Slave Cemetery, Lee County, Virginia

Dr. Amy Clark, Chair of Communication Studies, University of Virginia at Wise became interested in a mystery on her family's land in Lee County, Virginia. Oral history stated that the collection of field stones in the woods was a cemetery of enslaved people that lived and worked on that land.
With some verifiable information, Dr. Clark has taken on the task of researching, documenting and preserving this important site.
We came along to document this process of discovery to help illustrate challenges associated with researching enslaved families and the value of slave sites to our region's education, history and culture.

[@darlenewilson9851]

Well-done! Congratulations on this effort. Looking forward to the next installment of this saga.

[@tiaswt.4493]

I cant wait to get all my family history

[@cgpcgp3239]

I hope the names and maybe descendants are found. The faces of the family in the family portrait. They looked as if the were forced to be there. Father looked angry. The eyes mother and daughter next to her looked like fear. I wonder what happened before the photo was taken.

[@lesterwatson8519]

I found the following information in one my fellow family researcher's information that she had collected. The statement said basically: It was said that Moses McSpadden was one of the largest slave owners in Washington County, Virginia. This has not been confirmed by me Lester A. Watson however she apparently came across the information in her research. This may be a connection worth pursuing if interested.

[@CatherineBush-ng8vo]

Fascinating. I hope they can somehow, someday discover who these people are.

[@cienergi]

My family (great-great grandmother) is from Lee County and according to the US Census was a farmer that owned the land and could read and write. 🙄

[@ToyYoungLeeCosmicSol8133]

That’s very interesting ♥️ Have you found any more information since this video

[@bomgodd]

Interesting design. I wonder about how it was passed down.

[@obiewilliams523]

I grew up in this county. Despite its postcard views, there is an ever-present, ubiquitous, and often brazen racism that pervades every corner of it. I hope she figures out who these people were so their lives can be recognized. It would be nice to have a proper gravestone placed there with all their names on it if they're ever discovered (maybe that was in the video and I missed it).