The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1878-09-21
THE STORY OF APRINCEss,
New York SUM-


ibald Mercer, the owner of mill property
at Milestone, N. j. bought a slave girl in
this city. 1t is the legend about her that
her features were almost as clear cut as
those of Caucasian, and her COM
plexion OF light copper hue. She was
slender and shapely, and ber bearing
was proud almost naughty. After she
became somewhat reconciled to Mr..
Msroer's service, and could speak Eng
llsh, the beautiful young slave told sad
story of her life. She was, she said, O
Kings daughter, and in her native land,
Madagascar, she wore dress fashioned
of the plumsge of the brightest-hued
birds. Her head-dress was also made OF
feathers. and her neck, arms and ankles
we're encircled with bands of gold and
strings of many -colored beads. One day
she wandered to the sea shore to pick up
shells for necklace She was alone
an intent upon her pastime. Suddenly
she felt herself grasped from behind by
rude hands. She had been captured by
the Grew of a slave ship. The slavers
tied handkerchief over her mouth and
carried her to their boat. Then they
rowed swiftly to their ship.
Dreading her fathers anger, the Cap
tain ordered sail to bs made at once.
The captive princess was forced to ex-
change her costly attire for a coarse cot
ton gown. and to herd with the slaves
ironed between decks. No manacles
were pnt on her, because she was pas
sively obedient to every command. The
slave ship entered port of the United
States, and the girl was brought to this
city for sale.
Within few years the captive princess
fell in love with a fellow slave, of
lighter hue than his comrades, and they
were married. Their first child dauh-
ter, was born about 1773. They called
her Rachel. About this time. Mr. Mer-
Ger the girls owner, sold his property
and moved to Newark, There, Theodore
Frelinghuysen, one of the founders of
the we'll known New Jersey family, of
which Senator Frelinghuysen is mem
ber, won the hand of bis daughter,
Charlotte, when Mr.. Mercer gave
the slave princess and her child, Rachel.
to his daughter on her wedding day.
When Rachel grew to womanhood she
was as beautiful as her mother had been.
She was married to Samuel Williamson,
slave belonging to Mr.. Frederick Fre-
liDghuysen. Six children, two of whom
are living, we're the fruit of this mar
riase
Rachel's mother lived until she was
fully 100 years Of age. She was in her
late years an object of affectionate solic-
ltude on the part of the FreliDghuysens.
She was not allowed to do any work, and
at eleven O'Clock every day glass of
line old wine WAS sent to her, with her
masters and mistress best wishes. She
was OF incorruptible honesty, and Jewels,
plate and money of very large value were
often left under her charge by the Free
linghuysens.
Rachel, who has been living for many
years in the household of Mr.. Dumont
Frelinghuysen, a brother OF the Senator,
and gentleman of independent means,
in oomerville N j., fell into her dotags
ABOUT year ago, when she had attained
her lo4th year. On Saturday the 10th
instant, Mr.. Frelinghuysen determined
10 send her to her daughters house on
the outskirts of Somerville. Rachel
seemed well pleased with the Change.
On Sunday her daughter, who is about
eighty years OF age, had a great muster
ing OF her friends to show off Rachel or
Nanny" as she is generally called.
On Monday Rachel was IN fine spirits
and ate heartily. In the evening she
was stricken with paralysis of the right
side anu throat. She fingered, without
solid food, until Tuesday last, and then
died. Her body was inferred in the
colored cemetry, near Somsrville. by the
side of colored woman who died at the
age of 103. The whole Frelinghuysen
family, including the Senator, attended
the funeral in their carriages. Rachel
Williamson was about 1O5 years OF age.
She often spoke of playing with the
Mercer children, who if they were living,
would be between 103 and 107 years of
age.