A Servant Resists Servitude. Charleston, SC, newlywed Emily Gay, age 19, originally from Connecticut, writes her sister in Milford in 1845 concerning the city’s news, weddings, social events, and Fanny, her insubordinate slave: “I have been suffering with Nervous head-ache for five weeks past — am quite sick with it today. Fanny has tormented me so that is has completely upset me.

 

You never in your life saw so bad a creature. We have put her in the work house twice & had her punish’d & I have whip’d her severely & I & Wm. have whip’d her & we can do nothing with her. We have now advertised for a white woman.” Shown here is page 1 of 4 with quoted passage.

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