Brutalities Suffered By Slaves on the Plantations of the Antebellum South
BruceStrom1
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Aug 04, 2024
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About This Presentation
In all systems of slavery, ancient and modern, slaves were seen as property, which meant that masters had great discretion in how they treated their slaves. Masters could sexually abuse their slaves; this was a problem both in the ancient world and the Antebellum South. Two early black leaders, Fred...
Slide Content
In all systems of slavery, ancient and modern, slaves
were seen as property, which meant that masters
had great discretion in how they treated their slaves.
Masters could sexually abuse their slaves; this was a
problem both in the ancient world and the
Antebellum South. Two early black leaders, Frederick
Douglass and Booker T Washington, both had white
fathers, but they did not know who they were.
were seen as property, which meant that masters
had great discretion in how they treated their slaves.
Masters could sexually abuse their slaves; this was a
problem both in the ancient world and the
Antebellum South. Two early black leaders, Frederick
Douglass and Booker T Washington, both had white
fathers, but they did not know who they were.
https://youtu.be/yxDnJ6sBoJc https://youtu.be/7VkzhyNnuQk
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Master Joshua and His Three Slave Wives
Negro slaves on plantation of James Hopkinson, Edisto Island, SC, 1862
Negro slaves on plantation of James Hopkinson, Edisto Island, SC, 1862
In our first story James, who flees slavery, tells us
how his master Joshua had three common law slave
wives.
Since we found no pictures or illustrations of the
slaves in our stories, we will use other period
pictures in this reflection.
how his master Joshua had three common law slave
wives.
Since we found no pictures or illustrations of the
slaves in our stories, we will use other period
pictures in this reflection.
William Still, the narrator, tells us
that “James was a tiller of the soil
under the yoke of Joshua Hitch, who
lived on a farm about seventeen
miles from Baltimore. James spoke
rather favorably of him; indeed, it
was through a direct act of kindness
on the part of his master that he was
able to escape.” The sheriff had been
visiting their house, and James was
wondering if this meant that they
might soon be sold.
Negro quarters, Plantation, Fort George Island, GA 1875
that “James was a tiller of the soil
under the yoke of Joshua Hitch, who
lived on a farm about seventeen
miles from Baltimore. James spoke
rather favorably of him; indeed, it
was through a direct act of kindness
on the part of his master that he was
able to escape.” The sheriff had been
visiting their house, and James was
wondering if this meant that they
might soon be sold.
Negro quarters, Plantation, Fort George Island, GA 1875
His master “owned three other
adult slaves besides James, and
they were females. One of them
was his chief housekeeper, and
with them all his social relations
were of such a nature as to lead
James and others to think and say
that they were all his wives.”
Joshua was quite fond of the two
sisters, though he felt he may need
to sell the third female slave.
Negro quarters, Plantation, Fort George Island, GA 1875
adult slaves besides James, and
they were females. One of them
was his chief housekeeper, and
with them all his social relations
were of such a nature as to lead
James and others to think and say
that they were all his wives.”
Joshua was quite fond of the two
sisters, though he felt he may need
to sell the third female slave.
Negro quarters, Plantation, Fort George Island, GA 1875
Joshua trusted James to travel to Baltimore to find a
kind master, but James instead traveled to
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he contacted the
abolitionist Vigilance Committee, who helped him to
travel to Canada on the Underground Railroad
network.
kind master, but James instead traveled to
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he contacted the
abolitionist Vigilance Committee, who helped him to
travel to Canada on the Underground Railroad
network.
Lefevre James Cranstone - Slave Auction, Virginia, 1862
“James was thirty-one years of age, rather a
fine-looking man, of a chestnut color, and
quite intelligent. He had been a married
man, but for two years before his escape, he
had been a widower, as his wife had been
sold away from him to North Carolina.” “He
had received only three letters from her; he
had given up all hope of ever seeing her
again. He had two little boys living in
Baltimore, whom he was obligated to leave.
Their names were Edward and William.
