Scott Pelfrey interview with Seldon H. Pelfrey

The John Burrison Georgia Folklore Archive recordings contains unedited versions of all interviews. Some material may contain descriptions of violence, offensive language, or negative stereotypes reflecting the culture or language of a particular period or place. There are instances of racist language and description, particularly in regards to African Americans. These items are presented as part of the historical record. This project is a repository for the stories, accounts, and memories of those who chose to share their experiences for educational purposes. The viewpoints expressed in this project do not necessarily represent the viewpoints of the Atlanta History Center or any of its officers, agents, employees, or volunteers. The Atlanta History Center makes no warranty as to the accuracy or completeness of any information contained in the interviews and expressly disclaims any liability therefore. If you believe you are the copyright holder of any of the content published in this collection and do not want it publicly available, please contact the Kenan Research Center at the Atlanta History Center at 404-814-4040 or reference@atlantahistorycenter.com. In this recording Seldon Pelfrey sings two folk ballads. The first, Pretty Polly, is about a girl who is killed by her lover, Willie. The second song is a western ballad about the death of J.B. Markem in Jackson, Kentucky, titled Hanging Man, which she sings to the tune of Jesse James. Livrona Carolina Pelfrey (1898-1970) was born in Wolfe County, Kentucky, to John Tarlton Shull (1861-1927) and Eliza E. Shull (1865-1909). She married Seldon Hargis Pelfrey (1894-1940) and had four children, Seldon E. Pelfrey (1926-1995), William Reed Pelfrey (1921-2013), Roy E. Pelfrey (1926-1986), and Pauline Pelfrey Cundiff (1924-2018). Additional biographical information has not been determined AHC Oral History Cataloging Worksheet File Information Catalogue number ~;Vc{) I(J() :~, , 11() ,(Xo Source Field* !ContentDM) Release form Yes or~~<v Transcript Yes or No scanned: From Yes O(NO ') Default text: Contributed by an OR: Donated by individual: "'~~<,~,,, individual through <your org. name> Georgia Folklore Collection through <your org. name> Object Information Enter information about the Title (interviewee name and date of interview) Description (bio on interviewee) 1 Creator ~~ol,te len \) (Enter either an individual's Burrison Folklore Class name or an organization) Collection Name (within the Georgia Folklore Archives organization) Creation Date Exact Date (yyyy-mm-dd) Iq b!:J ()(,e{Cl.hil \ (use only one) Year (if only the year is known) Circa (4 digit year) Year Span From To Object Type Image_ Text - Text and image_ Video and sound Sound only-.L - Media Format Reel-reel (VHS, reel to reel, etc) Recording Hours: G'C) extent Minutes: 0 ~.) ~\l \ ~ Derivatives Access copy: Yes'or No Access copy format: Recording clip ~rNo Clip extent: :5',{} l1 Time code for Beginning: C)(] ~ t t:-:(,'} , z,)t) End: t ':-f) (i" e,'\ '; I :~) clip (h:m:s) Notes 1J\\':ire I k s. " \, (interview I' aF\cJ ,\ HCA \'\ ~( 1\'" \ summary) ',1, ~jl(.,,{ ! ~b .,,,,;c.') (~"l'" j , 'f!'), " ne, r 2 Recording issues (background noise, echo, static, etc.) Subject Information Enter information about the content of the object here: Subject Date Exact Date (yyyy-mm-dd) (use only one) Year (if only the year is known) Circa (4 digit year) Year Span From To Subject Who Last Name First Name MI .+~,\. o8Io(Y') H Subject Country State County Town Local Name Location \)'\i~\ k:) ~o.C )<.~>() VI '-. t I Subject What AHC Cataloger will complete this for you. (LOC subject headinas only) Keywords Burrison, John Personal names See subject who for additional names 1J- \ lIe's, ! Ie) 3 Corporate names Geographic locations CA t . I~:;'o Vi ( Topics .\'0\\\ n 4 'IRANSCRIPT December, 1968 Scott Pelfrey John Burrison Folklore 300 Georgia State College December 4, 1968 My information was recorded in early October, 1968, in Jackson, Kentucky. My informant is my grandmother, Mrs. Seldon H. Pelfrey, who is 73 years old and was born in this same part of Kentucky. Mrs. Pelfrey heard both of these songs from the same man - a sort of wandering resident of Breathit County - a Mr. J.B. Stamper. Mrs. Pelfrey said that she had heard "Pretty Polly" from several different sources and that it was quite popular in the Jackson area and with her family, and the other song, the "Hanging Song", as she called it, she remembers seeing for the first time written out on a box top around 1903 or 1904. This second song was sort of in the Broarside Ballad form because it was a song about a current event and, as in my Grandmother's case, it was learned off a box top. The permanent address of Mrs. Pelfrey is just Mrs. Seldon H. Pelfrey, Jackson, Kentucky, and my address is 6305 Cherry Tree Lane, N.E., Atlanta, Georgia 30328. Mrs. Pelfrey really did not have too much to say about folklore, or folksongs because she said that she had been hearing them all her life and that she was so used to them that she rarely ever heard them. She was quite pleased that she was singing the "Hanging Song" for the first time anywhere in public because she felt sure that this recording that I made was the only one that had ever been made before. -2- "Pretty Polly", as heard from J .B. Stamper in 1903 or 1904. Informant: Mrs. S.H. Pelfrey of Jackson, Kentucky. "Polly, Pretty Polly, oh yonder she stands Polly, Pretty Polly, on yonder she stands Gold rings on her fingers Her lily white hands. Polly, pretty Polly, come go along with me Polly, pretty Polly, come go along with me Before we get married So lIE pleasure to see-. Willie, oh Willie, I'm afraid of your ways Willie, oh Willie, I'm afraid of your ways I'm afraid you will ramble And lead me astray. Polly, pretty Polly, you're guessing 'bout right Polly, pretty Polly, you're guessing 'bout right I dug on your grave The most of last night. He led her