Norfolk Virginia

Slave Narrative of Sam and Louisa Everett

Sam and Louisa Everett, now aged 86 and 90, recall their harrowing experiences of slavery near Norfolk, Virginia, where they endured the brutality of the McClain plantation. They were married under cruel circumstances orchestrated by their master, Big Jim, who exploited the slaves mercilessly. Both faced grueling labor, often under threat and violence, until they were freed in 1865. Afterward, they settled in Boston, Georgia, and eventually moved to Florida, where they now live with their son, burdened by their past but still remembering the horrors of their enslavement.

Biographical Sketch of Joseph McFarland

Joseph McFarland emigrated from Ireland to America prior to the Revolutionary War, settling in Norfolk, Virginia. He enlisted in the American army but was killed in battle, leaving behind a widow and son, Robert. Robert later moved to Madison County, Kentucky, married Rhoda Quick, and had three children. After Rhoda’s death, he married Eva Farmer, with whom he had several more children. Joseph McFarland moved to Montgomery County in 1825 and married Polly Cundiff, linking his lineage to prominent local families through his daughters.

Biographical Sketch of David Baker

David Baker, born in November 1763 to Robert Baker and Mary Anderson, married Judith Johnson. Their son, Sylvester, born in 1791, settled in Montgomery County, Missouri, in 1820. Capt. John Baker, Sylvester’s brother, also moved to the same area, where he built a water mill. A notable incident occurred when a large catfish blocked the millwheel, causing an unexpected halt. The fish was removed and carried to the Baker home, creating a memorable local tale.

Slave Narrative of Sarah Harris

In an interview conducted in May 1937, Sarah Harris, born in April 1861, shared memories of her life as a slave on Master John William Walton’s plantation in North Carolina. She recounted her family’s hardships, the transition to freedom, and the challenges faced after the Civil War. Harris expressed a fondness for her former master, despite recognizing the wrongness of slavery. She praised Abraham Lincoln and Franklin D. Roosevelt for their leadership and reflected on the progress of the Black community, emphasizing hope for the future.

Biography of Edward P. Pitts, M. D.

Edward P. Pitts, M.D., born on October 13, 1880, in Virginia, has established himself as a prominent specialist in eye, ear, nose, and throat medicine in Atchison, Kansas, where he has practiced since 1902. He descended from a distinguished family with roots in colonial Maryland and Virginia, including a notable grandfather who served as a Circuit Court judge. Educated in Norfolk and at Ensworth Medical College, Dr. Pitts also enhanced his credentials at the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary. He is active in various medical and community organizations and married Beulah Judah, with whom he has one son.