Another View of Henry Probasco's Slave Narrative
American-style chattel slavery in Texas arrived with the first Empresario settlers in 1824 and legally continued until June 19, 1865. During this time frame, over 180,000 individuals were enslaved on different types of plantations, in private homes, and in trade shops across the regions. Henry Probasco represented one such individual. [1]
Born into slavery on a plantation in Walker County, Probasco worked the land with 50 other enslaved people, including his family, until he was 17 years old. In his younger years, he was not yet able to work in the fields, so his duties included collecting eggs and gathering kindling for fires. Since he was required to collect eggs every day, Probasco quickly learned how and where to find them. In addition to searching the hen coop, he learned that chickens would lay on the ground under the nests, under the house, and even outside in the grass. Nevertheless, each day he would find a quantity of eggs and return them to his mother and his master. [2]
In 1865, U.S. Major General Gordon Granger declared enslaved African Americans to be free. At this time, Probasco would be 7 years old. While some of his family left the plantation, most stayed. After the first year of being free, his father left the plantation and moved to Waco, Texas, and opened a shoe shop. However, Henry stayed with the rest of his family on the plantation for another decade. [3]
At 17 years old, Probasco moved to Ellis County, Texas, near Files County and found work on a cattle ranch owned by Judge Weakly. There, Henry learned how to round up and brand cattle, as well as how to ride a horse. He expressed many times that learning to ride was one of his favorite things to do on the ranch, and even had monetary bets placed on him to win riding contests. He later left the ranch to work in meatpacking plants. After many years in this industry, Henry stated that the company let him go due to his age. [4]
Throughout his life, Probasco married three times. The first marriage lasted over 20 years, the second for only one season, and the last for only 2 years. With his first wife, Probasco had eleven children. However, seven tragically died before Henry, and he lost contact with the remaining four. Probasco did not have children with his second or third wife. After his last divorce, Henry stayed single, stating that he had had enough of marriage. He then lived out his life alone and content. [5]
Images
