Mount Vernon near Alexandria in Fairfax County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
Slave Cabin
This cabin represents dwellings inhabited by enslaved people who worked on Washington's outlying farm. Groups of cabins were arranged opposite an overseer's house.
At Dogue Run Farm, where Washington's 16-sided treading barn was originally located, the enslaved family "Silla" and her husband "Slammin" Joe, lived a cabin much like this one. A 1799 census indicated that Silla and Joe had six children. Sophia (age 14) Savary (age 13) Penny (age 11) Israel (age 10) Israis (age 3) and Christopher (age 1 year).
While Silla, a field hand, worked at Dogue Run Farm, Joe worked as a ditcher at the Mansion House Farm. During their work week—Monday through Saturday—the couple lived apart. On Saturday nights, Joe would walk the roughly 3 miles to Dogue Run Farm to spend the weekend with his family.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Agriculture • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Former U.S. Presidents: #01 George Washington series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1799.
Location. 38° 42.422′ N, 77° 5.459′ W. Marker is near Alexandria, Virginia, in Fairfax County. It is in Mount Vernon. Marker can be reached from the intersection of Mount Vernon Memorial Highway
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Tomb of Washington (a few steps from this marker); Sunrise to Sunset (within shouting distance of this marker); George Washington's Forest (within shouting distance of this marker); Other Useful Resources (within shouting distance of this marker); Washington's Trees (within shouting distance of this marker); Domestic Animals (within shouting distance of this marker); Creatures in the Forest (within shouting distance of this marker); George Washington (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Alexandria.
Additional keywords. slave labor
Credits. This page was last revised on January 27, 2023. It was originally submitted on September 27, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 111 times since then and 15 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 27, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
