The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

THE STORY OF ELLA REED

SHE WAS BORN INTO SLAVERY AND SHE LIVED IN VIRGINIA. SHE HAD A MOTHER
AND A FATHER AND ONE SISTER AND BROTHER. ONE DAY THEY WERE WORKING
IN THE FIELD AND A WHITE COUPLE CAME AND TOOK HER AWAY FROM HER
PARENTS.THEY CRIED AND CRIED. THEY WERE IN A BUGGY AND IT SEEMED
LIKE THEY RODE FOR TWO OR THREE DAYS. SHE WAS A YOUNG GIRL AND SHE
GREW UP IN A BIG HOUSE. AND SHE WAS FRAIL AND HER HEALTH WAS BAD.
SHE DIDN,T HAVE TO WORK IN THE FIELDS. SHE WAS A HOUSE SLAVE AND SHE
LEARNED TO DO ALL THE HOUSE WORK. SHE REMEMBERED OFTEN HAVING BAD
HEADACHES AND SHE REMEMBERED THEM CUTTING HER BEHIND THE NECK TO
BLEED HER AND SHE GUESSED IT WAS BECAUSE THE HEADACHES SHE HAD.
SHE WAS A STUBBORN SLAVE AND AS SHE GREW UP THEY WOULD WHIP HER
BECAUSE SHE WOULD NOT SAY PRAY MASSAH TO THEM. SHE LIVED TO BE 101
YEARS OLD AND BEFORE SHE DIED SHE MARRIED JOHN REED AND SHE WAS
PART AFRICAN AND PART INDIAN.

Submitter comment: MY MOTHER WAS TOLD THIS STORY IN 1938. I WAS TOLD THIS STORY IN 1970.
ELLA REED WAS MY GREAT GREAT GRANDMOTHER

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Date learned: 11-14-1980 ; 00-00-1938