HATCHER website: http://hatcherfamilyassn.com
HALL DNA project: http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~nhatcher/hall/HDNAtest.htm
"If you can't stand the skeletons, stay out of the closet" - Val D Greenwood

I have been working on a particular research problem for a while that involves an 1830 census showing William Hatcher, 20-30 (probably closer to 30 based on kid's ages) and recorded with 43 slaves.

This is very perplexing to me since, if he is who I believe he is, it raises the question - where/how did he come into possession of so many slaves at such a relatively young age? 

Now I am wondering if he actually owned these slaves. My question is this - could he have been an overseer living on land he did not own but owned by an absentee land/slave owner? Would ownership of the land have been a concern to the census taker whose only responsibility was to record all persons living on that particular property?

Would appreciate any thoughts on this.

Thanks!
Nel Hatcher

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