Read Online Rearing Wolves to Our Own Destruction: Slavery in Richmond Virginia, 1782–1865 by Midori Takagi - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Midori Takagi
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with meals from local cookshops. These establishments, run by free black and white proprietors, offered anyone, including slaves, a ready-cooked meal for a few pennies. Mary Wright, a free black woman, sold a variety of prepared "snacks" to workers from her house on Eighth Street. And for those in search of something headier than food, Wright also kept a full bar, "with all the fixtures," in the back of her house. 22
The nutritional value of the meals and the amount of food given to slave workers varied depending on their working situations and how much opportunity they had to supplement their diets. 23 Adult slave workers who had extra funds to buy meals or had access to their owners' pantries probably ate better than slave hands without such advantages, such as those working on the canal. Young children and elderly workers probably had a more difficult time securing enough food. In fact, company books and court records of the early antebellum era indicate that young slave children often did not receive adequate food or care, which is clearly demonstrated in the court case of Daniel and Sam, two young slave boys who worked at William Patterson's tobacco manufactory. 24
Daniel and Sam, who were thirteen and eleven, respectively, worked as tobacco stemmers at Patterson's factory in 1822. During that year both boys complained to their owner, Richard Carter, that they were being mistreated at the factory. In response, Carter removed the boys from the factory and hired them to another business. Patterson, in retaliation, sued Carter for breach of contract. During the trial it became evident that Daniel and Sam not only were treated badly but also were underfed. Although the company served the workers a meal a day, the boys were forced to fight for their food against larger children. Furthermore, it seems that Patterson rarely provided enough food. Joshua Goode, who worked at the tobacco factory and even hired out his own slaves to the same establishment, acknowledged that young slave workers frequently complained they were not fed enough. Goode admitted this while being cross-examined by the defendant.
Question: What was the reason that you took your boys away was it not because they complained that they had not enough to eat?
Goode: I took them away because I was about to leave Mr. Patterson & they did not like to stay behind. As to their not having enough to eat tis sure that they did complain that they did not have enough.
Page 43
Question: Did you not hear my boys Sam & Daniel complain that they had not enough to eat?
Goode: I heard them complain but boys in Manufactories are very much in the habit of complaining.
Question: Did you not alwas give out as much provisions for the boys as you thought was necessary for them.
Goode: I alwas gave out as much as I used to give out at Price's factory where I lived, which I though was sufficient but the boys used to grumble there. 25
Sam and Daniel were not the only ones who went hungry. It appears that many industrial slaves did not receive enough food. Court records suggest that those who could not afford to buy extra food often stole it. Throughout these decades slaves were brought to court on charges of stealing food or purchasing stolen food. In 1822 David Russell, a slave, was convicted of buying "one piece of dried beef = $1.00 [and] one peck of meal = 50 cents" from another slave. In 1825 John Bailey, another slave, was charged with stealing corn and oats from a local shop. 26
In contrast to living arrangements and diet, the clothing provided to slave workers varied little by occupation and locale. Slaves generally received two sets of clothing (one for summer and the other for winter), a pair of stockings and shoes, and a blanket. Men received shirts made of osnaburg (coarse cotton material), two pairs of pantaloons (one of osnaburg and the other possibly made of wool), a jacket, and a hat. Women received two dresses, also made of osnaburg, and a jacket. 27 Sometimes
The nutritional value of the meals and the amount of food given to slave workers varied depending on their working situations and how much opportunity they had to supplement their diets. 23 Adult slave workers who had extra funds to buy meals or had access to their owners' pantries probably ate better than slave hands without such advantages, such as those working on the canal. Young children and elderly workers probably had a more difficult time securing enough food. In fact, company books and court records of the early antebellum era indicate that young slave children often did not receive adequate food or care, which is clearly demonstrated in the court case of Daniel and Sam, two young slave boys who worked at William Patterson's tobacco manufactory. 24
Daniel and Sam, who were thirteen and eleven, respectively, worked as tobacco stemmers at Patterson's factory in 1822. During that year both boys complained to their owner, Richard Carter, that they were being mistreated at the factory. In response, Carter removed the boys from the factory and hired them to another business. Patterson, in retaliation, sued Carter for breach of contract. During the trial it became evident that Daniel and Sam not only were treated badly but also were underfed. Although the company served the workers a meal a day, the boys were forced to fight for their food against larger children. Furthermore, it seems that Patterson rarely provided enough food. Joshua Goode, who worked at the tobacco factory and even hired out his own slaves to the same establishment, acknowledged that young slave workers frequently complained they were not fed enough. Goode admitted this while being cross-examined by the defendant.
Question: What was the reason that you took your boys away was it not because they complained that they had not enough to eat?
Goode: I took them away because I was about to leave Mr. Patterson & they did not like to stay behind. As to their not having enough to eat tis sure that they did complain that they did not have enough.
Page 43
Question: Did you not hear my boys Sam & Daniel complain that they had not enough to eat?
Goode: I heard them complain but boys in Manufactories are very much in the habit of complaining.
Question: Did you not alwas give out as much provisions for the boys as you thought was necessary for them.
Goode: I alwas gave out as much as I used to give out at Price's factory where I lived, which I though was sufficient but the boys used to grumble there. 25
Sam and Daniel were not the only ones who went hungry. It appears that many industrial slaves did not receive enough food. Court records suggest that those who could not afford to buy extra food often stole it. Throughout these decades slaves were brought to court on charges of stealing food or purchasing stolen food. In 1822 David Russell, a slave, was convicted of buying "one piece of dried beef = $1.00 [and] one peck of meal = 50 cents" from another slave. In 1825 John Bailey, another slave, was charged with stealing corn and oats from a local shop. 26
In contrast to living arrangements and diet, the clothing provided to slave workers varied little by occupation and locale. Slaves generally received two sets of clothing (one for summer and the other for winter), a pair of stockings and shoes, and a blanket. Men received shirts made of osnaburg (coarse cotton material), two pairs of pantaloons (one of osnaburg and the other possibly made of wool), a jacket, and a hat. Women received two dresses, also made of osnaburg, and a jacket. 27 Sometimes
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