Reeves Tucker was interviewed twice by writers working for the Federal Writer's Project of the Works Progress Administration. Transcripts were published as part of "Slave Narratives: A Folk History of Slavery in the United States from Interviews with Former Slaves" [http://www.ancestry.com/search/rectype/biohist/slavnarr/main.htm]. One of the interviews was transcribed and included in a Library of Congress publication, "Born in Slavery: Slave Narratives from the Federal Writer's Project, 1936-1938" [http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/snhtml/snhome.html]. The latter publication includes a photograph of Mr. Tucker:


State: Texas Interviewee: Tucker, Reeves
REEVES TUCKER, 98 year old Negro farmer of Harrison Co., Texas, was born in Bibb Co., Alabama, a slave of George Washington Tucker, Sr. [see notes below]. When Reeves was six his master died and Reeves was separated from his family and brought to Texas by George Tucker Jr. Reeves now lives with his son, who owns a farm nine miles northwest of Marshall, Texas.

"My father was Armistead Tucker and my mother Winnie Tucker and they's both born slaves of Massa George Washington Tucker. He lived over in old Alabama between Silmen and Mapleville. My brothers was Andy and John and Peter and there was two girls, Anna and Dorcus, and we was all born on Massa Tucker's plantation. My missy died 'fore I was born and my old massa died when I was jest a shirt-tall boy and his chillen had a dividement of his lands and mammy and all the chillen but me fell to the daughter and pappy was give to the son. Pappy begs to hard for me to go with him that fin'ly they lets me. I never seed my mammy after that, bein' as how Missy Emogene stays in Alabama and us come to Texas.

"Massa George settles near Gilmer and he sho' have a big place with lots of acres and a good house. He didn't 'low no beatin' on that place but I've saw slaves on other places whopped till the blood run off them onto the groun'. When they was cut loose from the tree or whippin' post they falls over like dead. But our massa was good to us and give us lots to eat and wear. We et pork meat and white flour jest like the white folks and every woman have to spin so many yards cloth 'fore she go to bed. So we allus had the clothes.

"I've saw lots of slaves bid off like stock and babies sold from their mammy's breast. Some brung 'bout $1,500, owing to how strong they is. Spec'lators used to ride all over the country near our place and buy up niggers and I've saw as many as fifty in a gang, like convicts.

"But Massa George wouldn't sell and buy slaves and none of 'em ever run off 'cept my pappy and one night he started to go 'cross a shirt of woods to the neighbors and young massa was a pattyroller and tells pappy to wait and go with him, but pappy hard headed as a mule and goes hisself and the pattyrollers cotches him and nigh beats him to death. Young massa was sho' mad as fire, 'cause he didn't want his niggers beat up.

"Them circuit ridin' preachers come to the white church and tries to make the white folks bring their slaves to preaching. Preacher say 'Nigger have a soul to save same as us all.' Massa allus went to church but I don't 'lieve it done him any good, 'cause while he there at meetin' the niggers in the field stacking that fodder. He did give us Christmas Day and a big dinner and 'cept for workin' the lights outten us, gen'rally treated us decent and we had heap easier time than any other slaves 'round.

"I 'member the war and Jeff Davis and Abe Lincoln was warfaring 'bout freein' the niggers 'bout four year 'fore they fought. Massa Tucker jest grunted when we was freed, 'cause he knowed the thing was up, and he tells us if we'd stay and help the crop out he'd give us a horse and saddle but we didn't git nothin'. So I lef' him soon as the crop laid by the year of freedom and then moved with pappy to a farm near Hallsville and stays with him till I marries. I had seven chillen to be growed and married and I farmed near Hallsville mos' my life, till I too old. My son, Reeves after me, owns this farm and we's all right. Never did have hard times after freedom, like some niggers, 'cause we just sot down on the land.


