I would caution against anyone deriving from this that the Scotch-Irish of western Virginia held--in general--a moral opposition to enslavement as a thing to do. The less mountainous south was geographically perfect for plantations, so the institution entrenched itself there for economic reasons. The more hill-based Scotch-Irish, if weal…
I would caution against anyone deriving from this that the Scotch-Irish of western Virginia held--in general--a moral opposition to enslavement as a thing to do. The less mountainous south was geographically perfect for plantations, so the institution entrenched itself there for economic reasons. The more hill-based Scotch-Irish, if wealthy enough, were likely to raise cattle, not cotton, so being large-scale slave-holders wasn't practical. But owning a few domestic workers was prestigious. Some of these were my ancestors, and I've discovered black distant cousins who know themselves to be descended from (for example) the "comfort woman" of our mutual g-g-g-grandfather. Similar info turns up in numerous wills. Beyond this observation, I agree with the trends your thesis suggests.
Thank you very much for your addition Emily. Yes, you are right that the upper classes would have been enslavers too (birds of a feather always flock together). The people I am writing about are the ones below that.
I would caution against anyone deriving from this that the Scotch-Irish of western Virginia held--in general--a moral opposition to enslavement as a thing to do. The less mountainous south was geographically perfect for plantations, so the institution entrenched itself there for economic reasons. The more hill-based Scotch-Irish, if wealthy enough, were likely to raise cattle, not cotton, so being large-scale slave-holders wasn't practical. But owning a few domestic workers was prestigious. Some of these were my ancestors, and I've discovered black distant cousins who know themselves to be descended from (for example) the "comfort woman" of our mutual g-g-g-grandfather. Similar info turns up in numerous wills. Beyond this observation, I agree with the trends your thesis suggests.
Thank you very much for your addition Emily. Yes, you are right that the upper classes would have been enslavers too (birds of a feather always flock together). The people I am writing about are the ones below that.
Thanks for your insightful addition to this thread, Emily.
Me too.