The morning call., 1894-11-11
AN AFRICAN PRINCESS.
Strange History of Mulatto Woman
Who Died In Florida.

Mary X. Sammis, aged SO, died recently at her
home in Arlington. The deceased was the
vile Of a white man, although herself a
mulalto. She also enjoyed the distinction Of
being the daughter of an African Princess, who
was the wife OF Zachariah Kingsley, a slave
trader. soldier, and one of The early planters
OF Duval County. who had great wealth, for
those days, owning thousands OF acres OF land
in this and other counties OF the State, besides
many slaves who worked his plantation at Fort
George aud other plantations further up the
river.
Mrs. Mary X. Sammi had uDdauDted energy.
Her hospitality is a byword of the ante-bellum
white folk In this county. and IN their hearts
she enjoyed warm place. She probably was
more highly thought of by the white people
than The black, as all her associations were
with the white people. The position she en-
1oyed was peculiar one and only dehuable by
a peruSal of the peculiar circumstances con-
nected with her birth aud life.
Her father, as was said before, was slave
ader. On one OF his expeditions 10 Africa he
met the Princess of a tribe and married her
there after the custom of the country. In his
Will, which is one OF The curious documents OF
the office of the County Judge, explaining this
marriage. he says:
"Nor do 1 know 10 what light the law may
consider my acknOwlt dyed wife, Anna Madgi-
game Tai, as our cOnnubial relations took place
in foreign land, where our marriage was cele-
bTated and solemnZed by her native African
customs, although never celebrated according
to the forms of Christian usage, yet she had
always been respected as my vile. and as such
l acknowledge her; nor DO L think that Der
truth, honor, integrity. moral conduct or good
sense Will lose In comparison with my own"
Zacharah Kingsley had no tolerance with
race prejudice, although he owned slaves and
evidently was believer in the right OF the
stronger human TO put In bondage the weaker.
Earlier IN his will he says:
81 do eDjOin my colored and natural children
hat, seeing that the illiberal and inequitablr
laws of this Territory will not afford them and
their children that protection and justice which
is due IN civilized society tosevery human be-
ing, always to keep by them Will ready made
ana legally executed. directing the disposal of
their property after their death, until they can
remove themselves and property 10 some land
of liberty ana equal rights, where the cOndi-
lions of society are governed by some law less
absurd than that of color"
Tie old gentleman had kind place In his
heart for his slaves. He says: SHOULD leave
any slaves, earnestly recommend TO my exec
utors not 10 separate the families by selling
them individually without their consent, II 10
be avoided Ii Is my will, and | do hereby su-
IhorlZe my executors not TO SEPARATE the fam
lilies, but TO allow any OF my slaves the privi-
lege OF purchasing their freedom at 0ne-half
the price OF their valuation on condition that
they migrate TO Hayti If they cannot be allowed
10 stay free in this county,
Some OF these slaves It Is said, did purchase
their freedom and went 10 Hayti, expecting
that under the negro Government there they
would have more freedom and privileges. Sew
eral OF them came back IN the face OF the law
prohibiting Tree people OF color from coming
into the territory. One OF these was a negro
woman who, when the authorities got after her,
declared that they could do with her what they
pleased. but that she would rather be hanged
than return 10 that country. Some friend in
terceded with the Governor In her behalf, and
the upshot was that she was allowed to remain.
But TO return 10 the history OF Mrs Sammis.
She was said TO be remarkably handsome
mulaJto. modest and of refined department
aud The same was said Of her sister. The re-
suit was that bOth secured white husbands.
One married John Sammis and the other
welded man named Baxter.
Neither OF these marriages would be allowed
under the laws OF Florida, which were strict
against miscegenation. SO. to avoid prosecu-
ton, they went out in vessel many leagues
from the shore and beyond the Jurisdiction OF
the States authorities and there the ceremony
was performed.
One of the stories connected with the Kings
ley girls concerns blue bloOded son of one OF
he Oldest houses of South Carolina. He came
10 Florida on a visit, and is said to We fallen
desperately in love with the young woman who
afterward became Mrs. Baxter. The girl firmly
declined his proffer of marriage because she
would not become the wife of any man whose
family would not recognize her.
One of the daughters of Mrs. Baxter lived In
Paris during the SOS and became a reignine
belle, the SwellS Of the city going wild over heI
b auty, wit, refinement aud accomplishments
Florida Times Union.