If there's livestock involved it probably means herding work, the crook being the old name for the tool shepherds use. As far as I know using slave labor for herding is unusual and although I've been to St.Croix I never heard of it happening there, but still that seems like the most likely explanation. I do know it was (and still is, some places) common to use children for herding. -----Original Message----- From: Dante Beretta <dberetta@meltel.net> To: caribbean@rootsweb.com Sent: Tue, Apr 6, 2010 11:39 pm Subject: [Carib] Slavery- Crook boys and girls I'm reviewing an 1837 inventory for a plantation on the island of St. Croix, anish West Indies (now U.S. Virgin Islands). The slaves are categorized as to heir different jobs. Most of the boys and girls between age 7 and 11 are on he 'Grass Gang' which I understand to be supplying grass/forage to the ivestock. Between age 12 and 17, most of the boys and girls are listed as Crook Boy' or 'Crook Girl'. I can't find this term anywhere, but I assume it as outside work preparing one for field work which was the work of the majority f the adult slaves. Does anyone have a clearer idea of what the term 'Crook oy' entailed when it came to life on the estates? Dante *************************** he Caribbean List now has a Resources Page at Historic Antigua and Barbuda ttp://www.rootsweb.com/~atgwgw/ ------------------------------ o unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to CARIBBEAN-request@rootsweb.com ith the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of he message