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 > > To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe, please see the instructions > at http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-hist.html To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe, please see the instructions at http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-hist.html