The Friends of Freedmen's Cemetery

Alexandria County Register of Free Negroes, 1858
From the Library of Virginia, courtesy of Wesley E. Pippenger and transcribed by Tim Dennee.

Alexandria County, retroceded from the District of Columbia in 1846, included all of what was then the town of Alexandria plus the territory that is now Arlington County (and the land in between, which was annexed by the City of Alexandria from Arlington County in 1930). Alexandria was by far the most densely populated part of the county, so most individuals below would have been found in the town.

Most of these names are likely also listed in Dorothy Provine’s transcription of Alexandria County free negro registers (published by Heritage Books, Bowie, Maryland). This source, however, is a snapshot of one moment in time, presumably covering all free blacks in the county (except that children seem under-represented). The document also lists ages and occupations. The names are in rough alphabetical order by first letter of the surname. They have generally been left in their original order, because some groupings are suggestive of possible family relationships. The original spellings have been retained also.

* indicates a missing or illegible numeral; e.g., 7* means seventy "something" years old.

Ashton, Lucy, 45

Ashton, Isabella, 18

Ashton, Fenton, 16

Adams, Adolphus, 30

Addison, Frederic, 48, caulker

Anderson, Thomas, 40

Asher, Sydney, 50, washing

Allen, James, 38, carpenter

Butler, Mary, 22

Bruce, Robert, 46, porter

Ball, Mary, 30

Ball, William, 65

Bell, Margeret, 35

Bell, Mary, 20

Burke, Sarah, 25

Burke, Dulany, 35

Bell, Rosalie, 15

Brooks, George, 75

Brooks, Fred, 35

Bowden, Alexander, 29, cooper

Bowden, Martha, 18

Bowden, Virginia, 15

Bowden, Rebecca, 14

Bowden, Amanda, 20

Bowden, Reverdy, 27, cartman

Bowden, Addison, 25, cartman

Bronson, Henry, 40

Bronson, Malinda, 25

Burbon, Dennis, 40

Burbon, Rachal, 22

Bell, Mary, 7*

Blackburn, Harrison, 4*

Blackburn, Amelia, 22

Blackburn, James, 28

Blackburn, Winnie, 22

Blackburn, Helen, 25

Bumry, Meria, 37

Bumry, Mary, 16

Bradshaw, Hepsy, 40

Bradshaw, Henry, 40

Bradshaw, J.T., 12

Berry, Betsey, 57

Berry, Richard, 60

Berry, Cristiana, 19

Berry, Patsey, 55

Brown, Dysey, 50

Butler, Flora of Fannie, 48 ([in the] "county")

