Charles Coates Interview Notes

Father Charles Coates.

2015 Windle StStreet.

Coates

Born 108 yrs.years ago —. Coates would have been born in 1828, and would have been thirty-seven years old at the time of gaining his freedom in 1865.

Richmond, Va.Virginia. See the narrative based on these notes in Works Progress Administration Federal Writers’ Project, Slave Narratives: A Folk History of Slavery in the United States from Interviews with Former Slaves, vol. 3 (hereafter SN3): "Father Charles Coates, as he is called by all who know him, was born a slave, 108 years ago in Richmond, Virginia, on the plantation of a man named L'Angle" (65).

Master had overseer —. The cruelty of Hall's overseer is noted several times in these notes on page 2 and in SN3 on pages 67-68.

Was put up twisetwice to be sold, but master asked too much for him.

PlOwners wanted to buy on time, but master would'ntwouldn't sell him on time.See SN3: "[He] had been put upon the block twice to be sold after belonging to Mr. Hall. Each time he was offered for sale, his master wanted so much for him, and refusing to sell him on time payments, he was always left on his master's hands. His master said 'being tall, healthy and robust, he was well worth much money'" (69–70). The missing word in this sentence of the notes is perhaps Planters.

135 grown people owned by his master, W.B. Hall —. In the narrative in SN3, Hall moves to Georgia with "135 grown slaves and many children" (65).

First master was L'Angle — in Virginia.

Master left and went to GaGeorgia several yrs.years before war. __________

(Tie you up by fingers —, chain run up through block. &and toes just tippedtip as a transitive verb is a synonym of tap and as an intransitive verb can mean 'tiptoe' (MW). DARE provides various examples of the latter from the Southern United States in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, noting the usage was "esp[ecially] fre[quent]] among Black speakers." the floor,. MastersMaster's overseer would beat slaves with sticks.) This appears to refer to a mechanism described in greater detail in SN3: "On the Hall plantation there was a contraption, similar to a gallows, where the slaves were suspended and whipped. At the top of this device were blocks of wood with chains run through holes and high enough that a slave when tied to the chains by his fingers would barely touch the ground with his toes. This was done so that the slave could not shout or twist his body while being whipped. The whipping was prolinged [sic] until the body of the slave was covered with whelps and blood trickled down his naked body" (66). In SN3, whelps, the word used in a related discussion on page 12 of the notes, is crossed out and replaced by hand with welts. __________

L'Angle sold to W.B. Hall in Washington Co.County, GaGeorgia, about 6–8 miles to Sandersville, Ga.Georgia. See SN3: "When Charles was still a yong man Mr. L'Angle sold him on time payment to W.B. Hall; who several years before the Civil War moved from Richmond to Washington County, Georgia, carrying 135 grown slaves and many children. Mr. Hall made Charles his carriage driver, which kept him from hard labor" (65). __________

Freedom came. heHe was Mr. Hall's carriage driver for years before. Was 3 A technical limitation currently prevents us from horizontally centering the page number, as well as others on some of the following pages. boy when L'Angle sold him.

See SN3: "Charles was still a carriage driver when freedom came" (69).

L'Angles were good.The narrative in SN3 notes that "Charles Coates remembers vividly the cruelties practiced on the Hall Plantation" and that Hall treated his slaves in a "very different way from that of the master he had before, as Mr. L'Angle was much better to his slaves" (66). DidntDidn't work boys until they were grown. Had them mind sheep, goats, hogs until large enough.See SN3: "His early boyhood days was spent on the L'Angle place filled with duties such as minding hogs, cows, brining in wood and such light work" (65). Didn't have boys split rails.The narrative in SN3 appears to utilize this last statement about the L'Angle plantation to affirm the opposite regarding the Hall plantation. While Coates avoided by hard labor through his role as carriage driver, "[o]ther slaves on the plantation performed such duties as rail splitting, digging up trees by the roots and other hard work" (65-66).

