June 5th, 1857.—Our black folks are all sorry we are going away, I hope Aunt Dinah will take good care of Lavinia. I have given her the trunkful of clothes for they will be too small for her by the time we get back. I am wondering, too, what will become of me without my Lulu, I do miss my black Mammy dreadfully when we go traveling, but she has little children who need her even more than I do.
Susan Bradford was 11 years old when this entry was made. The Bradford family is going to North Carolina for the summer. All of the persons named in this entry are slaves. Lavina was given to Susan when Lavina was but 4 months old.
Diary entries from before 1860 are included when the content is relevant to the issues that led to or framed the American Civil War. — MpG 5/22/2020