Louisa Picquet facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Louisa Picquet
Frontispiece of Picquet's narrative, 1861
Born	c. 1829 Columbia, South Carolina
Died	August 11, 1896 New Richmond, Ohio
Notable work	Louisa Picquet, the Octoroon, or, Inside Views of Southern Domestic Life

Louisa Picquet (born around 1829 in Columbia, South Carolina and died August 11, 1896, in New Richmond, Ohio) was an African American woman. She was born into slavery. Her important book, called a slave narrative, was published in 1861. It was titled Louisa Picquet, the Octoroon, or, Inside Views of Southern Domestic Life.

This book was written by abolitionist pastor Hiram Mattison. It shares Picquet's life experiences. The book talks about her faith (Christianity) and how people were treated differently based on their skin color (colorism). Mattison and Picquet hoped to earn enough money from the book. Their goal was to buy Picquet's mother out of slavery.

Louisa's Early Life

Louisa Picquet was born on a large farm called a plantation. This farm was in Lexington County, South Carolina. Her first owner, John Randolph, sold Louisa and her mother. They were sold to a man named David R. Cook. Cook then moved to Mobile, Alabama with the enslaved people he owned. He had problems with people he owed money to.

In Mobile, Louisa worked inside the home for Thomas M. English. Cook was staying at English's house at the time.

When Cook could not pay his debts, Louisa was sold again. She was sold at an auction to John Williams in New Orleans. This sale sadly separated her from her mother and baby brother. After Williams died in the 1840s, Louisa became free. She stayed in the Williams' home until Williams' brother told her he was selling the house. She then moved in with her friend, Helen Hopkins, who was also a Black woman. Louisa sold some of Williams' furniture. This helped her earn enough money to move to Cincinnati, Ohio with her children.

Life in Ohio

In Cincinnati, Louisa started using the name Louisa Williams. Soon after she arrived, one of her two remaining children died. This left her with only her daughter, Elizabeth. Louisa met Henry Picquet from Augusta, Georgia. They got married in 1850. They had two more children together: Sarah (born 1852) and Thomas (born 1856).

While in Cincinnati, Louisa worked hard to buy her mother's freedom. She searched for her mother for eleven years. She finally found out that a friend knew her mother's owner, Mr. Horton, in Texas. Louisa began writing letters to her mother and Mr. Horton in 1859. Her mother quickly told her that Mr. Horton would sell her for $1000. He would sell Louisa's brother for $1500. He was also willing to trade them for other valuable items.

In October 1860, Mr. Horton agreed to sell Louisa's mother for $900. Louisa was able to buy her mother out of slavery. However, she was not reunited with her brother.

Soon after Louisa's mother arrived in Cincinnati, the Civil War began. Louisa's husband was hurt while serving in the Union Army. Because of his injury, Louisa had to work to support her family. She did laundry for others. Around 1867, the family moved to New Richmond, Ohio. Henry tried to get a special payment for injured soldiers. He tried for almost fifteen years. His request was finally approved. He started getting six dollars a month. But he died of heart disease soon after.

After her husband died, Louisa applied for a special payment for widows of soldiers. She received twelve dollars a month until she passed away in August 1896.

Louisa's Family

Louisa had four children while living in New Orleans. Two of her children died before she became free. Another child died soon after they moved to Cincinnati. Her only surviving daughter, Elizabeth, was eighteen when they reached Ohio. Elizabeth had three more children. Only two of them, Picquet and her youngest brother, John, lived to be adults.

Louisa met her husband, Henry, three years after moving to Cincinnati. Henry had one daughter, Harriet, before they met. Louisa and Henry had two children together: Sarah (born 1852) and Thomas (born 1856).

About the Slave Narrative

Louisa was traveling through Buffalo, New York. She was trying to collect money to free her mother. Someone told her to talk to Hiram Mattison. He was an abolitionist pastor and writer. Louisa arrived in New York City in May 1860. She met Mattison, who helped her write her story. He acted as her amanuensis, someone who writes down what another person says.

Mattison hoped this slave narrative would help Louisa raise more money. She needed it to buy her mother from Mr. Horton. Louisa actually bought her mother's freedom while Mattison was still writing the book.

Louisa Picquet, the Octoroon, or, Inside Views of Southern Domestic Life was published in 1861. Mattison wrote and told the story. Many parts of the book are like an interview. Mattison asks Louisa specific questions. He asks about her children. He asks how her owners treated her and other enslaved people. He also asks where she lived after she became free. Mattison also included letters from Louisa's mother. He added parts from newspapers of that time.

Key Ideas in the Narrative

Faith and Slavery

Hiram Mattison was a clergyman (a religious leader). He was also a strong opponent of slavery. He did not agree with churches that supported slavery. Throughout the book, he points out how strange it was for Christians to own slaves. He asked American Christians to use their power to end slavery. He wanted them to use their influence in society, in churches, and in politics.

Louisa explained to Mattison that Mr. Williams would not let her go to church. This was when she was enslaved. After he died, she went to a church service for the first time in six years. Louisa became a member of the Zion Baptist Church in Cincinnati. She was baptized in 1852.

Skin Color and Treatment

Louisa Picquet had very light skin. This was because only one-eighth of her family background was African. People often questioned if she was Black. When Mattison first met Louisa, he found it hard to believe she had been enslaved. She looked white. He even asked his cousin to check Louisa's identity. His cousin did this by contacting Louisa's bank in Cincinnati.

In her story, Louisa talks about other enslaved people she met. They also had very light skin. Mattison often asked Louisa if these other enslaved people looked as white as she did. This showed how strange it was that people were enslaved based on race.