The Plantation
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The City

The Plantation, also, The City. . , The Plantation , Alethia Tanner and her sisters worked alongside other enslaved workers on the Chelsea Plantation in Upper Marlboro, Maryland. It was owned by Tobias Belt and later by his daughter, Rachel Belt Pratt., When Tobias Belt died in 1785, the inventory of his estate included such items as linens, farm tools, and livestock. It also named 12 enslaved persons, along with their ages and assessed values. Alethia, listed as "Leath," was 4 years old; her monetary value as an enslaved person was 10 pounds sterling (about $1800 in today's dollars). It is unknown who Alethia and her sisters' mother was, but she was likely among the names on the inventory., In 1795, when Tobias Belt's widow died, Alethia and her sister Sophia were "given" to the Belts' daughter, Rachel Belt Pratt. Laurana was sent to another daughter. Sometime after 1795, Alethia moved with her enslaver to Washington, where she began the daunting task of gaining her freedom., [Caption:] , Inventory of enslaver Tobias Belt's estate in 1785, listing 12 enslaved persons. Alethia was the youngest at 4 years old. Credit: Maryland State Archives, The City , After coming to Washington, Alethia and her sister Sophia sold vegetables at local markets and kept their profits, although they were still enslaved by Rachel Pratt. Sophia worked at the Alexandria Market. She used her income from there to purchase the freedom of her husband, George Bell., Alethia worked at a market in President's Square, now known as Lafayette Square. In the early days of the nation's capital, markets were places where people of all races and means bought food and supplies. One of Alethia's customers was said to be President Thomas Jefferson. She likely also worked in the Jefferson White House., In 1810, Alethia entrusted Joseph Daugherty, Jefferson's coachman, with money she had earned to purchase her freedom. On July 16, 1810, Dougherty paid $275 to Rachel Pratt to buy the enslaved Alethia. Four days later, Dougherty freed Alethia "for value received and other good causes.", [Caption:] , Thomas Jefferson's records show that a woman named Lethe, likely Alethia Tanner, was among the White House workers who received medical services. Credit: Thomas Jefferson Papers, Library of Congress.