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Maria Perkins' Son Is Sold
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by
Maria Perkins, October 8th 1852 |
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One
of the most tragic aspects of slavery was the breakup of families.
In this letter, Maria Perkins writes to her husband Richard telling
him that their son Albert has been sold to a slave trader. Already
separated from her husband, who was owned by a different master,
Maria is terrified of being sold to a trader herself. She
begs her husband to ask his master to buy her. This letter
offers a heartbreaking glimpse into the daily reality of slavery,
most slaves could not read or write, so the fact that Maria was
able to write to her husband herself is remarkable (as is the fact
that he clearly would have been able to read it). |
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 Charlottesville
Oct 8th 1852
Dear Husband,
I write you
a letter to let you know of my distress my master has sold albert
to a trader on Monday court day and myself and other child is
for sale also and I want to you let hear from you very soon before
next cort if you can I dont know when I dont want you to wait
till Christmas I want you to tell dr Hamelton and your master
if either will buy me they can attend to it know and then I can
go afterwards.
I dont want a trader to get me they asked me if I had got any
person to buy me and I told them no they took me to the court
house too they never put me up a man buy the name of brady bought
albert and is gone I dont know whare they say he lives in Scottesville
my things is in several places some is in staunton and if I should
be sold I don’t know what will become of them I dont expect
to meet with the luck to get that way till I am quite heartsick
nothing more I am and ever will be your kind wife Maria Perkins.
To Richard Perkins
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