Manassas, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Enslaved of Liberia

1825 - 1865

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), July 14, 2026

1. Enslaved of Liberia Marker

Inscription.

Enslaved of Liberia. , Eliza and Phillip. Frances and Nathaniel. Susan and George. These and more than 80 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, though their descendants continue to thrive in the area today., 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. Among them were some members of the Naylor family. 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 contineued 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 and her daughter Sally, who were enslaved by the Weir family. , , Manassas Museum Collection, 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 growth? Were the Weirs actively purchashing people to work their farm? Was there a large number of births among those who lived here? Could it have been a combination of both? The document do not provide the answer, but do prove that Weir owned the largest number of enslaved people in Prince William County on the eve of the Civil War. , , Courtesy of the National Archives, 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 an enslaved person. , , Manassas Museum Collection

Eliza and Phillip. Frances and Nathaniel. Susan and George. These and more than 80 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, though their descendants continue to thrive in the area today.

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. Among them were some members of the Naylor family. 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 contineued 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 and her daughter Sally, who were enslaved by the Weir family.
— Manassas Museum Collection

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 growth? Were the Weirs actively purchashing people to work their farm? Was there a large number of births among those who lived here? Could it have been a combination of both? The document do not provide the answer, but do prove that Weir owned the largest number of enslaved people in Prince William County on the eve of the Civil War.
— Courtesy of the National Archives

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 an enslaved person.
— Manassas Museum Collection

Erected by City

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of Manassas, Virginia.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Agriculture • Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Virginia, City of Manassas series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1862.

Location. 38° 46.018′ N, 77° 27.615′ 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 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

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), July 14, 2026

2. Enslaved of Liberia Marker

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); Creating a Garden (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Liberia and the Weirs (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Liberia (within shouting distance of this marker); Liberia Apiary Buzz (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Manassas 1825 (approx. 0.2 miles away); Conner House (approx. 0.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Manassas.

Other markers no longer nearby. Enslaved of Liberia (has been replaced with this marker); Liberia and the Weirs (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); Turberville Memorial Garden (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); Battle of Bull Run Bridge (was about 600 feet away but has been permanently removed).

Additional keywords. enslaved labor

Credits. This page was last revised on July 14, 2026. It was originally submitted on July 14, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 4 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 14, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.