Braddock, Robert, 40, carpenter

Braddock, Mary, 35

Bumry, Richard, 30, stevedore

Brown, Alexus, 40

Brawner, James, 30

Berry, George, 34

Berry, William, 25

Berry, Mary, 70

Beckly, Edgar, 20, waiter

Beckly, Rozier, 25, brickmaker

Beckly, Amos, 24, brickmaker

Beckly, William, 52, wire worker

Bruce, Charles, 45, baker

Bruce, Rachal, 39

Bell, Jacob, 50, wood sawyer

Butler, Andrew, 28

Butler, Thomas, 45

Butler, Nathaniel, 40

Brown, Daniel, 41

Berry, James, 25, porter and clerk

Berry Ann, 31

Burwell, James, 25

Bond, James, 60

Brooks, Henry, 50, whitewasher

Brooks, Eliza, 35

Bryan, George, 30

Brown, Meria, 25

Burke, John

Branan, Samuel, brickmaker

Branan, Lorenze

Crump, Milly, 55

Chase, Betsey, 90

Caval, Precilla, 15

Cole, Jesse, 40

Cole, Mary Ann, 13

Cole, Charlotte, 37

Chase, Henry, 38

Campbell, John, 60

Cryer, John, 30

Cryer, Sarah, 20

Credit, John, 30

Collins, Armstead, 17

Collins, Sarah Ann, 50

Collins, Anna, 26

Collins, Margerett, 15

Campbell, Jesse, 45

Carmikle, William, 60

Carmikle, Mary, 50

Carmikle, Emely, 28

Cole, Thomas, 60

Cole, Jane, 60

Cyphax, Louis, 24

Cyphax, Martha, 18

Cyphax, Meria, 20

Cyphax, Eliza, 24, servant

Chase, George, 35, baker

Chase, Jane, 65

Carmicle, Daniel, 40, clerk

Conway, Gilbert, 30, cook shop

Carrol, Jesse, 40, laborer

Cupid, Robert, 25, porter

Cupid, Emanuel, 45, porter

Claggett, William, 26, plasterer

Curtis, Elijah, 40

Carter, James, 42, baker

Carter, Adeline, 50

Carter, William, 35

Carter, Albert, 29

Chapman, George, 55, barker keeper

Chinn, Charles, 50

Cotson, Richard, 42

Cotson, John, 28

Chase, Samuel, 27

Curtis, Dianna, 80

Curtis, Ann, 28

Claggett, Mary, 22

Collins, Lucy, 50

Carter, Edward

Diggs, Melinda, 55?, seaman

Davidson, Eliza, 25

Dudley, Nancy, 76

Dudley, William, 78

Dudley, Virginia, 20

Diggs, Martha, 15

Dogan, George, 25

Duval, Betsey, 50

Davis, Melvina, 43

Dogan, Richard, 25, plaster

Davis, Liand, 48

Douglas, Harriot, 30

Douglass, G.P., 35, blacksmith

Dundass, Samuel, 38, carpenter

Dundass, Eliza, 40

Darnel, Louiza, 40

Darnel, Westly, 41

Dixon, John, 30

Dixon, Sally, 30

Dogan, Charles, 42

Dogan, Meria, 45

Dogan, Anthony, 53

Dogan, John, 22

Digs, Richard, 25, cooper

Digs, Govener, 31

Dulany, Henry, 28

Darnell, J.W., 38

Dyson, James, 45

Derix, James

Derix, Robert

Derix, William

Derix, Ann

Evans, Edward, 40

Evans, Olanda, 25

Evans, Lyla, 34

Evans, John, 35

Evans, Mary, 20

Evans, William, 59

Ebbs, John, 58

Ford, Louisa, 30

Ford, Daniel, 40

Ford, William, 32, cartman

Frazier, Jerry, 26

Frazier, Joseph, 60

Frazier, Richard, 23

Fuller, Julia, 20

Foster, Lydia, 35

Foster, Jesse, 40

Fare, Alfred

Gibson, James, 44

Gibson, Cecelia, 50

Gray, William, 40

Grason, Thomas, 38

Gibson, Henry, 40

Gray, John, 50

Gallahan, Ann

Guy, Henry

Hepburn, Susan

Hoe, Mary, 15

Hoe, Sarah, 17

Haggerty, Samuel, 25

Harrison, Lucy, 40

Harrison, Charles, 17

Harrison, Walter, 19

Hunter, Adeline, 30

Hunter, Lucy, 26

Hall, Eliza, 45

Huchinson, Ann, 50

