Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1858-07-08
From the Selma Ala. Sentinel.
AN L NEGRO.
4 SERVANT OF GENERAL WASHINGTON.

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A SERVANT OF GENERAL WASHINGTON.
While in Talladega County, a few weeks
ago, we spent an evening at the residence Of
Major Benjamin Smoot, near Mardisville, and
there found a relic Of the Revolutionary war,
in the shape OF an old negro man, whose name
was Jerry, and who Informed US that he was
one hundred and seven years old We found
the old negro a great talker, relating the in
cidents and scenes Of the Revolutionary war,
with great zeal and feeling. He gave US the
the following account Of himself, which we
were subsequently informed was true: That he
was born the property Of Col. Fauteroy, Of
Rappehanock county, Virginia, III the year
l75l, and while General Washington was in
Philadelphia, attending the Continental Con-
gress, he purchased him from his master, Civ
ing thirty pounds for him. Soon after he be-
came the property Of Washington, General
Washington took command of the army-tak-
ing Jerry with him as his body servant, which
position Jerry occupied until the close of the
great struggle for American Independence,
taking an active part in all the battles in which
Washington was engaged. Jerry r~ecounts
with great accuracy the prominent incidents
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relating the hardships experienced by the sold
iers Of the American rces-especially of the
hardships in the Jersey colony.
After the close of the war, Jerry was taken
to Mount Vernon, where he remained until the
year before the death of Gen. Washington,
when becoming discontinued, in consequence
OF his wife moving to a distant neighborhood,
he was sold to the owner of his wife. A few
years after, Jerry's wife died. He again be-
coming dissatisfied with his master, was again
sold, and finally was carried to Richmond and
placed in the public market, where he was pur-
chased by the father of Colonel Hugh P. Wat
son, now Of Montgomery, Ala. Mr.. Watson
kept Jerry until his death, when he fell into
the hands of his young master--Col. Hugh
Watson.
When the war with Mexico took place and
there was a call for volunteers to fight the
battles Of the country, Col. Watson was one
of those who volunteered. AS soon as Jerry
heard that his young master was going to war,
he declared his master should not go unless he
too went with him. Jerry, true to his deter
mination, induced by a faithful attachment to
his master, went with the Talladega volunteers
and many are the jokes told on Jerry by the
lTalladega boys. Jerry would not only take
every opportunity he could to kill a Mexican,
but would, when he could not shoot one, win
their money from the " Yallow devils" a very
popular phrase of Jerry's when speaking of the
Mexicans. Jerry declares that he and one Of
freely were the only Americans that could
beat the Mexicans at Monte and such other
games as they played, and as a proof of it,
Jerry brought home quite a number of Jumps
Of gold, which he took great delight in show
ing as specimens Of Mexican currency.
When the service of the Alabama volunteers
expired in Mexico, Jerry returned with his
young master.
Major Smoot finally purchased Jerry's wife,
and Col. Watson gave Jerry permission to go
where and when he pleases. He stays most
of his time at Major Shoots feeding pigs,
working in the garden and doing such little
work as he feels disposed to do.
Until within the last year or two, Jerry
was quite active, very Industrious, and made
moaey for himself but within the last year
or two, he has become quite decrepid, and it
is only with the use Of his crutch and stick that
he can move about.
Jerry told us that he, at one time, felt very
CIlS lOuol OuV WhO AO W Val &AA
found he could beat the Mexicans SO easy
playing cards, he lost all his religion.
Jerry is very popular with every member Of
the company that went from Talladega to
Mexico, and will fight quick if he hears one OF
them spoken of wrongfully.
He is certainly an extraordinary old negro
has a most minute and distinct recollection
of all the scenes of the Revolution-reeollect
all the prominent officers, and can give an ex.
%eellent description of their apprenticeship
color Of their hair, eyes, complexion, and eve
rything in connection with them. He thinks
General Washington was a supernatural mar
that all his acts and deeds were under the
supervision and directed by Providence. He
loves Washington and hates Arnold. Jerry
says he always hated Arnold from the first
time he ever saw him at Trenton, when dining
with General Washington.
We don't know that we ever found q per.
son in whose conversation we were more inter
ested in than this old negro, and to one who
is fond Of hearing miraculous tales, Jerry would
prove most interesting.