over steep mountains and valleys so deep He led her over steep mountains and valleys so deep h At last pretty Polly began to mourn and weep. They went on a few steps farther and what did she spy They went on a few steps farther and what did she spy A newly dug grave And a spade lying by. -3- He heaped the dirt upon her and started for home He heaped the dirt upon her and started for home Leaving nothing behind But the wild birds to mourn. Willie went to the ocean, ships sails spreading wide Willie went to the ocean, ships sails spreading wide Willie rejoicing To see the other side." The official name of this song is not known, other than the "Hanging Song" as Mrs. Pelfrey calls it, but it is along the style of a cowboy or western ballad - the tune is that of "Jesse James". Mrs. Pelfrey was the informant on this song and she heard it from J.B. Stamper. This song tells of one of the worst murders in Jackson around the turn of the century. Judge Redwine in the song is one of my family's distant relatives. My grandmother feels almost certain that she is the only person left around who still knows the song. " It was on the fourth of May Half past eight o'clock that day J.B. Markham was standing in the door Of the courthouse in his town'; where Curt Jett was lurking 'round Just to get a change to lay him on the floor. -4- yet, Markham leaves a wife to mourn all ~e~ - their - lives Little children standing well and brave It was little Curtis Jett, Thomas White, and others -rVIIAt They're the ones -wlro- laid poor Markham in his grave. Thomas White, a friend of Jett's - no worse man was ever met, Then came walking boldly through the courthouse hall And as he was passin' by, he looked Markham in the eye, Knowing truly that poor Markham soon would fall. White then walked out on the streets, Stopped to see it all complete He expected soon to hear the fatal shot. '1:>t: Jed advancing through the hall, with a pistol, lead, and ball And he killed poor J.B. Markham on the spot. Judge Jim Harguss and his man, Sheriff Edward Callahan, r"', Were just across the street in Harguss''S, brother:~/s store. Some believe they knew the plot, Hence were listening for the shot, -t.t And to see Jed's victim fall there in the door. Those who come to Markham's aid thought at first they was afraid, -5- Harguss, Callahan, and White they never met, But the one who lingered near was the one they all did fear, Who had done the awful deed was Curtis Jett. They arrested White and Jett and the court in Jackson met, There the prosecution labored with Judge Redwine could do no more And when Breathitt court was o'er 'r ;,~ht So he left it to the jury for the,~i4e. , The jury disagreed - just 1 man beg1n to plead, That he thought Curt Jett and White should both go free, He contented till the last and his vote he would not cast. It is believed Judge Harguss paid the man a fee. So they tried the men once more, not in Jackson as before, For they could not get their justice in the town. Then the court in Harrison met and condemned both White and Jett, And a verdict of fair guiltiness was found. Now the final trial is passed, Jett and White are -6- doomed at last, To a prison house where they will have to stay. And with those of other crimes, they must labor All the time, Until death shall come and take them both away. C!' Their poor mothers grive today o'er their boys " While they're away, For there's nothing that can sever mother's love. They will think of them each breath and will Cling to them till death And will hope to meet them in the courts above. Now it's true but sad to know, there are others Have to go, And be locked up in the Fayette County jail, Waiting trial for a crime They have covered for a time That's so great the court refused to give them bail." "Glory - it's over with!" This last statement was the general feeling which Mrs. Pelfrey had about the whole recording session. Since she is an older lady, her voice is not as strong as it once was and there was some doubt as to whether or not she would be able to finish the second song, which is so long. She said that she had not thought of the song in at least 25 years, but she still remembered every verse with only a slight bit of hesitation in a couple of places. She seemed relaxed the whole time and loves to perform, although this may have been because -7- of the fact that she was performing in front of her family. Her only nervousness was caused by the fear that her voice would "fail her" and she wouldn't be able to continue. A PDF transcript exists for this recording. Please contact an archivist for access. Professor John Burrison founded the Atlanta Folklore Archive Project in 1967 at Georgia State University. He trained undergraduates and graduate students enrolled in his folklore curriculum to conduct oral history interviews. Students interviewed men, women, and children of various demographics in Georgia and across the southeast on crafts, storytelling, music, religion, rural life, and traditions. As archivists, we acknowledge our role as stewards of information, which places us inaposition to choose how individuals and organizations are represented and described in our archives. We are not neutral, andbias isreflected in our descriptions, whichmay not convey the racist or offensive aspects of collection materialsaccurately.Archivists make mistakes and might use poor judgment.We often re-use language used by the former owners and creators, which provides context but also includes bias and prejudices of the time it was created.Additionally,our work to use reparative languagewhereLibrary of Congress subject termsareinaccurate and obsolete isongoing. Kenan Research Center welcomes feedback and questions regarding our archival descriptions. If you encounter harmful, offensive, or insensitive terminology or description please let us know by emailingreference@atlantahistorycenter.com. Your comments are essential to our work to create inclusive and thoughtful description.