Name/Title
Gray Letters 1851 03 31Entry/Object ID
2024.10.1.268Description
This is a letter dated 03/31/1851 from Samuel Gray's sister Mary Joanna to her sister-in-law Lucy Gray and her brother Samuel Gray regarding family matters. She talks about the new house they have moved into that was purchased by her Uncle Edward. She describes it in detail. At one point she lists the members of her family; husband, wife, "darkie" and temporarily, the second son of their cousin Frances, George Peabody.
She mentions that her husband suffered an injury that has left him deaf in one ear but doesn't give any particulars. On another topic she mentions how expensive it is for Lucy to pay $12 for a servant. She says her servant cost Uncle $600 and her husband, Mr. Davis, paid $350 on her. (The 1840 Federal Census shows Mary's uncle, Edward Epps Powers having 3 slaves, 2 female and 1 male. The 1850 Census shows names of two people in his household as Elizabeth, age 55 and Nancy age 13 with a hard to read last name that could be "slave" although they are not shown as black. Mary's next letter confirms that Mary and her husband bought their black servant from her uncle for $600.)
We know, from many other letters, that Samuel and most of his siblings were opposed to slavery. This letter shows a stark contrast to that position in Mary's household. A section of the letter, after mentioning the price of her servant, reads:
"I do not desire to own such property, but as I expect to live here I would rather own my servant, than to hire for many reasons; and I am sure I do not want any more black persons about me than I can possibly do without; but it seems almost impossible to get along without a servant here, as it is double the work to keep house here, than it is in New England, and it seems to be unavoidable. The girl I have (Nancy, a very practical name, don't you think so?) is 13 years of age, and very smart to work, and equally so to mischief; she wants constant watching, she will tell lies, and steal and runaway when she is punished but as she is better than half of them, I try to put up with her badness, hoping she will grow better. She has been with me a year the 14th of this month. She is the only servant I have ever had."
