Free State: Difference between revisions

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Archaeological, documentary, and oral history research was done beginning in 2004 to secure a rezoning request from the County of Albemarle and federal permits from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.<ref name= "afrova"/> Most of the structures in Free State were wooden or shingled and frame-built. Six were excavated in the research process. <ref name= “anderson”/> This research is summarized on a sign in front of the Bowles family cemetery, which contains the remains of at least 53 people, though only the gravestone of Mary Bowles remains.<ref name= "afrova"/> Stones were placed in the Brown family cemetery for each of those buried at Dunlora.<ref name= “anderson”/>
Archaeological, documentary, and oral history research was done beginning in 2004 to secure a rezoning request from the County of Albemarle and federal permits from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.<ref name= "afrova"/> Most of the structures in Free State were wooden or shingled and frame-built. Six were excavated in the research process. <ref name= “anderson”/> This research is summarized on a sign in front of the Bowles family cemetery, which contains the remains of at least 53 people, though only the gravestone of Mary Bowles remains.<ref name= "afrova"/> Stones were placed in the Brown family cemetery for each of those buried at Dunlora.<ref name= “anderson”/>


Many of the streets in the Belvedere neighborhood are named after the families of the residents of Free State, such as Farrow Drive and Farrow Hill Court, Cole Street, Butler Street, Winn Alley, and Spears Alley.
Many of the streets in the Belvedere neighborhood are named after the families of the residents of Free State, including Farrow Drive and Farrow Hill Court, Cole Street, Butler Street, Colbert Street, Tyree Lane, Daisy Lane, Winn Alley, Battles Alley, Spears Alley, and Griffen Grove.
[[File:Bowles Homestead and Cemetery sign.jpg|thumb]]
[[File:Bowles Homestead and Cemetery sign.jpg|thumb]]



Revision as of 08:48, 8 June 2021

Plaque about Free State community.jpg
Plaque about Amy Bowles Farrow.png

Free State was a community of free African-American people located near what is now the Belvedere neighborhood in Albemarle County [1]. The land was known as "Free State" since at least the early 1870s, but the origins of the community extend back to 1788, when Amy Bowles Farrow, a free African-American woman, purchased the original 224 acres of land.[1][2]

Amy Bowles Farrow was born around 1735 as an illegitimate child of an interracial union. Her mother was a white indentured servant, and thus Bowles-Farrow was required by Virginia law to be an indentured servant for her first 31 years. Further proof of her indenture is from her sister Jane’s lawsuit against the Michie family in Louisa County for violating her indenture contract.[1] Once she was free, she moved from Hanover County to Albemarle and married Thomas Farrow, who was also a free person of color. Her son Zachariah, who worked at Thomas Jefferson’s plantation, Monticello, married Critta Hemings, the sister of Sally Hemings, who was enslaved at Monticello.[1][2]

Amy Farrow's will divided her property between her two sons, Thomas Farrow, Jr. and Zachariah Bowles.[3] Half of their property left their family by 1850, and was completely surrounded by the Dunlora plantation. This part was passed by Zachariah Bowles to his nephews, Stephen and Peter Bowles. The part owned by Stephen Bowles eventually passed out of the family in 1916, though one heir to Edward and Peter Bowles held land originally purchased by Amy Farrow into the 21st century.[2]

After the Civil War, Free State became both a stopping point and a destination during the post-emancipation Great Migration.[1] People emancipated from enslavement moved into the area, purchasing land from both the Bowles family and the Dunlora plantation. By the late 1920s, white landowners began to acquire Free State lands, with some introducing racial covenants prohibiting sale or rental to African Americans.[2]

Archaeological, documentary, and oral history research was done beginning in 2004 to secure a rezoning request from the County of Albemarle and federal permits from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.[2] Most of the structures in Free State were wooden or shingled and frame-built. Six were excavated in the research process. [1] This research is summarized on a sign in front of the Bowles family cemetery, which contains the remains of at least 53 people, though only the gravestone of Mary Bowles remains.[2] Stones were placed in the Brown family cemetery for each of those buried at Dunlora.[1]

Many of the streets in the Belvedere neighborhood are named after the families of the residents of Free State, including Farrow Drive and Farrow Hill Court, Cole Street, Butler Street, Colbert Street, Tyree Lane, Daisy Lane, Winn Alley, Battles Alley, Spears Alley, and Griffen Grove.

Bowles Homestead and Cemetery sign.jpg

Dr. Anderson's History of Free State Lecture

“Dr. Angela Anderson has done extensive research on the areas of Free State, Belvedere, and Dunlora, Virginia. Her family traces back to these original communities and she is currently documenting her findings for an upcoming book. She will share personal stories about the lives of the residents in these communities and will welcome any questions or interests you might have. Dr. Anderson holds a Ph.D. in Organization and Management and teaches several Leadership and Aerospace courses at Ashford University in Colorado and Southeastern Oklahoma State University in Oklahoma.”[4] Dr. Anderson’s lecture was filmed on May 26, 2021 from the Center at Belvedere.

<youtube>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VBVjDlyS9m4&t=1s</youtube>

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Web. [ History & Stories of the Original Communities of Free State, Belvedere & Dunlora], Dr. Angela Anderson, Lecture, May 27, 2021, retrieved June 7, 2021.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Template:Virginia Humanities, “Free State Community and Cemetery,” AfroVirginia, accessed June 7, 2021, http://places.afrovirginia.org/items/show/158.
  3. Web. [ Will of Amy Bowls Farrer], Will Book 4, Albemarle County Circuit Court, October 21, 1797, retrieved June 7, 2021.
  4. Web. History & Stories of the Original Communities of Free State, Belvedere & Dunlora, Dr. Angela Anderson, Lecture, the Center at Belvedere, Charlottesville, VA, May 27, 2021, retrieved June 7, 2021.