Slaves with Haversacks?

[MissMia]

I'm preparing for my next event and really want to hand-sew a haversack, but the problem is that I can't find enough evidence that slaves traveled with them(whether freed/contraband/runaway etc.
Have any of y'all come across journal entries or quotes describing slaves wearing some sort of bag that held their few possessions? Or should I just forget about it and play it safe?

Ps)I know that blacks serving in the military units certainly had them, but I wonder about the everyday slaves who were contrabands or runaways...

[cprljohnivey]

Re: Slaves with Haversacks?

Rather than a haversack which in my opinion is way over used by civilian reenactors, try making yourself a market wallet or snap sack. They have been around since long before the 1600 and used up long into the 19th century. If you google for directions / patterns you will find them.

Market Wallet. Basically a long rectangle with a slit in the middle that reminds me of a tissue box. this is worn over the shoulder and it creats two pockets to hold your stuff... one on your front and one on your back.

Snap sack: Basically a rectangle bag with a draw string closure on one end. Just like an oversized poke bag. It has a shoulder strap for wearing over your shoulder.

[MissMia]

Re: Slaves with Haversacks?

Brad,
I agree with haversacks being way over-used, and initially hesitated when starting on one, but couldn't think of a good alternative.
I like the market wallet idea, especially since it dates back so far.

[cprljohnivey]

Re: Slaves with Haversacks?

I have several snapsacks and market wallets that I use for 18th century reenacting and they are so easy to make. I used plain sturdy linen to make mine. In 19th century... there is more abbundance of cloth but I would think linen or canvas would still be your best bet as other cotton fabrics would wear out quicker.

[Hank Trent]

Re: Slaves with Haversacks?

Good question. I'm sure you've already seen the standard images of female runaways, with bags:

http://www.johnhorse.com/imgszz/nwstypszz.jpg

http://www.knowla.org/uploads/2/Encyclopedia/square-thumbs/ten-dollars-reward.jpg

http://georgiainfo.galileo.usg.edu/gastudiesimages/Runaway%20Slave%202-a.jpg

I searched genealogybank for ads with "ran away" or "reward" and "haversack" and didn't find any, though of course the search engine misses a lot of machine-read words, and actually "bag" or "sack" didn't fare much better. A few examples that did show up, when searching for "bundle" or "she took":

May 15, 1849 New Orleans Times Picayune: "She had on when she left a blue calico frock, and took with her a bundle containing an unfinished dress."

Dec. 24, 1856 Times Picayune: "She took with her a bundle of clothes and blankets, and was dressed, when she left, in a striped dress."

June 16, 1840 Times Picayune: "she took with her a green Merino cloak and a bundle of clothes."

May 9, 1859 Alexandria Virginia Gazette: "[He] carried a bundle of clothes with him"

Another way to look at it is: what would be easy to get hold of? You might have had a few days warning or not, but if you didn't, you'd need to take something already available. In cotton country, a cotton-picking sack, tacked up or tied up to make it smaller and easier to carry, might be an option, but not really for a house servant in Missouri. I agree with the posts above that a market wallet would be logical--it might be something you would have used to, literally, go marketing for your mistress. Then there would also be pillowcases, generic sacks for feed, etc. Also, in the particular circumstants of this event, your mistress might have given you something for your things--an extra carpetbag, etc. A market wallet is actually what I'll be using, for what it's worth.

(whether freed/contraband/runaway etc.

:sarcastic Ahem.

Hank Trent
hanktrent@gmail.com

[MissMia]

Re: Slaves with Haversacks?

These are excellent resources, much appreciated!
It was good to see the photos as well--I've been searching for sketches also.
I knew the best bet would be to carry a bundle, but with this particular event, I'd rather carry a bag I can wear on my belt or around the shoulder, for ease of movement..
But I wasn't sure which medium would be most accurate.
I'm leaning toward the market wallet idea, as I have a linen/cotton woven piece of cloth that may work.

Good question. I'm sure you've already seen the standard images of female runaways, with bags:

http://www.johnhorse.com/imgszz/nwstypszz.jpg

http://www.knowla.org/uploads/2/Encyclopedia/square-thumbs/ten-dollars-reward.jpg

http://georgiainfo.galileo.usg.edu/gastudiesimages/Runaway%20Slave%202-a.jpg

I searched genealogybank for ads with "ran away" or "reward" and "haversack" and didn't find any, though of course the search engine misses a lot of machine-read words, and actually "bag" or "sack" didn't fare much better. A few examples that did show up, when searching for "bundle" or "she took":

May 15, 1849 New Orleans Times Picayune: "She had on when she left a blue calico frock, and took with her a bundle containing an unfinished dress."

Dec. 24, 1856 Times Picayune: "She took with her a bundle of clothes and blankets, and was dressed, when she left, in a striped dress."

June 16, 1840 Times Picayune: "she took with her a green Merino cloak and a bundle of clothes."

