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Confederate Slave Payrolls, Nelson County, Virginia

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Location: Nelson, Virginia, United Statesmap
Surnames/tags: Slavery US_Black_Heritage Virginia
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Contents

Introduction

This page is part of a project to further organize the National Archive's recently digitized Confederate Slave Payrolls. See:

Combined Payrolls for Nelson County, Virginia

Transcription and Abstract notes: Name abbreviations have generally been spelled out, such as Samuel where the writing says Sam'l.

All payrolls below have been abstracted from tables. Names have been copied, but not payment roll numbers. See payroll image or owner profile for details not fully transcribed here.

In most of these payrolls below, the owners did not sign for themselves, but assigned an attorney to represent them; the attorneys signed on behalf of their clients and accepted payments for the hire of the enslaved laborers. Some payrolls have individual documents attached which authorize the attorneys and some do not. These sometimes yield extra information about the owner or enslaved laborer. Attorneys signing payrolls have been noted below.

All payrolls below acknowledge that J. B. Stanard, 1st Lieutenant and later Captain, Corps of Engineers, paid certain Nelson County, Virginia, slave owners for work performed by their slaves. The specific location and duration for each payroll is noted below.

Payroll 71

This payroll acknowledges work performed on "Brook Defenses" at an unstated location in Virginia, from September 1862 to January 1863.

The only owner signing for him/herself on this payroll is M.T.C. Loving; all others had an attorney sign on their behalf. Attorneys signing this document include: Alexander Brown, L.L. Loving, J.C. Stanfield, David Abney Witt, and H.G. Staples.

Payroll 123

This payroll acknowledges work performed on "Brook Defenses" at an unstated location in Virginia, from November 1862 to January 1863.

The only owners signing for themselves on this payroll are James Jackson Hughes and W.D. Ligon; all others had an attorney sign on their behalf. Attorneys signing this document include: Alexander Brown, J.O. Stanfield, and Gibson & Watkins.

The note assigning the attorney of Robert T. Hubard provides some background information regarding the situation of the enslaved laborers: "I hereby appoint Messrs Gibson & Watkins of Richmond my Attorneys and authorize them, in my name and behalf to receive payment for the hire of seven of my negro men, from the 7th of Nov 1862 to the 31st of Dec 1862, who were impressed to work upon the fortifications near Richmond, and who leaving my plantation in the County of Nelson, accompanied the slaves of other planters to Richmond in the early part of Nov last -- in other words on the 7th of that month. The agent of the government told the slaveholders of Nelson and Buckingham that they would receive $16 per month for the hire of each slave. Witness my hand and seal this 24th January 1863, R. T. Hubard, Buckingham; Witnessed by E.W. Hubard, Jr. and W.B. Hubard."

Additionally, James Jackson Hughes provided a written statement to the chancery court of Nelson County, Virginia, in 1871 regarding his enslaved laborer, James/Jim, which provides some additional background about the conditions endured by the impressed workers. He wrote, "...in January 1863, the negro man Jim was taken by the confederate authorities and placed upon the fortifications around the City of Richmond where he was worked until March 1863, when becoming sick from exposure, he was returned to respondent in such a condition as to render him of but little value thereafter."

Also included is documentation for owner Thomas J. Massie of Lovingston, Nelson County, with enslaved laborer Warner, but Warner does not appear on this payroll. The months listed for Warner's work at the fortifications are December 1862 through February 1863, where Warner does appear, so this documentation was incorrectly included with this payroll, and should have been included with Payroll 452, below.

Payroll 452

This payroll acknowledges work performed at an unstated location in Virginia, from December 1862 to February 1863.

The only owner signing for himself on this payroll was John A. Hill; all others had an attorney sign on their behalf. Only one document assigning an attorney is included with this payroll; it is on behalf of Walter G. Garth, and states the work is at Richmond, Virginia. Attorneys signing this document include: David Abney Witt, Alexander Brown, and John G. Spotts (?).

Payroll 677

This payroll acknowledges work performed on the defenses at and near Richmond, Virginia, from November 1862 to January 1863.

Attorney Alexander Brown signed on behalf of James Anderson.

Payroll 695

This payroll acknowledges work performed on the 'Brooke Defenses' at at unstated location in Virginia, from November 1862 to January 1863.

Attorneys signing this payroll included: David Abney Witt, J.H. Martin, and John H. Pamplin(?). No owners signed on their own behalf. One of the notes assigning an attorney specifies the location of the work will be "at and near Richmond."

