Slavery in Alexandria | Slave Pen | Slave Woman's Home
Until the end of the 18th century, virtually all African Americans living within the current boundaries of Alexandria were slaves. By 1860, the black population was half free and half slave due to the influx of free blacks from rural areas. Alexandria slaves also purchased their own freedom or were freed by whites for personal or moral reasons.
Enslaved blacks worked in many Alexandria businesses including potteries, sugar refineries and shipyards. They also provided service in homes and taverns. Some worked for their owners, and others hired out. Most slaves lived in their owners' homes or outbuildings; others lived at their place of employment or in independent households with free blacks.
Alexandria also had a transient population of enslaved African Americans, purchased at auction. By the 19th century slave traders established businesses here. Hundreds of slaves were purchased and then transported to New Orleans for sale.
Slaves can be credited for helping to shape much of Alexandria. They graded the bluff overlooking the Potomac River, built roads and wharves to expand Alexandria's trade, and constructed brick and frame houses which can still be seen today.
One of the most infamous slave trading establishments of the 19th century was situated in Alexandria at 1315 Duke Street. The business was established in 1828, and by 1835 commanded nearly half of the slave trade by sea between New Orleans and Virginia/Maryland. The building still stands, although the two walled side yards, kitchen and stables are no longer preserved. The main building served as the office area, and there is some evidence that slaves may have slept in the basement.
The site was investigated archaeologically by a consulting firm, Engineering Science, prior to development. The basement of the main building and a portion of the east yard (women's area), as well as the west yard (men's area) at 1317 Duke Street were excavated. Archaeologists uncovered structural remains relating to the whitewashed brick wall surrounding the men's yard and a line of post holes for posts which once supported a shed roof. Some of the artifacts relate to the slave pen, while others were discarded at the site by soldiers held there during the Civil War when the building was used as a jail.
One of the most important discoveries in African American archaeology in Alexandria was made in 1978. A brick shaft excavated at 112-114 South St. Asaph Street contained artifacts which were discarded in the 1850s. The artifacts relate to the household of a domestic slave, Harriet Williams, who lived there from 1849 until at least 1855. Harriet's owner, Samuel Lindsay, lived just three doors away, and excavations were also conducted in his brick privy shaft.
The Williams' shaft had an unusually large number of serving vessels and a variety of unmatched transfer printed ceramics, rather than the matched sets of dishes from Lindsay's privy and other white merchant sites. Many objects were discarded after being used for many years, while those from Lindsay's privy were used for a shorter period of time. Many of the Williams artifacts were of high quality, and indicate access to more expensive goods than have been found on free black sites just a few blocks away.
Chinese coin, Ch’ing Dynasty, Emperor Ch’ien-lung, 1736-1795.
This coin may have been worn as adornment, or may have decorated a sewing basket.
It may have been brought to the site by a slave, or by a Civil War soldier.
Canton fruit basket, Chinese Export Porcelain, ca. 1800-1830.
This fruit basket was pieced together from 151 potsherds.
