tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7135270054838776033.post2951233270432853312..comments2023-08-15T07:53:44.789-07:00Comments on An Imperfect Pedigree: Conflicts On Descending From Slaveholders and Confederate SoldiersAn Imperfect Pedigree http://www.blogger.com/profile/13442673118719752308noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7135270054838776033.post-58725114021138970092013-04-20T12:20:29.243-07:002013-04-20T12:20:29.243-07:00Thank you for your kind words. Part of me does und...Thank you for your kind words. Part of me does understand that they had vast amounts of land, spread among many counties, thus they needed manpower in ways that I don't think could be supported by other settlers in the area. Those settlers needed to work their own lands and provide for their own families. It's just the way they obtained their "manpower". <br /><br />My Clary family was in Virginia and Maryland in the 1600/1700s. I can see the slaves in their wills but I know my line of the Clarys gave up their slaves and moved north to Ohio. The language used about the slaves seemed more humane. I don't see this in my "new family". In fact, I read a story told by a slave who described one of the O'Bannon sons as being notorious for abusing and torturing slaves. He mentioned the cutting off a limbs, etc. I was horrified. <br /><br />I just hope in my research somewhere that I find some bit of humane treatment of their slaves.An Imperfect Pedigree https://www.blogger.com/profile/13442673118719752308noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7135270054838776033.post-59150193554318584292013-04-17T21:57:38.577-07:002013-04-17T21:57:38.577-07:00How very much I can identify with you!
And how we...How very much I can identify with you!<br /><br />And how well you have explained the outrage and confusion upon reading a will in which a slave is "chattel" -- a moveable possession, just like a horse. My family's wills are the same way: the Negroes, the land, the 4-poster bed, and the Horse-Cart are all treated the same way.<br /><br />I wonder how it became easier (I'm guessing) for John to live with what he did than it is for you to live with the memory of what he did and believed. I know Southern culture buttressed itself with all sorts of rationalizations, practical and religious, that they were doing what was right. <br /><br />Sometimes I imagine myself waking up two centuries ago and being told, "You are now the owner of a house, a farm, and 20 slaves. Don't let our family down." Whites must have reinforced one another, somehow, in shoring up their self-images as good and God-fearing people.A cultural mystery to me. <br /><br />Even though I grew up in that milieu.<br /><br />Absolutely, you and I did/do not support slavery. But we probably benefited from and even owe our birth to those who did. Even so, I'll bet D* would understand your feelings. We're all in history together.<br /><br />Thank you for such an intelligent and heartfelt post.It helped me learn about another dimension of our historical predicament!<br />Mariann Reganhttp://mariannsregan.comnoreply@blogger.com