[Footnote 24:  Letter dated Jan. 22, 1787, in the Allason MS. mercantile books, Virginia State Library.]

Others were yet more expressive when they came to write their wills.  Thus[25] Howell Cobb of Houston County, Georgia, when framing his testament in 1817 which made his body-servant “to be what he is really deserving, a free man,” and gave an annuity along with virtual freedom to another slave, of an advanced age, said that the liberation of the rest of his slaves was prevented by a belief that the care of generous and humane masters would be much better for them than a state of freedom.  Accordingly he bequeathed these to his wife who he knew from her goodness of temper would treat them with unflagging kindness.  But should the widow remarry, thereby putting her property under the control of a stranger, the slaves and the plantation were at once to revert to the testator’s brother who was recommended to bequeath them in turn to his son Howell if he were deemed worthy of the trust.  “It is my most ardent desire that in whatsoever hands fortune may place said negroes,” the will enjoined, “that all the justice and indulgence may be shown them that is consistent with a state of slavery.  I flatter myself with the hope that none of my relations or connections will be so ungrateful to my memory as to treat or use them otherwise.”  Surely upon the death of such a master the slaves might, with even more than usual unction, raise their melodious refrain: 

[Footnote 25:  MS. copy in the possession of Mrs. A.S.  Erwin, Athens, Ga.  The nephew mentioned in the will was Howell Cobb of Confederate prominence.]

  Down in de cawn fiel’
  Hear dat mo’nful soun’;
  All de darkies am aweepin’,
  Massa’s in de col’, col’ ground.

CHAPTER XVII

PLANTATION TENDENCIES

Every typical settlement in English America was in its first phase a bit of the frontier.  Commerce was rudimentary, capital scant, and industry primitive.  Each family had to suffice itself in the main with its own direct produce.  No one could afford to specialize his calling, for the versatility of the individual was wellnigh a necessity of life.  This phase lasted only until some staple of export was found which permitted the rise of external trade.  Then the fruit of such energy as could be spared from the works of bodily sustenance was exchanged for the goods of the outer world; and finally in districts of special favor for staples, the bulk of the community became absorbed in the special industry and procured most of its consumption goods from without.