Plantation Organization

McCrady:

Households were organized on the English model, except in so far as it was modified by the institution of slavery, which modification was chiefly in the number of servants. In every well-organized planter's household there were three high positions, the objects of ambition of all the negroes on the plantation. These were the butler, the coachman, and the patroon. The butler was chief of all about the mansion ; usually the oldest negro man-servant on the premises, his head was often white, the contrast of which with his dark skin was striking, and added much to the dignity which it was always his care and pride to maintain. His manner was founded upon that of the best of the society in which his master moved, and with all he possessed much greater ease than is usual in a white man occupying the same position. He became an authority upon matters of table etiquette, and was quick to detect the slightest breach of it. He considered it a part of his duty to advise and lecture the young people of the family upon the subject. He often had entire charge of the pantry and storeroom keys, and was usually faithful to his trust. He was somewhat of a judge, too, of the cellar ; but there are stories which indicate that it was scarcely safe to allow him free access to its contents. The coachman, to the boys of the family at least, was scarcely less a character than the butler. He had entire charge of the stable, and took the utmost pride in the horsemanship of his young masters, to whom he had given the first lessons in riding. The butler might be the greatest man at home; but he had never the glory of driving the family coach and four down the great " Path " to town and through its street.

The oldest plantations were upon the rivers ; a water front, indeed, and a land ing were essential to such an establishment, for it must have the periago for plantation purposes, and the trim sloop and large cypress canoes for the master's use. So beside the master of the horse — the coachman — there was a naval officer, too, to each planter's household, and he was the patroon — a name no doubt brought from the West Indies. The patroon had charge of the boats, and the winding of his horn upon the river told the family of his master's coming. He, too, trained the boat hands to the oar and taught them the plaintive, humorous, happy catches which they sang as they bent to the stroke, and for which the mother of the family often strained her ears to catch the first sound which told of the safe return of her dear ones. Each of these head servants had his under lings, over whom he lorded it in imitation of his master. The house was full, too, of maids and seamstresses of all kinds, who kept the mistress busy, if only to find employ ment for so many hands.

Outside of the household the "driver" was the great man. Under his master's rule, he was absolute. He was too great a man to work him self, and if his master was anybody — that is, if the plan tation was of a respectable size, with a decent number of hands — he must have a horse to ride, for how else could he oversee all his people ? The " driver " was the executive officer. He received his orders from his master, and he carried them out. He did all the punishing. When punishment was necessary, he inflicted it under his master's orders. He was responsible for the administration of the plantation. 

A plantation was a community in itself. It had its necessary artisans. There must be carpenters, blacksmiths, coopers, tailors, and shoemakers, for there were no ready-made clothes and shoes in those days. Then there was a hospital for the sick, and a house for the children while the mothers were at work. All these required thorough organization and complete system. There were no doubt many and great evils inseparable from the institution of slavery, but these were reduced to a minimum . . .