Thanks for joining us today. If you have questions, feel free to put them in the chat and we will relay them to Matt.

Where did the name Belle Grove come from? Was it because Mrs. Hite was the sister of James Madison? Was James Madison's birthplace also called Belle Grove?

Yes, that is what we believe. Nelly Madison Hite's grandparents' home was Belle Grove in Port Conway/King George, Virginia where her brother James Madison was born.

If you are interested in learning more about enslaved potters in the Shenandoah Valley, this newly published article is a great resource: https://www.mesdajournal.org/2021/research-note-freedom-in-a-slave-economy-abraham-spencer-and-pottery-making-in-the-shenandoah-valley/

How did you find the merchant records?

Why did the Hites sell a large number of their slaves off

I am also the only employee at my museum and I am researching the enslaved people here. Could you put me in touch with others that might help me or point me in better directions? I am in Georgia.

Kimberly, the Black Craftspeople Digital Archive might be useful for you: https://blackcraftspeople.org/

It looks largely at the Lowcounty and Tiffany Momen, who operates it, would likely be able to point you to other resources that are Georgia specific.

guess just have to find ledgers. I have the names of everyone and family trees

Besides pottery shards and remains of food, what other interesting artifacts were discovered?

Thanks

Any evidence of free black involvement in enslaved buying and selling in this area ?

What have you discovered architecturally about the quarters? How were they constructed? Are there any foundations left?

commodities

Also wondering how you came up with the evidence for ~5 domestic quarters? Was any remote sensing done?

mcgreer@syr.edu

Very interesting. Thank you!

Thanks