Board of Trustees minutes discussed Judge Clay's absence from the meeting due to smallpox; included in those infected are his children and enslaved people.
Partial transcript: "From the raging of the small pox in Town and Country, it appears, that neither Judge Clay, nor myself, will be able to attend the Senatus Academicus, and on this point we conferred with Judge Carnes, wishing that it were possible, that an adjournment could take place – I have 18 or 20 in family to be inoculated, and of course humanity, and interest, both demand my attention, and the situation of MR. Clay must still be more anxious, as his children (two of them) and a number of his Negroes are to take the disorder"
Henry Hull, his family, a few enslaved persons, and some goods visited his newly purchased home, named the Hodgson House.
Partial Transcript: "My earliest recollections of Athens date from the year 1803. I well remember when my father, with his family, a few servants and household goods stopped at this house — how interested I was in a flock of goats which were browsing on the opposite hillside."
Dennis Clayton was purchased by Augustin Clayton in 1805 when he was 13 years old.
Partial Transcript: "He claims however to have been only thirteen years of age when Judge Clayton bought him in 1805 from a negro trader."
Dick Cary worked as a bell ringer and a college servant at the University of Georgia.
Partial Transcript: "Many a student of Dr. Waddell's day will remember old Dick Cary, the bell ringer and college servant."
Dick Cary was described as a tall, fine looking man with white, long, bushy hair, and very well dressed.
Partial Transcript: "He was a tall, fine looking old negro, wearing his white hair very long, that is to say very bushy. He was always well dressed and deported himself as if he considered his office in the college second only to Dr. Waddell's, and from no other would he take orders."
Lucy Cary's female servants were described as the best trained and always neat.
Partial Transcript: "Mrs. Cary had the best trained housemaids — comely, full-blooded negro girls, always neat with heads covered with colored headkerchiefs very artistically arranged."
Lucy Cary's enslaved persons, who were often leased by the University of Georgia, were recorded to be loved and respected, and prided themselves to belong to her and her family, as recorded by Augustus Hull in the "Annals of Athens."
Partial Transcript: "Her manners were formed from the best models of Virginia society — gentle, courteous, dignified, cheerful — as kind to one of her slaves as to a white person of the same age ; and the result was that her slaves not only loved and respected her but prided themselves in belonging to an old Virginia family."
The commissioners of Athens, Georgia imposed a 12 cent tax on enslaved persons.
Partial Transcript: "The Oconee river was the corporate line. The commissioners imposed a tax of 3 cents on $100 on property, 12 1/2 cents each on slaves, and $2 for liquor license. That surely was an ideal Athens."
Joe, an enslaved man owned by Mr. Thomas of Athens, packed cotton bales that could weigh up to 300lbs.
Partial Transcript: " The first cotton gin brought to Athens was set up by Mr. Thomas... Here all the cotton made in the neighborhood was ginned for some years; Mr. Thomas buying it in the seed from farmers and himself preparing it for market. He had a tall powerful negro named Joe, who was looked upon with some regard because he could pack a round bale weighing 300 lbs. in a day."
Amendments were made to the University's ordinances that include the prohibition of enslaved people entering the University on the Sabbath, except with permission of the President.
Partial Transcript: "The Committee to whom was referred the Report of the President of the University, Report the following Amendments to the Laws of the College.
2nd No Negro shall enter the College on the Sabbath of at any other time, except by the permission of the President. "
An enslaved man was injured due to a physical assault perpetrated by University student, John Clark.
Partial Transcript: "Whereas John Clark has upon his own Confession been convicted of highly improper conduct in violently assaulting and maiming a negro without provocation, during the last vacation and at a.n unlawful hour of the night, and whereas the said Clark with John Scott, Robert Ware, & Thomas Ware, nave upon the same grounds been convicted of cruel and barbarous treatment to a poor deranged negro man, on Sunday the first of the month of June as well as of the term, and that during Morning service in the Chapel from which they were illegally absent, and whereas the said Clark was detected in several instances of prevarication--"
An enslaved person was physically assaulted at night by a University student, John Clark.
Partial Transcript: "Whereas John Clark has upon his own Confession been convicted of highly improper conduct in violently assaulting and maiming a negro without provocation, during the last vacation and at an unlawful hour of the night, and whereas the said Clark with John Scott, Robert Ware, & Thomas Ware, nave upon the same grounds been convicted of cruel and barbarous treatment to a poor deranged negro man, on Sunday the first of the month of June as well as of the term, and that during Morning service in the Chapel from which they were illegally absent, and whereas the said Clark was detected in several instances of prevarication."
The Board of Trustees' expenditures include the payment for hiring an enslaved person for $150.
Partial Transcript: "Expenditures: Hire of College Servant... $150"
The Board of Trustees' expenditures include the payment of hiring an enslaved person, along with academic supplies for the price of $1,800.
Partial Transcript: "Expenditures: Purchase of Chemical Apparatus and agents, and for the hire of a servant... $1800.00"
Enslaved persons picked cotton on Moses Waddels' plantation.
Partial Transcript: "Tuesday Septemeber 28... went [with] Mr. Nisbet to my plantation [and] saw cotton picking."
Moses Waddel's enslaved persons were scolded due to their voracity and laziness.
Partial Transcript: "[October] 19th... went to plantation [and] scolded the negroes about their voracity and idleness."
Moses Waddel instructed Billy to ring the bell on the University campus.
Partial Transcript: "[October] 26. Rainy morning- spoke to Billy Hull to ring the bell."
Moses Waddel watched as his enslaved harvested and hauled pumpkins on his plantation.
Partial Transcript: "[November] 6th Saturday... went to [my] plantation with S. Brown [and] saw pumpkins hauled [and] returned - saw 2 wagons unloaded for Mr. Graham."
Moses Waddel observed enslaved women picking cotton at his plantation around a fire in the field.
Partial Transcript: "[November] 22nd... went early to [the] plantation [and] saw women picking cotton by the fire in [the] field."
Edmund worked on Moses Waddel's plantation picking cotton.
Partial Transcript: "[November] 26th... went and saw my cotton picking... heard of John Puryear whipping Edmund which disturbed me."
Edmund, an enslaved man owned my Moses Waddel, was whipped by overseer, John Puryear.
Partial Transcript: "[November] 26th... went and saw my cotton picking... heard of John Puryear whipping Edmund which disturbed me... spoke with P. Puryear about his brother's whipping Edmund."
Moses Waddel and his enslaved slaughtered and weighed hogs on his plantation.
Partial Transcript: "[December] 15th. Wednesday - killed 8 hogs at town - went to plantation and after much trouble, killed 11 there - weighed hogs."
Enslaved persons owned by Moses Waddel traveled to South Carolina to transport goods.
Partial Transcript: "[December] 20th - marked 3 cotton bales - went to plantation - started negroes and 2 wagons to [South Carolina]."
Solomon assisted Moses Waddel to visit a cotton gin in town, and haul cotton.
Partial Transcript: "[February] 19... went early with Solomon to Mr. Newton's gin- thence to Talmage's shop to get my cotton hauled."
