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Harriet Evans Paine (c. 1822–1917) was a Texas storyteller and oral historian. She was born a slave and was also known as "Aunt Harriet." [1]
Biography
Paine was born as a slave to Jim and Rebecca Evans in Tennessee, around the year 1822. [1] They were owned by Swan and Jerusha Hardin. [1] The Hardins followed their sons to Texas in 1828. [2] In Texas, Paine was the "thimble girl," threading needles for Jerusha's mother. [1] In 1834 she became a servant in Benjamin Franklin Hardin's home. [2] Hardin lived on a plantation outside of Liberty. [3]
Paine participated in the Runaway Scrape; and during 1836 and 1837, served Mexican officers captured at the Battle of San Jacinto and housed at William Hardin's plantation. [2] It is said that she treated the prisoners kindly. [1]
In 1839, she moved with Franklin's family to Seven Pines, a house within the town of Liberty. [3]
Paine had children with two other slaves, Henry Rowe and Mr. Green. Her children were named Henry Rowe Jr. and Calvin and Melinda Green. [2] It is unknown what happened to all of her children and no marriages were recorded, although it was noted that she was "not allowed to live with her husband." [2] She also lived with her children behind the main house. [1]
After Juneteenth, 1865, when slaves were freed, Paine continued to work for the Hardins, most likely having "signed a Freedmen's contract with Franklin Hardin." [2] She worked at Seven Pines until 1916, when there was a fire that nearly destroyed the house. [1] Paine rescued the Hardin family's letters and documents. [2] Paine died in 1917. [1]
Her stories and oral histories have been preserved by the Hardin family and are housed in the Hardin Collection at the Sam Houston Regional Library and Research Center. [1]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Burns, Richard Allen (15 June 2010). "Paine, Harriet Evans". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
- ^ a b c d e f g Schaadt, Robert L. (9 March 2011). "March is Women's History Month ~ Famous Women of Liberty County". The Vindicator. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
- ^ a b Trammell, Camilla D. (15 June 2010). "Hardin, Benjamin Franklin". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved 10 February 2016.