Henrico in Henrico County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Aggy's Freedom Suit

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, August 10, 2019

1. Aggy's Freedom Suit Marker

Inscription. An African American woman, known only as Aggy, was enslaved at Ryland Randolph's Turkey Island plantation at the time of his death in 1784. Randolph's will provided for freedom and support for Aggy and her children, but the administrators of his estate denied the provisions of the will, keeping her in bondage. While still enslaved, Aggy became an early civil rights pioneer when she was named as a complainant in a chancery suit filed in Henrico County Court claiming her right to freedom under the provisions of Ryland's will. In 1790, a decree absolute issued by the court ordered that "Aggy and her two children, Sylvia Anderson and Alexander Philip… be emancipated and recover their freedom."

Erected 2019 by County of Henrico. (Marker Number HC-44.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Civil Rights • Women. A significant historical year for this entry is 1790.

Location. 37° 23.703′ N, 77° 14.965′ W. Marker is in Henrico, Virginia, in Henrico County. It is at the intersection of New Market Road (Virginia Route 5) and Malvern Hill Lane, on the right when traveling east

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on New Market Road. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Henrico VA 23231, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Virginia’s Piedmont,

in Central Virginia,

and in the Richmond Metropolitan Area.

It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Upper South.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: The Fergusons of Malvern Hill (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Malvern Hill (approx. 0.4 miles away); Seven Days Battles (approx. 1.2 miles away); Battlefield Landscape (approx. 1.2 miles away); Advantages of Terrain (approx. 1.2 miles away); A Place of Refuge (approx. 1.2 miles away); Battlefield of Malvern Hill (approx. 1.2 miles

Virginia Capital Trail (facing east) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, August 10, 2019

2. Virginia Capital Trail (facing east)

VA-5 on left, Virginia Capital Trail on right.

away); The Crew House (approx. 1.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Henrico.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Malvern Hill (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it).

Virginia Capital Trail (facing west) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, August 10, 2019

3. Virginia Capital Trail (facing west)

Virginia Capital Trail on left, VA-5 on right.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 26, 2021. It was originally submitted on August 10, 2019, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 679 times since then and 43 times this year. Last updated on February 8, 2021, by Bob Lehr of Henrico, Virginia. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on August 10, 2019, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia.