Nealand O. Reeder was born on Oct. 10th 1836 to Matilda Reeder, known by her family as Tilla.
Its been thought that Nealand was a slave; however, all I have found has been evidence that he was in fact a free person of color. In this 1860 Charleston census. Nealand is 20 years old and his occupation is a carpenter. The fact that this mulato young man's name is even mentioned a year before the Civil War has even started, suggests that he is in fact at this time a fpc.
The Act of 1740F imposed a fine of E'100 upon any person teaching a slave to write. Neland was able to read! {some documents vary on this, however} And this would have been a desirable necessity, he'd needed to understand measurements and read diagrams. He would have been a very skilled carpenter considering he was living in the home of a famous master builder, Albert Elfe, Mr. Elfe may have been Nealand's Guardian . Mr. Elfe was the builder of the cupola that garnished the beautiful exchange building and many other well known buildings and homes, in the area. Did Nealand learn his skills as a carpenter under Elfe? Perhaps Nealand was an apprentice under Albert Elfe.
Nealand's family is living in Mr. Elfe's home, during the 1870 census, I imagine that Nealand would have had a great knowledge of American events at that time, he was in daily contact, and living in close quarters with a man that was part of the South Carolina Bank and I've found him (Elfe) mentioned in several reports, journals etc.: Journal of the House of Representatives of the State of S.C, Reports and Resolutions of S.C. to the General Assembly, United States Congressional Set Vol.1042 and numerous more.
Cupola: A dome, especially adorning a roof or ceiling.
Historic Exchange building in Charleston SC.
Having had researched several of the Elfe wills (probate records) I have yet to find Nealand, himself. I believe that Matilda, (his mother) was most likely pre-civil war, a slave (cook) in the Elfe home. More research needs to be done, in this area.
So many possibilities here~ Did a slaveholder emancipate him? Did a benevolent family member purchase his freedom? Was he born free or did Nealand earn his freedom thru the hiring out system, that was allowed, but being threatened in Charleston?
Hiring out, or hiring, referred to a system in which a hirer would temporarily lease a slave from an owner. In doing so, owners generated revenue from their slaves’ labor without having an investment in the actual work itself. Slaves were more likely to face weekly, monthly, or yearly hiring than being permanently sold (1). In some cases, owners would allow there slaves to hirer themselves out, in order to literally earn their Independence . A promising step towards freedom.
In 1860 officeholders had the Police Force of Charleston go to each known Free Person of Color's residence demanding to see papers (proof) on their status. It was a time of great uncertainty and imaginably, Nealand would have had, to have, been on his best behavior at all times. Keeping his papers close to him at all time or at least know where they could be found, and quickly.
This is an article from the Edgefield Advertiser, Wednesday, April 6 1859, South Carolina Newspaper: I hope this will shed some light on the difficulties that slaves and F.P.C. would have had to endure! I noticed a pattern of newspapers reiterating the same sentiments, However; not all Charleston newspapers, have survived over the years.
I feel it's important here, to insert some Information. "Colored Aristocracy" is referring to Free Persons of Color, born free or set free.
As you'll see in this article it's implying that a F.P.C, "lord it over other Negros" That's very dividing in nature and sets in the minds of slaveholder's a revolt~ish nature of the Free Persons of Color. Invoking Fear, among the whites!
As you'll see in this article it's implying that a F.P.C, "lord it over other Negros" That's very dividing in nature and sets in the minds of slaveholder's a revolt~ish nature of the Free Persons of Color. Invoking Fear, among the whites!
In the 1870 census Nealand, his wife Corinne, their daughters Cordelia and Florence, his mother Matilda and siblings are all living in the Elfe home.
I have been scoring thru records to find the Reeder connection. Sometimes slaves in one household or plantation would marry a slave or f.c.p. in another household.
In his last days he had spent as a widower, living at 9 Maverick St. Charleston SC., he died on Dec.13th 1914 at 6 a.m. His Doctor, Dr. B.S. Burnett assisted him from Dec.-7th to Dec.-11th. Nealand's burial was at the well known Centenary Church Cemetery in Charleston SC.( I'm in the process of obtaining the member records of the Methodist Church.)
The homes are very narrow, but very long!
This home my have been rented from Mr. Elfe
I plan on filling in a few facts about Nealand his family and the times they were diligently enduring. A Part 2, and possibly a Part 3, will be necessary.
I need to do some transferring of documents/files, that are on another computer.
Hopefully the documents I've ordered will be mail out to me very soon!
Please fill free to ask Q's, I'll try my best to answer them quickly!
Advertisement of a runaway: City Gazette July 11, 1805
" He [i.e., the runaway slave] is a tolerable good reader and writer; it is likely he will change his name, write himself a pass, and pass for a free man."
Charleston Courier
Nealand Reeder Photo~ From Harriett Taylor & Victoria Hickson
Nealand O. Reeder
Resources:
(1) The New University Lib. ~The Hiring-out System
(2) No Chariot Let Down, Michael P. Johnson & James L. Roark
