Henry--

I'm not a colonial specialist--but I think there were very few white
indentured servants in eastern Virginia by the 1750s, 1760s. The few that
were here were usually skilled craftspeople--like the builder/architect John
Buckland, designer of Gunston Hall.

Jim Hershman

Henry Wiencek wrote:

> Between 1760 and 1800 in upper-class Virginia houses, were the servants
> who had 'ceremonial' functions--butlers, valets, ladies' maids,
> postilions--all blacks?  White indentured servants performed certain
> household tasks, but these tended to be done out of sight.  I'm
> wondering if all the servants were black who would be seen by visitors
> at a dinner, a party, or when the master and mistress traveled.  (I
> imagine there would have been some white coachmen.)  I'm wondering if I
> can make the point that the public, ceremonial face of servitude in
> Virginia at that time was almost exclusively black.  Does anyone know if
> there was a significant number of white butlers and maids at that time?
> Henry Wiencek
>
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