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Reflection on Nat Turner's Rebellion
Nat Turner, an enslaved minister, used his intellect and mobility as a preacher to organize a slave revolt in Southampton, Virginia, in 1831. Turner's rebellion caused widespread panic among the white population. As a result, more severe restrictions were instituted limiting enslaved persons from gathering and practicing their faith. This letter written by Eleanor Weaver to her children provides some details of the event that gained nationwide attention.
All the mischief done was confined to one county in the lower part of this state the County of Southampton. There was about 67 persons old & young put to death by about Eight or Ten Negroes ring leaders & some few they forced to assist them. say some 20 to thirty headed by a Negro preacher. All the murders was done in about 24 hours. They have all bin [sic] taken & put to death General Nat the preacher absconded & kept out of the way for several weeks but he was at last taken & put to death. We hope our government will take some steps to put down Negro preachi9ng. It is those large assemblies of Negroes causes the mischief. However I wish we had not one in this country they are an unhappy race & render all those that have them unhappy. However we have them & we must do the best we can with them. |