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"If buyer dontdon't treat you right, run off and come back to me, for he aintain't paid for you no how." This appears to be L'Angle speaking, as Hall had purchased Coates "on time."

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RembersDARE registers rember as a variant or contraction of remember, citing from Dialect Notes, Tuttle, Morehouse and Taylor, 1913 [DARE indicates 1916], vol. 4, p. 354-55. when soldiers came through &and told 4 him they were free. White man Hall carried money away &and buried it. As carriage driver, Coates "had opportunity to see and hear many things about the master's private life. When the news of the advance of the Union Army came, Mr. Hall carried his money to a secluded spot and buried it in an iron pot so that the soldiers who were confiscating all the property and money they could, would not get his money" (SN3 69).

Soldiers came in &and took horses, cows,.

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Told negroesNegroes to take cows, hogs, &and land, but soon as soldiers left, whites took them back,. Some slaves took them, but as soon as Yankees had gone, the Whiteswhites bullied them &and took them back,. See SN3: "The Union soldiers took much of the slave owners' property and gave to the slaves telling them that if the owners' [sic] took the property back to write and tell them about it; the owners only laughed because they knew the slaves could not read nor write. After the soliders had gone the timid and scared slaves gave up most of the land; some few however, fenced in a bit of land while the soldiers remained in the vicinity and they managed to keep a little of the land" (69).

His mother &and father, namenamed Henrietta &and Spencer Coates. 3Three children. notNot sold apart. His master, Mr. Hall, had his son SherrardMuse writes this name Sherrard here and Sherard below. to go around and tell slaves they were free. See SN3: "The slave owners were required to notify the slaves that they were free so Mr. Hall sent his son Sherard to the cabins to notify all the slaves to come into his presence and there he had his son to tell them that they were free" (69). The son's name is spelled Sherrard here in the notes, but Sherard in the narrative in SN3 and also on page 15 of this document.His family went to Savannah, walked &and rode within 30thirty miles of Savannah. Wagon picked them up &and took them to Savannah.

In the narrative in SN3, this description of a move to Savannah takes place not upon gaining his freedom, but rather some years later, after his first wife died: "After the death of his wife, Charles left with his mother and father, Henrietta and Spencer Coates and went to Savannah, Georgia. He said they were so glad to go, that they walked to within 30 miles of Savannah, when they saw a man driving a horse and wagon who picked them up and carried them into Savannah" (71). This was presumably in the 1870s, as the narrative continues as follows: "It was in that city that he met his present wife, Irene, and they were married about 1876" (71).

The narrative in SN3 seems to imply that Charles had stayed in the area where he had been a slave after being freed: "Many of the slaves remained with the owners. There they worked for small monthly wages and took whatever was left of cast off clothing and food and whatever the 'old missus' gave them" (69). The narrative in SN3 assumes that, after his wife's death, he still lives near, or with, his parents, as they all travel to Savannah together, as in the notes.

After work, go home &and lay down &and rest. Could not fish unless the master gave them a pass. If slaves go off plan–tation, then other Whiteswhites would catch them &and whip them. Couldn't cross road unless had pass. The narrative in SN3 mentions this last point in a section about punishments: "Another offense which brought forth severe punishment was that of crossing the road to another plantation. A whipping was given and very often a slave was put on starvation for a few days" (67).

Flour bread was scarce, only had it on Sundays. Shortsshorts 'a by-product of wheat milling that includes the germ, fine bran, and some flour' (MW). was made of wheat husk &and bread was made of it. When 7 Yankees came through, they asked children if they had enough to eat.

Mr. Jernigan had place closed up, &and Yankees tore it open &and gave it to slaves, but when Yankees went by, he took it back., &and told slaves to put it back. Mr. Jernigan is not mentioned in the narrative in SN3. "youYou cantcan't ~~cant~~ have my stuff." Soldiers told slaves, "ifIf he takes it back, you write &and 8 tell us," but slaves could not write &and were afraid to try. For the way the narrative in SN3 generalizes this anecdote, see note on page 4 of this document.

