The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-10-28
CHILD or AN AFRICAN PRINCESS.
The Death In Florida or n MuIatto Woman
whose History WIS Strange

Fo,H the Flo, ida Tunes. linton.
Mary X. Sammis. aged NJ years, died yesterday
morning Mt her home in Arlington. The de-
ceased was the wife ~ n white man, although
herself a mulatto. She also enjoyed the dis
t%inction OF being the daughter Of an African
princess who was the wife Of Zachariah Kings
ley. n slave trader. n 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 plan-
tation ut Fort George. and other plantations fur
Their up the river.
Mrs. Mary X. Sammis had undaunted energy,
her hospitality il a byword Of the ante-bellum
white folk In this county, and in their hearts
she enjoyed a 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 enjoyed was
a peculiar one and only definable by a pcrusal OF
birth and life.
Her father. "a was said before. was a slave
trader. On one OF his expeditions to 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 mar
Nor do | know in what light the law may
game Tai. as our connubial relations took placei In
aforeign land. where our marriage was celebrated
was solemnized by her native African customs,
forms OF Christian usage. yet she had always
been respected as my wife, and a. such ! &C
honor. integrity. moral conduct or good sense
will lose in comparison with my own"
race prejudice. although he owned slaves and
evidently was a believer in the right of the
stronger human 70 put in bondage the weaker.
Earlier in his will he says:
ri do enjoin my colored and natural children
that q se sSIs T te a she Viii illi1 sgs ot snd di1 1sam aDS
their children that protection and justice which
is due in civilized society to every human being,
legally executed, directing the disposal of their
property after their death. until they can re-
liberty aud equal rights. where. the conditions
Of society are governed by some law less absurd
than that of color
The old gentleman had a kind place in his
heart for his slaves. He says: should leave
any slaves. earnestly to my execu-
iDdiyid ually without their consent. II TO be
avoided. 1t is my will, and ! do hereby. author
but to allow any Of my slaves the privilege OF
purchasing their freedom az one-half the price
crate to Hayti IL they cannot be allowed to stay
free In this country"
their freedom and went to Hayti, expect
ing that under the negro Government there
1 pri&,Ier would seve hsye of more them fre es@e b %af
In the face of the law. prohibiting free
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 hung than return to that
country. Some friend interceded with the
Governor In her behalf. and the upshot was that
she was allowed to remain.
But to return to the history Of Mrs. Sammis.
She was said 10 be a remarkably handsome
mulatto. modest and OF refined department.:
and the same was said Of her sister. The result
was that both secured white husbands. One
married John Sammis and the other welded a
man named Baxter.
Neither OF these marriages would be allowed
under the laws or Florida, which were strict
against miscegenation. So, TO avoid prosecu-
ton. they went out in a 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 a blue-blOOded son OF one OF
the oldest houses OF South Carolina. lie came
To Florida on n visit, and Is said to have fallen
desperately in love with the young woman who
afterward became Mrs. Baxter. The girl firmly
declined his prefer 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 n reigning
belle. the swells Of the city going wild over her
beauty, wit, refinement, and accomplishments.