The Plantation Community at Poplar Forest

Who They Were

When Thomas Jefferson first visited Poplar Forest, he found a small group of enslaved African-Americans living on the plantation. Jefferson recorded the family of Guinea Will, his wife Bess, and their three small children in his notebook. He also listed six other enslaved men and women who lived there. As Jefferson began to raise more tobacco, he moved more slaves to the property. These slaves were responsible for working in the fields and doing chores on the plantation. By 1790, 35 slaves lived at Poplar Forest. After 1806, there were 70 to 80 slaves. More than half of them were children.

Since Jefferson was often absent from the plantation, an overseer was hired to watch over and direct the work of the slaves. The overseer was given a place to live, a salary, and a share of the crop. The overseer made sure the slaves completed their assigned tasks. He also made sure the enslaved families had food, clothing, and adequate shelter.

The Work

The slave community worked from sunup to sundown, six days a week. The main crops raised on the plantation were tobacco and wheat. Jefferson relied on the sale of these crops for income. Most slaves assisted with the crop during the harvest.

The slaves’ work was not finished when they returned from the field. Besides farming, slaves cared for livestock, gardened, grew and preserved foods, made clothing, and built houses. Many slaves had specialized training. Hal and Will were blacksmiths, although they also gathered firewood and labored in the field. Bess made butter at the dairy and spun cotton into cloth. Slaves were trained as blacksmiths, weavers, dairy maids, carpenters, cobblers (shoemakers), coopers (barrel makers), and gardeners.

Enslaved African-Americans lived in quarters often located near their workplace which were fields, shops, or the main house. Their houses were log cabins with dirt floors and wooden chimneys.  The chimneys were lined with mud to prevent fires. 

How They Lived

Jefferson provided slaves with food, clothing, and medical attention. Each slave received cloth to make winter and summer clothes.  Mattresses and blankets were generally given out every three years. Food such as corn meal, meat, fish, molasses, and sugar was handed out to each family. Slaves also tended small gardens, raised poultry, and hunted wild game to help feed their families. When slaves had serious illnesses, a local doctor was called in.

Children under the age of 10 helped take care of younger children on the plantation. Sometimes young children would help their parents in the field with jobs such as weeding. Boys aged 10 to 16 would be sent to Monticello (Jefferson’s home in  Charlottesville, Virginia) to learn how to make nails. Girls in their early teens usually learned to spin and weave.

On Sundays and at Christmas, the workers enjoyed a short break from their daily chores. Slaves used the time to visit relatives and friends on other plantations, make household items, and spend time with their families. Slaves also gathered together to play games, listen to music, and dance. Slave children played with clay marbles and homemade toys.