Coastal Plain/Tidewater

  On January 1, 1864, Littleton Owens enlisted in the Second Regiment of the U.S. Colored Cavalry in Company C at Fort Monroe. Born in Princess Anne County, this 23-year old with “black eyes and black hair” standing 5’ 8” would begin a life-long career in service to his country. Enlisting as a private, Owens […]

Willis Augustus Hodges served as the first African American lighthouse keeper at the Cape Henry Lighthouse from May 10 to July 26, 1870.

Nancy Drew was born enslaved in 1835 to Claiborne and Annie Drew. In 1853, Nancy married Sam Cooke.

Just 20 years after the end of slavery, four Black men, John Hardy, Carter Hardy, Robertson Simmons and Bolling Morris, purchased the 521 acre Gray’s Creek Farm (today known as Smith’s Fort), for $2,500 (around $88,000 in 2025).

Enslaved by the Hankins family at Bacon’s Castle

Cordelia “Delia” Jones was born at Bacon’s Castle in either 1852 or 1854.