Biography of Mammy Kate
Elbert County, Ga
Submitted by George in Leeds, AL, Gtd6@aol.com            


Excerpt from History Elbert County, Georgia 1790 - 1935

Mammy Kate. A house slave belonging to Governor Stephen Heard , was a giantess, 
more than six feet tall. In an old letter, written in 1820, she was referred to 
as, "The biggest, the tallest, the most imposing Negress I have ever seen and 
she has proven herself to be a strong, a kindly, a never failing friend to 
Colonel Heard and his family." Kate was pure African blood and declared herself 
to be the daughter of a great king. She was entirely fearless and when she 
learned her master had been captured and sentenced to death by the Tories, 
followed him to his prison for the ostensible purpose of caring for his wants. 
One morning, carrying on her head a large covered basket, she presented herself 
at the fort and asked the sentry on duty for the privilege of securing her 
master’s soiled linen. The request was carelessly granted and the guard offered 
the information that, "The damned Rebel would soon be hung."
She entered the cell, secreted her master, who was small of stature, in the 
basket, covered him with clothing, and conveyed him from the place of 
incarceration on her head, calmly sauntering past the sentry, and several 
British and Tory officers, who stood about the quadrangle.
The night previous to this remarkable rescue she had brought two of Stephen 
Heard’s fine Arabian horses, Lightfoot and Silverheels, to the outskirts of 
Augusta and left them in keeping of a trusted friend of her master. She 
leisurely made her way to the place of concealment where they mounted the horses 
and galloped away. 
While they were traveling homeward her master turned to her and said, "Kate, you 
have this day saved my life and I shall set you free."
"Na, Marse Stephen, " she answered, "You may set me free, but I ain’t ’gwiner 
you free!"
Mammy Kate was given her freedom, a deed to a small tract of land and a 
comfortable four room house, but she faithfully remained with the Heard family 
until her death. 
On her death bed she gave each of Governor Heard’s children on of her own. She 
lies in the corner of the Heard, Allen, McIntosh, Mattox burial ground at 
Heardmont. No marker shows the resting place of this heroine. 
Mammy Kate has a number of descendants living in Elbert County today and all of 
them are respected members of the Negro race. Among them are Andy Clark, Moon 
Clark, Mary Clark, Lucinda Clark and Georgia Clark.