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OVERs:EERS

	The most ixriportant person in the disciplining of negro slaves was the overseer. However, he occupied an unfortunate position socially. He was not regarded as the equal of the owner‘ s family, and was not allowed to mix socially with t1he slaves.‘ His was a hard lOt, and consequently this position was generally filled by men of inferior grade. However, he was supposed to have an education ~o that he could handle the finances of the j~lantation accurately, and to be possessed of a good moral character in order to enforce the regulations. On most Georgia plantations overseers were given a house near the slave quarters. In some instances he lived in the house with the plantatic~. owner. The average pay for overseers was frO~I three to five hundred dollars a year.

	Next in authority to the Overseer was the driver, who directed the work in the fields. Every morning the driver blew the horn or rang the plantation hell to summon slaves to their work. Next to him was sc~iie txu.sted slave, who carried the keys to th~ smokehouse and commissary, arid he1~ed to give out rations once a week.

	Many of the overseers were naturally cruel and inclined to treat the S1aVeS harshly. Often strict rules axid regulations had to be made to hold them in check. Overseers were generally made to sign these regulations on raceiving their appointments.

	In l84O‘th~ Southern Cultivator and ~tonthly Journal published the following rules of the plantation: