In Search of the Promised Land: A Slave Family in the Old South (New Narratives in American History)

The matriarch of a remarkable African American family, Sally Thomas went from being a slave on a tobacco plantation, to a ''virtually free'' slave who ran her own business and purchased one of her sons out of bondage. In Search of the Promised Land offers a vivid portrait of the extended Thomas-Rapier family and of the life of slaves before the Civil War. Based on family letters as well as an autobiography by one of Thomas's sons, this remarkable piece of detective work follows a singular group as they walk the boundary between slave and free, traveling across the country in search of a ''promised land'' where African Americans would be treated with respect. Their record of these journeys provides a vivid picture of antebellum America, stretching from New Orleans to St. Louis, from the Overland Trail to the California Gold Rush, and from Civil War battles to steamboat adventures. John Hope Franklin and Loren Schweninger weave a compelling narrative that illuminates the larger themes of slavery and freedom. To a remarkable degree, this small family experienced the full gamut of slavery, witnessing everything from the breakup of slave families, brutal punishment, and runaways, to miscegenation, insurrection panics, and slave patrols. They also illuminate the hidden lives of '' virtually free'' slaves, who maintained close relationships with whites, maneuvered within the system, and gained a large measure of autonomy. The Thomas-Rapiers were keen observers of the human condition. Through the eyes of this exceptional family and the indomitable black woman who held them together, we witness aspects of human bondage otherwise hidden from view. Sally Thomas Went From Being A Slave On A Tobacco Plantation, To A Virtually Free Slave Who Ran Her Own Business And Purchased One Of Her Sons Out Of Bondage. This Book Offers A Portrait Of Her Extended Family And Of The Life Of Slaves Before The Civil War. Based On Family Letters As Well As An Autobiography By One Of Her Sons, The Detective Work Follows A Singular Group As They Walk The Boundary Between Slave And Free, Traveling Across The Country In Search Of A Promised Land Where African Americans Would Be Treated With Respect. This Small Family Experienced The Full Gamut Of Slavery, Witnessing Everything From The Breakup Of Slave Families, Brutal Punishment, And Runaways, To Miscegenation, Insurrection Panics, And Slave Patrols. They Also Illuminate The Hidden Lives Of Virtually Free Slaves, Who Maintained Close Relationships With Whites, Maneuvered Within The System, And Gained A Large Measure Of Autonomy. --from Publisher Description. Sally Thomas: A Life In Bondage : Virtual Freedom ; Sally's Children ; Sally's Son James ; Sally's Grandchildren: The Rapier Boys -- From Slavery To Freedom : The Domestic Slave Trade ; James Thomas: The Boyhood Years ; Barbershop -- Travels In The North And West : Nashville's Black Community ; The Changing Attitudes Of Whites ; A Fugitive Slave In The North ; The California Gold Rush ; The Epidemic's Shadow -- In Search Of Canaan : Bound For Nicaragua ; The Dilemma Of John Rapier Sr. ; The Minnesota Territory ; Canada West And James Thomas Rapier -- The Midwest, Haiti, And Jamaica : Into Bleeding Kansas ; Steamboating On The Mississippi ; John Rapier Jr. In The Caribbean -- This Mighty Scourge Of War : James Thomas In St. Louis ; John Rapier Jr.'s Continuing Odyssey ; The War's End -- Epilogue -- Afterword : Through The Prism Of A Black Family -- Appendix 1. Petitions Of Ephraim Foster And James Thomas To The Davidson County Court -- Appendix 2. John Rapier Sr. To Richard Rapier, April 8, 1845 -- Appendix 3. John Rapier Jr. To James Thomas, July 28, 1861. John Hope Franklin, Loren Schweninger. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 281-282) And Index. Contents......Page 6 Illustrations......Page 8 Foreword......Page 12 Acknowledgments......Page 14 The Descendants of Sally Thomas......Page 17 PROLOGUE......Page 20 One: SALLY THOMAS: A LIFE IN BONDAGE......Page 30 Virtual Freedom......Page 33 Sally’s Children......Page 35 Sally’s Son James......Page 42 Sally’s Grandchildren: The Rapier Boys......Page 53 Two: FROM SLAVERY TO FREEDOM......Page 65 The Domestic Slave Trade......Page 67 James Thomas: The Boyhood Years......Page 73 Barbershop......Page 82 Three: TRAVELS IN THE NORTH AND WEST......Page 94 Nashville’s Black Community......Page 105 The Changing Attitudes of Whites......Page 111 A Fugitive Slave in the North......Page 114 The California Gold Rush......Page 118 The Epidemic’s Shadow......Page 127 Four: IN SEARCH OF CANAAN......Page 136 Bound for Nicaragua......Page 138 The Dilemma of John Rapier Sr.......Page 145 The Minnesota Territory......Page 154 Canada West and James Thomas Rapier......Page 161 Five: THE MIDWEST, HAITI, AND JAMAICA......Page 182 Into “Bleeding Kansas”......Page 186 Steamboating on the Mississippi......Page 188 John Rapier Jr. in the Caribbean......Page 199 Six: THIS MIGHTY SCOURGE OF WAR......Page 212 James Thomas in St. Louis......Page 213 John Rapier Jr.’s Continuing Odyssey......Page 222 The War’s End......Page 238 EPILOGUE......Page 248 AFTERWORD: THROUGH THE PRISM OF A BLACK FAMILY......Page 268 ABOUT THE SOURCES......Page 281 APPENDIX 1 PETITIONS OF EPHRAIM FOSTER AND JAMES THOMAS TO THE DAVIDSON COUNTY COURT......Page 287 APPENDIX 2 JOHN RAPIER SR. TO RICHARD RAPIER, APRIL 8, 1845......Page 292 APPENDIX 3 JOHN RAPIER JR. TO JAMES THOMAS, JULY 28, 1861......Page 295 Selected Bibliography on Slavery......Page 300 B......Page 302 H......Page 303 N......Page 304 W......Page 305 The matriarch of a remarkable African American family, Sally Thomas went from being a slave on a tobacco plantation to a'virtually free'slave who ran her own business and purchased one of her sons out of bondage. In Search of the Promised Land offers a vivid portrait of the extended Thomas-Rapier family and of slave life before the Civil War. Based on personal letters and an autobiography by one of Thomas'sons, this remarkable piece of detective work follows the family as they walk the boundary between slave and free, traveling across the country in search of a'promised land'where African Americans would be treated with respect. Their record of these journeys provides a vibrant picture of antebellum America, ranging from New Orleans to St. Louis to the Overland Trail. The authors weave a compelling narrative that illuminates the larger themes of slavery and freedom while examining the family's experiences with the California Gold Rush, Civil War battles, and steamboat adventures. The documents show how the Thomas-Rapier kin bore witness to the full gamut of slavery--from brutal punishment, runaways, and the breakup of slave families to miscegenation, insurrection panics, and slave patrols. The book also exposes the hidden lives of'virtually free'slaves, who maintained close relationships with whites, maneuvered within the system, and gained a large measure of autonomy. In an engaging narrative format, 'In Search of the Promised Land' tells the story of the Thomas-Rapier family of Nashville, following Sally Thomas and her sons James, Henry and John to analyze the complex and ambiguous nature of slavery and freedom in the Old South MORE THAN THIRTY YEARS BEFORE JAMES THOMAS WAS FREED, and some ten years before he was born, his mother began a journey of her own.