The Voices of My Ancestors 

The first time I read slave narratives from the Federal Writers’ Project I could almost hear the voices of my ancestors. I felt their presence. Their pain, their fears, their joys leapt from my computer screen. I immediately began to search for recognizable names and places. The three obvious ones were the brother of my paternal great grandfather. 

Emanuel and Washington Armstrong were the brothers of my paternal great-grandfather. Nora was the sister of my paternal great-grandmother. They narrated, in their own words, their lives as enslaved people.

Emanuel "Manuel" Armstrong was born in January 1858 in Jasper, Texas to Zilpah Hadnot and Jackson Armstrong. He married Tempy Byerly and they had eight children together. Tempy died in 1895. Manuel later married Nora Ferrell Brumley in 1897. They had two children together. Manuel died on April 8, 1941, in Jasper, Texas, at the age of 83. He is buried in Hadnot Cemetery in Jasper County, Texas.

Washington "Wash" Armstrong was born enslaved to Zilpah Hadnot and Jackson Armstrong on April 5, 1860 in Cherokee County, Texas. As a young man, he had two daughters, one with Angie Grant and another with Effie Mitchell. Wash later married Lula Seale and together they had nine children. Wash died on September 18, 1942, in Jasper County, Texas, at the age of 82, and was buried in Hadnot Cemetery in Jasper County.

More narratives

Born in Slavery: These narratives were collected in the 1930s as part of the Federal Writers' Project (FWP) of the Works Progress Administration, later renamed Work Projects Administration (WPA).

Lucky Limbrick

Lucky Limbrick
1910-1957

Lucky Limbrick was born on March 18, 1910 in Jasper County, Texas. His father, Doucette Limbrick, was 25 and his mother, Maggie Frazier, was 20. In 1927 he had one daughter, Grander Lee Limbrick, with Sarah Byerly. Three years later, in 1930, Lucky’s son, Willie Luckie Limbrick, was born to Helen Armstrong. Lucky and Helen were married shortly after the birth of their son. There are no records of how long the marriage lasted. Lucky later married Elnora Johnson on May 13, 1937 in Harris County, Texas. 

In 1932 Lucky lived in at 2811 Anita Avenue in Houston, Texas. He worked at Sears and Roebuck as an attendant changing tires. In 1937 Lucky lived at 3404 Bmaunue in Houston and worked for Hiresch Brothers as a porter (custodian). Lucky registered for the draft on October 16, 1940. At the time he was six feet two inches tall and weighed 178 pounds.

 

             U.S. WWII Draft Cards Young Men

His complexion was listed as light brown, eyes brown, and hair brown. His wife, Elnora Limbrick, was listed as next of kin. His address was 1219 Hill Street, Houston, Texas and his employer was Earl North Buick Company. 

In 1958 Lucky was living with his sister, Jeanette, in Los Angeles, California at 1368 East 48th Street and was a registered Democrat voter.

Lucky Limbrick died on his birthday, March 18, 1957, in Los Angeles, California, at the age of 47. He is buried in Evergreen Cemetery in Los Angeles, California. 

Evergreen Cemetery
Los Angeles, California 

Doucette Limbrick 
Father of Lucky Limbrick