Bounced, trying again.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Charles L. Dibble [BLS914]" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Cc: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, January 06, 2003 11:08 AM
Subject: Re: Jefferson nephew chops a Black man to pieces


> Jim -
> Could you elaborate on:  "and of TJ's own observations in Notes on
> Virginia"?
> Did TJ in fact comment on this?
> The original account posted on the List (below) said:
> "According to scholars, Jefferson, an enslaver of 154 Africans, would
never
> confront the murder in any of his writings. "
>
> ================================================
> Charles L. Dibble
> Post Office Drawer 1240
> Columbia, South Carolina 29202-1240
> email: [log in to unmask]         [log in to unmask]
> ================================================
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "James Hershman" <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Monday, January 06, 2003 7:32 AM
> Subject: Re: Jefferson nephew chops a Black man to pieces
>
>
> > This terrible incident is also the subject of a play by, I believe,
> > Robert Penn Warren called, " A Brother unto Dragons." A graphic
> > illustration of the horrors of slavery and of TJ's own observations in
> > Notes on Virginia.
> >
> > Jim Hershman
> >
> > paul finkelman wrote:
> >
> > >This is all true and well known to historians.  See the book
"Jefferson's
> Nephews"
> > >(Author's name slips my mind); it it truly horrible.  I am no fan of
> Jefferson
> > >(See my book, Slavery and the Founders:  Race and Liberty in the Age of
> > >Jefferson); but we certainly cannot blame TJ for the sins and misdeeds
of
> his
> > >relatives.
> > >
> > >Karen Sutton wrote:
> > >
> > >>Ladies and Gentlemen,
> > >>
> > >>I saw this on Afrigeneas, anyone care to confirm or deny the story's
> > >>accuracy?  Any comments?
> > >>
> > >>Karen E. Sutton
> > >>
> >
>
>>--------------------------------------------------------------------------

> ----
> > >>
> > >>Date: Thu, 2 Jan 2003 01:20:49 -0600 (CST)
> > >>From: [log in to unmask]
> > >>Subject: Jefferson nephew chops a Black man to pieces
> > >>
> > >>FYI ... this comes from another ListServ.  Interesting but not
> > >>surprising to
> > >>me!  Sources follow the story.
> > >>
> > >>Please read this shocking account written by a white man about
Lillburn
> > >>Lewis, nephew of Thomas Jefferson of Livingston County, Kentucky:
> > >>
> > >>>Lillburn Lewis (nephew of Thomas Jefferson, the penman of the
> > >>>Declaration of
> > >>>Independence), of Livingston County, Kentucky, was the owner of about
> > >>>fifty
> > >>>Slaves, whom he drove constantly, fed sparingly, and lashed severely.
> > >>>The
> > >>>consequence was that some of them were in the habit of running away.
> > >>>This
> > >>>gave Lewis great anxieties until he found them, or until they starved
> > >>>out
> > >>>and returned.  Among the rest was a boy named George, about seventeen
> > >>>years
> > >>>of age, who, having just returned, was sent to a spring for water,
and
> > >>>let
> > >>>fall a pitcher breaking it.  This was the occasion.  It was night.
> > >>>Lewis
> > >>>then collected all the slaves into an out house, and ordered a
rousing
> > >>>fire
> > >>>to be made.  When the door was secured, that none might escape,
either
> > >>>through fear or sympathy, Lewis opened the design of the meeting,
> > >>>namely,
> > >>>that they might be effectually taught to stay at home and obey his
> > >>>orders.
> > >>>All things being now in train, he called up George, who approached
his
> > >>>master with the most unreserved submission.  He bound him with cords
> > >>, and aid him on a meatblock, and seizing a broad axe, proceeded to
> > >>chop him
> > >>>into pieces, commencing at the ankles.
> > >>>In vain did the unhappy victim call upon his Master to forgive him.
> > >>>
> > >>  In vain did he scream.  Not a slave durst interfere. Casting the
feet
> > >>into the
> > >>>fire, he lectured the Slaves at some length.  He then chopped off
> > >>>below the
> > >>>knees, and admonished them again, throwing the legs into the fire.
He
> > >>>then
> > >>>chopped off above the knees, tossing the joints into the fire,
> > >>>lecturing as
> > >>>he proceeded.  The next two or three strokes severed the thighs from
> > >>>the
> > >>>body.  These were also committed to the flames.  And so were the
arms,
> > >>>head
> > >>>and trunk, until all was in the fire.  Still protracting the
intervals
> > >>>with
> > >>>lectures, and threatenings of like punishment, in case of
disobedience
> > >>>and
> > >>>running away.  The Slaves were then permitted to disperse.
> > >>>
> > >>>When the monster returned to his house, Mrs. Lewis exclaimed, Oh!
Mr.
> > >>>Lewis where have you been, and what have you done!  She had heard a
> > >>>strange pounding, and dreadful screams, and had smelled something
like
> > >>>fresh meat burning!  He replied that he had never enjoyed himself at
a
> > >>>ball
> > >>>so well as he had enjoyed himself that evening.
> > >>>
> > >>According to scholars, Jefferson, an enslaver of 154 Africans, would
> > >>never
> > >>confront the murder in any of his writings. Reprinted in Tingba
Apidta,
> > >>The
> > >>Hidden History of Washington, DC: A Guide for Black Folks (Roxbury,
MA:
> > >>Reclamation Project, 1996); William Loren Katz, editor, The Suppressed
> > >>Book
> > >>About Slavery (New York: Arno/New York Times, 1968), pp. 199-200.
> > >>
> > >>Peace, blessings, favor and grace, Alta
> > >>
> > >>"I have learned that no one can experience true love, or a joyful
> > >>presence,
> > >>or create an optimal future until one makes peace with one's past.
> > >>Genealogy
> > >>heals the soul!"
> > >>
> > >>To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe, please see the
> instructions
> > >>at http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-hist.html
> > >>
> > >Paul Finkelman
> > >Chapman Distinguished Professor of Law
> > >University of Tulsa College of Law
> > >3120 East 4th Place
> > >Tulsa, OK  74104-3189
> > >
> > >phone 918-631-3706
> > >Fax   918-631-2194
> > >e-mail:   [log in to unmask]
>
>

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