A skilled work force made the Monticello plantation run. At various times Jefferson hired gardeners, a brewer, masons, smiths, joiners, carriage builders, charcoal burners, and weavers to teach their trades to enslaved men and women. From the age of ten, boys began work in a nail-making shop. Girls started work in a textile shop. Based on their performances, at age 16 they would learn a trade or go to work in the fields.
Skilled labor at Monticello
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Constructing the Elliptical Arch in Monticello's Library
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The Technology of the Textile Workshop
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How Many Nails Could an Enslaved Boy at Monticello Make in One Day?
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A Job for the Trusted - The Art of Making Charcoal