ZEPHYR remained at Oak Alley, the sugar plantation, with his enslaved family continuing to work for Jacques Roman, even though he was now a free man. After ten years, he had saved enough money to purchase Zaire for $350. He was 70; she was 60. Once again, they chose to live on a plantation.
There are several reasons why Zephyr and Zaire might have decided to stay at Oak Alley. For one, although they were free, Jacques still owned their children—Antoine worked as his gardener, and Bacchus as an ox-cart driver. Another possibility is that Zaire had not yet been fully freed. By this late stage in life, it was unlikely that Zephyr could earn enough to support them elsewhere.
Many years later, a census recorded a freed man living at Oak Alley. The man gave his name as Zaphyr Roman, a widower.
Age 100.
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