State: Texas Interviewee: Tucker, Reeves
Tucker, Reeves -- Additional Interview

Reeves Tucker, a 98 year old Negro farmer of Harrison County, was born in Bibb County, Alabama, as a slave of George Washington, Tucker, Sr. At the age of six years his master died and Reaves was separated from his mother brothers and sisters and brought to Upshur County, Texas with his father by George Washington, Jr. He married several years after Emancipation and reared seven children to be grown and married. He now lives with the son, Reeves Tucker, who owns a farm nine miles northwest of Marshall on the Harleton Road.

"My father was Armistead Tucker and my mother was Winnis Tucker. They was both born as slaves of Master George Washington Tucker, who lived in Bibb County, Alabama, between Silman and Mapleville. My brothers was Andy, John and Peter and there was two girls, Anna and Dorcus. We was all born there or wester Tuckers place in Bibb County, Alabama. My Mistress died 'fore I was born, and my old Master died when I was best a shirt-tall boy. When he died, the children had a "dividement" of the property. Mammy and all the children fell to his daughter, and Pappy was give to his son, George Washington Tucker, what was fixing to move to Texas. Pappy begged so hard fer some of the children that finally they let me go with him. I never seed Mammy or any of my relations after that, being as how Miss Emogene stayed to Alabama and my young Master come to Texas and settled twelve miles north of Gilmer.

He had a big place and lived in a good house, but didn't have so powerful many slaves. He never 'lowed no overseer on his place. Master Tucker didn't believe in having his "Niggers" beat up, they cost too much. I'se saw slaves on other places whipped till the blood run off them onto the ground. When they cut them loose from the tree they fell over like they was dead. I'se saw lots of slaves bid off like stock, and babies sold from their mothers breast. Some of them brought $1,500, owing to how strong they was. Speculators rode all over the country buying up "Niggers". I'se seed as many as fifty in a gang being driven like convicts. The bosses 'round where we lived made the old wimmen what was too old to work, tend to the children while the slaves worked. They built them a house to themself and first thing in the mo'ning everybody had to take the children to them.

Master Tucker was good to his darkies, and give us plenty to eat and wear. We et po'k and flour bread jest like the white fo'ks. Every woman had to spin so many yards of cloth 'fore she go to bed after we come in from the field. None of Master Tuckers "Niggers" ever run off 'cept my father. One night he started to go 'cross a "shirt" of woods to one of the neighbors. Young Master was a pattyroller and told him to wait and go with him, but Pappy was hard headed as a mule and went on by his-self. The Pattyrollers cotched him might nigh beat him to death. Young Master was sho' mad as fire, cause he didn't want his "Niggers" skinned up. I think them Pattyrollers kinda beat some sense in his head, for after that he allus went with young Master or got a pass.

There was a white chu'ch 'bout a mile and a half from the place. Them circuit-rider preachers made the bosses bring their slaves to preaching. He say, "They have a soul to save as same as us". Master did not think so and would make us wo'k on Sunday. He allus went to chu'ch but I don't believe it done him any good cause while he was up there at "meeting", having a big time us "Niggers" was in the fiel' stacking that fodder. He giv' us Christmas day and a big dinner and 'cept for wo'king the "lights" out of us mos' generally treated us decent. We had heap easier time than the other slave 'round there.

Them days we never put co'n in a crib with shucks on it like they do now. The bosses would give big co'n shuckings at night. There was allus plenty to eat and four or five gallons of "licker" at the co'n shuckings. When we was through we had a big dance and party and cut up gener'lly.

I 'member 'bout the war. Jeff Davis and Abe Lincoln was warfaring 'bout freeing the "Niggers" 'bout four years 'fore they fought. Master Tucker didn't say anything when we was freed, he jest grunted cause he knowed the thing was up. He called us all to the house and told us we was free and that if we stay and help get the crop out, he'd give us a horse and saddle, but we didn't get nothing. I left the Tuckers soon as the crop was laid by the year of freedom, and moved with my father to a farm near Hallsville and lived with him till I was married.