Huchinson, Joseph, 50

Huchinson, Meria, 18

Huchinson, Jane Eliza, 14

Hopkins, Peter, 45

Hall, Fanny, 50

Hall, Isaac, 54

Hepburn, John, 26

Henry, Charles, 20

Hawkins, Robert, 35

Hawkins, Cloe, 25

Henry, Rachael, 20

Henry, Robert, 53

Hyson, Henry, 27

Hyson, Ellen, 20

Hanley, Lora, 25

Harris, Elizabeth, 13

Harper, Rachael, 35

Harper, Claire?, 36

Hamett, Benjamin, 32

Holley, Dennis, 40

Hacket, Dennia, 6

Hacket, Azrey?, 50

Hyson, Isaac, 20

Honesty, Henry

Hyson, Louisa

Hyson, Thornton, 25

Jones, Benjamin, 56

Jones, Herbert, 22

Jones, Sarah, 30

Jones, Elizabeth, 25

Jones, Catherine, 16

Jones, Susan, 60

Jones, Nancy, 65

Jackson, Letha, 75

Jackson, Robert, 22

Joyce, Daniel, 50

Joyce, Mary, 32

Jones, Albert, 26

Jackson, Spencer, 40

Jackson, Ignatious, 38

Johnson, Smith, 45

Jackson, Henry, 46, plasterer

Jackson, Jesse, 30

Jackson, Andrew, 22

Jackson, John, 24

Jones, Levi, 45, farmer

Jones, Joseph H., 40, farmer

Jones, William, 42, farmer

Jones, Joseph, 20, farmer

King, Betsy, 40

King, Sarah, 30

Long, Elizabeth, 38

Louden, Fred, 52

Louden, Caroline, 26

Lee, Henry, 45

Lee, Rebecca, 29

Logan, Sally, 56

Lee, Nancy, 45

Lyles, W., 56

Lyles, Hannah, 60

Lomax, Thomas, 34

Lomax, William, 27

Lomax, Ellen, 60

Logan, William, 27

Logan, Noble, 23

Lomax, Ann, 35

Lancaster, Richard, 40

Lancaster, Sarah, 41

Lancaster, Louisa, 14

Logan, Cristiana, 45

Logan, Lucy, 35

Mason, George, 30

Mason, Sydney, 50

Marshall, Charles, 36

McCoy, H., 56

Madella, Betsy, 25

Madella, Armstead, 30

Mason, Victor, 12

Morgan, Daniel, 40

Madella, Richard, 50

Madella, Silas, 47

Merreck, Alfred, 45

Merreck, Jane, 25

Merreck, Rebecca, 45

Madella, Henry, 40

Madella, Lewis, 35

Mills, William, 40

Madella, Henrieta, 26

Miller, William, 31

Marble, Isreal, 45

Madella, John, 24

Madella, Roxana, 30, thief

Mortimore, Luce, 45, farmer

Mortimore, Hensen, 22, farmer

Meridith, Elijah

Nookes, Henson, 27

Norris, Rachael, 35

Nickins, James, 12

Nickins, Joseph, 50

Nugin, Eli, 50

Nookes, Jesse, 56

Nookes, Edward, 24

Nookes, Charles, 17

Nelson, George, 30

Nookes, Daniel, 21

Norris, William, 30

Nickins, John, 50, clerk

Norris, Rachal, 40

Oldham, Edward, 75, measurer

Oxen, Ann, 40

Parker, Joe, 30

Payne, John, 40

Payne, Meria, 20

Peters, Lucy, 35

Peters, Fanny, 16

Piper, W.H., 33

Piper, James E., 38

Piper, Ann, 20

Piper, Cornelia, 35

Piper, Rachael, 31

Phenix, Alice, 29

Pinn, James, 40, blacksmith

Peck, Margaret, 25, servant for Pennybacker

Payne, Elijah

Quander, Adam, 50, farmer

Rusell, Moses, 58

Rusell, Mary, 57

Robinson, Robert, 40, miller

Robinson, Thomas, 35

Roe, Henry, 36, cartman

Robinson, Meria, 30

Ross, John, 36

Rose, Andrew, 26

Roads, John

Steele, Winnie, 45

Skinner, Daniel, 58

Skinner, Laura, 5

Scott, Anna, 27

Sutton, Martha, 25

Summers, Caroline, 26

Summers, Jane, 14

Smith, W.H., 21

Smith, J. Louis, 19

Sincler, Chalotte, 35

Starker, Fanny, 75

Seaton, George, 40

Seaton, Meria, 36

Seaton, Adolphus, 34

Seaton, Lucinda, 56

Solomon, W.

