Many plantations had black overseers (Plantation record keepers). Many
whites as well as blacks were illiterate. Sometimes you can see on the
census a black head of household who is actually the overseer for a white
master and the household is all listed black.
Hannah Powell
----- Original Message -----
From: "Craig Kilby" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Thursday, October 28, 2010 2:35 PM
Subject: [VA-HIST] 1870 Southern Census Takers
> There were plenty of literate and educated people of color in 1870.
>
> Craig
>
> On Oct 28, 2010, at 9:14 AM, JEFFREY D SOUTHMAYD wrote:
>
>> Seems unlikely since the vast majority of slaves were illiterate and
> could neither read nor write.
>>
>>
>> JDS
>
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