Sam Bradford
State: Mississippi Interviewee: Bradford,
Sam
Bradford, Sam
State: Mississippi Interviewee: Bradford, Sam
An interview with SAM BRADFORD gave the following reminiscence:
"Now ain't no mo' lak it was den dan las' nite is ter-day!
The McNeels, Dukes, Bradfords, Boltons, Carrs, Wilsons, Gordons,
Rays, Wileys --- dey was de 'channel cats' back den. I went wid
misstus (Mrs. Bradford) an drove de buggy all de time.
State: Mississippi Interviewee: Bradford, Sam
"I drove massa (Judge Bradford) an mistus to Lochinvar to
Miss Annie Gordon's weddin'. That was de biggest thing I ever
seed or heard tell uv. Mistus, you has seen bright nites, an with
the stars a shinin', well dat's es' how Miss Annie looked comin'
down dem windin' stairs! After de weddin' dey had a big reception,
an Lawd, what dancin'! Folks jes came from everwhar! Dey fed about
600 folks dat night. Oh, it was de grandes' thing! Dey had everthing
to drink, wine, likkers, champagne from across de water. After
de big supper dem white folks dance near all night. A big band
come from Oxford an played, some was white an some wuzn't.
State: Mississippi Interviewee: Bradford, Sam
"Jack an Tobe Duke was de hot-shots uv de town..
State: Mississippi Interviewee: Bradford, Sam
"During de War, I had two old black steers an I did all de
hiden'. I move all de valerble things to de woods an hid 'em.
De Yankees come in one day an got ole mistus' watch an some uv
her fine jewelry. I got out uv de way like de white folks did
when de Yankees come in. But I stayed hid out in de woods between
here an Tupelo wid all de jewelry an things. We 'ud carry somethin'
to eat wid us but Lawd, dere wuzn't much eaten' den', cause everbody
was too scared to eat. My white folks was good to me; dere ain't
no folks like 'em dese days.
State: Mississippi Interviewee: Bradford, Sam
Sam Bradford (col), Pontotoc, Miss.
State: Mississippi Interviewee: Bradford, Sam
"After de War I stayed 'round an serve ole massa an mistus
'til one morning ole massa call me 'round to de front gal'y an
say, 'Now Sanford, you is free an you will hab to go out an do
the bes' you kin!' He say, 'Now, let me tell you somethin, now
boy, you keep out uv law', an' dat is the 'vice I took. I ain't
never gone befo no court fer nothin. Me an my brudder got us a
little place an went to work."
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