North Downtown in Charlottesville in Albemarle County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Sales of Enslaved People in Court Square

Photographed by Kevin W., January 16, 2026

1. Sales of Enslaved People in Court Square Marker

Inscription. Between 1762 and 1865, auctioneers sold enslaved men, women, and children at various locations in Court Square: outside taverns, at the Jefferson Hotel, at the "Number Nothing" building. in front of the Albemarle Co. Courthouse (where sales were then recorded), and, according to tradition, from a tree stump. After Thomas Jefferson's death, 33 enslaved people from his Monticello estate were auctioned at the Eagle Hotel in Jan. 1829 to satisfy his debts. Enslaved Charlottesville residents Fountain Hughes and Maria Perkins recalled Court Day sales as dreaded occasions that separated Black families. Such sales were frequent in Virginia, where the domestic slave trade was central to the economy.

Erected 2024 by Department of Historic Resources. (Marker Number Q-49.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Industry & Commerce. A significant historical month for this entry is January 1829.

Location. 38° 1.896′ N, 78° 28.693′ W. Marker is in Charlottesville, Virginia, in Albemarle County. It is in North Downtown. It is on East Jefferson Street just east of 4th Street Northeast, on the

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left when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 414 E Jefferson St, Charlottesville VA 22902, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Piedmont

and in Central Virginia.

It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Upper South.

Globally, it is in 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: Jefferson Street Buildings (a few steps from this marker); Paul Goodloe McIntire (a few steps from this marker); Meriwether Lewis (within shouting distance of this marker); First Baptist Church (within shouting distance of this marker); Monticello (within shouting distance of this marker); Gen. Alexander Archer Vandegrift (within shouting distance of this marker); Albemarle County (within shouting distance of this marker); Albemarle County Court House

Photographed by Kevin W., January 16, 2026

2. Sales of Enslaved People in Court Square Marker

(within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Charlottesville.

Other markers no longer nearby. Thomas Jonathan Jackson (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been permanently removed); Albemarle Confederate Monument (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been permanently removed).

Credits. This page was last revised on January 16, 2026. It was originally submitted on January 16, 2026, by Kevin W. of Stafford, Virginia. This page has been viewed 56 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on January 16, 2026, by Kevin W. of Stafford, Virginia.