What were the people who managed the slaves called?

Question

In the 19th century, before slavery was made illegal in America, what were the different people who handled the slaves called? I realize people who bought and sold slaves were called slavers but I assume there were specific words for people who punished slaves, who kept them in line and so forth. I really mostly interested in some sort of system of ranks.

Answer 1

On plantations, the day to day management was down to two classes of people: overseers and drivers. The overseer was generally the top man on the plantation, except for the master. The overseer was responsible for the day to day management of production on the plantation. Drivers, who were sometimes free men and sometimes slaves, worked below the overseer. They occupied a position sort of like a shift supervisor in a modern company in gthat they were the ones who did the actual monitoring of the labor of groups of slaves and doing things like making sure they kept the right pace. Punishment might be meted out by either of these occupations, although serious punishment for major infractions was generally authorized by either the overseer or the master.



Overseers and drivers, who tended to be less wealthy white men, often had an unsavory reputation as a class, among both masters and slaves. Since overseers were generally the ones who punished them on a day to day basis, slaves sometimes blamed them, more than the master, for the violence they suffered. They also sometimes felt, with some justification, that overseers were more willing to inflict violence than masters who had an interest in preserving the capital investment they had in slaves.

Answer 2

Overseers

Answer 3

The Plantation owner usually didn't do the dirty work like corporal punishment or personally managing the dozens or hundreds of slaves on the plantation. He hired Overseers to manage the slaves. Overseers were all different some extremely brutal some fair in treatment. All were hired to manage the slaves everyday life ranging from their work to where they slept and ate.

Answer 4

Bossman

Answer 5

overseer

Answer 6

Not sure, they're just their owners i guess, don't stew too much over the term



I was just revising this, and what i can tell you is a slang term for the southern white racists was Dixiecrats lol

Answer 7

An overseer.

Answer 8

Slaves were owned. THe owners employed slave managers.They were called something else by the slaves.

Answer 9

HNIC, was probably the lowest of the overlords. Head ***** In Charge. Overseers would be next up the chain.

Answer 10

Overseers.

Answer 11

They were called Owners!