Comments on: National Black Arts Festival Study Group Walks in Footsteps of Baker’s Ancestors on Wessyngton Plantation

By: John Baker

John Baker — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 23:05:33 +0000

Auron,

Most of the plantation diaries I’ve seen also record information in this fashion.

By: Auron Renius

Auron Renius — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 03:08:28 +0000

I found an extract recently from the diaries of a plantation owner, William Byrd. Its not that he was brutal with his slaves that surprised me, it’s the matter of fact way he commented on it

“I rose at 5 o’clock this morning and read a chapter in Hebrew and 200 verses in Homer’s Odyssey. I ate milk for breakfast. I said my prayers. Jenny and Eugene [two house slaves] were whipped. I danced my dance [physical exercises]……My wife was indisposed again but not to much purpose. In the afternoon I beat Jenny [a house slave] for throwing water on the couch”.

Sexually assaulting women of the lower orders was no big deal to Byrd either;

“I rose at 6 o’clock and said my prayers and ate milk for breakfast. Then I proceeded to Williamsburg, where I found all well. I went to the capitol where I sent for the wench to clean my room and when she came I kissed her and felt her, for which God forgive me”.

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