Sep 20, 2017 Orange County Review
At the African American Genealogical Conference this past weekend at the Library of Virginia (LVA), I came upon a remarkable resource: Virginia Untold: The African American Narrative. This is an ongoing project and can be reviewed at this site http://www.virginiamemory.com/collections/aan/. They are also looking for those with material to contribute.
Once I returned home, I logged on and began to pore through the online information, searching specifically for Orange. What I found was astounding! The connections we may be able to make in the future because of the findings could be life-altering for some. As of yet, all the data is not in, but I could not wait to share what I have thus far.
In 1853, the Commonwealth of Virginia authorized the Colonization Board of Virginia and “appropriations were made to help fund the voluntary transportation and removal of free blacks to Liberia or elsewhere in West Africa through the efforts of the Virginia branch of the American Colonization Society.” An interesting note is stated in the description on the LVA website: “An annual tax was levied on free black males between the ages of 21-55 to help finance the operations of the board…”
The document found on the website was entitled Journal of Proceedings of the Colonization Board of Virginia 1853-1858. Among other data, the journal included rules and regulations, minutes and most importantly, the names of those free blacks who were transported to Liberia, the date they left, their former owner, the name of the ship and the date it sailed. It is nothing short of fascinating information! But it raises all kinds of questions yet to be explored.
Did those who left desire to go or were they mandated to leave? Did they leave family members most likely on other properties? Did they remain in Liberia or return after Emancipation?
Since we have the name of the former owner, to tell the complete story her history requires investigation as well. Now let me deliver a bit of shock and awe: the actual names of those who were likely born in Orange, Va. and certainly were living in the area until their departure.
As noted in the journal – it can be searched by name- and Elizabeth Gordon of Orange manumitted her slaves by will upon her death in November 1852 with the requirement that they be sent to Liberia.
The 1853 journal reports that the following individuals formerly owned by Elizabeth Gordon and leaving from Orange, Va. set sail for Liberia on April 29, 1853, on a ship named Banshee:
Grace Gordon, 53
Milly Gordon, 31 (children Beverly Gordon, 10; Saywood Gordon, 5)
Maria Gordon, 33 (Children Harriet, 14; Margaret, 12; Martha, 10; George, 7;Nancy, 5; Richard, 3)
Clara Gordon, 28 (children Isabella, 10; Walker, 5; Ann, 4; unnamed child possibly Philip, 1)
Isabella Gordon, 26 (child Jane, 3)
William Gordon, 24
Cyrus Gordon, 20
Wistar Gordon, 17
Jupiter Gordon, 14
Peter Gordon, 10
Martha Gordon, 62
Little Grace Gordon, 23
Louisa Gordon, 15
James Gordon, 12
Churchill Gordon, 17
Henry Gordon, 47
Lucy Gordon, 2
Mary Gordon, 1
Mary Jane Gordon, 5 months
Lucy Ann Gordon, 2 months
William Gordon, 1 month
George Gordon, 1
Edy Gordon, 50
The relationship between the younger children in the list not identified by a mother is not yet clear. However, it does appear that existing families that were owned by Elizabeth Gordon were not separated and all were sent with the surname Gordon. If there were family members owned by others and living on other plantations, there is no evidence that they also were sent to Liberia between 1853-1858.
The investigation will not end here, as I for one would like to know if there are living descendants in Liberia today whose ancestors were Orange County natives.
Until next week, be well.
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