The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-10-16
WEDDINGS AMONG SLAVES.
Courtship and Marriage Of Plantation
NeEr oes Before the War.
From The Charlotte Obserre

From the Charlotte Obserrer.
It was unusual for q negro to take wife
at home. He would select one on plshta-
ton adjoiningl often going from one TO six
miles to suit his fancy. He would marry In
A family where the owners were regarded
az equal with his master. He was very par
ticuIar about the good name OF the "hte
people with whose servant no would form a
Matrimonial alliance. II was common Tor
the negro to take pattern after MS white
masters and mistresses in matrimonial al
fairs az well al In other things that pertained
to his life.
A courtship was conducted with great gal
lantry Some would terminate In month.
while others would continue for whole year
or more The engagement, after permission
was granted to the marriage by the owners
OF both the man and the woman. was gen
erallv not longer than a few weeks. Cen
orally a slack time in working the crop was
selected. that they might have larger holi-
day, but otherwise their nuptials were ceie
brated almost any Saturday evening, ana
have Sunday for the regular reception day.
attend church and show out" The FIRST
Sunday after marriage. the whi,e people,
as well as the black. would invariably snow
out Many persons who were not IN the
habit OF soing to church would attend on
show out day.
IL was customary to give all the negroes
on the plantation where the girl lived hoii-
dsv. They spent 1t In cleaning UP and pre-
n,ring the supper. and having everything In
readiness for the momentous occasion. Late
In the afternoon the bride was dressed in her
finest apparel, and sat waiting the coming
of her expected husband. When he arrived
already dressed-he was ushered Into the
uresepce of his intended, and there awaited
the coming OF the priest. IL was not quite
dark; blocks sawed of about three ieet ioh9.
stood on their ends, held the pine torches
4. .tuht lifht
wedding supper was already arranged on
the table-and here let me say that II wonid
rank with what was often seen In the houses
of the white folk. Presently commouon
was noticed by the crowd. the omciaths
priest had come. and Immediately the wall
ing couple marched out OF the humble cao'h
into the hallway Of the big house. mere
the marriage ceremony wouid oe peru .h LIZ. n"u
with all the dignity and solemnity the occa-
Lon called for. The vanity Of the oniciatins
parson always induced him 70 prolona the
ceremony, and II was bedecked with some
rare flowers Of rhetoric that never failed 10
provoke q smile among the sable audience:
After congratulations the next move ~as
supper. The supper was given by the master :
A pig. or mutton. with few fat hens. consul.
tuted the meats, with bread and pies and
cakes in profusion. and coffee. No wine OF
Iiouorv OF any kind would be toleratea
When the feast was over they would repair
to a room prepared for dancing the noa1e
and the banjo were the only instruments the
, negro loved, and such dancing rs lonoweo
would put to shame the round dances OF the
present. The Irish JIG was fsvorite with
! the boys. and was INDUCED in 70 show the
activity Of the dancer. When the small
| hours of the night were come, the party
| would disband for the night The morrow
being Bundsy. and great day Tor ehe
& ssu Taad : stssns s0%a
TO the wedding party and to sraafs their
to rs se VIZ more sS than Az. miles from
his home, when he was given q permits
IsoI AsE .v ara 1oS n:s'
SSs, sissef ~ nj syTfSH *.
' snd os 81 ns 70 p sSsp parents and
their owners.
had tS SS %.Ss t q sss eSs Y
sSia sss eas der: 7, 49, SssIS
ne mstasr worked 1 out TIC tss
;os Sn s SS ..s sS.S . The h .Ss c.a,
I never hsssd 81 tie atty q msrrtsss sa,.
s s1oIhsa. minister. q he vssioa.
tons. but most senssAliy BY respectaois
ss sss IA SSSS sa s nS sss 81
70 Celebrate . ms5tlase, but o0mmen CON
ognl,ed the validity Of such marrieq gee,
and Am sure that II was never thought OF
ut vas ainoet an unheard-of thing for q
negro 20 ask for 4 divorce. In settling UP
sstat q SON etimss though rarely-negIoes
made 10 buy the husband and wife. 90 a.
not 70 separate the couple. The parties were
always consulted when one Of them was sold
and 50 on tossther' The master tried to
accommodate them. In rare instances they
speaking OF the great body Of slaves and
siavehoidSrs In MecklenburR county. and
take It this y q fay average and am sur
TO each other on account OF the Ielauon-
ship eIisttpE, between master and sis S,t,
people, With not much display, but with a
much feeling.