I'se saw two "ghostes" in my life. I allus heard talk of ghostes but didn't take no stock in sich like till I seed two. I'd heard lots of talk 'bout a certain place over there by Hallsville and one night I was coming long there. Jest as I was going up a hill I saw "it" ... I couldn't tell you what it looked like only it was by the side of the road and white as driften-snow. I was single footing along the road but when I saw "that thing" all white as snow, I say, "I guess that is the "ghost" they talk of". It didn't take me long to change that single foot into a run. I never did look back, but jest close my eyes and "flew". The next day I went back down there and look all round in the bushes where I saw it, but there warn't a thing.

The other ghost I saw between Marshall and Harleton. Me and a man that lived jining farms was called to Marshall on court-day. They was building the new courthouse and had court over Sid Perry's Drug Store. They turned us loose 'bout nine o'clock at night and we started home. 'Bout four miles out of Marshall as we was walking long the road something that looked like a big black dog walked out of the bushes right out in front of us. My partner picked up a rock and chunked at it. But he didn't pay no mind but jest kep' walking slow a few feet in front of us. Then we both chunked it, and I know we was close enough to hit it, but he never made no sound or seem to care a bit fer the chunking. I got scared and tell my partner not to throw at "it" again. We wanted to run but was 'fraid to try to pass what ever it was. My friend say he guess it was a "ghost" that some of the Niggers talk 'bout seeing on that road. He say one time that "Something" that looked like a black dog come out in front of a friend of his that was riding 'long that road horseback and make the horse throw him and break his leg. "It" walked slow along in front of us fer more than a mile then turned off in the woods. We sho' didn't loose no time getting home you can bet.

State: Texas Interviewee: Tucker, Reeves
(Dibble, Fred, P. W., Grey, Bernice, V. W., Beaumont, Jefferson, Dist. #3, 08 February 1937, (Yes))


There was some confusion over the identity of Reeves' "old massa". The narrative names George Washington Tucker's father as "George Washington Tucker, Sr." His father was actually Simeon Tucker. George's paternal grandfather was named George (more about him here: http://www.rootsweb.com/~alfayett/TUCKER_George.html). Grandfather George died in 1852 at age 107 in Marion County, Alabama, and Simeon died in Neshoba County, Mississippi in 1856. Simeon had moved, with two sons and two daughters, to Mississippi, while George Washington Tucker remained in Bibb County, Alabama (see 1850 US Census information).

However, later research turned up a tax listing from Bibb County in 1848 which lists the slaves of Joseph White Jones by name, and Armistead (as "Armstead") and Winnie (as "Winna") are named in that document, as are three of their children:

"JONES, Joseph W. Secs. 16, 17, 20 T. 21 R. 13. Value $1500. Seven slaves under 10 (Jane, Harris, Rachel, Judy, Mary, Ann, Dorcus), 4 between 10 and 20 (Feba, Richard, Peter, Jim), 2 between 20 and 30 (Winna, Lucy), 1 between 30 and 40 (Armstead), 1 between 40 and 50 (Hester). 1 clock. Cattle over 20 head, 27. (p. 234)" [http://www.rootsweb.com/~albibb/taxes/1848taxlist4.htm]

Apparently, it was Joseph's death which led to the "dividement". Armistead was probably given to Joseph's daughter Lucinda by provision of Joseph's will. Lucinda was the wife of George Washington Tucker.

I can find no family member named Emogene in either the Jones or Tucker families. She is likely to be Reeves' mistaken remembrance of Genetta (Woolley) Jones, wife of Hugh Jones. Hugh is Joseph White Jones' eldest son and the executor of his estate.

As for the Tuckers, all of George Washington Tucker's siblings had left for either Mississippi or Texas by 1850. His brother, James Madison Tucker, was in Upshur County, Texas, in 1850 (1850 US Census). After the "dividement", it appears that George left Alabama tor Upshur County, and brother Simeon Jackson left Mississippi for Upshur County as well. George and Simeon Jackson are found in Upshur County in the 1880 US Census.

