Thomas Wright's Diary

May

           5, May 1859

Thursday busy week, started plantin seed, corn is in. Well almost finished up about nine acres left ta plant. Start the beans soon as the corn is finished up. Have few rows tobacco ta plant just enough fer Poppy little ta sell. Betsy been workin her garden few rows corn, potatoes, turnips, don't know what all she is plantin.

Theo visited a spell taday, my his feelins on Slavery are quite a bit different from his Da. First that school he was goin ta, Eagleswood Military Academy in New Jersey. He met a lot of Northern folk dead set against slavery, some couldn't care less about it. Then those that say a States right ta do as they please.

Theo he say its wrong, but he can live with it. Guess he thought I would get in a heated argument over it. Told him thought it wrong an all but States rights come first. I help Poppy just so he has help not end up dead an all. He also say this VMI school has him a bit worried.  Tells him hell you smart do just fine. He laughed a little, stayed about two hours. Nice visit we had,  hope he stops in again.

                               6, May 1859

Little wet still able ta get some done. All the land is tilled, just need ta get her sowed. That get started up again Saturday. Hope ta have it done end next week. Hate usin slaves. How else goin ta get it done. We don't have money ta pay hands ta work. Mister Bowman gets his share end of season.

Betsy been moody as of late. Think maybe she needs a trip over ta hear the Reverend speak. Maybe one ta Ripley see the town an all. Might just do that go ta Ripley on Saturday, see if Poppy can watch over the work. Gettin late.

                                  7, May 1859

We went ta Ripley taday. Betsy enjoyed herself, bought few yards of cloth, nice blue Betsy needs new dress, plus be nough ta make me a shirt. Had dinner over at the Inn, people looked hard at us. Guess they think, Betsy just my slave, maybe a bed warmer. Went over ta the Foundry talked ta that Parker fella. Went ta see if he could make a few iron brackets fer my pulley in the barn. Looks kinda weak, needs some heavy bracing.

He say he could have them made a couple days. Asked why a slave chaser do business with a Black man. I say ya a Free man Sir. Don't care what ya are, ifin ya can make it willin ta pay. That brought a smile ta his face, we shook hands on the deal. 
We stopped in ta Joe's place, wasn't busy so we took a table had a lager, Betsy had a coffee.

Joe is a good man, don't care what color or who ya are. Long as ya decent person, Joe treat ya the same. Stayed most the day in Ripley, got home at dark. Met Poppy half way home. Say day went good, near fourth the way done. Poppy looked tired Mister Bowman been keepin him busy, doin lot of runnin ta get thins for him. Betsy ready ta sleep be honest I am ready myself.

                          8, May 1859

Sunday, Betsy ready fer Church. We arrived about the time Reverend did. Me an Theo visited a spell,
Him an his Da were a arguin about Slavery. Theo yelled somethin about him bein wrong. He really didn't want ta go ta VMI. He would just so he could get some learnin then join the Army get away from Slavery. Mister Bowman say pack up get ta Virginia
might just see how life is! While we was alone him packin I said come stay with us day or two. Then head out ta Virginia. Be nice ta fish some like we use ta, me you an Tully. Wish ole Tully was still around, told Theo was my fault they both dead.

He shook his head, no weren't yours, he say Tully new I was goin ta Free thum when I gots back. He should stayed put. Ya only did what ya was told ta do. Betsy is might better mood, her time away got her happy again. Theo went on ta Virginia later that day. Wished him the best, told him more than welcome anytime.

                                   9, May 1859
Uncle Thom, came in taday. Him an Poppy came over with news. Seems Thom found those that killed an took the Free blacks. Aunt Karen was avenged! Poppy say knew Thom take care of it.
Thom say just keep that mouth shut on it Thomas.
No need in they Family come a lookin. Asks how long ya stayin. Say Thomas think few days might even stay on here. Virginia is a nice place, the owners are a might different. I nodded in agreement. Say think they somethin special they do.

Ma wants a big supper tomorrow, feed up uncle Thom but good. Betsy left with thum ta help Ma out. Told thum I be over before dark ta eat. Poppy say sounds good, he wouldn't be home till then himself, uncle Thom would stay at the old place with me tanight. Poppy and Betsy left me an uncle Thom had some whisky. Listened as the slaves sang some before they slept. Another two days they should be done.

Well short chapter, do have a few History bits.
So vote comment, tell me what you think so far.
Hope all find the History interesting.

                               Slave Codes
                         Many States passed
                                 Such Laws

These codes outlined the treatment of Slaves and the rights. Slave differed from State to State. They had many common threads.

One could not do business with a slave with out the owners consent. Slaves could be awarded as prizes in raffles, wagered in gambling, offered as security in a loans. Transferred as gifts from one person to another.

Slaves couldn't own guns. If caught carrying a gun, the slave received 39 lashes, forfeited the gun.

Education of slaves was prohibited.

Any Slave found guilty of arson, rape of a white woman, or conspiracy to rebel, was put to death.

How ever, since the slave woman was chattel, a white man that raped her other than the owner was guilty of trespass of the Masters property. Very few of those cases were reported.  Of course the owner couldn't rape he owned her.

Smaller Farms used Drivers or Overseer.
Drivers were Slaves put in charge of the work. They weren't well liked by the other slaves. Overseers could be mean abusive. If the slaves complained enough the owner found him to cruel, the owner would remove him, to protect his property.

Thank you for your time, I welcome you to continue on with this story. Thomas has so much more ahead of him.