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Archiver > GEN-AFRICAN > 1996-09 > 0842144604


From: Valencia King Nelson <>
Subject: LEWIS, Cudjoe : Alabama Slave Narratives
Date: 7 Sep 1996 18:03:24 -0700


[Quoting from Alabama Narratives]

Lewis, Cudjoe
Mobile, Alabama
Federal Writers' Project, Dist. 6
August 15, 1936

On April 20, 1861, the last cargo of negro slaves imported
to the United States was brought to Mobile, April 20, 1861 as
given by the obituary of Captain Tim Meaher, who died in 1892.

The War between the States at this time was already on, and
this black cargo created quite a sensation in Mobile, and the
South, hundreds going down to the foot of St. Anthony street to
see the slaves gibbering in their tribal language.

The planters of tbe Soutb generally did not desire savages
from Africa, but desired those either born in the United States
or the West Indian Islands, because they did not have to break
them in for laboring purposes. The schooner Clotilde sailed
from Lonanda in Africa with several hundred negroes, prisoners
captured by the warriors of the tribe in a war with another
tribe, and sold to American speculators. The Clotilde safely
reached the Mississippi sound and was taken in charge by Captain
Tim Meaher and run up Mobile Bay and river by night.

The negroes were then hidden in the delta marshes of upper
Baldwin County at the bead of Mobile Bay, and the Clotilde was
taken to Bayou Conner and burned to the hull edge. The
authorities took proceedings against Captain Tim Meaher, and
although the case was tried with able lawyers on either side, the
Captain of the Clotilde was kept out of the way and Captain
Meaher proved that he had been in and about Mobile all the time.
The result was that he was acquitted.

After everything had blown over the slaves were divided by
Captain Meaher among different person in interest. Many of the
negroes were sent up the river to plantations, others were also
employed in building redans and redoubts up the river, while the
remainder remained in the neighborhood of Mobile river above
Mobile on Meaher's land and that part of the suburb of Plateau
known as "Affrishy Town", were up to the death of these slaves
(Cudjoe Lewis, the subject of this article being the last), the
pure African Lonanda tribal was spoken.

These last slaves were known as the "Tarkars", an African
tribe, captured and brought here on the ship "Clotilde". In this
number was Raseola Lewis, but later known to every one as "Uncle
Cudjoe Lewis".

Uncle Cudjoe lived in an old cabin, next door to the Union
Baptist Church in the Plateau Community for nearly a century or
until he died Friday, October 2nd, 1935, being the last of the
number who came on the "Clotilde". He was a member of this
church and served as janitor for seventy years, very active, and
able to perform his duties until a few months before he died at
the ripe old age of 105 years.

Uncle Cudjoe was intelligent and possessed with a keen
memory. He could relate stories about his early life in Africa
and the United States, and was often interviewed by
representatives of the leading newspapers and magazines of the
country. He loved his church and could quote intelligently many
scriptures in the Bible.

Uncle Cudjoe's life was a great influence on the people of
his community. He was respected by members of both races.
Hundreds of whites as well as Negroes attended his funeral,
paying homage to his bier. Members of both races spoke on the
life and struggles of this historical character.

The population of Plateau is 2,537 (all negroes) being
descendants of Uncle Cudjoe and others who came with the last
load of slaves.

BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Obituary of Captain Timothy Meaher, in the Mobile Register,
March 4, 1892.

Mobile Under Five Flags, by Feter J. Hamilton

Dropped Stitches from Mobile's Past, by Erwin Craigbad, in
The Mobile Register, Sunday, April 21, 1929

"The Mobile Sun". (Negro paper.)

http://www.msstate.edu/Archives/History/afrigen/index.html

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