Joanne,
Off the top of my head I'm guessing the allegation (or "impression") is
false. Gabriel's plans included the manufacturing of cutlass-like
weapons (efficient, no moving parts, no powder to keep dry) but also
involved a rather elaborate plan to seize the state arsenal, which
would, I assume, have its own stores of powder. Perhaps I am wrong
about that though--would arms be stored separately from the necessary
powder?
The story is an interesting one; it suggests that the fear of
plots--even old ones-- could be invoked to "resolve" a variety of
issues.
David Kiracofe
David Kiracofe
History
Tidewater Community College
Chesapeake Campus
1428 Cedar Road
Chesapeake, Virginia 23322
757-822-5136
>>> qvarizona <[log in to unmask]> 06/28/07 10:48 AM >>>
David,
One back-burner research project of mine is tracking down any truth to
allegations made in a lawsuit originally brought in Botetourt Co. VA in
Nov. 1804. This suit was founded on a contract by a Rev. Gray to
purchase 500 pounds of gun powder from (Robert) Rowland of Botetourt
Co., and it was charged that the powder was made and stored and subject
to Gray's order for several years before Robert's death ca. Aug/Sept.
1800. When Gray demanded the powder, admin. of Robert's estate was
unable to deliver and claimed that a few days before Robert's death the
gun powder "... was feloniously stolen and the impression was that it
was in possession of the negroes at the insurrection in Richmond (1800).
"
I understand it's been awhile since your research re. Gabriel and his
plans, but do you recall coming across anything re. gun powder that
would possibly provide a clue for me to follow?
Joanne
David Kiracofe <[log in to unmask]> wrote: Henry, Years ago I was doing
some research on the suppression of the
Gabriel Conspiracy of 1800 in the Library of Virginia manuscript
collections, and came across has a report on the penitentiary. Along
with reports of prisoner diet, expenditures of various kinds, it also
discussed what they produced in the prison workshops. The report was in
the Governor's papers (James Monroe's adminstration). I'm sorry I can't
give you a specific date beyond that.
Good luck.
David Kiracofe
David Kiracofe
History
Tidewater Community College
Chesapeake Campus
1428 Cedar Road
Chesapeake, Virginia 23322
757-822-5136
>>> Henry Wiencek 06/27/07 11:50 AM >>>
Having done soap, I turn to nails. Jefferson had a nailery at Monticello
in
the 1790s and early 1800s (until he was run out of business by cheap
British
imports) where he set to work slaves aged 10-16. A dissertation says
that
Jefferson's local competition for his nailery was the Virginia State
Penitentiary. The designer of the 'pen,' Benjamin Henry Latrobe,
consulted
with Jefferson on the design. The new prison was supposed to reflect the
most advanced "liberal" thinking on prison reform. I'm digging into the
sources, but does anyone know anything about the nailery at the state
prison? I'm wondering if it was Jefferson's idea, Latrobe's idea, or
someone
else's.
Henry Wiencek
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