'Roots' Quiz, Part 4 - Tom And Family

Answer: Henning, TN

Henning, TN was what Chicken George considered the promised land.

Answer: true

The newly freed slaves of Alamance County didn't want George Johnson to go with them to Henning, TN. It wasn't until Tom told them that he worked just as hard as the rest of his family and that he wasn't a real overseer, because he didn't really know what an overseer was.

When this was heard the others took a vote and George Johnson and is wife, Martha, were allowed to go to Henning. Once in Henning, the Johnsons were socially shunned because they associated with the freed blacks.

Answer: Rolling

When Tom and the family first came to Henning, he wanted to open a stationary shop but the white people of the town said he would have to work for a white man that owned it. Tom thought up the idea of a rolling shop and the white men of Henning couldn't think of a reason why a freed slave shouldn't have a rolling blacksmith shop, soon enough the white customers needed his services all over Henning. Later on Tom was allowed to open his own stationary blacksmith shop.

Answer: New Hope CME

Matilda and the family turned their attention toward the New Hope CME Church. The whole black community felt that this was just as important as the building of their homes were.

Answer: John Toland

Elizabeth wanted to marry John Toland.

Answer: He was too high - yaller

According to Tom, John Toland was too high-yaller, he could pass for white but not just quite.He was neither fish nor fowl.He was also worried about what Elizabeth's babies would look like and he didn't want that kind of life for her. Elizabeth vowed that if she can't marry John then she wouldn't marry anyone else.

The above words are not my own, I just made them more understandable. You can find these words on page 693 of 'Roots'. I put this here so there would be no hard feelings in case someone thought that these words came from me. Thank You.

Answer: Heart Attack

Gran'mammy Matilda died from a heart attack. When she found out what Tom said to Elizabeth, she was so upset and shouted 'That boy's pappy gots white blood in him'. Suddenly, she winced and clutched for her chest. Two days later her heart ceased to beat.

Answer: 83

Chicken George had just turned eighty three. He cantankerously refused to touch a bite of the birthday cake that was baked for him.

Answer: He was burned in a fire

In the winter of 1890, Chicken George was sitting in front of the fire at his oldest grandaughter's house. She had ordered him to stay out while she brought lunch to her husband in the adjacent field. After returning as quickly as she could, she found Chicken George lying on the hearth where he had dragged himself after falling into the fire.

His derby hat, scarf, and sweater were smoldering and Chicken George was burned horribly from his head to his waist. Later that same night, Chicken George died.

Answer: Sister Carrie White

Sister Carrie White had graduated from Lane College in Jackson, TN. She was the teacher of the children who attended New Hope CME.

Answer: True

Irene was part Native American Indian. Her Mother was a runaway slave and her father was Native American.

Answer: Cynthia

Cynthia was the youngest of Tom and Irene's children. She was just two years old when her father and grandfather lead a wagon ride of freed slaves to Tennesse.

Answer: Will Palmer

Cynthia was so excited and happy when Will Palmer asked to walk her home from church.

Answer: Mr. James

Mr. James owned Henning's only lumber yard. Later on, Will Palmer owned it.

Answer: Mr. Vaughn

Mr. Vaughn was the People's Bank president. He remembered that Will Palmer rode all the way in the rain to deliver a payment that Mr. James had forgotten about. He was so impressed by Will that when the lumber yard went bankrupt, the bank cosigned a loan so Will could take over as the new owner.