If it rained, the bell rung for slaves to go in shed &and stay until rain stop.

~~Bell~~

Father Coates blew horn or bugle for slaves 3three years.

Blew at 5:30 for slaves to rise. Blew at twelve for dinner. Blow 2two long 9 blows for, "goGo., Taketake your food &and eat as you work."

The narrative in SN3 explains that "[h]is duty was to see that all the slaves reported to work on time. The bell was rung at 5:30 a.m. by one of the slaves. Charles had the ringing of the bell for three years; this was in addition to the carriage driving. He tells with laughter how the slaves would 'grab a piece of meat and bread and run to the field' as no time was allowed to sit and eat breakfast" (66).

The narrative in SN3 of the Irene Coates interview appears to echo some of this information, along with other material from Charles's interview. See the headnote to this document.

Pretty good food on Sun–days.

Church was held for Whiteswhites on inside &and slaves on outside under oakesoaks or wash shed &and listen to preaching. Some would allow Negroes to shout &and praise the Lord., &and others wouldn'twouldn't let you say a word. The preacher would say, 10 "DontDon't steal, dontdon't lie, dontdon't kill, ^but Whenwhen you go to the field, pull up all grass &and weeds out of the corn, &and the master will think ~~you~~a heap of you." See SN3: "One priviledge given slaves on the plantation was appreciated by all and that was the opportunity to hear the word of God. The white people gathered in log and sometimes frame churches and the slaves were permitted to sit about the church yard on wagons and on the ground and listen to the preaching. When the slaves wanted to hold church they had to get special permission from the master, and at that time a slave hut was used. A white preacher was called in and he would preach to them not to steal, lie or run away and 'be sure and git all dem weeds outen dat corn in de field and your master will think a heap of you.' Charles does not remember anything else the preacher told them about God. They learned more about God when they sat outside the church waiting to drive their masters and family back home" (67-68).

Some of them would never go out into field to see, because they knew the niggers had done their work well.

Punish them by putting them in room two or 3three days without food 11 or water.

See SN3: "The treatment given by the overseer was very terrifying. He relates how a slave was put in a room and locked up for two and three days at a time without water or food, because the overseer thought he hadn't done enough work in a given time" (67).

Slave named Sambo said he could build a thing so slaves could not hollowSee hollow. so when they were whipped. soSo he built a stock to put head in &and fit tight around neck, Laylay body across barrel, whip him. Sambo was first to be put in it, &and when he was removed from it, he 12 was dead.

See SN3: "Charles relates an incident of a slave named Sambo who thought himself very smart and who courted the favor of the master. The neighboring slaves screamed so loudly while being whipped that Sambo told his master that he knew how to make a contraption which, if a slave was put into while being whipped would prevent him from making a noise. The device was made of two blocks of wood cut to fit the head and could be fastened around the neck tightly. When the head was put in the upper and lower parts were clamped together around the neck so that the slave could not scream. The same effect as choking. The stomach of the victim was placed over a barrel which allowed freedom of movement. When the lash was administreed and the slave wiggled, the barrel moved.

"Now it so happened that Sambo was the first to be put into his own invention for whipping. The overseer applied the lash rather heavily and Sambo was compelled to wiggle his body to relieve his feelings. In wiggling the barrel under his stomach rolled a bit straining Sambo's neck and breaking it. After Sambo died from his neck being broken the master discontinued the use of the device, as he saw the loss of property in the death of slaves" (68).

Had whips made of leather with holes in it, ~~& every time a lick was~~ every lick a whelpSee whelp. was made. Cat–a–nine–tales were used, &and every lick made nine whelps.

See SN3: "The whipping was done with sticks and a whip called the 'cat o' nine tails,' meaning every lick meant nine. The 'cat o' nine tails' was a whip of nine straps attached to a stick; the straps were perforated so that everywhere the hold in the strap fell on the flesh a blister was left" (67).

