There is no way to know much about the sexual history of Celia before she met Robert Newsom, in fact McLaurin states that really nothing is know about her before 1850. Due to her young age, there is a very good possibility that her first sexual experience was with Newsom. Regardless of whether or not she was a virgin, the constant series of rapes by her master was sure to have a tremendous psychological affect upon her. It was this trama, combined with pressure from her boyfriend, another of Newsom's slaves named George, that drove her to decide to forcefully resist Robert's sexual advances toward her. Now we see her predicament, either continue to suffer his violations and lose the man she loves, or fight back and risk losing her life. When she decides to attack him as he enters her cabin on the night of June 23, she ends up killing him. Now in an effort to save her own life, she disposes of the body by burning it in her fireplace, rather than confessing to her crime and facing her punishment. The next day, as the search begins for Robert Newsom, some of Robert's friends and family begin to interrogate George. George denies any knowledge of the fate of Newsom at first, but eventually hints that Celia may have killed Newsom. So he makes his decision between protecting Celia for committed a crime which he helped to provoke, or to protect himself. Unfortunately he chooses self-preservation over the woman he loves. Two of Robert Newsom's children, his daughters, Virginia Waynescott and Mary Newsom still resided in his home. Although there is no evidence to suggest that they knew about their father's affair with Celia, it is easy to assume that throughout the course of the five years while she resided there, they probably found out that Robert was molesting Celia. However there was probably little they could do to protect her from their father. Both women were financially dependent upon Robert, especially Virginia, who had children to care for.
