Patrick Henry suggested that even though he knew better and was ashamed of the practice. He couldn't do away with the inconvenience of not having slaves, let alone the prosperity they prought him. When he died he owned over 100 slaves, suggesting to his widow she might free "one or two of them."

"Would any one believe that I am Master of Slaves of my own purchase! I am drawn along by ye. general inconvenience of living without them, I will not, I cannot justify it. However culpable my Conduct, I will so far pay my devoir to Virtue, as to own the excellence & rectitude of her Precepts, & to lament my want of conforming to them.–"