Simes, Mary

Seals, Spencer, 45

Solomon, Townsend

Stepne, William, 45

Smith, Randolph

Seals, Charles, 40

Syphax, Cornenia

Syphax, Osten

Syphax, Slater

Syphax, Charles

Syphax, Calvert

Syphax, William

[Syphax, see also Cyphax]

Thompson, Amos

Thornton, Lucy, 25

Toleson, Phebe, 16

Tolbert, Ann, 25

Tolbert, John, 24

Taylor, Alen, 40

Thompson, Eli, 45, baker

Taylor, Joshua

Thompson, Rodolp, 32

Taylor, Virginia, 30

Thomas, Oscar

Tulley, George, 38, brickmaker

Thornton, Thomas, 30

Thornton, Cloe Ann, 46

Thornton, John, 35

Taylor, Elizabeth, 20

Thornton, Major, 28

Turley, Henson, 49

Valentine, Thomas, 50

Washington, Mary, 35

Washington, George, 40, engineer

Washington, Hannah, 28

Woody, Mary, 25

Winsor, Maria, 26

Winsor, George, 12

Williams, Sarrah, 65

Williams, Mary, 56

Williams, Jane E., 20

Weaver, William, 58

Weaver, Charles H., 19

Weaver, Hannah A., 17

Wright, Frank, 21

Wright, Joe, 18

Williams, Joe, 50

Williams, Samuel, 46

Williams, Charles, 33

Williams, Laura, 25

Williams, Julia, 26

Whiting, John, 40

Whiting, J.T., 18

Washington, Catherine, 20

Ware, Philip, 34

Ward, Jane, 25

Webster, Patsy, 50

Webster, Helen, 25

Webster, Harriet, 14

Watson, Henry, 40

Watson, Rachael, 30

Wheeler, Lyda, 30

Wheeler, Mary, 40

Wheeler, Martha, 20

Wheeler, Josephine, 18

Wheeler, Madorah, 40

Watson, Ann, 30

Watson, Edgar, 18

William, Mary, 42

Winter, William, 21

Ware, [Kenz, Kenry, Kerry, Henry?], 60, oysterman

Williams, Agnes, 50

Watson, James, 48

West, Daniel, 43

Williams, Louis, 55, blacksmith

West, C.H.

Young, Catherine, 35

Freedmen's Cemetery Historical Site Marker - E 109 Freedmen's Cemetery - Federal authorities established a cemetery here for newly freed African Americans during the Civil War. In January 1864, the military governor of Alexandria confiscated for use as a burying ground an abandoned pasture from a family with Confederate sympathies. About 1,700 freed people, including infants and black Union soldiers, were interred here before the last recorded burial in January 1869. Most of the deceased had resided in what is known as Old Town and in nearby rurual settlements. Despite mid-twentieth-century construction projects, many burials remain undisturbed. A list of those interred here has also survived.

Friends of Freedmen’s Cemetery
638 North Alfred Street
Alexandria, Virginia 22314
E-mail: freedmen@juno.com

Freedmen's Cemetery Logo - This logo was designed by Alexandria Archaeology Assistant City Archaeologist, Dr. Steven Shephard, in 2006. The beautifully executed final drawing was made by Alexandria Archaeology volunteer, Mr. Andrew Flora, who made a few modifications. At the center of the logo is a headboard of the design seen in historic photographs of the Alexandria National Cemetery, established at the north end of Wilkes Street in 1862. These grave markers were supplied by the U.S. Army Quartermaster Department in Alexandria and records state that this department also supplied the headboards and coffins for Freedmens Cemetery. The pine boards were whitewashed and the plot number, and presumably, the name of the deceased, and possibly the date of death, were painted in black on the headboard. The number 1864 in the logo represents the year that the cemetery was established. The black silhouette of the African American woman in the center of the board is meant to represent the people, the Freedmen, who were buried at the cemetery. Civilian men, women and many children were buried here, along with African American soldiers of the United States Colored Troops. The rays radiating from the top of the headboard are meant to represent the light of freedom, as well as the souls of the Freedmen ascending into heaven and their final reward. The F and C are for Freedmen's Cemetery. The surrounding broken chain wreath symbolizes the severed bonds of slavery which resulted from the American Civil War which transformed Alexandria and the nation.

April 29th, 2007