What became of them afterward was never
known,” though they suspected that all had
been sold to settle the master’s debts.Slave Auction in Virginia, 1861
fine-looking man, of a chestnut color, and
quite intelligent. He had been a married
man, but for two years before his escape, he
had been a widower, as his wife had been
sold away from him to North Carolina.” “He
had received only three letters from her; he
had given up all hope of ever seeing her
again. He had two little boys living in
Baltimore, whom he was obligated to leave.
Their names were Edward and William.
What became of them afterward was never
known,” though they suspected that all had
been sold to settle the master’s debts.Slave Auction in Virginia, 1861
Many masters had intimate relations with their slaves. Five years
after Thomas Jefferson’s wife passed away in 1782, Thomas
Jefferson traveled to Paris as an American diplomat,
accompanied by his slave Sally Hemings, who was a pretty
fourteen, and light enough that she could pass as white. During
their posting they were intimate, and he had many children by
Sally. She was technically free in France since slavery was illegal
there, and consented to return to America after Jefferson
promised that their children would be emancipated, a promise
that was fulfilled.
after Thomas Jefferson’s wife passed away in 1782, Thomas
Jefferson traveled to Paris as an American diplomat,
accompanied by his slave Sally Hemings, who was a pretty
fourteen, and light enough that she could pass as white. During
their posting they were intimate, and he had many children by
Sally. She was technically free in France since slavery was illegal
there, and consented to return to America after Jefferson
promised that their children would be emancipated, a promise
that was fulfilled.
Caricature lampooning the
philosophical Jefferson and his
young slave quadroon, Sally
Hemings, by James Akin, 1804
philosophical Jefferson and his
young slave quadroon, Sally
Hemings, by James Akin, 1804
A cotton plantation on the Mississippi, 1884
Brutalities of Slavery on Alabama Plantations
Brutalities of Slavery on Alabama Plantations
In most systems of slavery, in both the ancient world and the
Antebellum South, masters could beat, maim, and even murder
their slaves, since slaves were property. However, abuse of slaves
eased somewhat under the influence of the Stoic Philosophers
and early Church Fathers. But it was common, in the Antebellum
South, for masters to abuse their slaves, though they rarely killed
them, since they were valuable property. But no mercy was
shown to slaves who were brutally whipped by their masters,
which Frederick Douglass often witnessed. No mercy was shown
to suffering slaves in the Antebellum South.
Antebellum South, masters could beat, maim, and even murder
their slaves, since slaves were property. However, abuse of slaves
eased somewhat under the influence of the Stoic Philosophers
and early Church Fathers. But it was common, in the Antebellum
South, for masters to abuse their slaves, though they rarely killed
them, since they were valuable property. But no mercy was
shown to slaves who were brutally whipped by their masters,
which Frederick Douglass often witnessed. No mercy was shown
to suffering slaves in the Antebellum South.
https://youtu.be/poyvJajCXnE
Philip Younger remembers, “I served in slavery for
fifty-five years, and am now nearly seventy-two
years old. I was born in Virginia, and went, at ten, to
Tennessee, at twelve, to Alabama, serving as the
body servant of a military man. My treatment was
sometimes rough, sometimes good. Many awful
scenes I have seen while moving about. I have had
to put chains on men, myself, to go into a chain
gang. I have seen men whipped to death; I have
seen them die. I have ridden hundreds of miles in
Alabama and have heard the whip going from farm
to farm while they were weighing out cotton.”
Whipping Old Barney, From Frederick
Douglass’ Slave Autobiography
fifty-five years, and am now nearly seventy-two
years old. I was born in Virginia, and went, at ten, to
Tennessee, at twelve, to Alabama, serving as the
body servant of a military man. My treatment was
sometimes rough, sometimes good. Many awful
scenes I have seen while moving about. I have had
to put chains on men, myself, to go into a chain
gang. I have seen men whipped to death; I have
seen them die. I have ridden hundreds of miles in
Alabama and have heard the whip going from farm
to farm while they were weighing out cotton.”
