~r1and
	t.	22, 1~7	~
~ers	~	 (Stories from ex-slaves)	:1~7
		~.‘~I‘!ELLIS GASSAYJAY~, Ex-slave.





Reference:	Personal interview with Menellis Gassaway, ex-slave, on Sept. ‚ 1937, at M.E. Home, Carroilton Ave., Baltimore.






	“My naine i~ ~onel1is Gassaway, son of Ovdn~ and innabel Gassaway.

I was born in Freedom District, Carroll County, about l85Q~ or 52, brother of Henrietta, Menila and Villa. Our father and mother lived in Carroll County

near Eld.ersherg in a stone and log c&bin, consisting of two rooms, one up

and one down, with four windows, two in each room, on a small farm situated on a public road, I don‘t know tile name.

	H~y father worked on a small farm with no other slaves, but our


family. We raised on the farm ve~etabIes and grain, consistin~ of oorn and wheat. Our farm produced wheat and corn, which was taken to the grist mill to be ground; besides, we raised hogs and a small number of other stock for food.

t~j~rjfl~ the time I was a slave and the short time it was, I can‘t


remember what we wore or very much about local conditions. The people, that is the white people, were friendly with our family and other colored people so far aS I c~n recall.

	“I do not recall of seeing slaves sold nor did the man who owtied our family buy or seÏl slaves. He was a small man.

	n As to the farm, I do not know the size, but I know it was small. On the farm there was no jail, or punishment inflicted on Pap or. Ma while

	they were there.

ttThere was no church on the farm, but we were members of the old

	side Methodist church, having a colored preacher. The church was a long ways ~ • ~ • frœ~ the ~
4~*. . ~