In 1802, there was a Black man who dared to hire himself out to masters of his own choosing. This was allowed by the widow of his former enslaver. The courts of Greensville County were not having it and took measures via court order to fine the mistress and to sell this certain Black Caesar…

{196}

Caesar a Negro Man slave the property of Sarah Powell (widow of Thomas Powell dec’d) during her life, having been taken up by the Sheriff and by Warrant from Alexander Madill Gent. committed to
Jail for being permitted to go at large and hire himself out and receive wages for his hire contrary to Law, was brought before the Court and sundry witnesses sworn and examined, and the Counsel for the said Sarah Powell he and in her justification offered~~
On consideration whereof it is the opinion of the Court here that the said Sarah Powell is guilty of a break of the Act of Assembly for prohibiting Negro Slaves going at large and hiring out themselves and that the said Caesar comes within the purview of the said Act- Therefore it is decreed and ordered that the Sheriff make public Sale of the said Slave to the highest bidder for ready money at the next Court during the life of the said Sarah Powell, on giving Twenty Days previous public notice at the Courthouse of such Sale, and after paying all legal Costs and charges pay the residue to the Justices of this County to be applied by them towards lessening the County levy according to Law.

Cls Clk. 3.85
Lfee. 250
——————
635.

GREENSVILLE COUNTY VIRGINIA
ORDER BOOK NO.3–PAGE 196
1799-1806

Let’s identify the parties and circumstances named in this court order—

CAESAR: A self-made man, industrious but enslaved, and so his bold agency was a dangerous ambition

SARAH POWELL: Sarah Robinson Powell, a daughter of William M. Robinson II (1730-1802) and Lucy Fox (1737-1801).

THOMAS POWELL: Husband of Sarah Powell, died before the February 1796 Greensville County Court Session, when his 5 Sept 1794 Last Will and Testament was proved.

ALEXANDER MADILL: Established the town of Hicks’ Ford in 1798 with 36 lots of his own land.

ACT OF ASSEMBLY: An 1801 amendment from a previous Virginia law, spurred by Gabriel Prosser’s Plan, which prevented enslaved persons from going about on their own and hiring themselves out.

PUBLIC SALE OF THE SAID SLAVE: Cesar was indeed sold, per the record…

Here is the 5 Sept 1794 Last Will and Testament of Thomas Powell:

319

In the Name of God Amen I Thomas Powell of Greensville County being old and weak knowing that it is appointed all men once to die do make publish and declare this to be my last Will & Testament—- in manner and form following (to wit) Imprimis I lend to my loving wife Sarah Powell during her life or widowhood all my Estate both real and personal for a sufficient support during the term aforesaid. Item I give and bequeath unto my daughter Sylvia Collier during her life or widowhood one negro girl named Beck and her increase to be possessed with at the death of my wife Sarah Powell and after the death or marriage of my daughter Sylvia Collier then the aforesaid negroe Beck and her increase to be equally divided among her surviving children to them and their heirs forever.—-Item I give + bequeath to my daughter Ann Vincent the profits arising from the hire of a negro fellow named Cesar from and after the death of my wife Sarah Powell to be at her own disposal. My will is that the negroe choose his master to whom he wishes to be hired year by year and at the decease of my daughter Ann Vincent my will is that he be sold and the money arising thereon be equally divided between the surviving children of my daughter Ann Vincent to them and their heirs forever. I likewise give to my daughter Ann Vincent one feather Bed and furniture to her and her heirs forever. Item I give and bequeath to my son William Powell after the death of my wife Sarah Powell the plantation~whereon I now live together with all my other Lands Entry + Surveys that I at this time possess to him and his heirs forever also I give and bequeath unto my son William Powell the following negroes (viz) Ben, Jenny and her two children Sam and Davy with their increase to him and his heirs forever. Item it is my will and desire that after

320 after the death of my wife that my negro man Ned be valued by three men chosen by the Court of Greensville for that purpose and my son William Powell have it in his power to take him at his—valuation or sell him at public sale and the money arising there from put to Interest which money with the interest I give and bequeath to my Grandson Dixon Cato and in case my grandson aforesaid shall die before he arrives to the age of twenty one years, then my will and desire is that the money aforesaid be equally divided between my Grandchildren Sally, Robert, Uriley,—Rolling, and William Cato. Also, I give to my Grandson Dixon—-Cato the value of one feather Bed and furniture and in case of his death as aforesaid to my surviving GrandChildren as aforesaid Item after the discharge of my just debts it is my will and desire that all my Estate not heretofore disposed of at the death of my wife be equally divided between my son William Powell, my daughter Ann Vincent, Sylvia Collier, and my Grandson Dixon Cato. It is my will and desire that my Estate be not appraised and I appoint my wife Sarah Powell and William Powell my only Executors to this my last Will and Testament revoking all others~heretofore made by me.Signed sealed and published this fifth Day of September One Thousand seven hundred and ninety four.
Signed sealed + Delivered}
in presence of us….
Braxton Robinson
Foster Cook Isham Powell

Thomas X Powell (T.P.)

At Greensville County Court February 1796, This Will was proved according to Law by the oaths of the witnesses thereto and ordered to be recorded. And on the motion of the Executors there-in named who made oath thereto and together with William—Robinson junr. and William Lanier their Securities entered into and acknowledged their Bond in the penalty of Three Thousand Dollars conditioned as the Law directs. Certificate was ~ granted them for obtaining a probate thereof in due form.
Teste. P. Pelham CT.Cur.

Taking all of the presented facts for what we can, and understanding that there are circumstances and details that are lost to time, it seems that both Sarah Powell and Cesar were made examples of because of the new 1801 law on the books. According to Thomas Powell’s own will and directives in 1794, he was aware of and wanted Cesar to hire himself out to whomsoever he chose. Just so happens that Virginia was still reverberating after the 1800 freedom plans of Gabriel Prosser were exposed and excoriated.

No doubt, this was to send a strong message to slavers and enslaved alike that the “leniency” of the past was over. There would be strict measures taken to prevent any repeat of Gabriel’s mess.

Little did Virginia know that eight days before they executed Gabriel, who aspired to be king, a certain male child was born in Southampton County and he would venture about preaching to his people until he became a general.

So far, Cesar’s ultimate fate is a mystery. Was he sold to someone locally or did he get sent down river? What ever may have happened to Cesar, I hope that he was able to hold his head high, in the midst of degradation, and remember just who he was.

Patrician? No

Slave? No

In spite of chance and circumstance, he was a man, Black Caesar, and we remember his name.

We have a situation. We need to find our people.

The Genealogy Situation Room