Whipping Old Barney, From Frederick
Douglass’ Slave Autobiography
“In Alabama, the patrols go out in companies
at about dark, and ride nearly all night. If they
meet a colored man without a pass, it is
thirty-nine lashes; but they don’t stop for the
law, and if they tie a man up, he is very well
off if he gets only two hundred lashes.”
“As a general rule, the treatment on Alabama
plantations is very hard. Once in a while a man
is kind, as kindness is out there, and then he is
hated by all the other masters. They say, ‘his
niggers spoil our niggers.’”
Scourged Back of a slave, colorized, 1863
at about dark, and ride nearly all night. If they
meet a colored man without a pass, it is
thirty-nine lashes; but they don’t stop for the
law, and if they tie a man up, he is very well
off if he gets only two hundred lashes.”
“As a general rule, the treatment on Alabama
plantations is very hard. Once in a while a man
is kind, as kindness is out there, and then he is
hated by all the other masters. They say, ‘his
niggers spoil our niggers.’”
Scourged Back of a slave, colorized, 1863
“There was a free man in Huntsville, a
barber, whose wife, a free woman, was taken
by a patrol, as she was walking out at dark,
and put in jail, just to disgrace her.” “Her
husband grumbled about it, a rumpus was
made, and people collected in front of the
tavern door. The folks then called out, ‘Shoot
the damned nigger!’ The patrol stabbed him
with a bowie knife, and he fell in the street.
He was carried in, and a doctor dressed the
wound, but he was never a sound man
afterward.”
barber, whose wife, a free woman, was taken
by a patrol, as she was walking out at dark,
and put in jail, just to disgrace her.” “Her
husband grumbled about it, a rumpus was
made, and people collected in front of the
tavern door. The folks then called out, ‘Shoot
the damned nigger!’ The patrol stabbed him
with a bowie knife, and he fell in the street.
He was carried in, and a doctor dressed the
wound, but he was never a sound man
afterward.”
“I hired my time and made
some money. I bought my
wife’s freedom first, and sent
her away. I got off by skill.”
“Escape from Alabama is
almost impossible. If a man
escapes, it is by the skin of his
teeth.” “I have children and
grandchildren in slavery.”
The Freed Slave, by Francesco Pezzicar, 1876
some money. I bought my
wife’s freedom first, and sent
her away. I got off by skill.”
“Escape from Alabama is
almost impossible. If a man
escapes, it is by the skin of his
teeth.” “I have children and
grandchildren in slavery.”
The Freed Slave, by Francesco Pezzicar, 1876
Philip escaped to the Northern states,
but after the passage of the Fugitive
Slave Law of 1850, he fled to Ontario,
Canada. Talking about his new home,
he said, “I had rather starve to death
here, being a free man, than to have
plenty in slavery. I cannot be a slave
anymore, nobody could hold me as a
slave now, except in irons.” “Old as I
am, I would rather die at the point of a
sword than go into slavery.”
but after the passage of the Fugitive
Slave Law of 1850, he fled to Ontario,
Canada. Talking about his new home,
he said, “I had rather starve to death
here, being a free man, than to have
plenty in slavery. I cannot be a slave
anymore, nobody could hold me as a
slave now, except in irons.” “Old as I
am, I would rather die at the point of a
sword than go into slavery.”
Desperate Bloody Struggle, Slave v Master
There was considerable abuse of slaves in the Deep
South. It was a miracle that young Theophilus not
only survived a brutal beating and knife attack from
his cruel master, but also his trek to freedom.
South. It was a miracle that young Theophilus not
only survived a brutal beating and knife attack from
his cruel master, but also his trek to freedom.
“Theophilus is twenty-four years of age,
dark, height and stature hardly medium.”
“His bearing is subdued and modest, yet
he is not lacking in earnestness.”
Says Theophilus: “I was in servitude
under a man named Houston, near
Lewes, Delaware. He was a very mean
man, he didn’t allow you enough to eat,
nor enough clothes to wear, he never
allowed a drop of tea, or coffee, or sugar,
and if you didn’t eat your breakfast
before day broke he wouldn’t allow you
any.”
dark, height and stature hardly medium.”
