Hopey, originally owned by Asbury Hull, was sold to her husband, Hansel.
Partial Transcript: "Hansel had bought his wife, Hopey, from 'Sir Asbury Hull, and after his death for a long time she continued to tempt the palate with her cakes and confections."
Enslaved persons celebrated University of Georgia's Commencement as if it were a holiday. They attended the Commencement throughout the years as it was seen as a statewide annual gathering.
Partial Transcript: "Standing in windows, on the steps of the stage, on boxes outside, they took up every inch of space. Broad Street from the hotel down, was a solid mass of human beings. It was the annual holiday of the negroes, and every darkey from ten miles away came to town that day."
Colonel John Billups and his sons were recorded to owned many enslaved persons on his plantation.
Partial Transcript: "Col. Billups was a typical planter of the old regime. He owned a large and fertile plantation and many negroes, made lots of money, spent what he wanted and saved some... he lived in affluence; his boys had horses and negroes, his daughters all they desired."
The Board of Trustees' expenditures include the payment of $250 for enslaved hire.
Partial Transcript: "The probable expenditure for the next year will be as follows: Servants hire... 250"
The Board of Trustees' expenditures include the payment of $240 for an enslaved person.
Partial Transcript: "The probable expenditures of the next year will be as follows: Servant hire... 240"
Enslaved people worked the Botanical Garden, and did not report the conditions to the Board of Trustees.
Partial Transcript: "That from the limited time which they have had to devote to the subjects committed to them it is not in their power to report in detail on the present condition of the Garden."
Willis assisted his enslaver, William L. Mitchell with carrying a table and Bible for the "Mitchell Thunderbolts" to support the Confederate Constitution.
Partial Transcript: "Colonel William L. Mitchell came riding along on his pony "Lightning." Behind him came his negro with a table on his head. Within the -table was a large Bible and a roster of the company. Everybody wondered what was going to happen. Old Willis set the table down and laid the Bible in the center. Colonel Mitchell took up the roster of the company"
The Board of Trustees resolved that $500 would be appropriated to the Botanical Garden for upkeep.
Partial Transcript: "That the Prudential Committee be constructed to use all possible economy in keeping the Gard in order, consistency with a proper degree of neatness & tasts in its cultivation, & in the preservation of its rare & valuable exotics. Resolved - That the sum of Five hundred dollars be & the same is hereby appropriated to the Garden."
The Board of Trustees hired workers to attend to the upkeep of the Botanical Garden for $500.
Partial Transcript: "That the Prudential Committee be constructed to use all possible economy in keeping the Gard in order, consistency with a proper degree of neatness & tasts in its cultivation, & in the preservation of its rare & valuable exotics. Resolved - That the sum of Five hundred dollars ($500) be & the same is hereby appropriated to the Garden."
The University hired enslaved persons for annual repairs including mending the plastering, repairing windows and blinds.
Partial Transcript: "The usual annual repairs, such as whitewashing - mending of plastering, repairing [fireplaces] of hearths - setting glass & repairing blinds - have been reflected during the vacation & by the agency of the Col. servants, and the direction given by myself principally at an expense of some 10 or 12 dollars."
Enslaved persons repaired blinds, mended plastering, and replaced glass as part of annual repairs across the University campus.
Partial Transcript: "The usual annual repairs, such as whitewashing - mending of plastering, repairing [fireplaces] of hearths - setting glass & repairing blinds - have been reflected during the vacation & by the agency of the Col. servants, and the direction given by myself principally at an expense of some 10 or 12 dollars."
Hansel, a freed man living in Athens, Georgia, was stabbed and killed by an enslaved man owned by Mrs. Golding.
Partial Transcript: "In later years Hansel, a free negro, kept a cake shop behind Huggins' old store on Jackson street, and inaugurated the delivery system with a small cart and pony. There linger still toothsome recollections of his ginger cakes, so slick on top, and tea cakes sprinkled over with sugar. Hansel was stabbed in 1855 by a negro belonging to Mrs. Golding and instantly killed."
