Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1878-06-27
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John Rand5lph owned broad estates
on the Roanoke river, bordering North
Carolina. There he practised splen-
did hospitality; horses, hounds, and a
retinue Of servants were at the COM
mand OF kis guests. On bis plantation
were employed, or kept nearly athDus-
and slaves. The number vas not re-
dSced BY .ales. Ns. Randolph never
sold A slave, and BIZ his wIIi inanumit-
fed all thatsbelonged TO him at his death.
Under the laws Of Virgins ffeedmen
could NOT reside on her soil, and IN tbe
deed Of manamission provision was
made for the settlement of'1the emanci-
pated negroes on land TO be acquired in
a,lree State. A sum of money was set
apart for their maintenancein the mean
time.
Although Mr. Randolph died IN 1888,
il was not until 1916 that Judge Leigh,
the executor Of his will, removed the
negroes from their old home on the
Roanoke TO Cincinnati. Here transfer
was made 10 boats on the Miami and
Erie canal, and the journey continued
10 Mercer county, Ohio, about 40 miles
north OF Cincinnati where 5000 acres
OF land had been purchased for the col
onists.
They arrived at their destination, but
they were not permitted to land. Some
of the very men who had sold their
land 20 Judge Leigh for the negroes
Joined their neighb0rs in hostile demon
STATIONS. Neither the local nor the
State authorities would interfere.
The boats were turned about and q
retreat made to Piqua, fourisbing city
ninety-fye miles north of Cincinnati.
Here the freedmen landed and encamped
in bend of Great Miami river. on the
evening of the 4th OF July, 1916. II
was q sad independence Day to them.
Denied return 10 their native State,
denied the homes which had been pur-
chased for them, with no knowledge Of
aay means of livelihood but the rude
work Of a Virginia plantation, these
homeless and houseless freedmen were
IN a most pitiable condition. From the
death of MIR. Randolph until the exodus
of the freedmen from Roanoke-thir-
teen years-their number had been
greatly reduced. During his life there
had been a steady natural increase, and
no diminutions, except by death. But
the remnant encamped at 'Piqua num-
bered not over $50 souls, and many Of
them were old men and woman, far adj
vanced in heIplessness. The proper
ton ofsahle -bodied, smiddle7aged men
ahd women ID the children and old pco-
pie was noticeably small. How to pro-
vide for this number of dependent peo-
pie was the absorbing question with
IudgevLeighnnd the humane people he
net at Pidua. who tkhdered him not
only their advice, butkery efficient aid.
With the ready money he had in bis
possession he bought small homesteads
for the older members of the colony, IN
a subdfb 6sVah6 city aud found situa-
lions al Iaboeers foF the yoang men, and
places as house servants tor the young
women-in many cases securing homes
for entire families on farms, and thus
preventing, as far as POSSIBLE, the sepa-
lion Of parents and children. The coli
ony was broken into fragments. but was
Sidney, Piqua, Troy and West Milton
the latter. a Quaker commonly.
In all this company of $50 men, wo-
men and children, there was not mu-
latto. The African blood had been
preserved in its purity. A few of the
children could read to very limited ex-
tents-butrthis was allihe educational there
was among them. They bad everything
to learn. Plantation methods Of work
would not answer on Ohio farms, and
men and women had to be taught, like
children, TO perform the most simple
operations. They were awkward and
inapt, but fortunately they were among
friends whopossessed patience, and who
were anxious to help them. The older
members of the colony showed great
anxiety for the education Of their chill
dren. The public schools were shut
against them. Their parents gladly used
q portion OF the money bequeathed them
by their late master for this purpose.-
A youngman was found who agreed to
take charge Of their school. Itrequired
great moral courage for him to do this,
as there was at that day a strong preja-.
dice against anything which looked like
elevaiing the colored race.
While they were encamped on the
river bank al Piqua the Randolph ne
groes were almost as much an object
Of curiosity as the same number of Nez
Perces Indians would be now. Visi-
tors took delight in having the young
people dance plantation jigs and sing
their unintelligible songs, while shoe
down." when one could be set in mo-
ton, was more fascinating than the best
organized minstrel troupe that ever APP
peared before the .footlights.. I have
seen boys Of IRON eight 10 fifteen years
dance and sing by the hour for the &C.
casionai dimes and quarters tossed
them. A refrain Of one of their live
liest,tongs ran thus, repeated hour after
hour, very monotonously, but without
any apparent WEAKNESS:
build my house in Baltimore;
build my house in Baltimore;
build my house in Baltimore,
Three stories high.
There was prolonged stress on the
word three" and one not quite so for
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