Jefferson Finis Davis  "Slave Owner"  June 3, 1808 - December 6, 1889

Jefferson Davis first began working the land in Davis Bend, Miss., in the summer of 1835. He and James Pemberton, his faithful servant since his youth, stayed in a cabin on the property while they cleared the land. Pemberton and Davis shared a deep bond and were devoted friends, treating each other with the utmost politeness; whenever Davis left his plantation, he always gave Pemberton a cigar.

Joseph Davis lent his brother the money to buy ten slaves to help develop his plantation. The slaves on Brierfield were well provided for. They had comfortable cabins, were allowed all the food they wanted, and were well clothed. The slaves were given their own chickens, making it possible for them to earn profits by selling eggs or chickens elsewhere. When slaves were sick, Davis sent for his own doctor to minister to their needs.

By 1849 Davis's slave population had grown to 72. One of them later recalled, "we had good grub and good clothes and nobody worked hard. Dem Davis's never would let nobody touch of their niggers." The slave children loved Davis; upon returning from trips, he often brought them gifts.

Davis treated all his slaves with paternal respect and consideration, but he showed his trust in Pemberton by having him act as overseer to the other slaves. Slave problems were dealt with in-house by a slave court in which Davis's slaves made up the jury and decided the punishments. If a slave were sentenced to be whipped, Davis stepped in and commuted the sentence to extra labor or a warning.

In 1852 Davis's beloved Pemberton died, and Davis hired a series of white overseers to succeed him. Disliking the way they treated his slaves, Davis fired many of them; as a result, his plantation was ill run and suffered financial losses. Other losses were to come: during the Civil War some of Davis's slaves robbed his home and ran away, and one slave led Yankees to a home where Davis's personal belongings were hidden.

Fascinating Fact:  Of blacks, Davis said liberty "would be their greatest curse." He said no friend of the blacks would "hasten upon them responsibilities for which they have shown themselves so unequal."


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