“His bearing is subdued and modest, yet
he is not lacking in earnestness.”
Says Theophilus: “I was in servitude
under a man named Houston, near
Lewes, Delaware. He was a very mean
man, he didn’t allow you enough to eat,
nor enough clothes to wear, he never
allowed a drop of tea, or coffee, or sugar,
and if you didn’t eat your breakfast
before day broke he wouldn’t allow you
any.”
“He had a wife meaner than he was. Four years ago, my
master cut my entrails out for going to a meeting at
Daniel Wesley’s church one Sabbath night.” “Monday
morning he called me up to whip me; called me into his
dining room, locked the doors, and then ordered me to
pull off my shirt.”
“I told him: NO, sir, I wouldn’t.” “He tore my shirt off,
after I would not pull it off, and he ordered me to cross
my hands. I didn’t do that.” After that, he “got his gun
and broke the breech over my head. He then seized the
fire tongs and struck me over the head.” Then “he took
the parlor shovel and he beat that on me till he broke
the handle.” “I told him I was bound to come out of that
room.”
Overseer Gore shooting Denby,
From Frederick Douglass’ Slave
Autobiography
master cut my entrails out for going to a meeting at
Daniel Wesley’s church one Sabbath night.” “Monday
morning he called me up to whip me; called me into his
dining room, locked the doors, and then ordered me to
pull off my shirt.”
“I told him: NO, sir, I wouldn’t.” “He tore my shirt off,
after I would not pull it off, and he ordered me to cross
my hands. I didn’t do that.” After that, he “got his gun
and broke the breech over my head. He then seized the
fire tongs and struck me over the head.” Then “he took
the parlor shovel and he beat that on me till he broke
the handle.” “I told him I was bound to come out of that
room.”
Overseer Gore shooting Denby,
From Frederick Douglass’ Slave
Autobiography
“He run up to the door and
drawed his knife and told me if
I ventured to the door, he
would stab me.” “I aimed
straight for the door; but
before I reached it he stabbed
me, drawing the knife as hard
as he could rip across my
stomach, and right away he
began stabbing me about my
head.” After a desperate
struggle, Theophilus succeeded
in getting out of the building.
Simon Legree and Uncle Tom: a scene from Uncle Tom's Cabin, 1852
drawed his knife and told me if
I ventured to the door, he
would stab me.” “I aimed
straight for the door; but
before I reached it he stabbed
me, drawing the knife as hard
as he could rip across my
stomach, and right away he
began stabbing me about my
head.” After a desperate
struggle, Theophilus succeeded
in getting out of the building.
Simon Legree and Uncle Tom: a scene from Uncle Tom's Cabin, 1852
Theophilus continues, “I started at
once for Georgetown, carrying a
part of my entrails in my hands for
the whole journey, sixteen miles. I
went to my young masters, and
they took me to an old colored
woman called Judah Smith, and for
five days and nights I was under
treatment” of three doctors. “I was
not expected to live for a long time,
but the Doctors cured me at last.”
Illustration from Uncle Tom’s Cabin, 1853
once for Georgetown, carrying a
part of my entrails in my hands for
the whole journey, sixteen miles. I
went to my young masters, and
they took me to an old colored
woman called Judah Smith, and for
five days and nights I was under
treatment” of three doctors. “I was
not expected to live for a long time,
but the Doctors cured me at last.”
Illustration from Uncle Tom’s Cabin, 1853
The title of this story states that Theophilus arrived
from Delaware in 1858, but the excerpt only
describes his maltreatment and not how he lived to
tell his story to abolitionists.
from Delaware in 1858, but the excerpt only
describes his maltreatment and not how he lived to
tell his story to abolitionists.
