Among the old land marks to be seen in Hamburg is Caesar Parker, an old ex-slave who belonged to Mr. Kinnison. Caesar says he was a cook in General Jackson's army at the time of the battle of New Orleans. Reckoning him to be 18 at that time he would be now 99 years of age. He is still faithful to his ax and wood pile and by this means always earns a support and never fails to take a drink when he can get it. Caesar is a widower and often dons his Sunday suit and escorts some dusky damsel to his place of worship.
Webmaster's note: This article was undated, but if you take into consideration that the Battle of New Orleans was in 1814, Then the article was probably published around 1896.
Uncle Roberson, a negro slave owned by Edmund Noel and whose wife cooked for the Noel family, organized a form of religion that came very near destroying the entire community. He was called the Shepherd and he had disciples on each of the adjoining plantations, whenever new members joined they were given a new name, some of them were Sarah Hope Zion Leader, Laura Prince Belle of Badja and etc. He prophesied that three men would be killed within three days and that he would be one of them and sure enough they were all three killed the same day.
From the WPA Interviews
Chapter on Religion
Mrs. Sue Hallie Drennan, Franklin, Miss.
Betsey Cotten, known in slavery times as Betsey Calcote, died last Friday in this county near the Franklin County line, aged one hundred and ten years. She formerly belonged to James Calcote who was one of the earliest settlers of Mississippi. She left surviving her four generations --- children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, and numerous great great-grandchildren. One of her great grandchildren, Cynthia Howard, is over sixty years old.
Betsey was born in Richmond, Virginia, about the close of the Revolutionary War, and was, when a young woman, brought to Mississippi territory and sold to Mr. Calcote. On her marriage to one of his slaves, Mr. Calcote made her the singular promise that when she had ten children he would set her free. He was as good as his word and from the year 1833 to the time of her death she was a free woman. Jas. Calcote, the owner of Betsey, died sixty years ago. --- Brookhaven Times. [Lincoln County]
REF: Franklin Advocate [no date; c. 1886]
HAMBURG
William Williams lynched Hamburg Mississippi October 6 1897
ROXIE
Willam Brown lynched Roxie Mississippi February 16 1891
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