These are the stories of people who were enslaved in Arlington, Virginia. Read about their struggles and triumphs. Put yourselves in their shoes and explore how enslavement shaped their opportunities; journey with those who made the transition to freedom.
The stories below are special because enslavers rarely documented the lives of enslaved people. Due to limited information recorded in an enslavers’ wills, accounts, and inventories and in court records, newspapers, birth records, and more, MEA has been able to capture a faint outline of enslaved individuals’ lives.
- Horace Branson - Enslaved along Langston Boulevard, joined the Union Army (written by Heidi Fritschel)
- Julia Branson - The best cook in the neighborhood (written by Jessica Kaplan)
- Eliza - Kidnapped by her enslaver's nephew (written by Sue Eisenfeld)
- Jenny Farr and Family - Enacted revenge on her cruel enslaver (written by Heidi Fritschel)
- Ada Gray - Born at Arlington House, attended Howard University and became a teacher (written by Scarlett Bunting)
- Lucy Honesty - Enslaved along present-day Wilson Blvd., west of Glebe Road; freed at age 10 (written by Ann Ulmschneider)
- Lewis Howard - Filed his own petition for freedom once he moved to DC (written by Ann Ulmschneider)
- Margaret Smith Hyson - Remembered fondly by the granddaughter of her enslaver
- Jones Family - Enslaved and free in Green Valley (written by Heidi Fritschel)
- Julius B. - Helped raise John Parke Custis (written by Scarlett Bunting)
- Philip Lee - Attempted to save his wife and children from being sold to the Deep South (written by Ann Ulmschneider)
- John Ringold - Enslaved near the Cinema and Draft House, freed in DC (written by Sue Eisenfeld)
- Daphne Paine - Fled Enslavement on The Pearl but was Captured (Written by Scarlet Bunting)
- Samuel Smith - Enslaved near Yorktown High School and given land there when freed (written by Jessica Kaplan)
- Wesley Snowden - An excellent "ostler" (a groom or stableman) (written by Heidi Fritschel)
- Henry Speaks - Owned by four enslavers, including at the site of St. Ann's Catholic Church (written by Sue Eisenfeld)
- Sandy Watts - A good duck hunter enslaved by the Hunter family (written by Heidi Fritschel)
- Esther - Owned by three generations of enslavers and eventually freed (written by Sue Eisenfeld)
- Charlotte A. Hyson - Her father was a free man but Charlotte and her mother remained enslaved (written by Scarlett Bunting)
- Louisa and Elizabeth - From Washington City to Arlington (by Terry Walz)
- Julia Roberts - Won her Suit for Freedom (written by Zachary Newark)