March 1797 payroll for overseers and laborers at the Capitol

"Samuel Smallwood, the overseer of slaves at the Capitol, began hiring out his own slaves to work by the month at the Capitol."

Quote from Slave Labor at the Capital, page 29

This is a copy of the top portion of a photocopy of a March 1797 payroll for overseers & laborers. It is one of the most difficult documents to interpret.

Unlike earlier payrolls, none of the hired slaves are listed with an "N" either before or after the name. Although many slaves had last names they were never used in the commissioners' records. We get an indication that a laborer is a slave if that man did not sign for his monthly wages. For example. John Dorin signed for his 3 pounds 2 shillings and 3 pence, almost $8. The overseer Samuel Smallwood signed for and evidently received the wages of Randolph Smallwood which suggests that Randolph was his slave. It is possible that Randolph was an apprentice but there are other references to Smallwood hiring out slaves and none to his hiring out apprentices.

Samuel Smallwood also signs for the wages of Peter Owen which suggests that Peter was the slave or apprentice of a man named Owen. He signs for 9 more laborers. The other overseer James Hollingshead signs for 6 evidently 4 were his own slaves.