Slave Narrative of Will Oats
Will Oats, born in 1854 in Wayne County, Kentucky, reflects on his life as an enslaved child. He lived with his family on the property of wealthy owners, the Oats family, where they worked and had basic comforts. Though they faced strict discipline and lacked education or church access, they enjoyed simple pleasures like playing marbles. After the Civil War, Will’s family obtained their freedom and eventually settled in Mercer County, where they worked to build a life together.