Alfred "Teen" Blackburn facts for kids

Alfred "Teen" Blackburn (born April 26, 1842 – died March 8, 1951) was an amazing man who lived to be 108 years old! He was one of the last people in America who remembered what it was like to be enslaved as an adult. Teen was well-known in Yadkin County, North Carolina for being very strong and living a long life. During the American Civil War, he worked as a helper for his owner, a soldier fighting for the Confederacy. Later in 1929, he received a special pension from North Carolina. This led some people to mistakenly think he was a Confederate soldier.

Teen's Early Life and Slavery

Teen Blackburn was born into slavery on a large farm in Yadkin County, North Carolina. His family said he was the son of Fannie Blackburn, who was part Cherokee and part African, and Augustus Blackburn, a white farm owner.

Life on the Plantation

As a boy, Teen said he had "the best job" on the farm. He would shoo flies away from the dinner table and help serve guests at parties. He also took care of the children. Teen mentioned that the other enslaved people who worked in the fields were jealous of his easier job.

Working During the Civil War

During the American Civil War, Teen worked as a "body servant" for his father, Colonel John Augustus Blackburn. His brother, Wiley Blackburn, also served as a body servant for another regiment.

Teen cooked, served, and helped the soldiers for almost two years. He was even present during battles like the First Battle of Bull Run. In an interview from 1938, Teen said he didn't carry a gun. He felt "a knife was handier." He even described using his knife to defend Colonel Blackburn once.

However, his pension application from 1929 tells a slightly different story. It says he spent most of his time on the Blackburn farm. There, he worked in the blacksmith's shop with seven other enslaved people. They made iron rims for wagons used by the Confederacy. The application also states he helped guard valuable family items during the war. It made it clear he was not a soldier.

Teen returned to Yadkin County when Colonel Blackburn got sick and came home. When the war ended, Teen saw General George Stoneman's soldiers in Hamptonville. He described them "riding three abreast and burning everything along the way."

Life After the Civil War

After the war ended, Teen Blackburn moved to Davie County. He worked as a farmer for four years. Then, he worked for Sheriff Tom Watts. He briefly tried working at a mine in Ashe County but quit after just one day.

Mail Carrier for 60 Years

Teen returned to Hamptonville. In 1883, he became a contract mail carrier for the U.S. Post Office. He even supervised other carriers, both Black and white. He worked for an amazing 60 years! He carried mail on foot and later by horse from Jonesville to Hamptonville. This was a distance of more than 10 miles (16 km) every other day.

Family and Education

In 1880, Teen Blackburn married Lucy Carson. They had 10 children together. Teen worked many other jobs around the county and on his 75-acre (30 ha) farm. He grew tobacco and did whatever he could to make sure each of his children received a formal education.

Teen Blackburn passed away on March 8, 1951, at the incredible age of 108. He is buried in the Pleasant Hill Baptist Church cemetery. This cemetery is in Carsontown, a community in Iredell County.

Teen's Legacy

The road in front of his house was named Teen Blackburn Road in his honor. His house stood on that road, south of U.S. Highway 21 and U.S. Highway 421, until it was destroyed by a fire in December 2003.