Also attached with the attorney documentation to this payroll are two slips of paper that only bear a name and a reference number. The two names are Aulitt, D. and Dickinson, John W.

Payroll 917

This payroll acknowledges work performed on the 'Brooke Defenses' at an unstated location in Virginia, from November 1862 to January 1863.

Attorneys signing this payroll included: E.P. Smiley, H.N. Coleman, Jr., J.O. Stanfield, Jacob W. Robinson, and David Abney Witt.

  • Owner: Seaton Rush Loving; Enslaved: Frederick--worked 60 days @ $16/month
  • Owner: Frederick G. Peters; Enslaved: George, Robert "Bob", Tom, and Sam (the document was also signed for Austin, but he did not appear on the payroll)--worked 60 days @ $16/month
  • Owner: Coleman, John J. Jr.; Enslaved: William and Frederick--worked 60 days @ $16/month
  • Owner: Estate of William M Harris (Executor: Dr. Daniel Edward Watson); Burwell and Charles--worked 60 days @ $16/month
  • Owner: Dr. Daniel Edward Watson; Enslaved: Joseph (document is also signed for Charles and Sam, but they are not on payroll)--worked 60 days @ $16/month
  • Owner: Brown, Charles L.; Enslaved: Nelson--worked 60 days @ $16/month
  • Owner: Roberts, William A.; Enslaved: Watson, Jasper, and William--worked 60 days @ $16/month
  • Owner: John Sorrel Roberts; Enslaved: William--worked 60 days @ $16/month
  • Owner: Roberts, Pleasant D; Enslaved: Richard--worked 60 days @ $16/month
  • Owner: Thurmond, John A.; Enslaved: Henry--worked 60 days @ $16/month
  • Owner: Matthew H. Harris; Enslaved: Patrick--worked 60 days @ $16/month

Payroll 920

This payroll acknowledges work performed on the defenses at and near Richmond, from February to April 1864.

The only owner signing for himself on this payroll was John Barbour; all others had an attorney sign on their behalf. Attorneys signing this payroll included: Gilbert Walking, Stephen T. Dillard, William D. Gibson, and A.A. Porter,

  • Owner: Robert T. Hubard; Enslaved: Monroe--worked 64 days @ $20/month, and John----worked 18 days @ $20/month
  • Owner: Farrar, M.S. & D.S.; Enslaved: Peter--worked 64 days @ $20/month
  • Owner: Barbour, John T(?); Enslaved: Alick [sic]--worked 59 days @ $20/month
  • Owner: James Spotswood Dillard; Enslaved: Watson and William "Bill" (there is also a second document signed for Watson and Benton)--worked 64 days @ $20/month
  • Owner: Rives, Alexander; Enslaved: Paul and Nash--worked 64 days @ $20/month
  • Owner: Moseley, Alexander; Enslaved: Monroe (documentation is signed for both Monroe and William--see note below)--worked 64 days @ $20/month

Note: Regarding enslaved laborer William held by Alexander Moseley, although William does not appear in this payroll, there is a note written on the back of his owner's signed documentation for him which states, "There is due for William, impressed Oct 8th and discharged Jan 17, 1863, $68.66, less $35 for shoes furnished him, or due $33.66. And for Monroe, impressed Feb 22nd and discharged April 26, 1864, $42.66, less shoes $40, or $2.66. Due for William, $33.66, Monroe, $2.66, Total, $36.32"

Payroll 1128

This payroll acknowledges work performed on the defenses at and near Richmond, from February to May 1864.

The only owner signing for himself on this payroll was L.L. Loving; all others had an attorney sign on their behalf. Attorneys signing this payroll included: R.H. Vaughan and Wilson Peters.

  • Owner: Loving, L.L.; Enslaved: Boyd--worked 57 days @ $20/month
  • Owner: Coleman, H.N., Sr.; Enslaved: William--worked 64 days @ $20/month
  • Owner: Coles, John B.; Enslaved: James "Jim"--worked 64 days @ $20/month
  • Owner: Mayo Cabell; Enslaved: Mordecai--worked 64 days @ $20/month
  • Owner: William Daniel Cabell; Enslaved: John--worked 64 days @ $20/month
  • Owner: Frederick G. Peters; Enslaved: Tom--worked 70 days @ $20/month

Also included in the documentation for this payroll were two slips of paper with a single name and reference number appearing on them; both referred to: Peters, Wilson.

