Mia Patel
Chicken George, born in 1806, was the son of Kizzy, a slave, and her master, Tom Lea. He was named after his father's first slave. George became a cockfighter and trainer and was married to a slave girl named Matilda McGreggor (or Mathilda). They had four children, including Tom Murray, who became a blacksmith. George died in 1890.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Matilda McGreggor |
| Number of Children | 4 or 8 |
| Status | Slave |
| Husband's Status | Cockfighter, Alcoholic, Philanderer |
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What You'll Learn
Chicken George's wife, Matilda, was a slave girl
Chicken George, born in 1806, was the son of Kizzy, a slave, and Thomas Lea, her master and owner. George was born into slavery in Caswell, North Carolina. He was named after his father's first slave, George. George's mother, Kizzy, was repeatedly raped by Thomas Lea after her arrival on the Lea Plantation from Virginia. Despite the circumstances of her son's birth, Kizzy loved and raised George.
George became a well-known cockfighter and trainer, and his father's protege. He was also known for his expensive tastes, love of alcohol, and iconic bowler hat and green scarf. He married Matilda McGreggor, a slave girl who was sold to Thomas Lea's plantation. Together, they had eight children, including Tom, who became a blacksmith.
Matilda, Chicken George's wife, was a slave girl. She and her husband were once seen by Squire James, who told George that he and Sir Eric Russell had issued a cockfighting challenge to George's father, Tom Lea. Squire James also said that he would buy George to train other cockfighters and would free him and his family in five years. However, Master Moore, George's other master, refused to sell George, which angered and betrayed George as he felt that he and his family had lost their chance at freedom.
Despite the challenges of slavery, Chicken George and Matilda built a life together and raised their children. Their son, Tom, married Irene, who was originally owned by the Holt family. Unfortunately, when Tom Lea lost all his money in a cockfight, he sold most of George and Matilda's family to a slave trader, upending their lives. The family was moved to Alamance County and became the property of Andrew Murray, who treated them well.
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They had 4 children together, including Tom Murray
Chicken George, born George Lea, was the son of Kizzy, a slave, and her master, Tom Lea. Tom Lea was a farmer and chicken fighter who rose from poor beginnings. He raped and impregnated Kizzy, and she gave birth to George, who later became known as "Chicken George" when he became his father's cockfighting trainer.
George married a slave girl named Mathilda McGreggor (or Matilda), who was sold to Thomas Lea's plantation. They had four children together, including Tom Murray. Tom went on to marry Irene, a woman originally owned by the Holt family. George and Matilda also had several other children, including six sons and two daughters in total, according to one source.
George became depressed and embittered after Matilda's death. He was badly burned in a fire and died shortly after, in 1890.
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Tom Lea was the father of Chicken George
Tom Lea was a slave owner and chicken fighter in North Carolina. He purchased Kizzy, whom he raped, resulting in the birth of their son, George. George was named after the first slave owned by Tom Lea. As a child, George lived with his mother Kizzy until he was moved out of her cabin at the age of 12 to live with Uncle Mingo, who trained fighting cocks for Tom Lea.
George became a skilled trainer of fighting cocks and eventually succeeded Uncle Mingo as the head trainer. He married a slave girl named Mathilda McGreggor, also spelled Matilda, and they had six sons and two daughters, including Tom, who became a blacksmith.
The dynamic between Chicken George, Tom Lea, and Kizzy was complex and challenging. Kizzy struggled to see her son develop a relationship with his father, the master who owned them both. Eventually, Kizzy revealed to George that Tom Lea was his father, which caused George to seek his father's approval and attempt to forge a relationship. However, he later realized that a genuine father-son relationship was impossible due to their circumstances.
Tom Lea's actions as a slave owner and the father of Chicken George highlight the tangled nature of family relationships during slavery.
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Tom Lea was a slave owner and chicken fighter
Tom Lea was a farmer of Irish descent from the impoverished Carolina hill country. He was not born into a poor family but rather came from a well-to-do planter family. Lea owned slaves, including Kizzy, whom he raped and impregnated, resulting in the birth of their son, George. George was born into slavery in the winter of 1806 in Caswell, North Carolina. At the age of 12, he was moved out of his mother's cabin to live at the gamecock pen, where he began to learn about cockfighting. He soon became a skilled chicken trainer and earned the nickname "Chicken George" due to his colourful, flamboyant personality and exceptional cockfighting skills.
Chicken George was known for his expensive tastes, love for alcohol, and his iconic bowler hat and green scarf. He was also a philanderer, but he eventually settled down and married Matilda, a strong and faithful Christian slave woman. They had eight children together, including Tom and Lewis Murray. Chicken George became a successful cockfighter, travelling across the southern states of America with Tom Lea and winning most of his matches. However, he was sometimes conned out of his winnings.
Despite his success, Chicken George was not free from the cruel realities of slavery. When Tom Lea lost all his money in a cockfight, he sent George to England for several years to pay off the debt and sold the rest of the family to a slave trader. While in England, George trained other cockfighters. After over 20 years of servitude, he returned to America in 1861, only to discover that his family had been sold off and his mother, Kizzy, had passed away. Heartbroken and embittered, Chicken George struggled to come to terms with his relationship with his father, Tom Lea. Eventually, he found some closure and was able to move forward, leading his family to Henning, Tennessee, where they built a thriving community.
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Chicken George was born in 1806 in North Carolina
Chicken George, born in 1806 in Caswell County, North Carolina, was the son of Kizzy, a slave, and Thomas Lea, her master and owner. Kizzy was repeatedly raped by Thomas Lea, resulting in George's conception. Despite the circumstances of his birth, Kizzy loved and raised George. At the age of 12, George was moved out of his mother's cabin to live and train fighting cocks with Uncle Mingo.
George became known as "Chicken George" when he became a skilled trainer of fighting cocks for his father, participating in cockfights. He was known for his iconic black derby hat with rooster feathers and a green scarf. George's talent in cockfighting brought him fame and wealth.
Chicken George married Matilda McGreggor, a slave girl who was sold to Thomas Lea's plantation. Together, they had four children, including Tom Murray, who became a blacksmith. Chicken George was a philanderer with expensive tastes, a fondness for alcohol, and a dedication to his family.
The family's story is depicted in the book and television series "Roots," which traces the lineage of Kunta Kinte and his descendants, including Chicken George. The narrative explores the complexities of slavery, family dynamics, and the pursuit of freedom.
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Frequently asked questions
The wife of Thomas Lea, the father of Chicken George, was Kizzy.
Chicken George's father was Thomas Lea, his slave owner.
Chicken George was the son of Kizzy, a slave, and her owner, Thomas Lea. He was born in 1806 in Caswell County, North Carolina. He was a cockfighter and married a slave girl named Matilda McGreggor. They had 4 children together.
