Mary
Jane Barret was born March 1828 in Louisa Co., Virginia. Mary Jane was fathered by Alexander B.
Barret, the slave owner, who was from The Hermatige, Louisa Co. Virginia. The mother was unknown.
Little
Mama, as she was called, was small in stature but large in character.
She
was feisty and sassy. . Alexander
Barret brought Mary Jane to Henderson, Kentucky in 1833 when he settled there.
Mary Jane served as a nurse for her white younger sister and brother. She maintained a relationship with her white
sister, Virginia who sent her "care packages " of things like fancy
clothes from Rhode Island. Virginia
contributed money, land and a building for an Episcopal Mission and schools
where Mary Jane's grandchildren went, and sent several to Hampton Institute and
one to a seminary school to become an Episcopal Priest (Jackson Mundy). It is said that she "recognized "
the grandchildren, in Virginia Barret Gibbs' will, she would have left money to
Mary Jane had Mary Jane survived her. She left money to a couple of the
grandchildren. A large headstone was
"erected by Virginia Barret Gibbs in memory of her beloved nurse Mary Jane
Gaines whose love and devotion to me shall be an example for all time. Well done thou good and faithful servant”.
Mary
Jane died April 15, 1915."
Sources:
Death
certificate- #9820 dod-4/15/1915, 87ys, 4mo, 15 days; housewife,
birthplace
Virginia, Father is noted as Dabina Price (could be mother) and not Alexander
Barret. Birthplace of father and
unknown mother is Virginia.
Will
of Virginia Barret Gibbs, Will Book F, page 521-536, Clerk of Henderson County,
KY
Arnett,
Maralea, The Annals and Scandals of Henderson County, KY, 1775 – 1975,
Mountaineer Press P.O. Box 67, Oneida, KY.
40972, p. 273, 276.