Page 79 - a-history-of-columbia-county-florida-(1996)-edward-f-keuchel

A History of Columbia County Florida (1996) Edward F. Keuchel 68/340

An Expanding County in a New State

or a movable oven could be suspended over the coals. Sweet
potatoes were roasted in the ashes, and Biddle recalled that her
father would often sit before the fireplace late at night and roast
potatoes for the children to eat for their breakfast. Meats eaten at
dinner were pork, beef, mutton and goat which had usually been
preserved by smoking. Coffee was used as a beverage although at
times a drink prepared from parched peanuts was substituted.
Mary and her family arose before dawn and prepared breakfast
for the master and the rest of his family and lodgers. The slave
family ate in the same dining room after the whites had finished.
Mary and her brother and sister washed the dishes after which
they were allowed to play until the next meals were served. The
social activities most remembered by Mary Biddle were the
occasions when slaves from surrounding plantations got together
for hog killings, candy pullings or chicken cookings. The slaves
attended “white folks” church on Sunday where they were seated
separately in the back. Mary recalled that sermons frequently
centered on the theme “slaves mind your masters, you owe them
your respect.” Occasionally prayer meetings were held in a slave
cabin where some “inspired” slave led the service.15
In the account of her experiences Biddle noted that marriages
among the slaves were not given either civil or religious recog­
nition. A male slave would inform his master when he desired a
certain girl as his mate. If the master agreed they would live
together as man and wife. If the girl was from another plantation
approval had to be obtained from both masters. This was generally
granted although it would necessitate the man securing travel
permits to visit his wife at regular intervals. Some problems
developed when freedom came and the ex-slaves were told those
who desired to continue living as man and wife had to marry
according to the law or be charged with adultery. Biddle recalled

}bIbid., pp. 33-35.

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