“Mammy Harriett Abney – time has not forgotten her

During the 1930s, Great Depression era, many writers were employed to interview people around the United States, so their experiences and life history could be recorded The program was named the U.S. Work Projects Administration, Federal Writers’ Project and it gave employment for historians, teachers, writers, librarians, and other white-collar workers. This is one of the stories from Monroe County, Alabama by WPA worker Ida Henderson.

“Mammy” Harriett Abney

by

Ida Henderson

Works Progress Administration (WPA)

Perdue Hill, Alabama

Monroe County

ca. 1939

The war between the states, and the causes that led up to it, have been properly recorded by historians and voluble exploited by orators. These subjects have afforded politicians campaign thunder in their play upon partisan and prejudiced voters both in the North and in the South. This war, like most other wars, produced a large number of heroes – men who offered their lives for what they believed to be right, and the memories of these have been kept alive by historical records, by song and by story.

And, this war, fought to end slavery, in the light of some speeches made in the North, and stories like “Uncle Tom’s Cabin”, had the unique distinction of having refuted much of the false pre-war propaganda to the effect that the Southern slave owner was a beastial tyrant who cruelly mistreated his negro property.

Street in Claiborne, Monroe County, Alabama during the 1850s (Alabama Department of Archives and History)

At the beginning of the war, when the South’s young men left their homes to join the army, there were many slaves who went along with their “young marsters”, and in leaving the homes of their “white folks”, solemnly promised to take good care of “young marsa” – and this they did in so far as it was humanly possible. They shared their hardships and dangers, foraged for food, and in many instances searched battle fields for their missing masters, sometimes bringing them back wounded, and oftentimes dead. If wounded, these negroes gave loving and unselfish care; if dead, they gave as nearly a Christian burial as they could, and with “young marsa’s” belongings began a sorrowful journey back home to report to “Ole Marsa” and ”Ole Miss” of a duty well-performed.

But not much has been written or told of the loyalty and love displayed by the slave women during and after the war. And, so, this story concerns a negro woman — one of the most remarkable characters of her race, and an outstanding example of the splendid amicable relations that existed between slave owners and their human chattels.

Mr. Orlando Abney was a resident of Fort Claiborne in its heyday, his home, a one and one-half story building, with well-cared for grounds shaded by large water oaks, and further beautified with myrtle and native yewpon, was located on Abney avenue, one-half mile off Main street. Abney avenue ran westward from Main street, and at right angles to that thoroughfare. Mr. Abney was a slave owner, and a prominent man in the civic and social life not only of Claiborne, but of the entire county.

The photo above is of the Lower Warehouse” in Claiborne, Alabama, This is not the original building as the warehouse burned several times. On the other side of the building, 365 steps lead down to the boat landing on the river. Ida Henderson’s name (the author) is on the back of photo, but her connection is unclear (Alabama State Archives)

Known as Mammy Harriett

One of his slaves was Harriett Abney, known to everybody in these parts as “Mammy Harriett”, and more often of or addresses simply as “Mammy.” And it is with her that this sketch is concerned:

“Mammy” was a young woman at this period, probably about eighteen years of age. She had been reared in an atmosphere of culture and refinement, having been trained for house work. Following the war, “Mammy” and Bill, another of Mr. Abney’s slaves, and an old man and kinsman of Harriett, remained loyal to the Abney family, and continued an uninterrupted service.

When “Marsa Lander”, as he was called by his negroes, died, the world seemed suddenly to have come to an end for “Mammy” as “Ole Miss” was leaving to live with her kinspeople in Louisiana. At the time of her departure, Mrs. Abney presented to this faithful servant girl deeds to the Abney home and farm land, together with the home furnishings. Harriett rented her home to white friends whom she considered “quality”, and continued to occupy the servant’s quarters, working as maid and laundress, to her renters.

Continued her activities

Years passed, and the writer recalls “Mammy” as a rather oldish woman, who nevertheless continued her activities. There was never a wedding, birth, funeral, picnic, dance or any public occasion at which “Mammy” was not present as a general utility unit, as maid, cook, nurse, or to receive the guests. She never obtruded herself where her presence was not needed. On occasion, she could make a perfect fade away, her intuition giving her the que to the right moment to exit.

As the years went by her small figure became bent innate dignity as she went about attired in her best black dress and a large white apron of sufficient yardage to make a frock of present-day styles. For head dress she wore black and white bandanna.

Called white folk friends, my children

Mammy Harriett was really a most unusual character! She called the children of her “quality” white folk friends “my children”, all of whom she sincerely loved, and to whom she afforded much joy. She was considerate of those less fortunate than “her children”, and polite to the members of her own race, but in the grand manner of her yester-years.

To come within “Mammy’s” charmed or inner circle, and enjoy all the magic of her presence, one had to measure up to her own standard of “quality” for white folk.

Chaperone at all the dances

She was without an education in the sense of having acquired knowledge from books attending school, but through the associations, she was privileged to have in the home of her owners in her early years, she had acquired refinement and poise, her natural intelligence enabling her to absorb much valuable information through these contacts.

The young men of the town and countryside made certain that “Mammy” was available as chaperone before planning a dance or picnic. At the dances, she took care of the wraps, coats and hats, and it is hard to conceive that a more correct chaperone was ever produced before or since her time. It was from the promptings of a heart of love and deepest loyalty that she chaperoned her charges so magnificently and always had them ready to go home at midnight.

ALABAMA FOOTPRINTS Pioneers: Lost & Forgotten Stories includes the following stories

• The Yazoo land fraud
• Daily life as an Alabama pioneer
• The capture and arrest of Vice-president Aaron Burr
• The early life of William Barrett Travis, hero of the Alamo
• Description of Native Americans of early Alabama including the visit by Tecumseh
• Treaties and building the first roads in Alabama.