While discussing the Erie Canal on the VA HIST list (Virginia) it was
commented that a lot of Irish died while building the canal and that if
they had been slaves they would have been taken better care of.
Since the canal was built through regions that had pretty much given up the
slaves by the time of its conception, and any Irish or foreign-born
laborers would have been brought into the work areas

My question is:  Were there any blacks who worked on the canal in the
initial construction or during any subsiquent enlargements?  and if so
(very likely) were they treated differently than the other laborers?

Dan Weiskotten
(formerly of Cazenovia, NY, now of Richmond, VA)

   ________________________________________________
                                       Don't forget to check out
DAN WEISKOTTEN'S HISTORY AND ARCHAEOLOGY HOME PAGE at:
                  http://www.erols.com/weiskotten/weiskotten.html


      Since I'm STILL desperate for work in the Richmond/Penninsula area,
 take a look at my resume at http://www.erols.com/weiskotten/resume.html
 or my more detailed CV at http://www.erols.com/weiskotten/dansvita.html

                     also note that I have a new e-mail address:
                                   [log in to unmask]