Underground
Railroad, by
Charles
Webber, 1893
Railroad, by
Charles
Webber, 1893
Discussing the Sources
Most of the accounts in this Dover collection of Slave Narratives
of the Underground Railroad describe how slaves escaped to
freedom, and what their lives were like as slaves in the
Antebellum South. Many of these narratives were recorded by
William Still, a free black abolitionist. His father had bought his
freedom in 1798 in Maryland, moving north to New Jersey. His
mother escaped from slavery in Maryland twice. William was the
youngest of fourteen children, and was active in the abolitionist
Vigilance Committee, assisting as a conductor of the
Underground Railroad to guide up to eight hundred runaway
slaves to freedom.
of the Underground Railroad describe how slaves escaped to
freedom, and what their lives were like as slaves in the
Antebellum South. Many of these narratives were recorded by
William Still, a free black abolitionist. His father had bought his
freedom in 1798 in Maryland, moving north to New Jersey. His
mother escaped from slavery in Maryland twice. William was the
youngest of fourteen children, and was active in the abolitionist
Vigilance Committee, assisting as a conductor of the
Underground Railroad to guide up to eight hundred runaway
slaves to freedom.
In our first video in our series of slave narratives, Harriet Jacobs sailed for
freedom after hiding for many years on her plantation.
We read of Eliza Harris who escaped with her infant daughter crawling
from one block of ice to another, inspiring a scene in Harriet Beecher
Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin, a novel that helped spark the Civil War.
Harriet Tubman was perhaps the most famous conductor on the
Underground Railroad, she returned to Maryland nineteen times to lead
family members and other slaves to freedom.
We reflect on the amusing story of Henry Box Brown, who had himself
boxed up and shipped to freedom in Philadelphia.
freedom after hiding for many years on her plantation.
We read of Eliza Harris who escaped with her infant daughter crawling
from one block of ice to another, inspiring a scene in Harriet Beecher
Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin, a novel that helped spark the Civil War.
Harriet Tubman was perhaps the most famous conductor on the
Underground Railroad, she returned to Maryland nineteen times to lead
family members and other slaves to freedom.
We reflect on the amusing story of Henry Box Brown, who had himself
boxed up and shipped to freedom in Philadelphia.
-
https://youtu.be/kRSzNZP73og https://youtu.be/kRSzNZP73og
https://youtu.be/Lkk30_zIDI0 https://youtu.be/q3AWLDo4e6I
https://youtu.be/kRSzNZP73og https://youtu.be/kRSzNZP73og
https://youtu.be/Lkk30_zIDI0 https://youtu.be/q3AWLDo4e6I
The pale slave Ellen Craft impersonated a disabled white man whose trusty servant,
who was really her husband, assisted her in their train ride to freedom.
Some slaves did have kind masters, such as Arnold Gragston, who was one of the
few slave conductors on the Underground Railroad, as his master did not ask too
many questions about his frequent absences.
We have the proud slave Margaret, who fled with her infant to freedom to escape
slavery and a brutal whipping, with help from Watch, her mastiff, who saved their
lives.
The tragic story of Margaret Garner, the slave mother who killed her daughter
rather than doom her to a life of sexual exploitation as a slave, was the inspiration
for the main character in Toni Morrison’s novel, Beloved.
who was really her husband, assisted her in their train ride to freedom.
Some slaves did have kind masters, such as Arnold Gragston, who was one of the
few slave conductors on the Underground Railroad, as his master did not ask too
many questions about his frequent absences.
We have the proud slave Margaret, who fled with her infant to freedom to escape
slavery and a brutal whipping, with help from Watch, her mastiff, who saved their
lives.
The tragic story of Margaret Garner, the slave mother who killed her daughter
rather than doom her to a life of sexual exploitation as a slave, was the inspiration
for the main character in Toni Morrison’s novel, Beloved.
https://youtu.be/GuVlVqCYJZQhttps://youtu.be/VEggppALPLE
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Three Brutal Slave Narratives
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Tags
underground railroad
civil war
slavery
william still
abolitionist
frederick douglass
booker t washington
runaway slaves
black history
slave narratives
thomas jefferson
sally hemings
deep south
antebellum south
fugitive slave act of 1850
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