Page 248

“Tom and Pharoah notified their master…”

Schwarz, P. J. (2012). Gabriel's Conspiracy: A Documentary History. Charlottesville: University of Virginia Press, pp. 219-20.

“A sweep found little…”

Nicholls, Michael L. (2012). Whispers of Rebellion. University of Virginia Press, p. 59.

“But two house slaves, both women…”

Nicholls, Michael L. (2012). Whispers of Rebellion. University of Virginia Press, p. 44.

“…roundups of conspirators began…”

Nicholls, Michael L. (2012). Whispers of Rebellion. University of Virginia Press, p. 60.

“Men were lynched…”

Nicholls, Michael L. (2012). Whispers of Rebellion. University of Virginia Press, pp. 141, 100.

Schwarz, P. J. (2012). Gabriel's Conspiracy: A Documentary History. Charlottesville: University of Virginia Press, p. xv, ft.

“…in full view of women.”

Schwarz, P. J. (2012). Gabriel's Conspiracy: A Documentary History. Charlottesville: University of Virginia Press, p. 81.

“Twenty-six men…”

Nicholls, Michael L. (2012). Whispers of Rebellion. University of Virginia Press, p. 117.

“…dropped from carts…”

Schwarz, P. J. (2012). Gabriel's Conspiracy: A Documentary History. Charlottesville: University of Virginia Press, p. xv.

“…trials that were held in Bowling Green…”

The timing of Gabriel’s Rebellion is very problematic in terms of determining where, exactly, the trials in Bowling Green were held. The original owner of Old Mansion had donated land for a new courthouse in town, after the decision had been made to move the county seat to Bowling Green. This was sometime before Gabriel’s Rebellion. But the courthouse was not completed until several years after the rebellion—though records make it clear that trials were held in Bowling Green. The difficulty is compounded by the fact that “Bowling Green,” up until the time of the new courthouse, tended to refer to the home itself, subsequently called “Old Mansion.” I engaged in extensive correspondence on this point with Mick Nicholls, author of Whispers of Rebellion, and Steve Nicklin, a former owner of Old Mansion—I’m deeply indebted to both. However, the records are not entirely clear as to whether the tavern served as a temporary courthouse, or the basement of Old Mansion. I opted to suggest that it was both, in part because it’s not entirely clear that Old Mansion was at this time being occupied as a home.

“The same Colonel Hoomes…”

Schwarz, P. J. (2012). Gabriel's Conspiracy: A Documentary History. Charlottesville: University of Virginia Press, p. 174-75.

“…brought to Old Mansion…”

Schwarz, P. J. (2012). Gabriel's Conspiracy: A Documentary History. Charlottesville: University of Virginia Press, p. 176.

“…denied he was their relative.”

Although Ben Woolfolk shared a name with the Maurys’ immediate neighbors at Old Mansion, I found no evidence that he had ever belonged to the Woolfolks or was in any way related to anyone enslaved there.

“Ben was spared the noose…”

Nicholls, Michael L. (2012). Whispers of Rebellion. University of Virginia Press, p. 25, 143.

“…sixty dollars per month…”

Nicholls, Michael L. (2012). Whispers of Rebellion. University of Virginia Press, p. 144.

“…cost too much money.”

The uncertainty here reflects the fact that the records don’t make it clear why the enslaved men condemned at Bowling Green—some time after the rest of the trials—were not hanged. It is the case that the state was required to compensate slave owners whose slaves were executed, so it seems likely that the state would have sold the men south to try to recoup the loses they had already incurred.

Nicholls, Michael L. (2012). Whispers of Rebellion. University of Virginia Press, p. 117.

“…sold to Richmond traders.”

Nicholls, Michael L. (2012). Whispers of Rebellion. University of Virginia Press, p. 117.

“…sang songs about General Gabriel.”

Sidbury, J. (1997). Ploughshares into swords: Race, rebellion, and identity in Gabriel's Virginia. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, p. 10.

“…betrayed Gabriel’s army.”

See “But two house slaves, both women…,” above.