McClain County News Items

Submitted by: Karen Mazzol

Purcell Register
March 3, 1888

AN AGED SOJOURNER

CATHERINE DORSEY, of Providence Claims to be 117 Years Old There resides at No. 131 Lilac Street in this city, says The Providence Journal, at the home of MRS. CELIA BOON, the latter's mother, a wee bit of a woman whose skin betrays the African blood within her veins, but whose features also assert a mixture of the Indian life current. There is much interest centering around this little woman, for while she looks sprightly to a certain degree and converse quite fluently, she claims to be 117 years of age. If wrinkled skin whitened hair, and a bent form can speak in support of her claim, then she has good advocates. The little woman is CATHERINE DORSEY, and she says she was born in Ann Arudel county, Maryland about twenty miles from Baltimore. Her mother and grandmother she knew were full blooded Indians and her father was a typical African. He never knew his right name, as he was stolen from a beach in Africa and brought to this country when he was 3 years of age. Her mother was born on this plantation of MARGARET HOPKINS, and she remained there until she was the mother of ten children. Two of these died when they were infants; the others were JOSEPH, SAMUEL, ANTHONY & JOHN & RACHEL, DARKEY, NANCY & CATHERINE. The old lady says she was born free and had a certificate to that effect until quite recently, when she lost it; her daughter, MRS BOON, had one dated June 23, 1854, which certified to her birth and free person. Her father, she says was married before he became the husband of her mother, and by his first wife had seventeen children, making twenty-seven in all born to him; he lived, she says to be 104 years of age. These facts she asserts can be substantiated by reference to the books of record in Ann Arudel county. Her children numbering thirteen, four of whom are now living. She first came north about twenty eight years ago and since then has made nine journeys to her former home. She fixes her age at 117 years and in support of this says that she was 10 years old on the 'dark day' which according to history, occurred on May 19, 1780. She remembers distinctly that the birds and barnyard fowls went to roost when darkness settled upon the land and that the colored people were very much alarmed at the phenomenon. They sank upon their knees and began to cry and pray, while she, not feeling scared, tried to thread a needle to sew some doll's clothing. She could not do so on account of the darkness and asked her mother to help her accomplish that act. Her mother reached forward seized her, and made her kneel with the rest, telling her that the Lord had set his seal upon the land; that there would no longer by any sunlight but that the earth would thereafter be shrouded in darkness. Her mother was the only religious preaching women in that place, and she remembers that the white people came over to the quarters and joined in the worship which the terrors of the hour induced. Her father's name as given him by those who purchased him was ISAAC DeLand, and after her brothers grew up they changed their names because they were nicknamed Lamb; one of them selected the name of DORSEY, and very singularly she afterwards married a man named DORSEY. She remembers some of the incidents of the war of the Revolution, but does not recall ever having seen GEN. WASHINGTON although she heard him spoken of very often. She recalls visiting the camps particularly of the regulars, as she ____them, and of the militia, the latter being scattered through the woods. She rode on a cart to camp and sold corn pones to the soldiers. She can remember three wars, but can not recall dates. The colored people in her days were very ignorant and hard working and to enjoy their religion were often compelled to go into the woods, where undisturbed by wicked field drivers or cruel overseers, and simply supplications to Him who promised to free all in His good time. Their work was hard, then, not only lasting through the day, but sometimes running through the night. Corn bread was the principal food taken to the field. She had never been punished, and no white person's hand had ever been laid upon her in violence or anger. She had done everything in a field that strong man could do such as yoking up the steers, plowing, sowing, hoeing, reaping, driving to the woods, loading up the firewood, returning home ad unloading it. She now has her faculties, can thread a needle, does sewing for pay, and stands up to the tub and washes her own clothes. She rarely slept after 4 o'clock in the morning, and if the weather is good she walks about the streets near her daughter's residence before breakfast. Later in the day she, makes trips about the neighborhood and is frequently made the recipient of ______ and delicacies from ladies and gentlemen who are acquainted with her history. Such is the little ______story. It is an interesting ________