May 9, 1859 Alexandria Virginia Gazette: "[He] carried a bundle of clothes with him"

Another way to look at it is: what would be easy to get hold of? You might have had a few days warning or not, but if you didn't, you'd need to take something already available. In cotton country, a cotton-picking sack, tacked up or tied up to make it smaller and easier to carry, might be an option, but not really for a house servant in Missouri. I agree with the posts above that a market wallet would be logical--it might be something you would have used to, literally, go marketing for your mistress. Then there would also be pillowcases, generic sacks for feed, etc. Also, in the particular circumstants of this event, your mistress might have given you something for your things--an extra carpetbag, etc. A market wallet is actually what I'll be using, for what it's worth.



:sarcastic Ahem.

Hank Trent
hanktrent@gmail.com

[Brian Baird]

Re: Slaves with Haversacks?

Try this link for market wallets:

http://www.18cnewenglandlife.org/18cnel/wallets.htm

Brian Baird

[hireddutchcutthroat]

Re: Slaves with Haversacks?

I feel if a civilian were to carry a haversack, a military haversack would be the most plentiful and available option.

[Hank Trent]

Re: Slaves with Haversacks?

Being a believer in the philosophy: "If it's so common, why can't you document it, huh? Huh?" I decided to see if I could indeed document a slave carrying a wallet. :)

Searching newspaper ads is pretty hopeless, thanks to all the people offering rewards for lost wallets next to slaves who've run away, and it's also tricky to get enough context to show it's the market wallet kind and not the money-holding kind, but here's one example from Documenting the American South:

A typical slave being described at http://docsouth.unc.edu/neh/long/long.html :
"See that poor slave. He is just returning from the lordly mansion of his master, with his week's allowance of meal and pork. Over his left shoulder is suspended a wallet, with meal in one end and pork in the other. His left hand presses against it. In his right hand he holds his stick (he never says cane). He is trudging along to the adjoining plantation, where he belongs."

So it may not be the most common thing that shows up, but there's at least one example.

Hank Trent
hanktrent@gmail.com

[Spinster]

Re: Slaves with Haversacks?

Here's another odd avenue to pursue, as far as an easily acquired and carried bundle for a servant. All supposition on my part, but I can't imagine they would have changed much--a child's cotton picking sack.

My memory of these is that they were made like an adult's sack, only shorter, of coarse sacking with a rounded double layered bottom, a tapered mouth, and a wide strap. Worn over the body and sized to the child by knotting the strap, the bottom lay on the ground while the open mouth was at waist height.

On an adult wearing a child's sack, this will make a tapered bag under the arm with the bulk of the load carried behind. Sometimes they were tarred on bottom.


Just another odd avenue to look at.

A market wallet makes for a more easily balanced load., whether thrown over the shoulder or looped over a belt.

[advanceguard]

Re: Slaves with Haversacks?

This is from the Regimental History of the 124th NYSV, penned by Lt. Col. Charles Weygant

"Company A's officers had with them a little black, shining, faced fellow named Jack Smith. Now Jack was a rather proud and very logical chap, made the very best biscuits, said he had seen some service, and claimed to possess a large share of that admirable soldierly quality called bravery As we stood on the bridge just before the shelling commenced,I called Jack to me and asked for my canteen and haversack, for
I mistrusted that if Ave should get into any trouble, Jack might not be on hand when I needed him ; but the little fellow seemed
so hurt by my apparent distrust, and protested so strongly, saying, " I'se bin in fights afore, and don't want to see massa captain toteing his own grub, and dis little nigger loafin' 'long doin' noffin ; s'pose you done gone get wounded, don't you 'spec' me dar to took care on you ? You needn't gone git afeerd I'se gwine to runn'd away from you ; no sah, massa captain, I'll stay wid you." So I left my haversack with Jack, taking only one of the three canteens he had strung about his shoulder. But the moment the shells began to fall, Jack disappeared ; and as we about faced,I caught a glimpse of the little scamp just straightening himself upon the top of the bank, and the next instant he bounded off like a deer, the haversack and canteens seeming to stand right out behind him. It is needless to say I never tasted the contents of that haversack"

[sdwinters]

Re: Slaves with Haversacks?

Several years ago I came across a reference to a runaway slave carrying a wallet which he had stolen. This was in 1861: "Then I looked around me and I found a wallet and I put sugar in one end and bread in the other." - "Journal of Wallace Turnage," A Slave No More: Two Men Who Escaped to Freedom, Including Their Own Narratives of Emancipation, by David W. Blight.

[sdwinters]

Re: Slaves with Haversacks?

(Sorry. Forgot to add my name.

Sally Gwylan)

[teufelhund]

Re: Slaves with Haversacks?



here's an image that I found on line.

[MissMia]

Re: Slaves with Haversacks?

These are excellent quotes, very useful. Thanks for the responses!
I went ahead and started hand sewing a wallet yesterday, and hopefully I should be done tonight. Will post the results.