Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1890-05-26
ANNAPOLIS, MD. MONDAY EVENING. MAY 26. 1890
NAMES OF NEGROES.

The Curious Nomenciatnre That 0rigt-
mated in the Old Plantation Life.
OF course, on every plantation there
were several negroes of the same name,
and the negroes, who are apt at such
things, used various and peculiar sobri-
quets to distinguish them. On my faith
er's place there was an Taller Liza, an
BLACK Liza and an Pop Eyed Liza an
Tinker Big Jake. Tinker Little Jake and
Tinker Knock Kneed Jake. There were
in one family three generations of Bens,
oil possessed of mental or physical in
trinity. The old man, who had been
kicked in the head by mule, was crazy.
He spent his days and pretty nearly all
his nights standing under broad China
tree preaching of the Judgment day. He
was Tinker Fool Ben. His son, a middle
nged man, afflicted with an ulcer that
made him lame, was Tinker Hoppin'
Ben. The grandson, who trembled with
the palsy and besides was simple minded,
was Tinker Chilly Ben. Though able
bodied, he was never required to do any
work and wandered about the place
without let or hindrance.
At the close of the war a large ma
jority Of the Southern negroes assumed
the name of the family to which they
belonged, getting 1t fearfully twisted,
sometimes, as, for instance, Grim for
Graham, Buskey for Arowbuski, etc.
Some went back in search of names to
their former owneys in Virginia or Caro-
lima, who had either lost them through
debt or raised them 10 be sold to the
negro speculaior, who brought them
further South to be sold again 10 work
the cotton and rice plantations. In this
way you will now find the grandfather
of family bearing the name OF his old
master in Virginia, the son that Of his
owner at the close OF the war, while the
grandson assumes some fanciful namo
suggested by circumstances So know
an old man calling himself Jim Sanders
His son Is Jim James. jr. There is not
nor ever has been Jim James, ST. His
son, again. is Jim Grandson. Upon the
plantations you still occasionally come
across the once familiar names of Sambo,
Cuffee. Dinah, Sukey, etc, but very
rarely even there. Grandisons, Morti-
mers, Leilas. Nathalies, ETC., have taken
their places. Bible names, with explain
atory prefxes and suffixee, are great
favorites among the devout portion of
the negro community. The sman who
works my garden Is King David JON
sing. Ny woodcutter Is Rev. Solermon
Wiseman, who, like ST. Paul, does not
disdain with his own hands to minister
to his necessities. Besides these, num-
Der among my acquaintance Rev. Simon
Surrender and Holy Tabernacle. Brother
John the Baptist Tubbs and Elder Will
liam Wineglass, a somewhat intemper-
ate name for the calling Among the
more secular are Mr.. Jack Hyena and
Prince Albert Hardtimes, happy equal
ity between the aristocrat and the pie
beian The lusty young negro man who,
with Webster's spelling book and hick-
ory, teaches the colored idea how to
shoot, has chosen the name Of Professor
Sam Cape Of Good Hope A black VuI-
can. hammering sparks from his anvil,
dubs himself Sampson Tightening. Tho
butchers boy, who comes whigtling In
to the yard with bis basket upon his arm
and has face as black as ebony, ans
wers to the name of Ivory Temple. A
little colored female tramp from the
country, who comes to me once o week,
totin' bundle Of lighter'd on her head.
which she offers to exchange for ~a nick
or two em'ty faSsos" CASKS. announc-
ing herself as Miss Annerlizer Purse. An
empty purse, evidently. for she never
fails to wind up the trade by asking:
Amt yer got nuthin' feat yer kin give
me2"-(P Philadelphia Times.