
The Naming Project: Lemon
Lemon’s name appears only once in the documentary record. Tax records show that he was an enslaved laborer on James Madison Sr.’s land in Culpeper County in 1783.
Behind the Scenes at James Madison's Montpelier
Lemon’s name appears only once in the documentary record. Tax records show that he was an enslaved laborer on James Madison Sr.’s land in Culpeper County in 1783.
Sometimes referred to as “Tradesman Harry,” Harry was also a carriage driver. In 1789 Harry made the return trip to Montpelier alone, by a route of his own choosing.
Today, Montpelier’s property boundaries encompass at least five plantations from the Madison era. This blog explores how we discovered this aspect of present-day Montpelier, why this occurred, and a little background on each of these plantations.
Eliza, born February 17, 1750, was 33 when James Madison Sr. gave her to his daughter and son-in-law, along with Eliza’s children: Joanna, Diana, Demas, Pendar, and Webster.
Ariel’s name appears in an 1847 letter from Dolley Madison, indicating that Ariel had carried a message to Dolley. It is unclear whether Dolley or someone else enslaved Ariel.
Moses, a blacksmith enslaved by Madison’s father, was known for the quality of his work. Madison specifically instructed an overseer “To get a plow made by Moses” in 1790.
Two hundred years ago, an outbreak of disease at Montpelier bore striking similarities to – and differences from – the current pandemic.
What did the Archaeology Team find in the South Yard?