Heritage
Two dynamic women: Sylvia and Mary Jane Connor
by Diana Bell-Kite, Curator of
Interpretation
One challenge scholars of
19th-century African
American history often
face is a scarcity' of first-person
accounts written by the people they
study. Therefore, they must use a
variety of peripheral sources to piece
together the rich diversity of African
American experiences during this era.
It is through one such source — the
correspondences of Private 1 lenry
A. Clapp, a member of the 44th
Massachusetts Volunteer Militia
who was stationed in New Bern
from 1862-1863 — that we gain a
glimpse into the lives ol two New
Bern women, Sylvia and Mary Jane
Connor.
Henry Clapp first met Mary Jane
Connor during the Thanksgiving
celebration of 1862. He wrote, “ I he
puddings had been arranged for with
a certain colored woman named
Mary Ann, [Clapp later remarked
that she often went by Mary Ann
rather than her given name, Mary
Jane] and the chicken pies also.’’1
Connors puddings and pies clearly
proved popular, for a month later at
Christmas Clapp recorded, “Mary
Ann, a famous cook arranged to
provide our great dinner." This time
she fixed the entire meal, complete
with meats, poultry, fruits, nuts,
vegetables and desserts. 1
In addition to serving as a cook,
Mary Jane Connor managed a
boardinghouse. In March of 1863,
Clapp wrote, "we changed our
boarding place from Mrs. Tripp’s to
the wonderful Mary Ann’s — at whose
house we had our Christmas dinner.
We should have gone there first, if
she could have taken us.”
Mary Jane Connor
Sylvia Connor
Clapp recorded additional insights
about Connor, revealing perhaps,
a deepening level of trust and
friendship: “she is thirty-five or
rhereabouts, of medium nignitude
[Clapp is probably referring to her
complexion] and of a very intelligent
expression. .She had been a slave for
years (all her life) before our troops
took New Bern and been hired out
as cook.” In the same letter, he noted
one of her personal aspirations: “she
supports an aged and infirm mother.
She has told me once or twice in
answer to my questions, that if it
were not that she felt she ought to
stay and take care of her mother she
would go to New York at once.”3
Tli rough Mary Jane Connor,
Clapp met her sister-in-law, Sylvia.
Sylvia worked as a seamstress, and
was previously enslaved by “one
of the richest men in New Bern.”
Sylvia clearly challenged Clapps
preconceived notions of slavery.
He wrote, “She is about forty, and
though very dark of very pleasant
appearance. I Ier address and manners
are remarkably agreeable and really of
unusual refinement.”4
Henry Clapps interaction w'ith
Sylvia and Mary Jane Connor left a
lasting impression. In the late spring
of 1 863, he wrote his family to
send new dresses as gifts for the two
women and for Eunice, a waitress in
Mary Jane Connor’s boardinghouse.
After distributing the presents, he
concluded, “the three ladies I am sure
are bound to me forever."
Just a few' weeks later, Sylvia and
Mary Jane Connor sat to have their
photographs taken, likely posing in
their new attireT These photographs
accompany I lenry Clapp’s letter
book and are now part of Tryon
Palace Historic Sires & Cardens’
collection. These sources provide a
valuable glimpse into the lives of two
dynamic women whose stories might
have otherwise gone unrecorded.
1 Henry A. Clapp to Loui.se Clapp, 30 November
1 862. In Letters tv the Home Circle The North
Carolina Service of Pvt Henry A. Clapp, ed John
R. Barden (Raleigh. North Carolina Division of
Archives and History, 1998), 48
; Henry A. Clapp to Mary Ann Bragg Clapp, 26
December 1862. in Barden, ed., 83.
' Henry A. Clapp to Mary Ann Bragg Clapp, 31
March 1863, in Barden, ed., 165.
’ Henry A. Clapp to Willie Clapp. 10 April
1863, in Barden, ed , 176-77.
‘ Henry A. Clapp to John Pierce Clapp, 18 May
1863, in Barden, ed., 210-212.
4 %
uace
Winter 2007
