Thomas Aiken (abt. 1895 - aft. 1936)

Born about 1895 in Arkansas, United States

Ancestors

Biography

Thomas Aiken is a part of US Black heritage.

Thomas was born sometime after his mother [!] and was living as an adult about 1937 in Memphis. He is the son of Liddie Keller.

Tom's mother Liddie Aiken was interviewed in Wheatley, Arkansas about 1937 about her life and her time as an enslaved person. Liddie was born after freedom.

"My mother was born in southwest Georgia close to the Alabama line. Her mother come from Virginia. She was sold with her mother and two little brothers."

"She was a big woman and they let her plough right along by her two little brothers, Henry and Will Keller. Will et so many sweet potatoes they called him 'Tater' Keller. After he got grown we come out here. Folks called him 'Tate Keller'. Henry died. I recollect Uncle Tate. I was born close to Mobile, Alabama. Mama was named Sarah Keller. Grandma was called Mariah. Banks Tillman sold her the first time. Bill Keller bought them all the last time. His wife was named Ada Keller."

"I recollect grandma. She smoked a pipe nearly all the time. My papa was a livery stable man. He was a fine man with stock. He was a little black man. Mama was too big. Grandma was taller but she was slick black. He lived at Mobile, Alabama. I was the onliest child mama had. Uncle 'Tate Keller' took grandma and mama to Mobile. He never went to the War."

"I got three boys now and I had seben - all boys. They farm and do public work. Tom is in Memphis. Pete is in Helena and I live with Macon between here (Wheatley) and Cotton Plant. We farm."

Interview: Liddie Aiken was interviewed in Wheatley, Arkansa by Miss Irene Robertson as part of the Federal Writer's Project of the Works Progress Administration (WPA). The results are made available by the Library of Congress. ^[1]

Sources

1. ↑ [1] Library of Congress - WPA - Slave Narrative - Liddie Aiken - Vol. 2, Arkansas, part 1; pages 19-21, images 24-26 of 356.