The term whelp here is replaced with welt in the narrative in SN3. See note on page 2 of this document.

Women in family way were whipped same as other people. Stripped naked, hung up by thumbs, &and whipped like a dog.

SN3: "Women were treated in the same manner, and a pregnant woman received no more leniency than did a man" (67).

The information here is echoed on page 78 of the published narrative in SN3 of the Irene Coates interview. See the headnote to this document.

Sunday clothes were ausenbur cloth. See ausenbur. Like much of the material on the following pages, this information does not appear in the published narrative in SN3 of this interview, but rather in that of Irene Coates (SN, vol. 3, 77). Although Charles appears to be the source, the material is presented as having been recounted to Muse by Irene. See the headnote to this document for more information. Long shirts on men &and boys, &and thatsthat's all they had on.See SN3: "His wearing apparel consisted of one garment, a shirt made to reach below the knees and with three quarter sleeves" (SN, vol. 3, 65).

Cloth was woven on place, ginned cotton &and weaved cloth. Old women were made to do this work.

Worn this shirt until 18eighteen yrsyears old. bare footedBarefooted. did'ntDidn't know what shoes were. 18Eighteen yrsyears old before he ever wore pants.

The published narrative in SN3 of this interview offers a similar statement, but in reference to a different garment and age: "He wore no shoes until he was a man past 20 years of age" (SN, vol. 3, 65).

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Winter time wore same thing, &and was "kept moving so fast you didn't have time to get cold" (laugh). See the published narrative in SN3 of this interview: "The single garment was ~~work~~worn summer and winter alike and the change in the weather did not cause an extra amount of clothes to be furnished for the slaves. They were required to move about so fast at work that the heat from the body was sufficient to keep them warm" (SN, vol. 3, 65).

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Master's son went to Army, &and fought &and got killed.

MastersMaster's ^(Mrs. Jones) mother, Miss Gussie, Miss Lizzie, Sherard. Hall. This appears to be a list of members of Hall's family. Mrs. Jones is added above the line. A caret in the text marks its insertion before that word mother, though it might appear more logical for it to follow that word. We have added parentheses for clarity, but have not altered the word order.

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Julius was son who went to war &and was killed.

Mr. Coates was in the Homehome Househouse. Home house likely refers to a residence where Hall lived away from the plantation, and where Coates may have resided at times in his role as carriage driver. See, for instance, the use of the term in the following passage from F.W. Foster, Successful Colored People, The American Missionary, vol. XLVII, no. 6, 1893, 187-189: “While still a boy, the ‘old mistress,’ the aunt already mentioned, promised him that ‘if he would be smart and do right, he should never be put on the plantation,’ which promise was most faithfully kept. He held a place of considerable trust, though but a boy, taking messages to distant families, and making journeys from the ‘home house’ to the plantation, eighty-five miles distant, to carry letters, medicine for the hands, and the like […]” (188).

There was a slave woman who was strong &and knew her work &and did it. She could grab up a big bag of guana.See guana. She could tote two at a time. Was much of a woman. She saw overseer whip a nigger &and said, "theThe day he ever hits me, he or I will die." One day the overseer who heard her say this. hit her 16 with a whip. She was hoeing in the field, &and took her hoe &and struck him,. heHe fell off horse, &and she chopped his head off, chopped him up, killed his horse, &and went to master &and told him, "I've killed the overseer,." Master said, "what.What?" "Yes, I've killed the overseer." He said, "youYou see that house over there, you go take it. 17 youYou are free, &and if the old missus asks you to do anything for her you, do it if you want to."

This anecdote does not appear in the published narrative in SN3 of the Charles Coates interview, but rather in that of Irene Coates (SN3 75-76). See the headnote to this document for more information.

A woman in Petersburg, Va.Virginia, owned slaves &and thought she was doing something smart, so she whipped a slave woman in the presence of Pres.President Abe LincolnsLincoln's wife. Mrs. Lin–coln was disgusted, &and went back home &and 18 told Mr. Lincoln, &and soon after, the war began.

