Adult audio: Colonial Williamsburg

Stop 315. Peyton Randolph Kitchen/Slave quarter
(Note: this tour used character voices to interpret the historic houses of Williamsburg. It was narrated by a townswoman named Mary Singleton.)

MARY SINGLETON—This two-story kitchen has only a covered way between it and the Peyton Randolph house. * It might as well be in another world. For this building also serves as the servants’ quarter.

[SOUND—FADE IN KITCHEN SOUNDS AND SLAVE VOICES.]

MARY SINGLETON— Peyton Randolph died in 1775, leaving his wife, Elizabeth, mistress of 27 household slaves here in town, and 109 more on their plantations. The war raised the same questions them as for freemen. How much will you risk to be free? What will you sacrifice?

EVE—Aggy? Little Aggy?

LITTLE AGGY (off mic)—In the pantry, Eve.

MARY SINGLETON (confidentially, to listener)—A conversation in June of 1781.

[SOUND—POURING WATER IN A BASIN, WASHING POTS AND PANS.]

EVE—Aggy… you decide yet?

LITTLE AGGY—Pick up a cloth and dry.

EVE— Lord Cornwallis declared martial law in Williamsburg!

LITTLE AGGY (dismissively)—And the redcoats give the whole city smallpox. Who don’t know that?

EVE—Must be a thousand runaway slaves come with the army, from all over. He promised he’s going to set them free! And they say…

LITTLE AGGY— Oh, yes he promised! If they pick up a musket and fight for the British. How could I do it, Eve? Run off and leave the Widow Randolph to face the British army alone? How could you?

EVE—Listen to me, Little Aggy! You said the same thing back in 1775. Lord Dunmore promised us freedom, and you said…

LITTLE AGGY—I remember. Do you? Remember the people who run off to fight? Those proud soldiers in Dunmore’s Royal Ethiopian Regiment? Most of them captured and sent to the lead mines.

EVE—They didn’t all get caught! Some sailed to New York with Lord Dunmore. They be free British citizens now! I got to take my chance before it’s too late. I heard Mistress Randolph talking about her will. She’s leaving me and George to one of her nieces; you, Betsy, and Nathan go to another.

LITTLE AGGY—She’s letting us stay with our children. You should thank her, wicked girl!

EVE—We stay together if her nieces say so! And we still be slaves, come what may. Little Aggy, when you think freedom ever come this close again? Right outside, waiting at the door? **

MARY SINGLETON— We knew that all our servants exchanged such words. We feared they might run, but more than that we feared they might rise up against us.

Eve did run to Cornwallis with her son, George. We know she returned or was captured because Mrs. Randolph added a codicil to her will that mentions selling Eve for her bad behavior.

###