Handwritten narrative of "Uncle Barcus"

Source catalog description

This description refers to material held by Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. Visual details below describe the original material.

A handwritten narrative of the life of "Uncle Barcus" or Bachus, an enslaved man. The handwriting is cursive in pencil on red paper and reads: [Old Uncle Barcus / “Belonged to Moodys” / Body servant of Jameson / Moody in “War of 1812” / Drove carriage when Jameson / Moody and Mary Susan / Lankford eloped. / He slept on an oak board / when young and a pine / board when old because it was softer.] The back of the paper is blank.

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