Payroll 1144

This payroll acknowledges work performed on the defenses at and near Richmond, from September to November 1863.[1]

None of the owners on this payroll signed on their own behalf; most chose to have attorney Moses H. Fitzpatrick represent them. No other attorneys were used on this payroll.

  • Owner: Harris, James M.; Enslaved: Joseph "Jo"--worked 63 days @ $20/month
  • Owner: Coleman, John J., Sr.; Enslaved: William and Burwell (documentation is signed for "Burrel")--worked 63 days @ $20/month
  • Owner: Coleman, John J., Jr.; Enslaved: James--worked 63 days @ $20/month
  • Owner: Harris, William M.[sic]; Enslaved: Holman (documentation is signed for "Holeman" by William W. Harris)--worked 63 days @ $20/month
  • Owner: Davis, Robert C.; Enslaved: Henry--worked 63 days @ $20/month
  • Owner: Woods, James; Enslaved: John, Henry, and Stephen--worked 63 days @ $20/month
  • Owner: Woods, Samuel; Enslaved: Lewis, Norman, and William--worked 63 days @ $20/month
  • Owner: Landon Newton Brent; Enslaved: Richard (documentation is signed for "Richarson," and a second document is signed for Jobe, who does not appear on this payroll)--worked 63 days @ $20/month
  • Owner: Martin, Thomas; Enslaved: Manuel--worked 63 days @ $20/month
  • Owner: Coleman, H.N., Jr.; Enslaved: James--worked 63 days @ $20/month
  • Owner: Martin, Hudson; Enslaved: Abram--worked 63 days @ $20/month
  • Owner: Warwick, John W.; Enslaved: Aaron--worked 63 days @ $20/month
  • Owner: Coles, John B.; Enslaved: James--worked 63 days @ $20/month
  • Owner: Roberts, John M.; Enslaved: Peter--worked 63 days @ $20/month
  • Owner: R. Johnson & A. N. Goodloe; Enslaved: Jefferson--worked 63 days @ $20/month
  • Owner: Thomas Massie; Enslaved: William and Anderson--worked 63 days @ $20/month

Payroll 1361

This payroll acknowledges work performed on the defenses at and near Richmond, from September 1863 to January 1864.

The only owner signing for himself on this payroll was John Barbour; all others had an attorney sign on their behalf. Attorneys signing this payroll included: David Abney Witt, John F. Hix, and William D. Gibson.

  • Owner: Bryant, William; Enslaved: Isaac--worked 57 days @ $20/month
  • Owner: Smith, Joel; Enslaved: Squire--worked 63 days @ $20/month
  • Owner: Clarkson, N.C.; Enslaved: Lot and Charles--worked 63 days @ $20/month
  • Owner: John Edward Powell; Enslaved: Robert--worked 63 days @ $20/month
  • Owner: Tucker, W.D.; Enslaved: Giles--worked 63 days @ $20/month
  • Owner: James Turner Rittenhouse; Enslaved: Aaron--worked 63 days @ $20/month
  • Owner: Joseph Harvey; Enslaved: Jerry--worked 102 days @ $20/month
  • Owner: Albert W. Harris; Enslaved: Charles--worked 63 days @ $20/month
  • Owner: Samuel Stevens; Enslaved: Charles--worked 63 days @ $20/month
  • Owner: Martin, Nancy; Enslaved: Harrison--worked 87 days @ $20/month
  • Owner: Loving, M.N.; Enslaved: Claiborne--worked 63 days @ $20/month
  • Owner: James Haines Brent; Enslaved: Stephen--worked 63 days @ $20/month
  • Owner: Dillard, James M.; Enslaved: Frederick--worked 63 days @ $20/month
  • Owner: Harris, Daniel M.; Enslaved: Winston--worked 40 days @ $20/month
  • Owner: Johnson, Andrew; Enslaved: Price--worked 63 days @ $20/month
  • Owner: Barbour, John J.; Enslaved: Alexander--worked 63 days @ $20/month
  • Owner: Rives, Robert; Enslaved: Albert and Tom--worked 63 days @ $20/month

Sources

  1. ↑ Confederate Slave Payroll 1144 Nelson County, Virginia, National Archives and Records Administration, catalog.archives.gov/id/34906432. Accessed 12 July 2024.




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Categories: Nelson County, Virginia | USBH Heritage Exchange, Needs Slave Profiles | USBH Heritage Exchange, Needs Slave Owner Profile