Document text
Approxs 3016 words
SOUTH CAROLINA WRITERS' PROJECT
LIFE HISTORY
TITLE: GABRIEL WASHINGTON
Date of First writing February 22,1939
Naas of Person Interviewed Gabrisl Nsysrs
Rase Negro
Fistitious Naos Gabriel Washington
Address NeClaollanvilleoSeC.
Occupation Laborer
Name of Writing,
Name of Reviser
Charles A.Von Ohsen
Stats Offios
Project 1646
Charles A.Von Ohsen,
HeOlellanville, a. C.
GABRIEL WASHINGTON
Life History
Gabriel washington was born on the Peafield
Plantation. His early hose was a ones.rpos house made
of poles* It had an olds.time clay thimney„ everything
but straight. The furniture consisted of handmade benches,
tables and beds.
His father and mother worked in the rise fields,
which "Gobs" says were in their bloom then* The first work
that Gabriel ever did was to hoe in these fields, helping
his parents finish their tasks* All the Negroes were given
task work in those days* After he became old enough, be
plowed in the rice fields*
It was at Wesley School, a one-teadher school on
Montgomery Plantation that Gabriel learned to readopell add
and write his name. His teacher was JOhn Whiney* "labs"
studied his lessons faithfully and was a good boy in school
for he was much afraid of John Whiney, a good but strict
teacher; who believed that nothing would make a child study
more or behave setter than a good whipping. Gabriel also
knew that if he got a licking at school, he was sure to get
a harder one when he got home. When he was fifteen years of
age, and in the second grade he had to quit wehool and go to
work.
He then went back to the rice fields and worked for
about two years* Then leaving Santee he went to work chipping
Project 1655
Charles A.Von Oboe%
Ms Clellanville,64*
GABRIEL WASHING,ON
Life History
Page 2.
boxes on a turpentine farm near MeClellanvil1e* His talk
was five thousand and seven hundred boxes a week, for
which he was paid fifty cents a thousand* This was a
small job for Gabriel. He completed his task in two and
one half days. This job lasted about four years*
About this time Gabriel imarriod Hannah Henhet*
They had eight children, four girls and four boys, but
they lost three of the girls and one boy*
Hannah died twelve years after be married her.
Gabriel stayed single for five years and then took another
wife Margaret Reid* He had no children by this marriage.
Gabriel decided to leave MeClellansille and to
go back to Santee where all of his relatives and his boyhood
friends lived* He got a job working on the turpentine farm
of Mr. Pittman* Soon after moving back, Margaret died*
It was some months after Margaret's death that
Gabriel went on the only pleasure trip of his life* HO
spent a week with a friend in Hemingway* This was as far
as he bad ever been from home*
In 1932 he married for the third time woman
named Diana Ball.
They had a comfortable home, nicely furnished at
leafield, but it burned in 1933.
Project 1685
Charles A.Vonfteen,
NoOlellanville,
GAHRINL WA5HNOTQN
Life History
Page 3.
"Gabs" tells about it in the following manneri Diana been
cooking breakfast and I been walk down in the field. I boar
Diana holler, but I think the been holler at the thickens
'cause vo have a eta* of rice in the garden and this thickens
was always in that rice. Mon look and so. smoke. I start
for the house as fast as I could go, but I couldn't even walk
fast for one of my ribs boon broke. When I get there I start
hollering for I think Diana been in the bourn', but she been
out in the yard. That house burn:down to the ground and we
*Unit save nothing but the clothes we have on we bask. I loso
a forty dollar suit of clothes in that house. Then the *task
of rice caught fire. I been throw sand an it, but that sand
burn just like gasolino:
Gabriel, his wife and one daughter then moved to
their present home, an the Seven Hilo Road. They have never
been able to finish this bourns and to mot the nisi* furniture
they want, for Gabriel has not had a good, steady job in
several yoars.
The house in which they live is a small four room
one, built of rough lumber with a gabli on each side of the
front. The front yard is divided by a few*. On the left of
this tense is a vegetable garden and on the right is the
"front yard". Thor* Is a walk bordered with lilies loading
up to the front door.
Project 1655
Charles A. Von Chien,
NeClellanville,S.C.
04BRINL WASHINGTON
Life History
Page 4.
On each side of this walk are roses, snowdrops and bridal..
wreathes. Thor* are no steps to the front door, so you have
to enter at the bask. At the back is a small porch, then a
hall running the length of the house. On the left of this
hall is Gabriella and Diana's bedroom. In it are two double
beds, with clean sheets, pillow..cases„ and caaforts; a dresser
and a trunk. The walls are papered with newspapers and pages
frau magasines. At the window* are faded, but clean cretonne
surtains. On the right of the hall is the living...room. It is
papered as the bedroom* except bright, pictured papers were
used for it. This room is desorated with red Christmas rope
and on the walls are two photographs, one of Shirley Temple
and the other of Gabriel. The furniture consists of a dresser,
used as a buffet with green pitcher and glasses on it, two
tables* two chairs, a safe and a stove. The same kind of
cretonne curtains are used in hors. A door opens from this
into the kitchen, which also serves as the diningroom
It is papered with newspapers. In this room is a stovettable
and washstand. The washstand is a receptable for groosries,pots
and pans. Pram the kitchen is a door opening into Lucille's,
Gabriel's daughter room. It is furnished.with a bed,dhair
and stove.
