Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-06-14
NAMES OF NEGROES.
The Curious Nomenclature That Orig
mated In Plantation Life.

Il
mated In Plantation Life.
| From the Philadelphia Times.I
Of course, on every plantation there
were several negroes of the same nauie,
and the negroes, who are apt at such
things, used various and curious sobri-
quets to distinguish them. On my fathers
place there were An Taller Liza, AM
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,
all 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
aged man, afflicted with an ulcer that
made him lame, was Tinker Hoppin Ben.
The grandson, who trembled with the
palsy and, besides, was supplemented, was
Tinker Chilly Ben. Though able-bodied,
he was neverrequired to do any work, ard
wandered about the place without let or
hindrance.
At the close of the war large majority
! of the Southern negroes assumed the name
of the family to which they belonged, get
! ting it fearfully twisted some times as, for
instance, Grim for Graham, Buskey for
Arowbuski, etc. Some went back in
search of names to their former owners in
Virginia or Carolina, who had either lost
them through debt or raised them to be
sold to the negro speculator, who brought
| them further South to be sold again to
work the cotton and rice plantations. In
! this way you will find the grandfather of
family bearing the name of his old mas
ter in Virginia, the son that of his owner
at the close of the war, while the grandson
assumes some fanciful name suggested BY
| circumstances. So / know an old man
! calling himself Jim Sanders. His son is
I Jim James, Jr. There is not nor never has
been Jim James, Sr. His son, again. is
Jim Grandson. Upon the plantations you
stlli occasionally come across the once
familiar names of Sambo, Cuffee, Dinah.
! Sukey, ETC., but very rarely even there;
GrandIsons, Mortimers, Lellas, Natalles,
etc. have taken their places.
! Bible names, with explanatory prefixes
/ and suffixes, are great favorites among the
devout portion of the negro community.
! The man who works my garden is King
!, David Jonsing. My wood-cutter is the
Rev. Solermon Wiseman, who. like ST.
Paul, does not disdain with his own hands
to minister to his necessities Beside these.
l number among my acquaintance the
Rev. Simon Surrender and Holy Taber-
nacie, Brother John the Baptist Tubbs.
and Elder William Wineglass, some
what Incorporate name for the calling.
Among the more secular are Jack Hyena
and Prince Albert Hardtimes, happy
equality between the aristocrat and the
plebian. The lusty young negro, who,
with Webster's spelling-book and a hick-
DRY, teaches the colored idea how to shoot,
has chosen the name of Professor Sam
Cape of Good Hope. A black Vulcan,
hammering sparks from his anvil, dubs
himself Samson Lightning. The butchers
boy, who comes whistling into the yard
with his basket upon his arm and has a
face as black as ebony, answers to the
name of Ivory Temple. A little colored
female tramp from the country, who comes
to me once week, totin' a bundle Of
lighterd on her head, which she offers to
to exchange for "a nick or two empty
tiasses. (hasks}, announces herself as Miss
Annerlizer Purse. An empty purse, evil
IDENTIFY. for she never fails to wind up the
trade by asking "Ain't yer got nuthin'
t eat yer kin give me ~