Nancy West was born enslaved almost a decade before Thomas Jefferson penned the Declaration of Independence. She was freed in the late 18th Century and eventually began purchasing real estate in Albemarle County in 1799. By 1850, she owned property that was valued at $7,000. At that time, she was the wealthiest non-white person in the county and was one of the richest free black women in the South.
West is one example of a free Black Virginian who was succeeding and achieving, according to Sean Redmiles, the programs coordinator, for the Office of Historic Resources in the City of Fairfax.
“She faced many, many challenges and restrictions to her freedom that her white counterparts did not. For instance, she had to carry a document with her … at all times to prove her freedom,” added Redmiles. “If at any time she didn’t have that paperwork with her, she was at risk to be taken by really anybody, and potentially re-enslaved if she couldn’t prove that she was a free person.”
West’s story is one of many that highlight the precarious nature of free Black individuals living in Virginia between 1619, when the first enslaved individuals landed near present-day Hampton Roads, and 1865, when the Civil War ended.
It is one of the stories highlighted in “Un/Bound Free Black Virginians, 1619-1865,” a traveling exhibit from the Virginia Museum of History and Culture, currently at the Fairfax Museum and Visitor Center. Redmiles has been busy over the past few months searching for local stories to add a regional flavor to the exhibit.
“There are just so many different points that are important to the history of Virginia, but also important to the history of the country. The way that free Black Virginians experienced life and the way that enslavement changed over the years,” said Redmiles. “It goes into great detail about the specific restrictions that were put in place.”
According to Redmiles, it was illegal for anyone who was Black to learn to read. They could not serve on juries or testify against a white person in court.
“If you were a free Black person who was bringing a suit to court, you couldn’t. There were restrictions on what you could say in court and what you could do. And you often had to have a white individual speak for you in order for your pursuit to move forward,” said Redmiles. “Even then, with prejudiced juries, it was unlikely that you would get the ruling that you were looking for. Then, of course, on top of that, free black people regularly had to prove that they were free…