Rob Roy, an enslaved man owned by General Edward Harden, worked as a valet, driver, butler, and office boy.
Partial Transcript: "Rob Roy was General Harden's valet, driver, butler and office boy."
Rob Roy was described as a cross eyed, freckled man who lived to a great age according to Augustus Hull in the "Annals of Athens."
Partial Transcript: "Rob was a cross eyed, freckled mulatto of no great beauty who lived to a great age — nobody knew how old he was."
Enslaved females were harassed by a University student, Andrews of the sophomore class, to come in his college room with negative intentions.
Partial Transcript: "He was found on one Sunday afternoon sitting on the back steps of the College calling loudly to several negro girls to come in. There were strong reasons for thinking his habits were becoming bad."
A house for enslaved people was constructed or improved under Professor James P. Waddel, for which he is paid $200.
Partial Transcript: "On motion, resolved that two hundred dollars be paid the late Prof. James P. Waddel for certain improvements made by him, including a negro house, which was considered necessary to the lot recently occupied by him."
Holsey taught himself how to read within six months with the books he purchased and read in secret.
Partial Transcript: "Day by day I took a leaf from one of the spelling books, and so folded it that one or two of the lessons were on the outside as if printed on a card. This I put in the pocket of my vest or coat, and when I was sitting on the carriage, walking the yard or streets, or using hoe or spade, or in the dining room, I would take out my spelling leaf, catch a word and commit it to memory. When one side of the spelling leaf was finished by this process, I would refold it again with a new lesson on the outside. When night came, I went to my little room, and with chips of fat pine, and pine roots that were grubbed up from the woods near by, I would kindle a little blaze in the fire-place and turn my head toward it while lying flat on my back so as to get the most of the light on the leaves of the book. Thus lying on the floor with pine knots at hand and my blankets around me, I reviewed the lessons of the day from the unmaimed book. By these means I learned to read and write a little in six months.
Holsey gathered and sold rags to sell to a local junk house for a total of 30 pounds.
Partial Transcript: "There was a junk house in the city where rags were sold. I gathered and saved all the rags that I could, and sold them that I might get some money with which to buy books. After weeks of toil and intense vigilance in gathering and watching for rags that belonged to the first man that laid hands upon them, I had accumulated about thirty pounds."
With the money he received from selling rags, Holsey bought five books to read.
Partial Transcript: "So we did, the rags were sold and the money was mine. With this money I bought books. I purchased at one time, two "Webster blue back spellers," a common school dictionary, Milton's "Paradise Lost," and a Bible."
Holsey's ownership was transferred from T. L. Wynn to Richard Malcolm Johnston after Wynn's death.
Partial Transaction: "[Wynn] told me that he was going to die, and wanted me to choose one of two of his intimate friends as my master. He named the two friends and I chose [Colonel Richard Malcolm Johnston], with whom I lived until the emancipation of the slaves."
Holsey worked for Richard Malcolm Johnston as a gardener.
Partial Transcript: "As an important part of his effects, I was carried along with him and his family as carriage driver, house servant, and gardener."
Holsey worked for Richard Malcolm Johnston as a carriage driver and a house servant.
Partial Transcript: "As an important part of his effects, I was carried along with him and his family as carriage driver, house servant, and gardener."
Holsey traveled with his enslaver, Richard Malcolm Johnston, to Athens, Georgia where Johnston was hired as a professor for the University of Georgia.
Partial Transcript: "As stated before, in 1857, when my second owner, Mr. T. L. Wynn, died, I became the property of Col. R. M. Johnston. In the early winter of that year he went to Athens, Ga., and became a professor in the State College."
Holsey is baptised and fellowshipped by Reverend H. H. Parks at the Methodist church in Athens, Georgia.
Partial Transcript: " I was taken into the church by Rev. Mr. Parks, and baptized and fellowshipped by his uncle, the Rev. H. H. Parks."