Like the preceding anecdote, this one also does not appear in the published narrative in SN3 of the Charles Coates interview, but rather in that of Irene Coates (SN, vol. 3, 75-76). See the headnote to this document for more information.

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Married 3three years after freedom. At first big meeting,The first big meeting is presumably a revival meeting. a boy told him about his sister, &and had tin typetintype A tintype, or ferrotype, is "a positive photograph made by a collodion process on a thin iron plate having a darkened surface" (MW). made, &and sent it to his sister, &and brought sister's picture in exchange. He after married her. He fell in love at once. &and coated about 3three months. coated apparently in place of courted Only lived 4four days after.

She had consumption, &and he didn't know it. The narrative in SN3 tells this story with some variations: "The first sight of a certain young woman caused him to fall in love. He says the love was mututal [sic] and after a courtship of three weeks they were married. The girl's mother told Charles that she had always been very frail, but he did not know that she had consumption. Within three days after they were married she died and her death caused much grief for Charles" (70). Note the numerical discrepancies: the courtship in the notes was three months, but three weeks in the narrative in SN3; and the wife died four days after the wedding in the notes, but three days after in the narrative in SN3. In addition, the deliberate process of matchmaking recounted in the notes becomes in the narrative in SN3 a story of "love at first sight." He had her body put up in alcohol., &and burriedDARE registers burry as a Southern variant of bury. her like that.

A doctor &and school teacher told him how to put her away in alcohol.

See SN3: "He was reluctant to bury her and wanted to continue to stand and look at her face. A white doctor and a school teacher whose names he does not remember, told him to put his wife's body in alcohol to preserve it and he could look at it all the time. At that time white people who had plenty of money and wanted to see the faces of their deceased used this method."

Cost him $160.00.

See SN3: "Although the process of preserving the body in alcohol cost $160, Charles did not regret the expense saying, 'I had plenty of money at that time'" (71).

Regarding his spending power as a free man, the interview narrative in SN3 notes that "[a]fter slavery, Charles was rated as a good worker. He at once began working and saving his money and in a short time he had accumulated 'around $200'" (70).

She was in glass coffin, &and another coffin on outside, &and he used to go every other day to look at her. Vault was dug &and built in

We have included the calculations on this page (19b) in the separate item Charles and Irene Coates Age and Date Calculations. Pages 19b and 20b (visible in transcription view only) include calculations that we present in the separate item Charles and Irene Coates Age and Date Calculations.

20 ground with a part above ground, &and a glass window left open so you could see Headhead, &and after he like to have gone crazy, they cemented it up.

Many of the details provided here appear in the narrative in SN3, but the final anectdote about Coates inability to continue looking into the coffin, and the subsequent cremation, is omitted: "A glass casket was used and the dressed body of the deceased was placed in alcohol inside the casket. Another casket made of wood held the glass casket and the whole was placed in a vault made of stone or brick. The walls of the vault were left about four feet above the ground and a window and ledge were placed in front, so when the casket was placed inside of the vault the bereaved could lean upon the ledge and look in at the face of the deceased. The wooden casket was provided with a glass top part of the way so that the face could easily be seen" (70-71).

Married present wife about 60sixty yrsyears. If they were married in approximately 1876, as indicated in the narrative in SN3 (71), Charles and Irene would had been married for approximately sixty years at the time of the interview in 1936.

At the bottom of this page (20) and on the front and back of the following (21) we find notes that appear to correspond to the Irene Coates interview. We transcribe them at the end of that interview (as pp. 10-11b), not here.

As in the case of page 19b above, we have included the calculations on page (21b in the separate item Charles and Irene Coates Age and Date Calculations. As in the case of page 19b above, page 21b (visible here in transcription view only) includes calculations that we present in the separate item Charles and Irene Coates Age and Date Calculations.