter. It is probable her fear of never seeing him again came true, but I like to think she somehow overcame the odds and was able to be with him one last time.

The condition of the letter is delicate with some staining and tears. Another lot of letters written to Lydia (Furrow) Miller is also available.

TRANSCRIPT:

ma keel place July 31 1891

good and kind miss Lydia dont think because I siad that I wished that I was thare that I ment I to come to help you and take care of Mr Brooks no mam I did not mean that at all for I know he is in beter hands there with you and his mother then he would be if he was here with me I done all I could for him when he was here and did it with plezer and when I spoke of help ing you I never thought such a thing as coming

to take care of Mr Brooks and then I know that you are not youst thare fore to my kind of help. I would not expect to come your house and be in the way and if I had of come I would of gone and staed with some colerd people and asked you to let me come see Mr Brooks once in while I told Dr Fornor [?] that I had written to Mr Brooks myself and he sends me evry letter I would write to Mr Brooks be I dont want

Eliza Moton - now please dont be mad with me for writing this letter to you but I dont want you to think that I am teasing Mr B to let me come up there -

you to think that I am asking him to let me come up thare thare for I will not write to any one but you if you will let me of course I would like to see Mr B because I think some times that he will never live to get back here but I dont expect to see him now unless he comes back here and I pray to the Lord every night that he may come home for I do want to see him once more good night kind friend miss Lydia

excusse bad writing for I am a bad writer I am glad that Mr Brook is geting a long so well so I am glad that he is there with you and his mother I think he will get well faster then he would if he was here

yourse truely Eliza