A friend of mine inherited an archive of some 76 letters written by her
ancestor, Hopkins Nowlin, who was a slave trader.  Born in Pittsylvania
County, he eventually moved to Franklin County, VA where he became involved
in several business ventures.  The most profitable of these was as a slave
trader in partnership with his brother, Matthew Bates Nowlin.  Hopkins
traded throughout Virginia, North and South Carolina, Georgia, and Alabama
(especially Montgomery), sending short, chatty letters detailing his
progress to his brother Matthew in Campbell County.  These letters, which
date from 1837 to 1855, paint an amazing picture of what it was like to be
on the road with a slave coffle.  While mesmerizing, they are horrifying in
how nonchalant they are, commenting on his "good health" and asking after
his brother's family in one line and decribing the sale of a woman and three
children in the next; bragging that they were making "20-23 miles" a day.  A
few of the slaves were taken "on consignment," but most were purchased
outright by Hopkins (with Matthew's financial backing) and then resold.  The
partnership continued until Matthew Bates Nowlin's death in 1856; Hopkins
died the following year.

Last year the letters were transcribed by my friend and two other
descendants of Matthew Bates and Hopkins Nowlin, and the originals were
given to the VA Historical Society.  The transcriptions are being kept
privately within the family; I argued mightily with my friend to publish
them, but to no avail.  I hope the originals will someday be available to
researchers at the VHS, but I have no idea what the timetable for that may
be.  Knowing my interest, my friend kindly gave me a copy of the
transcription -- re Nancy's request that started this thread I searched for
the name Brown and found reference to a J. or I. S. Brown from whom Hopkins
purchased at least one slave girl; I believe, however, that this Brown was
in Franklin County.

Paul and Quan are correct, slave trading was a business conducted like any
other.  For research purposes one must keep an open mind and remain
emotionally detached; still, sometimes it's hard, even for an old researcher
like me.

    "Henry Courthouse.  June 24, 1845

    Brother Matthew
        . . . I have made a start for the South.  I have started with 10
Negroes.  I sold old Fanny to Mr. Bragles for $162.50 and swapped Lucinda
and her two youngest children to Lew Powell for a young woman and got $175
to boot and I sold the girl I brought from the south to William Powell for
$550.   . . . I left Lucinda's 2 oldest children at home and Morris Jackson
wrote to me and offers me $450 cash or $500 on time [for them].
 . . .  I left all well as I hope this will find you and family.

                                                    I am yours
                                                    Hopkins Nowlin"


Kathy Liston
Charlotte County, VA

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