Lucy Banks (formerly Lucy Lee) searching for her mother, father, and eight siblings

MR. EDITOR— I wish to learn the whereabouts of my people; they left me on Back river in Virginia; —the river was salt water—near Hamilton, where my mother went every morning to market; my mother's name was Milly Ann Lee and belonged to a Mr. Thomas Skinner; my father was Joseph Lee and belonged to a Dr. Mabre, but I do not remember the doctor's first name; my father was a butcher and lived in Hamilton; my mother had nine children living; the oldest was Margaret and was called Beggy for a short name, and was subject to fits; the next oldest was Jack, and the third was myself, Lucy Ann, and Susan, Nancy and Lizzie. William and Margaret were the two oldest, and I being very small at the time I can not remember the names of all the children. The cause of our separation was the death of our oldest master and the dividing of the property among his children. We were all taken to a town called Little York, and on my way back home in company with my grandmother Margaret, for whom my old sister was named, I was stolen from the wagon and was taken to Richmond, Va., and sold. We went to Little York to be hired out; my father bought my mother and the baby child. I am now a member of the M.E. Church, and I thank God that my steps were directed to go under the shelter of her broad wing which extends from "Afric's sunny fountains to Greenland's icy mountains, and under the happy flight of the SOUTHWESTERN, through which I expect to find my long lost people, and at the head of which is a man of my race; and if he has never lost any of his people this way, yet he can almost feel the darting pangs as they dart through the hearts of others, Instead of Lucy Lee I am now Lucy Banks, Preachers, class-leaders. Sunday-school superintendents, and all who are subscribers of this blessed paper, which I liken to an earthly angel, will please read this to their several churches and people; and if anything can be done to find my people I believe this paper in her flight over the world will bring them if you will read this paper. Please address Lucy Banks, care of Rev. T. J. Smith, Giddings, Lee county, Texas.

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