Just say, I'M on a Roll! I think you folks interested in the early coal mining days may like to have this one. Name of song: "Which Side Are You On?" "Mrs. Florence Reece was the wife of a coal miner in famous Harlan County, KY, in 1931, when she wrote this song. It has lasted as a testament to the militancy of the miners and the vitality of the Kentucky folksong tradition." Come all of you good workers, good news to you I'll tell, Of how the good old union has come in here to dwell. (Chorus) Which side are you on? (repeat 3 more times) Don't scab for the bosses, don't listen to their lies. Us poor folks haven't got a chance, unless we organize... (Chorus) They say in Harlan County, there are no neutrals there. You'll either be a union man, or a thug for J.H. Blair... (Chorus) Oh, workers, can you stand it? Oh tell me how you can. Will you be a lousy scab, or will you be a man?... (Chorus) My daddy was a miner, and I'm a miner's son, And I'll stick with the union, till every battle's won... (Chorus) These songs are taken from a "Hootenany Song Book" printed about 1960. It's seen better days. Good folk songs, a few old hymns, CW songs, i.e., "When Johnny Comes Marching Home," and "Johnny is my Darling." Pat

Let's not stray too far afield from the mission of the List. I know it is a fine line but when we get into chit-chat we have crossed the line. -sysop "Toto, I don't think we are in NH any more."

While reviewing the song, "Four Nights Drunk", I noticed another that all of us are familiar with-- "The Erie Canal". I mention this because the song was written in the 19th century, and notice some of the words make reference to bulk freight transported from city to city: I've got a mule, her name is Sal, Fifteen miles on the Erie Canal, She's a good old worker and a good old pal, Fifteen miles on the Erie Canal. We've hauled some barges in our day, Fill'd with lumber, coal and hay, And we know ev'ry inch of the way >From Albany to Buffalo. Get up mule, here comes a lock, we'll make Rome 'bout six o'clock, One more trip and back we'll go, Right back home to Buffalo. Pat

Here's your song: There's 4 long verses and story isn't complete without all four, so bear with me:: FOUR NIGHTS DRUNK I came home the other night as drunk as I could be, and I saw a horse in the stable where my horse ought to be. So I said to my wife, my pretty little wife, "Won't you tell me, please, What's this horse a doin' here where my horse ought to be?" She said "You darn fool, you drunken fool, Can't you ever see? It's nothin' but a milk cow that your mother gave to me." Well, I've traveled this wide world over Some crazy things I've saw, But a saddle on a milk cow, I never seen before. I came home the other night as drunk as I could be And I saw a hat on the table where my hat ought to be. So I said to my wife, my pretty little wife "Won't you tell me please What's this hat a doin' here where my hat ought to be?" She said, "You darn fool, you drunken fool, Can't you ever see? It's nothing but a bed pan that your mother gave to me." Well, I've traveled this wide world over, Some crazy things I saw, But a bedpan marked 7 3/4 I never saw before. I came home the other night as drunk as I could be And I saw a pair of pants in the closet where my pants ought to be. So I said to my wife, my pretty little wife "Won't you tell me please What's these pants a doin' where my pants ought to be?" She said, "You darn fool, you drunken fool, Can't you ever see? It's nothing but a tablecloth that your mother gave to me." Well, I've traveled this wide world over, Some crazy things I saw, But a tablecloth with a zipper I never saw before. I came home the other night as drunk as I could be And I saw a head on the pillow where my head ought to be. So I said to my wife, my pretty little wife "Won't you tell me please, What's this head a doin' where my head ought to be?" She said, "You darn fool, you drunken fool, Can't you ever see? It's nothing but a cabbage head that your mother gave to me." Well, I've traveled this wide world over, Some crazy things I saw, But a moustache on a cabbagehead I never saw before. END Tales of cuckoldry have delighted audiences since time immemorial--and this ballad of the drunken husband hoodwinked by his faithless wife has been a perennial folk favorite. (no name) Just another story/song! Pat O'Neal

