[Ads-l] Slight Antedating of "Ashy" (African American Sense)

[Bill Mullins]

1857 Alexandria Gazette 21 Mar 2/7

Runaway, from Mr. Henry Edwards, of Stafford County, on the 9th inst., a negro boy named JOE. --
Said boy is 18 years old, about five feet high, rather slender, has sharp features, ashy skin,
high cheek bones, with large white eyes, and pleasing countenance when spoken to.

https://www.newspapers.com/image/767220270/



1895 Worcester [MA] Daily Spy 29 May 7/6 [geneaologybank.com]

"Here it is," and he drew a little negro boy into the room, then retreated, leaving the child
standing alone in the full glow of the firelight.  He was a forlorn object, his ashy skin dry
and withered, his face as full of wrinkles as an old man's.

------------------------------------------------------------
The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org