Girl who lived on Wilson County plantation charted her own path as an adult after slavery Scholar says documents provide insight into the life of Teresa McLeod-Moore
WILSON COUNTY, Texas – A letter from a former slave who lived on a Wilson County plantation in the mid-1800s offers a new look into how she adjusted to life after slavery was abolished.
Former KSAT reporter Jessie Degollado previously filed multiple stories on the Whitehall Polley Mansion when the property was purchased by a couple in 2023 and when a permanent exhibit honoring the enslaved opened at the Sutherland Springs Historical Museum in 2024 .
The curator of the 2024 exhibit, scholar Melinda Creech, Ph.D., spoke with KSAT photojournalist Azian Bermea about Teresa McLeod-Moore and how she charted her own path outside of Wilson County.
More related coverage of this story on KSAT:
Copyright 2026 by KSAT - All rights reserved.
About the Author Azian Bermea headshot
Azian Bermea is a photojournalist at KSAT.
KSAT Sports Now: Spurs one-win away from advancing in NBA Playoffs ▶ 0:54
KSAT Sports Now: Spurs one-win away from advancing in NBA Playoffs
NTSB Takes Lead in North Side Explosion Investigation ▶ 0:44
NTSB Takes Lead in North Side Explosion Investigation
Spurs fans celebrate Game 4 win, honk their horns on SW Military Drive ▶ 0:21
Spurs fans celebrate Game 4 win, honk their horns on SW Military Drive
What we know about the shots fired incident outside the White House Correspondents Dinner ▶ 1:13
What we know about the shots fired incident outside the White House Correspondents Dinner
WATCH: Couple ties the knot during Fiesta Flambeau Parade in downtown San Antonio ▶ 0:56
WATCH: Couple ties the knot during Fiesta Flambeau Parade in downtown San Antonio
Adam Caskey Surprises KSAT Viewer With Fiesta Prizes ▶ 1:29
Adam Caskey Surprises KSAT Viewer With Fiesta Prizes
NTSB Takes Over North Side Explosion Investigation ▶ 0:41
NTSB Takes Over North Side Explosion Investigation
Game Changers Brings Free Cuts to Haven for Hope ▶ 0:56
Game Changers Brings Free Cuts to Haven for Hope
Pearl retail expansion draws mixed reactions as district seeks greater weekday traffic ▶ 1:35
Pearl retail expansion draws mixed reactions as district seeks greater weekday traffic
Air Force selects JBSA as potential site for nuclear microreactor ▶ 1:08
Air Force selects JBSA as potential site for nuclear microreactor
Quiet Today, Storm Chances Rise Tomorrow ▶ 1:40
Quiet Today, Storm Chances Rise Tomorrow
Spurs playoff push, Fiesta season fuel merch boom in San Antonio ▶ 1:12
Spurs playoff push, Fiesta season fuel merch boom in San Antonio
Man faces additional charge after arrest for assaulting 3-year-old girl, woman at South Side park ▶ 1:20
Man faces additional charge after arrest for assaulting 3-year-old girl, woman at South Side park
Staffer hit, killed by car outside NISD School ▶ 1:05
Staffer hit, killed by car outside NISD School
KSAT'S Myra Arthur & David Hurtado Bring The HATtitude To The Fiesta Hat Contest ▶ 1:17
KSAT'S Myra Arthur & David Hurtado Bring The HATtitude To The Fiesta Hat Contest
3 Critical, Including Child, After Two North Side Homes Explode; Federal Investigation Underway ▶ 0:57
3 Critical, Including Child, After Two North Side Homes Explode; Federal Investigation Underway
Playoffs Game 2 inside Frost Bank Center ▶ 0:45
Playoffs Game 2 inside Frost Bank Center
NIOSA Night One ▶ 0:36
NIOSA Night One
5 hospitalized, 3 in critical condition, after home explosions on North Side, SAFD says ▶ 1:07
5 hospitalized, 3 in critical condition, after home explosions on North Side, SAFD says
Drizzle Overnight; Pop-Up Storms Tomorrow ▶ 0:33
Drizzle Overnight; Pop-Up Storms Tomorrow
Visitors Weigh In: Have You Heard of Fiesta and NIOSA? ▶ 1:13
Visitors Weigh In: Have You Heard of Fiesta and NIOSA?
Do You Know the Spurs’ “Honking” Tradition? ▶ 1:09
Do You Know the Spurs’ “Honking” Tradition?
WEDNESDAY: Phyllis Ochoa describes why she wrote the now-viral song about San Antonio ▶ 0:38
WEDNESDAY: Phyllis Ochoa describes why she wrote the now-viral song about San Antonio
How to stay safe when celebrating Fiesta and Spurs playoff games ▶ 1:08
How to stay safe when celebrating Fiesta and Spurs playoff games
Multiple Bexar County roadways flooded ▶ 0:53
Multiple Bexar County roadways flooded
Previous photo Next photo