Letters to Rogers Clark Ballard Thruston: 1896-1899
Rogers Clark Ballard Thruston was born Rogers Clark Thruston Ballard but changed his name later in life in honor of his mother. However, while Thruston shared Fanny's name, he did not share his mother's affection for Cecelia. He responded to her letters and may have assisted her with small favors or amounts of money (which he seemed to consider handouts, but which Cecelia makes clear are loans), but he kept up the relationship only grudgingly. He wrote about Cecelia with exasperation and condescension.
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“The old slave returned to her former home where she is now, old and decrepit, blind in one eye and with a cataract in the other, practically a pensioner on the children of her former mistress from whom she ran away over half a century ago […] she is the last of the old negroe slaves to return to her old mistress for aid and support in her declining years and, my parents being dead, I suppose it will fall to my lot to render her such aid as she may require during the remainder of her life. My parents did it for the rest of their old slaves, I suppose I can do it for old Cecelia.”
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“Cecelia ran off […] over fifty years ago. I fail to see any legal or moral claim that she can have on the family for support but Mother seemed to recognize some obligation, or entertain some such desire.”
However, it is thanks to him that we have, in addition to the letters from Fanny, six letters written by Cecelia toward the end of her life. These are invaluable examples of Cecelia's own handwriting and direct words.