A fascinating discovery. You write that the slaves were paid for
overtime and that "They used their extra funds to purchase small
luxury items such as sugar, coffee, tobacco, shoes, trousers, coats,
cloth, or household items." I would not characterize these as luxury
items but as necessities.  Supposedly the owner was responsible for
providing adequate clothing for his slaves, and he didn't.  He passed
that expense onto the slaves, knowing that they would use their
"extra" time to obtain necessities. A marvelous system.

Henry Wiencek
Charlottesville

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