Major Butler's Legacy: Five Generations of a Slaveholding Family

by Malcolm Bell, Jr.

Traces the life of a Georgia plantation family, from slave-holding colonial times to the beginning of the twentieth century

Genres: History, Nonfiction

673 pages, Hardcover

First published July 1, 1987

Reviews

[Mauoijenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I live right down the road from Butler Plantation which is located in Darien, Ga. It was turned into a Nature Conserv area and is open 24/7/365. Enjoy fishing, bird watching and trails to walk through the area. Excellent history book and very informative of the Butler family.

[Sasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book for the depth and detail of research. One of my favorite parts is this scolding letter from a father to his son:
"Until you should have become of age, it was my duty as your father to direct your pursuits and to regulate your conduct, but believing your own will to be a safer guide than your father's experience, you set aside his authority. The result is that you left the United States having dishonor'd yourself and your family, and after arriving in France have continued to degrade yourself still more and to imprint a still deeper stain upon our names.

I have to wonder what he did to bring such dishonor!

[Manray9 · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you've read Fanny Kemble's journal, this is much the same story as told from the perspective of her husband and his family.