From Enslavement to Freedom

From Enslavement to Freedom. African American Life at Travellers Rest. Interpreting the experiences of enslaved and emancipated individuals and honoring their accomplishments is vital to understanding the history of their time and place in the social and physical landscape of the Overton property during the 19th century and the communal ties to their descendants today., In addition to owning land, John Overton also owned enslaved individuals - men, women, and children who were the workforce behind his agricultural pursuits of tilling the land for cash crops and providing food for all the residents of Travellers Rest. Mary, a widow who became Overton's wife in 1820, brought not only her children from that marriage, but enslaved individuals purchased from her first husband's estate by Overton., Daily life of the enslaved individuals varied according to either their sex or the type of work they were required to perform, such as a house servant, a field worker, or a skilled laborer. Receipts and letters indicate several enslaved and free Blacks worked together constructing the historic structures still surviving today. Other enslaved individuals learned skilled trades, such as blacksmithing and weaving., A memorandum written by Overton indicates in 1821 Matilda, an enslaved woman, was hired out to one Joseph Wright to work as a weaver. The agreement stated that as payment for Matilda's work Overton would receive $22 in weaving. Wright would provide Matilda clothing by "... furnishing her with two full suits of clothes suitable to the season," and she would be taught how to weave "plain coverlets." At the end of her service, Wright would provide Overton with a loom for Matilda of the kind to which she was accustomed., Overton's death inventory records his assets by first listing his books, household furnishings, horses, mules, cattle, and lastly 53 enslaved human beings listed by name and age. Within their bondage they also began families. Although the Emancipation Proclamation was issued in 1863, it was not until October 24, 1864, when military governor Andrew Johnson finally proclaimed all enslaved men, women, and children were free in Tennessee., It was then that those who lived to see the end of enslavement made the transition to freedom and citizenship and went searching for relatives. Such a search brought Claiborne Hines from Virginia to Tennessee looking for Frank, his twin brother from whom he had been separated when Claiborne was sold to a family in Virginia. Overton family oral tradition relates that Frank was driving the Overton carriage when he saw Claiborne on the streets of Nashville. Harriet Overton, wife of Colonel John Overton, invited him to come home with the family and told him that her husband would find work for him. Claiborne operated a dairy business delivering goods along Franklin Pike and to the Maxwell House, a downtown hotel operated by Overton. He lived at Travellers Rest until the time of his death at the age of 79. His funeral was conducted in the Overton home., Captions , Below: Barn Loom, four harness counterbalance, c. 1830-1862, elm and poplar hamess rig and frame. Ashland City, TN origin, Travellers Rest Collection , Source: Travellers Rest Collection and Archive, TN State Library and Archives , Claiborne Hines with dairy cart c. 1897 Travellers Rest Photo Collection