Project 1665
Charles A.Voll Odeon,
MoClellanvilles S.C.
GABRIEL WASHINGTON
Life History
Page 5.
In the winter "Gabe" takes his bath in the house
by the fires using a large washtub. Sometimes in the summer
he goes down to the Greek for a little swim. He swims very
seldom now though, for he is getting too old.
Gabriel believes thatnpeople should have as many
sh*lAren as God sees fit to give them. Be says that'll(' doesn't
think the size of his family had anything to do with his being
poor.
As to morals, he says,"Prom a boy up to the present
time I try as near as possibile to do the right. Sometimes a
person will talk wrong. But up 'till today I ain't never have
white or black to point hand at me and says40abriel you did
tief so and so from me,. Nobody can say I over done wrong by
them".
He is very proud of his ancestors for he says that
they were always goods *leant honest peoples who attended church
regularly.
Gabriel says,"I ain't never own a oar and I ain't
want one. If I had the money, I never would but a oars' would
much rather Uwe a good mule and wagon".
Gabriel asserts that things are very different now
from the time when he was s young man. He says that he fared
mucill better then. There use to be many turpentine farms in this
county on Whiell he could got a steady job chipping boxes.
Project 1668
Charles A.Von ahem,
MeClellanville, S.C.
GABRIEL wASHI:i0TON
Life History
Page 6
Whereas he use to make ten to twelve dollars a week, he now
makes thrse,provided the weather is goods He works at Hampton
Plantation„hewing out lumber by hand or helping to keep up
the grounds, and of course it is impossible to do this type
of work in bad weather. Those weeks in which he cannot work
he has to get groceries and tobacco on credit and it is very
hard then for his to catch up *honk* does work. However he
and Diana manage somehow to live on, his little income and to
pay up the debts.
"Gabes says that if he could have en income of ten
dollars a week that he could repair his hauseslive oomfortably
and even save a little. But he is proud of his little farm,
in spite of his all earnings and is satisfied with his
life. Although he knows nothing about mills and factories
he is sure that he would not like to work intone.
All of his children are married exeept Lucille.
They have all built homes near Gabriel and anytime you go
to see him, there are several of his twelve grandchildren
around him.
In ease of sickness when a doctor must be reached
at once, Gabrielts son has a ear that would get them to
Georgetown or MeClellanville in a very short time. "Gabe" says
that he has paid about four hundred dollars for doctor bills
since he was married.
Project 1655
Charlos A.Von Moen,
McClellanville„ 8.C.
GAIIR/ZIA 4ASHINGToN
Life History
Page 7.
Gabriel was able to pay all thews bills for he had a study
job the earlier part of his lift.
He begins his day quite early, about five o'clock.
As soon as he gets up he goes out in the yard and feeds the
chickens and does any other little odd job around the place,
while Diana is cooking breakfast. /Or breakfast the have
hominy, butts meat, bread and coffee. After breakfast he
leaves for work. In the spring he plows his land and gets
it ready for planting. At twelve o'clock, if he is working
at home, he knocks off and comes to the house, He and Diana,
(for iAloille is off working have their dinner of rice,
collards, or some other vegetable, meat and bread. As soon
as the midday meal is over, he is back at work again. At five
o'clock Gabriel knocks off and feeds his ozoofor Diana has
already fad the chickens and pigs.
The remainder of the evening he spends talking with
his sons, grandchildren and any neighbors that may come by.
Gabriel plants corn, rice, peas and potatoes and
this is what enables him to live on his small income.
"Gabe" and Diana oat whatever they have on hand's'
they know nothing of a balanced diet. They always have r6se
for dinner, as they raise their own Mole.
Nom Gabriel's house is a dance hallowith a plocalO.
He says! I hear the music, but Iain't never boon there for
Project 1655
Charles A. Von Chun,
Mollellanville„S.C.
GABRIEL WASHINGTON
Lae History
Page 8
that place for the young courting couples and the old folks
that go there just for drink and *arouse and I **nit up for
that. I is been a steward in the Church for three years and
it ain't look right for me to go to them places. To tell the
truth I ain't care to go".
He is not critical of young peoplethowever, he
believes in them having a good time, just so they stay respects.
able along with it.
Gabriel considers as education very desirable and
a great help in securing wort. He sent all of his children
to school and it was through no fault of his that not one
ever graduated. They can all read, write and figure though.
He says that he registered in Charleston many years
ago to vote, but never went back when voting time came. He is
not intewested.in politics.
His greatest pleasure is hunting deer,turkeys and
ducks with Dr. Rutledge, whom he has known since his boyhood
days.