The song is "Seven Drunken Nights" I have the words if you'd like them. Chuck ps. My lines are George Gibson of Gibson Station, Colville, Walker, and Cowan. > -----Original Message----- > From: Charles E. Starnes [mailto:starnesc@ucs.orst.edu] > Sent: Friday, March 19, 1999 12:16 PM > To: SW_VA-L@rootsweb.com > Subject: Re: Southern Expressions - Cabbage Head > > > How many of you remember that old time song that goes something like > this... > Man's voice... > "Oh I've traveled this world over, a thousand times or more, > but never did I ever see, a man's head on my bed, > where my head ought to be." > Woman's voice... > "Oh, you blind fool, you crazy fool, can't you ever see? > It's nothing but a cabbage head, a friend gave to me." > > Charles Ed Starnes > apologies for shaky memory of the exact words of the song... > used to listen to it on an ancient 78 rpm record & Victrola with the > picture of the dog on it... > > Brenda Curtis wrote: > > > > In France, mon Petit chou, or my little cabbage head, is a term of > > endearment! > > > > Brenda Curtis > > > > > ==== SW_VA Mailing List ==== > #2 A large database of SURNAMES and the researcher's email > address can be found at > http://www.fortunecity.com/millennium/quarrybank/194/swabc.htm > You may have your SURNAMES included by posting them and your > address to the > LIST and NOT to the sysop/owner. > >

Mr. Starnes: Well, wha'da'ya'know!!! I just happened to have that song somewhere. Always got a kick out of it. Give me a little time and I'll come up with it and report back to you. Pat O'Neal

Eddie, The only thought I have on the quantity of money is - could at least a portion of it been owed later instead of all at the time of purchase. I have run into that in PA in that time period. What I don't recall seeing in PA deeds was a measure being made by the "pole". Any idea how many feet in a pole? Very interesting deed. Thanks for sharing- this variety of subject matter is what makes this sight so interesting!! Bonnie in NC

How many of you remember that old time song that goes something like this... Man's voice... "Oh I've traveled this world over, a thousand times or more, but never did I ever see, a man's head on my bed, where my head ought to be." Woman's voice... "Oh, you blind fool, you crazy fool, can't you ever see? It's nothing but a cabbage head, a friend gave to me." Charles Ed Starnes apologies for shaky memory of the exact words of the song... used to listen to it on an ancient 78 rpm record & Victrola with the picture of the dog on it... Brenda Curtis wrote: > > In France, mon Petit chou, or my little cabbage head, is a term of > endearment! > > Brenda Curtis >

Eddie and Others: In the old court records of Washington county, "marks" or brands are recorded for peoples hogs. In those days the chestnut trees grew to great size and produced large chestnuts which fell to the ground in the fall and people would turn the hogs into the forest to fatten on those chestnuts..When they got fat, they were round-up and and sorted by the "marks". My father told me that many hogs were fattened in the Clinch Mountain on chestnuts up until about the turn of the century.. Also, the lands northwest of the Blue Ridge Mountain were much better than the land to the south..due to the limestone base..A creek or river bottom would sustain cultivation for several years and if sown in hay for two or three years could be farmed again with good results..A lot of clover was used for hay in the early days and it built land up rather than wear it out..Corn was the first crop planted on "newground" because it would grow and could be harvested among the stumps, after that, tobacco could be planted and harvested. The stumps rotted or were burned out and then wheat could be grown.. When the land became weak it was turned into pasture land and more land cleared. G. Lee Hearl Abingdon, Va.

