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The Virginia Gazette
Richmond, Williamsburg, Richmond County, Virginia
What is this article about?
A letter from Virginia describes the unusual births of a slave woman owned by Col. Mason: first a Negro child, then twins (a black boy named Austin and a white girl named Sarah with blue eyes), and later three children (two mulattoes and one Negro), attributed to her Negro husband and white overseer Thomas Plum.
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I now send you the most satisfactory Account I am able, of the singular Birth you have heard me mention with Wonder.
A young Negroe Wench of Col. Mason's began to breed early, and had at the first Birth a Negroe Child. Soon after she was delivered of two, a Mulatto Girl, and a Negroe Boy, named Austin; though born at one Time, they were believed in the Family to be Children of different Fathers, as besides her Negroe Husband, it was well known that the Overseer, a white Man, called Thomas Plum, kept Company with her, to the no small Uneasiness of her black Husband. But the Appearance of the Children was Proof stronger than any Witnesses; for Austin was as black a Negroe as I ever saw, and had short, curled, woolly Hair; and in every other Respect was like other Negroes, The Twin Sarah, was so remarkably white, with blue Eyes, and long black Hair, that reached to her Waist. The Wench at the next Birth was delivered of three Children, of which two were Mulattoes, and the other a Negroe.
LONDON, Aug 29.
J. MERCER.
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Primary Location
Virginia
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Outcome
births: first a negroe child; then twins (negroe boy austin and mulatto girl sarah); then three children (two mulattoes and one negroe)
Event Details
A young Negroe Wench of Col. Mason's began to breed early, and had at the first Birth a Negroe Child. Soon after she was delivered of two, a Mulatto Girl, and a Negroe Boy, named Austin; though born at one Time, they were believed in the Family to be Children of different Fathers, as besides her Negroe Husband, it was well known that the Overseer, a white Man, called Thomas Plum, kept Company with her, to the no small Uneasiness of her black Husband. But the Appearance of the Children was Proof stronger than any Witnesses; for Austin was as black a Negroe as I ever saw, and had short, curled, woolly Hair; and in every other Respect was like other Negroes, The Twin Sarah, was so remarkably white, with blue Eyes, and long black Hair, that reached to her Waist. The Wench at the next Birth was delivered of three Children, of which two were Mulattoes, and the other a Negroe.