Existing comment:
Slave Life at Hampton:
What was it like to be a slave on the Ridgely estate? Although there are no known diaries from the enslaved people of Hampton, research from account books, archeology, diaries from the Ridgely family, and archived letters provide fragmentary glimpses into the daily life of African-Americans at Hampton. Like a novel with pages missing, these details provide a touchstone to the past and prompt us to ask more questions.
Who Lived Where?
This building and the adjacent slave quarters were built at the same time (1850s) and of the same stone masonry as the nearby mule barn. The close proximity to both the mansion and overseer's house placed them under constant supervision, leaving them almost no privacy. Earlier records from 1798 list "negro" houses of log construction in various sizes from 10x12 to 22x32 feet. Other slave cabins were likely spread out across the larger farm landscape. A large, wooden octagon-shaped building located just outside the mansion, likely housed domestic servants. It burned in the 20th century.
What did they eat?
Account records from 1829 indicate provisions "in support of Negroes" show corn, herring, and bacon. Cornmeal and salted pork were common foodstuffs in the mid-Atlantic region. Frequently, saves kept their own gardens, often located near their cabins, to supplement the plantation diet.
What is in a name?
Names of Ridgely slaves can tella story. Although there is no evidence that Ridgely slaves were first generation African-American, named such as Gamboe, Mingo, and Juba do appear. Was this an attempt to hold onto their African culture?
Other names such as Caesar, Vulcan and Hercules reflect the Greco-Roman reading tastes of the master.
Biblical names such as Moses, Abraham and John show the influence of religion. Some names in the Ridgely slave records are descriptive such as "Yellow Harry," "Big Charlotte" and "Old Dan." Did such surnames show affection or emphasize a servile status? |