Frances Banks - Choctaw Freedwoman
I was born on a farm near Doaksville, near Hugo, Oklahoma, befo' de Civil
War. My parents belonged to an Indian family when I was jest a little child.
After the Rebellion on with the family and I lived near the family of Governor
Allen Wright for sixty years. I nussed all his chillun' and den later, long come
dey's chillun' and I nussed dem, and I'se even nussed the great grand chillun'.
After the War I was what you call a Freedman. De Indians had to give all dey
slaves forty acres of land. I'se allus lived on dis land which jines dat of Old
Master's and I'se never stayed away from it long at a time. I'se allus willing
to go back and nuss de sick and 'flicted but I allus come back home for a while.
I makes dis liniment of my own p'escription, and it's good for nearly everything
that ails you. A while back a man and a boy got snake-bit, and I put dis
liniment on 'em and dey was well in no time at all.
I has no real record of my being bawn, but I think I'se allus had good health
and can do most any kind of work I wants to. My grandfather, Uncle Wallace was a
slave of the Wright family when dey lived near Doaksville, and he and my
grandmother would pass the time by singing while dey toiled away in de cotton
fields. Granddfather was a sweet singer. He made up songs and sung'em. He made
up "Swing Low Seet Chariot" and Steal away to Jesus." He
made up lots more'n dem, but a Mr. Reid, a white man, liked dem ones de best and
he could play music and he helped grandfather to keep deese two songs. I loves
to hear'em.
I don't remember much about slavery days, 'cepting us chillun' had a right good
time playing. We ain't never had no jobs to speak of, cause Old Master wanted
all his young slaves to grow up strong and natchel like and none of us never
done no hard work till we was plumb grown and matured. Ole Master was allus good
and kind to us. I'se allus lived round white folks. I guess I'se de lone
sentinel round here now. I'se bout all dats left of de old days. Everbody have
gone and left me. I loves my home here cause dese hills and valleys never
change. I loves to hear de Bible read too. I never did learn to read though some
day I'se gwine to be wid my old frineds an if our skins here are black dey won't
be no colors in Heaven. Our souls will all be white.