Definition Nathaniel B. Early (c. 1775 – 1836) was a Virginian planter and a member of the prominent Early family of Franklin County, Virginia, best known as the uncle of Confederate General Jubal Anderson Early.
Overview Nathaniel B. Early was born around 1775, one of the children of Jubal Early Sr. and Mary "Molly" Bell. His family was a significant landowning and planter family in Franklin County, Virginia, and held a prominent position in local society. Nathaniel B. Early himself continued the family tradition as a planter, operating agricultural estates in the region. His life was largely spent in Franklin County, participating in the economic and social structures of antebellum Virginia, which included the institution of slavery. He died in 1836, preceding the American Civil War, in which his nephew, Jubal Anderson Early, would become a well-known Confederate general.
Etymology/Origin The name "Early" is a surname of English origin. The "B." in his name is often identified in genealogical records as standing for "Bassett," linking him to other prominent families in Virginia. His family established roots in Virginia during the colonial period, becoming one of the state's notable planter families.
Characteristics Nathaniel B. Early's life was typical of a landed gentry or planter class individual in early 19th-century Virginia. Key characteristics include:
- Planter Status: He managed agricultural operations, likely cultivating cash crops such as tobacco, and relied on enslaved labor, which was a fundamental aspect of the Southern economy at the time.
- Geographical Concentration: His life and activities were centered in Franklin County, Virginia, a region with deep ties to agricultural production and the slave economy.
- Family Connections: His primary recognition in historical and genealogical contexts stems from his membership in the Early family, particularly his direct relation as the uncle of General Jubal A. Early.
Related Topics
- Early Family of Virginia: The broader lineage of Nathaniel B. Early, which played a notable role in Virginia's history, especially in the antebellum and Civil War periods.
- Jubal Anderson Early: His nephew, who achieved national recognition as a Confederate general during the American Civil War.
- Franklin County, Virginia: The specific geographical area where Nathaniel B. Early lived and operated his plantations, a region rich in agricultural and Civil War history.
- Antebellum Southern Economy: The economic system of the Southern United States before the Civil War, characterized by plantation agriculture and the institution of slavery, in which Nathaniel B. Early was an active participant.