Records of Enslaved People in Private Collections
The Records of Enslaved People in Private Collections digital collection draws from various private collections, offering glimpses into different points in the lives of enslaved individuals such as purchases, sales, births, and deaths. Due to their legal status, these records seldom reflect their own perspectives; however, they serve as poignant reminders of their humanity and the systemic coercion imposed upon them by others and by governmental structures. The collection includes, but is not limited to, bills of sale, correspondence, inventories, lists, wills, and administrative records, collectively shedding light on the often harsh realities faced by enslaved people in different historical contexts. Please note that this collection represents a selection of records from the State Archives of North Carolina, offering a glimpse into their experiences rather than a complete representation.
History of Enslavement in North Carolina
The Foundation of Enslavement in North Carolina
Enslavement in North Carolina started with the colony's establishment and deeply influenced its early development. Before 1730, most enslaved people lived in the northeastern part of the colony, where tobacco was the main crop. In 1715, the North Carolina General Assembly passed its first slave code, which limited the movement of enslaved individuals and imposed severe penalties for escape attempts. After a revolt in Charlestown in 1739, additional laws were enacted in 1741 to prevent enslaved people from owning livestock, trading without permission, and carrying weapons. By the 1770s, large estates with ten or more enslaved individuals were common.
Choices and Consequences: The Revolutionary War
The Revolutionary War was a critical time for enslaved people seeking freedom, as they had to decide which side to support. British officials, like John Murray, Earl of Dunmore, promised freedom to those who fought for the British. Many enslaved people joined the Continental Army, hoping for similar assurances. However, the end of the war brought harsher conditions for most Black people. Despite their efforts and sacrifices, both enslaved and free Black individuals faced increased restrictions and unfulfilled promises of freedom.
The Harsh Realities of the Antebellum Period
As enslavers focused on exporting staples like tobacco and rice, they significantly increased the number of enslaved people to meet labor demands. Cultivating these crops involved grueling work, with most enslaved individuals working from sunrise to sunset in the fields. Some specialized in trades like carpentry, butchery, piloting, and seamstressing. Living conditions were poor, with families living in small log cabins with stick chimneys, dirt floors, and shuttered windows.
Enslaved women had to return to work shortly after giving birth, with no time off to care for their newborns. House servants, although their physical work was lighter, were always on call, had little privacy, and were isolated from other enslaved people. Daily life for enslaved individuals was marked by constant labor, poor living conditions, and a struggle for basic necessities. In 1830, a law was passed prohibiting anyone from teaching enslaved people to read or write, further entrenching their oppression.
Defiance Amid Oppression
Despite these challenges, enslaved people found ways to resist. Common forms of resistance included theft, idleness during work, and deception, allowing them to reclaim something from their labor. Harsh conditions drove many to attempt escape, despite the high risk of capture, which could result in mutilation, whipping, or death by patrols and others. Physical abuse, especially whipping, was considered one of the worst aspects of enslavement. Enslavers used whipping not only for punishment but also to instill fear. Pregnant women were not spared from such cruelty, sometimes suffering severe injuries or death.
The Civil War: A Glimmer of Hope for Freedom
On April 12th, 1861, the Civil War began with Confederate artillery firing on Fort Sumter and Charleston Harbor. During the war, enslavers tried to restrict information from reaching enslaved individuals, but this was ineffective as everyone had to contribute to the war effort. Some enslavers took body servants to war or sent enslaved people to the front lines with their sons. Those who remained behind grew food to support the Confederate cause, as well as cotton or tobacco to benefit their enslavers. The Confederate government also impressed enslaved labor to build fortifications and transport munitions.
Reconstruction and the Struggle for Rights
For most enslaved people in North Carolina, freedom came only after the Civil War ended or when federal troops liberated their plantations. During Reconstruction, Black North Carolinians fought for their political and civil rights to achieve full citizenship. They faced significant challenges from those who sought to maintain the old system of oppression through violence, coercion, and restrictive legislation. Despite these obstacles, the struggle for equality and justice continued among the newly freed individuals.
History of Enslavement in North Carolina
The Foundation of Enslavement in North Carolina
Enslavement in North Carolina started with the colony's establishment and deeply influenced its early development. Before 1730, most enslaved people lived in the northeastern part of the colony, where tobacco was the main crop. In 1715, the North Carolina General Assembly passed its first slave code, which limited the movement of enslaved individuals and imposed severe penalties for escape attempts. After a revolt in Charlestown in 1739, additional laws were enacted in 1741 to prevent enslaved people from owning livestock, trading without permission, and carrying weapons. By the 1770s, large estates with ten or more enslaved individuals were common.
Choices and Consequences: The Revolutionary War
The Revolutionary War was a critical time for enslaved people seeking freedom, as they had to decide which side to support. British officials, like John Murray, Earl of Dunmore, promised freedom to those who fought for the British. Many enslaved people joined the Continental Army, hoping for similar assurances. However, the end of the war brought harsher conditions for most Black people. Despite their efforts and sacrifices, both enslaved and free Black individuals faced increased restrictions and unfulfilled promises of freedom.
The Harsh Realities of the Antebellum Period
As enslavers focused on exporting staples like tobacco and rice, they significantly increased the number of enslaved people to meet labor demands. Cultivating these crops involved grueling work, with most enslaved individuals working from sunrise to sunset in the fields. Some specialized in trades like carpentry, butchery, piloting, and seamstressing. Living conditions were poor, with families living in small log cabins with stick chimneys, dirt floors, and shuttered windows.
Enslaved women had to return to work shortly after giving birth, with no time off to care for their newborns. House servants, although their physical work was lighter, were always on call, had little privacy, and were isolated from other enslaved people. Daily life for enslaved individuals was marked by constant labor, poor living conditions, and a struggle for basic necessities. In 1830, a law was passed prohibiting anyone from teaching enslaved people to read or write, further entrenching their oppression.
Defiance Amid Oppression
Despite these challenges, enslaved people found ways to resist. Common forms of resistance included theft, idleness during work, and deception, allowing them to reclaim something from their labor. Harsh conditions drove many to attempt escape, despite the high risk of capture, which could result in mutilation, whipping, or death by patrols and others. Physical abuse, especially whipping, was considered one of the worst aspects of enslavement. Enslavers used whipping not only for punishment but also to instill fear. Pregnant women were not spared from such cruelty, sometimes suffering severe injuries or death.
The Civil War: A Glimmer of Hope for Freedom
On April 12th, 1861, the Civil War began with Confederate artillery firing on Fort Sumter and Charleston Harbor. During the war, enslavers tried to restrict information from reaching enslaved individuals, but this was ineffective as everyone had to contribute to the war effort. Some enslavers took body servants to war or sent enslaved people to the front lines with their sons. Those who remained behind grew food to support the Confederate cause, as well as cotton or tobacco to benefit their enslavers. The Confederate government also impressed enslaved labor to build fortifications and transport munitions.
Reconstruction and the Struggle for Rights
For most enslaved people in North Carolina, freedom came only after the Civil War ended or when federal troops liberated their plantations. During Reconstruction, Black North Carolinians fought for their political and civil rights to achieve full citizenship. They faced significant challenges from those who sought to maintain the old system of oppression through violence, coercion, and restrictive legislation. Despite these obstacles, the struggle for equality and justice continued among the newly freed individuals.