Reeves told the WPA interviewer that he was 98, but he was actually about 87 years old at the time of the narrative, according to the preponderance of census returns.

1. Sandra Tucker b: 1872 in Texas
2. Reeves Tucker b: MAY 1878 in Hallsville, Harrison, Texas
3. Emma Tucker b: SEP 1880 in Texas
4. James Tucker b: MAR 1882 in Texas
5. Dock Tucker b: FEB 1885 in Texas
6. Susan Tucker b: JUL 1886 in Texas
7. Patsy Tucker b: ABT 1889 in Texas
8. John Tucker b: SEP 1889 in Texas
9. Mary Tucker b: ABT 1891 in Texas
10. Winnie Tucker b: MAR 1895 in Texas

1. Title: Slave narrative of Reeves Tucker
   Author: Federal Writers Project
   Publication: Works Project Administration, Washington, DC.: n.p.
   Note: http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=slavnarr&ti=0&prox=1&gs=bibb+alabama&submit=search&gss=angs&ct=78119
   (subscription to Ancestry.com required)
   Note: Oral history transcription. Text scanned using OCR. Obvious mistakes corrected.
   Repository:
   Note: Provo, UT: Ancestry.com, 2000
   Media: Electronic
   Text: Slave narrative:
   State: Texas Interviewee: Tucker, Reeves
2. Title: Texas Birth Index, 1903-1997
   Author: Texas Department of State Health Services
   Publication: Provo, UT, USA: MyFamily.com, Inc., 2005
   Repository:
   Media: Ancestry.com
   Text: Name: Reese Tucker
   Death Date: 19 Aug 1938
   Death County: Harrison
   Certificate: 37623
3. Title: 1870 US Census, Texas
   Repository:
   Media: Census
   Page: Harrison County, p 125B
   Text: line 22, family 265, Tucker, Reves [Rives in index], age 23, male, black, farm hand, b. Alabama, married in July of 1870, cannot read or write, male citizen of US over 21
4. Title: 1880 US Census, Texas
   Repository:
   Media: Census
   Page: Precinct 3, Harrison, Texas, p. 425A
   Text: Rieves TUCKER, Self, M, M, B, 30, AL, Occ: Laborer, Fa: AL, Mo: AL
5. Title: 1900 US Census, Texas
   Repository:
   Media: Census
   Page: Harrison County, JP 3, District 44, p 126B
   Text: line 91, dwelling 161 family 161, Tucker, Reans [sic - in index] head, black, male, [unreadable month - Mar?] 1851, age 49, married 24 years, b. Texas [sic], father b. Georgia [sic], mother b. Georgia [sic], cannot read, can write and speak English, owns farm
6. Title: 1910 US Census, Texas
   Page: Harrison County, District 39, JP 3
   Text: line 68, dwelling 34, family 34, Tucker, Reves [sic] head, male, black, age 69, married (1st) 42 years, b. Alabama, father b. Alabama, mother b. Alabama, speaks English, farmer, general farm, employer, cannot read or write English, owns farm
7. Title: 1920 US Census, Texas
   Page: Harrison County, JP 3, ED 51, p 75B
   Text: line 56, Tucker, Reese, father-in-law, male, black, age 62, married, cannot read or write, b. Texas, father b. Georgia, mother b, Georgia, can speak English, farmer, general farm, own account
8. Title: 1930 US Census, Texas
   Page: Harrison County, JP 4 ED 102-18, SD 6, p 72A
   Text: line 45, dirt road north of Coffeyville Road, Tucker, Reese, head, owns home, farm, male, negro, age 83, married at age 22, cannot read or write, b. Alabama, father b. Alabama, mother b. Alabama, farmer, general farming