Joel Walker, Sr was born in 1788 on Brier Creek in Burke County, GA.  The first born son of George Walker II and Betsy Walker. 

Joel served under Brigadier-General David Blackshear, an enslaver from Laurens County, GA, was a 4th corporal in the War of 1812. At 24 years old, Joel was living near his siblings in Pulaski County, GA. Joel Walker in the History of Pulaski County is often credited with expanding, clearing and building the roads from Hartford to Milledgeville. However, it can be inferred that the enslaved populations of the Walker family helped repair and build the roads from Hartford through to Milledgeville during his service in the War. As was common in those times to “hire” out the enslaved workers to the government for the building of roads, infrastructure and buildings. Today that road is called “Blackshear’s Road”. For further reading: http://dublinlaurenscountygeorgia.blogspot.com/2015/10/hartford-georgia.html

 These roads served as critical supply lifelines.  It demonstrates how important slave labor was to the foundation and success of this country and especially in the war efforts of a fledgling country.  Further research can be conducted to supplement documentation for the enslaved men who built and repaired these roads. 

Joel married Elizabeth “Betsy” Blackshear Bryan,niece of General David Blackshear, in 1814 in Houston County, GA.  They had 14 children, however only 6 outlived their parents.  The legacy of large land holding and enslavement continued through their progeny. 

Growing up in Longstreet on the banks of Shellstone Creek, Joel would have been surrounded by family, Uncles and Aunts all of which were enslavers.  There were several publications of the day that taught young children how to be the perfect “slave masters” and it is highly probable he was the overseer for his fathers’ enslaved population. It was considered a rite of passage and crucial stepping stone on the path to become a slave holder. Slave management was important from a profitability standpoint. Successful enslavers realized that caring for the quality of life of their workers returned greater on the investment than to be obscenely cruel and brutal. Although, no plantation management records have been located the enslaved were still considered chattel property.

From all accounts, Longstreet was it’s own self sustaining community.  The town had two churches, an academy, doctor, gins, a store and a post office.  Joel left the area shortly after his father passed away in 1830 and settled permanently in Houston County, Ga.

Houston County, Georgia with it’s black fertile soil was the home of the Georgia Peach. Considered the fruitful valley of Georgia, enslaved workers nurtured the land, grew and harvested everything from peas to cherries, pomegranates, Catawba grapes for wine, peaches, rye wheat, oats, sugar cane and of course cotton which received worldwide recognition.

  In the US Census of 1830 he is living in the Upper 11th district of Houston County with 24 enslaved people.  In 1840 he had 20 enslaved people.  It is difficult to know if he sold or deeded through his children’s marriages or if they had passed away.  By 1850, he had 54 enslaved people. In total, Joel Walker owned 50 enslaved people by the time of death in 1859.

While no plantation management records have been located for Joel Walker’s extensive holdings, his neighbor, friend and witness of his Will, Joseph Tooke kept meticulous records.  We can surmise that they had similar styles of management.  The article, Two Plantations and a County of Antebellum Georgia, gives us an insight into the management of these work camps.

www.jstor.org/stable/40575937

Flanders, Ralph B. “TWO PLANTATIONS AND A COUNTY OF ANTEBELLUM GEORGIA.” The Georgia Historical Quarterly, vol. 12, no. 1, 1928, pp. 1–37. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/40575937.

Looking at Joel Walker, Sr’s estate returns it appears the estate paid the enslaved men for such items as hay, coal, corn, fodder, baskets, collards and cotton.  This indicates a certain type of autonomy the enslaved population in their lives on the plantations of Joel Walker.  They could grow and sell their goods for profit back to the estate. 

His son Joel Thomas Walker was the executor on his estate and from the records managed it proficiently. Buying cloth, medicine and groceries for the enslaved population.