Police blotter from Memphis, 1859

[Kiamichi]

A lot of politically incorrect notations like "drunk low down Dutchman", "old chain gang bird", "Irishman drunk again", etc., and many cases of slaves being arrested for such offenses as not having passes, but many of the charges sound very modern: driving too fast, drunk and disorderly, etc.

http://register.shelby.tn.us/memphis_blotter/list.php

[Kiamichi]

One thing I noticed was the frequent use of "calaboose" to mean "jail". It surprised me that it was in common use in the Deep South that early as it comes from the Spanish "calabozo", meaning dungeon. I had always figured that it entered the language later and came from contact with Mexicans in the Southwest. "Hoosegow" also comes from Spanish, the word "juzgado".

[ralph]

interesting stuff .

[Red Oak]

As for the Spanish words just west and south of Memphis was old Spanish Florida and Spain owned Louisanana for a while.

I' ll bet Memphis had fewer murders per capita in 1859, that in 2016.

I have West Tenneessee heritage, and have spent some time around there.

Memphis is a crap hole these days.

[Kiamichi]

It is surprising how many slaves were arrested for theft and other misdemeanors, and how they were commonly carrying knives and money when arrested (and even a few had firearms).

[Ric]

Memphis is Deep South? Nah.

[Red Oak]

Memphis is the Mid-South.

[Ric]

By any definition, but it's the way they describe their own region.

And there are still some pretty nice places in and around Memphis. I love going there.