The Arlington Historical Society and the Black Heritage Museum of Arlington invite you to the unveiling of “Stumbling Stones.” These bronze markers commemorate the lives of the enslaved people who helped build our county and our country and are placed in the sidewalk at the last known site of their enslavement. Memorializing the Enslaved in Arlington’s research has revealed over 2000 enslaved people and identified 1050 by name.
Please join us for the Dedication Ceremony honoring two once enslaved individuals
- Nan: Born ca. 1735
- Bess: Born ca. 1747
We will be honoring them at the intersection of Quincy Street & 10th Street North at the Arlington Central Library
Their Story
“Item I give to my loving wife Elizabeth Triplett, I lend her all of my personable estate and a Negro woman named Bess and Negro girl named Nann during her natural life excepting some small legacies that I give and bequeath out of it.”
So states Francis Marion Triplett, then of “weak of body but [sic (of)] sound and perfect sense and memory” in his last will and testament recorded in 1757 and filed at the Fairfax County Courthouse. Through Triplett’s will we learn of Bess and Nan, two enslaved women held at a farm operated by Francis Marion and Elizabeth Brown Triplett. Historical records indicate Francis leased land near Arlington’s Central Library. The landholding in Arlington was modest in size suggesting that agriculture may not have been the Triplett’s primary livelihood and that Bess and Nan likely performed domestic and housekeeping chores for the Triplett’s.
Francis bequeathed Bess and Nan to his wife Elizabeth during her lifetime and then to their sons, Francis Jr. and Mason after her death. When Elizabeth died in 1769, Bess would have been transferred to Francis Jr. and Nan to Mason. Francis Jr. may have relocated to Georgia. But conflicting evidence suggests he may have inherited his brother William’s lands in Loudoun County and lived there on an estate enslaving additional people. Evidence suggests Mason relocated to North Carolina.
Many questions about Bess and Nan remain. Were they related, perhaps mother and daughter? Were they sold before Mason and Francis Jr. relocated, or as valued property, were they taken to new and distant places of residence?
While we do not know what became of Bess and Nan, we can imagine that their separation from one another was extremely difficult/painful. They likely had no say over their circumstances or their future.
Please join us as we celebrate and honor both Bess and Nan. Brief remarks will be offered.
Memorializing the Enslaved in Arlington seeks to shed light upon these early Americans who contributed so much to the economic, social, and cultural development of our county. For more information, please contact Jessica Kaplan from the Arlington Historical Society at ahsedlink@gmail.com.
