Once in a while, not so bad to be a slave

[Carronade]

The latest edition of Trend and Tradition, the magazine of Colonial Williamsburg. includes the story of a slave named Billy who was convicted of treason to the state of Virginia during the Revolution for serving on a British warship. Billy claimed that he had been taken aboard the ship involuntarily, but the stronger argument in his defense was offered by two of the six justices of the court, William Carr and Henry Lee, who pointed out that a slave "not being Admitted to the Privileges of a Citizen owes the State no Allegiance...." Then governor of Virginia Thomas Jefferson gave Billy a reprieve until his case could be considered by the legislature, which granted him a pardon.

 

[Captain Davis]

I've read many accounts from former slaves. There is an archive of these interviews online. They took place in the 1920's.

Actually, many of them did have a positive experience. It was basically a roll of the dice. Many slave owners treated their slaves well and didn't believe in physical punishment. Many wouldn't beat them, but would sell them if they were considered a problem. Then many would physically punish them. Also, this punishment many times was left up to the overseer, who may or may not be a slave themselves.

The batch I read of a little over a hundred cases was taken from North Carolina and surprisingly, there were more that said they were treated well than ones who were or witnessed mistreatment.

There are many more accounts, but I haven't read them all yet.

 

[Searchdiva]

Many of them were probably owned by Cherokees or Muskogee Indians who were more likely to treat them like family.