Hollis,
You have certainly hit on the Big Question about either the 1850 or 1860 Schedule 2 (Slave Inhabitants) - how do you tell if the person who is named in the first column, "Names of Slaves Owners", was in fact an owner, hirer, trustee, or something else? I will be discussing my thoughts on this topic in Part 7, But I hope to stimulate discussion from people with broader experience than mine.

Suffice it to say for now, that tax records can be a major help in resolving this ambiguity. By comparing whether a person paid taxes as a slaveowner (and on how many slaves) in the census year, you can sometimes make better educated guesses as to the actual relationship of the "Slave Owner" to the enslaved. Before relying on this approach, however, you must also know the tax laws of the state for the year you are researching - there was a period in Virginia history when the tax on a hired slave was usually paid by the hirer, not the owner.
--David