Sully Historical Site

Sully Historical Site

A large number of enslaved individuals resided at Sully that was built ca. 1794. Archaeology revealed the presence of three small buildings, which were interpreted as quarters to house enslaved individuals. On the basis of the archaeological evidence and architectural evidence from standing examples elsewhere in Virginia, a “representative slave quarter” was constructed.

The main house was built for Richard Bland Lee and subsequently occupied before it was acquired by the Park Authority.

3650 Historic Sully Way, Chantilly, VA 20151

Sully

Twenty-nine people were enslaved by Richard Bland Lee.

John (of Henry), Charles, Sam (Blacksmith), Pat and Sam (of Pat), Arthur, George (of Nell), Simon, Tom Sorrel, Lett and Hannah (of Lett) and Anne (of Lett), Prue and James (of Prue) and Nancy (of Prue) and Henry (of Prue), Hannah (of Hannah) and Old Hannah, Nancy (of Franky* and Will (of Franky*), Maskrell, Old Eve, Nelly (of Milly), Cain, Old Dewey, and Tarpley.

Additional enslaved at Sully
Madam Juba. Laundress was mentioned in a 1787 letter from Thomas Shippen.
Dick, Winney, Elliott, Billy, and Betty. Five enslaved people at Sully.
Issac. Four year old boy sold to Sully overseer George Shively.

Elliot, son of Patty. Five-year-old boy Richard Bland Lee offered to his brother-in-law Zaccheus Collins
Henrietta and Barbara/Barbary. Respectively 42 and 18 years old
Ludwell. Ran away in 1804 with a set of tools
Rachel and her child. Richard Bland Lee purchased from Charles Little for $200 in 1806.
Godfrey. Ran away in 1807, 30 years old.

List of 29 enslaved people Richard Bland Lee placed in trust for Elizabeth Collins Lee in 1809
John and Alice and their children Patty, Betty, Henry, Charles, Johnny, Margaret, Milly and
Frank; Ludwell and his wife Nancy and their children Caroline, Harriet, Frederick, Ludwell and Barbara; Henry and his child Eleanor; Rachel and her child Rachel; siblings Kitty, Letty, Alexander and Alfred; George, Blacksmith; Thornton, cook; Samuel, smith; John, ploughboy.
Milley/Milly, daughter of John and Alice. Sold in 1809 to John P. Van Ness of Washington, D.C. Van Ness sold her to Benjamin Lewis of Maury County, Tennessee in 1827 to serve his sister, Mrs. Hardin.
Elinor Berry.
Samuel and Barbara Lee. Petitioned for their freedom from Elizabeth Collins Lee in the US Supreme Court in 1834. They lost their case.
Frank Madison and Caroline.
Henrietta Rains. Resident of Van Buren City, Arkansas who died in 1876 and was described as being enslaved by Richard Bland Lee. Henrietta recalled seeing George Washington while the family was living in Philadelphia when Lee was in Congress. She also recalled living in DC when it was burned by the British during the war of 1812.
Old John. John’s life is described in “’Old John’ In Search of His Story,” Jeanne Niccolls in Fairfax Historical Society Yearbook, Vol 27, 1999- 2000. Virginia Room, Fairfax County Library
Cleo. Was hired or owned by the Haights prior to the war and sent to Ohio around 1862 A photograph of Cleo is included in the Alexander Haight Collection.

Alexander Haight Family Collection. Of note is a photograph of Cleo, an enslaved woman who resided with the Haights until 1862.

Collection Number C0159. Special Collections Research Center. George Mason University.