Enslaved of Liberia
1825 - 1865
Eliza and Phillip, Frances and Nathaniel, Susan and George. These and more than 70 others, their names lost to history, were enslaved to the Weir Family of Liberia. Decade after decade, two generations of men, women and children, regarded as personal property, lived and toiled on this land. Planting and harvesting. Feeding and grooming. Cooking and sewing. Their labor, and mere presence as tangible assets, underpinned the success of the plantation. Most are unknown to us today, though their descendants live among us.
While the silence of history robs us of their stories, we do know a little bit about one family, the Naylors. When the Weirs moved to Fluvanna County in 1862 they left Liberia in the care of enslaved house servants, some members of the Naylor family among them. Nelly Naylor was given 12.5 acres of land by the Weirs in 1865 in consideration of the love and affection to their former servant. The Naylors continued to live in the area after the war, running a successful farm and managing a local mill.
[Captions:]
This image, made sometime after the Civil War, is believed to be Nelly Naylor, who was enslaved by the Naylor family.
These census documents show that William Weir went from enslaving 17 to over 80 people in a thirty year period. What accounts for this startling
this page online
This pitcher is thought to be a wedding gift to Harriet Weir from her mother. It is the only thing owned by the Manassas Museum with a direct connection to Liberia. Weir family history states that after it was broken the pitcher was glued back together by a member of the Naylor Family.
Erected by City of Manassas, Virginia.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Agriculture • Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1862.
Location. 38° 46.017′ N, 77° 27.611′ W. Marker is in Manassas, Virginia. It can be reached from the intersection of Portner Avenue and Princeton Park Drive, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 8601 Portner Ave, Manassas VA 20110, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the Washington Metropolitan Area and in Northern Virginia. It is also in the American South, specifically in the Upper South, and in the Mid-Atlantic. 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 walking distance of this marker: Weir Family Cemetery (within shouting distance of this marker); Liberia (within shouting distance of this marker); Liberia and the Weirs
Other markers no longer nearby. Battle of Bull Run Bridge (was about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line but has been permanently removed); a different marker also named Conner House (was approx. 0.8 miles away but has been replaced with another marker now near it); Conner House Restoration (was approx. 0.8 miles away but has been confirmed missing); a different marker also named Battle of Bull Run Bridge (was approx. 0.8 miles away but has been replaced with another marker now near it).
Credits. This page was last revised on May 15, 2021. It was originally submitted on May 15, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 564 times since then and 21 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on May 15, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