This is a multi-part message in MIME format. --part0_921883257_boundary Content-ID: <0_921883257@inet_out.mail.aol.com.1> Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII << Long measure 1mile = 80 chains, 320 rods, 5280 feet 1 chain = 4 rods, 66 ft, 100 links 1 rod = 5 1/2 yds, 16 1/2 ft, 25 links 1 link = 0.66 ft, 7 7/8 in. 1 pole = 16 1/2 ft >> --part0_921883257_boundary Content-ID: <0_921883257@inet_out.mail.aol.com.2> Content-type: message/rfc822 Content-transfer-encoding: 7bit Content-disposition: inline Return-Path: <> Received: from rly-yc01.mx.aol.com (rly-yc01.mail.aol.com [172.18.149.33]) by air-yc04.mail.aol.com (v58.13) with SMTP; Fri, 19 Mar 1999 17:36:18 -0500 Received: from imo25.mx.aol.com (imo25.mx.aol.com [198.81.17.69]) by rly-yc01.mx.aol.com (8.8.8/8.8.5/AOL-4.0.0) with ESMTP id RAA21938 for <HISTMOM@aol.com>; Fri, 19 Mar 1999 17:36:09 -0500 (EST) Received: from localhost (localhost) by imo25.mx.aol.com (8.8.8/8.7.3/AOL-2.0.0) with internal id RAA25973; Fri, 19 Mar 1999 17:36:18 -0500 (EST) Date: Fri, 19 Mar 1999 17:36:18 -0500 (EST) From: Mail Delivery Subsystem <MAILER-DAEMON@aol.com> Subject: Returned mail: Host unknown (Name server: rootsweb: host not found) Message-Id: <199903192236.RAA25973@imo25.mx.aol.com> To: HISTMOM@aol.com Auto-Submitted: auto-generated (failure) Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-transfer-encoding: 7bit The original message was received at Fri, 19 Mar 1999 17:33:14 -0500 (EST) from root@localhost *** ATTENTION *** An e-mail you sent to an Internet destination could not be delivered. The Internet address is listed in the section labeled: "----- The following addresses had permanent fatal errors -----". The reason your e-mail could not be delivered is listed in the section labeled: "----- Transcript of Session Follows -----". The line beginning with "<<<" describes the specific reason your e-mail could not be delivered. The next line contains a second error message which is a general translation for other e-mail servers. Please direct further questions regarding this message to the e-mail administrator or Postmaster at that destination. ----- The following addresses had permanent fatal errors ----- <SW_VA-L@rootsweb> ----- Transcript of session follows ----- 550 <SW_VA-L@rootsweb>... Host unknown (Name server: rootsweb: host not found) ----- Original message follows ----- Received: from HISTMOM@aol.com by imo25.mx.aol.com (IMOv19.3) id 3OLPa26965 for <SW_VA-L@rootsweb>; Fri, 19 Mar 1999 17:33:14 -0500 (EST) From: HISTMOM@aol.com Return-path: <HISTMOM@aol.com> Message-ID: <9a847224.36f2d0aa@aol.com> Date: Fri, 19 Mar 1999 17:33:14 EST To: SW_VA-L@rootsweb Mime-Version: 1.0 Subject: Re: POLE 16 1/2 ft. Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-transfer-encoding: 7bit X-Mailer: AOL 3.0 16-bit for Windows sub 41 Long measure 1mile = 80 chains, 320 rods, 5280 feet 1 chain = 4 rods, 66 ft, 100 links 1 rod = 5 1/2 yds, 16 1/2 ft, 25 links 1 link = 0.66 ft, 7 7/8 in. 1 pole = 16 1/2 ft --part0_921883257_boundary--

My husband tells this story about southwestern WV, Cabell County. During the depression food was scarce, so his mother would feed the family dry rice for breakfast and then give them warm water for lunch. They would then swell for supper. End of sad story.

"By 1812 Kentuckians were driving 800,000 hogs a year eastward along the trails across the mtns." - Francis Preston Blair by E.B. Smith If this is true and I find it hard to believe, then surely 20 years earlier the farmer of SW VA were herding large numbers of livestock to east of the Blue Ridge. Whereas the soil would soon weaken from the fatigue of growing corn and tobacco, the livestock could roam free and eat the plentiful grass, foilage and fruits that then grew wild year after year. This "cash crop" could have provided cash for manufactured goods and land purchases. -eddie "Toto, I don't think we are in NH any more."

At http://www.access.digex.net/~miner/index.html there is an article about Matewan and several other battles occurring in the organization of the UMWA. Much info here for those interested in this era of history. Gayle

It is a Scottish song. I have it at home on one of Alex Beaton's tapes. I'll get the words over the weekend and post on Monday. Frieda ***************** "Charles E. Starnes" wrote: > How many of you remember that old time song that goes something like > this... > Man's voice... > "Oh I've traveled this world over, a thousand times or more, > but never did I ever see, a man's head on my bed, > where my head ought to be." > Woman's voice... > "Oh, you blind fool, you crazy fool, can't you ever see? > It's nothing but a cabbage head, a friend gave to me." > > Charles Ed Starnes > apologies for shaky memory of the exact words of the song... > used to listen to it on an ancient 78 rpm record & Victrola with the > picture of the dog on it... > > Brenda Curtis wrote: > > > > In France, mon Petit chou, or my little cabbage head, is a term of > > endearment! > > > > Brenda Curtis > > > > ==== SW_VA Mailing List ==== > #2 A large database of SURNAMES and the researcher's email address can be found at > http://www.fortunecity.com/millennium/quarrybank/194/swabc.htm > You may have your SURNAMES included by posting them and your address to the > LIST and NOT to the sysop/owner.

One of the best stories I have ever read is the one about Swift's Silver Mine in SW_VA. I wish I had it on computer to send you, but expect with a little research you may be able to find this story. One of the interesting things about silver and money is that with the silver from Swift's Silver Mine, some Melungeons made counterfeit silver coins. The coins were widely accepted and appreciated because they contained more silver than those minted by the government. I believe, but am not sure, that the name of the main counterfeiter was Mullins, "Counterfeitin' Sol Mullins." The Melungeons were so important in this region of SW_VA. I feel that many of our family lines who passed this way were touched by the connection to this group. Nancy S

Hi guys! Jerry, I have to agree that the letter you sent made me weep!!! I could just hear her voice and the lonliness and pain she felt. God Bless her. Just know that her life is better now. But one of the things that drew my attention was the description of the lung problems!!! One of the diseases that frequently caused problems among those folks of Melungeon heritage was a disease called sarcoidosis which was frequently lumped with TB, and consumption. Coughing, spitting up blood, and lesions on the lung are often found. Here is a description of that disease, taken from the National Organization of Rare Disorders website: <<SARCOIDOSIS is a disorder which affects many body systems. It is characterized by small round lesions of granulation tissue. (The ones I have seen are about the size of a quarter and flat.) Symptoms may vary with the severity of the disease. Fever, weight loss, joint pain, with liver involvement and enlarged lymph nodes are common. Cough and difficulty in breathing may occur. Skin disease marked by tender red nodules with fever and joint pain is a frequent manifestation. Onset is usually between 20 and 40 years.>> Nancy S

Dear List, Growing up in Kentucky I cared little for "hillbilly" music and even less for the "high lonesome" tenors singing bluegrass. The accoustic instrumentals of the post-Monroe groups I really enjoyed. I attended many festivals while living in Ohio and Michigan and it was there I met the hammered dulcimer. It was love at first sound. In learning to play this instrument I learned many, many Irish jigs, reels and ballads. I learned an equal number of fiddle tunes. There is no doubt in my mind that Bluegrass evolved from our Celtic heritage. Sue McN.

I have the book "Bloody Harlan" which deals with the organization of the union in Harlan Co. Ky. My grandfather went to work in the mines when he was 11 years old. ( NO child labor laws back then ). He worked in the mines until he was over 70 years old and had a 50 year pin from the UMWA Of course, he had Black Lung. This was just one of the many perils of the miners from this era. Just to show how important the union was to the miners, I remember that my grandfather cut a picture of John L. Lewis from the UMWA Journal, framed it, and hung it on the living room wall This was in the 1950's,. Unionizing came before my time,but my Mother remembers a lot. My few memories include a Moon Pie left in a dinner bucket,a plastic worm in the water part of the bucket, filling carbide lights in the kitchen at night, and the time someone brought him home in the back of a pick-up with his back broken from a accident in the mine. Thank you for talking about the miners and bringing these memries back to me. Gayle Researching DUNN, KECK, HILL, PROFFITT, and WHITACKER

Yep, Galax, VA is the Bluegrass Music Capital of the World. Actually, it is the headquarters for the Bluegrass Music Association and they schedule festivals all over the US. I did not know this until I attended a couple of Bluegrass festivals in Grass Valley, CA, which is near Coloma, the site of the great gold strike of CA. They usually feature named Bluegrass stars from VA and KY area such as the Wilburn Brothers. Thousands attend these festivals.

Where did the money come from? Eddie, you bring up a good question. I found on the New River site of land surveys for several counties that old Abraham Crabtree purchased or traded for property on every ridge and valley along Holston and Clinch River, Brushy Mountain, Bear Wallow and even in Wayne County, KY. He was one of the earliest settlers at Seven Mile Ford and one of the first owners of property on the Salt Flat, now known as Saltville. When you read his worth on the census, he had only 2 horse and he signed his name with an X. The only source of income I can see he ever had was the fact he was involved with every skirmish that came his way from the Revolutionary War, Indian Wars, Kings Mountain, and you name it. Most of these periods of service lasted only a matter of two or three months at the longest. What was the pay? Eight dollars or eighty acres? I don't have a clue where the ready cash came from. Like you said, $200 or $300 was a good going price for property bought back then. Also, there were notes due him from various people, one was for six dollars and sixty two and a half cents.