Near Richmond in Henrico County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Pleasants v. Pleasants

Photographed by Kathy Walker, August 11, 2007

1. Pleasants v. Pleasants Marker

Inscription. John Pleasants, Sr., nearby landowner and Quaker, requested in his will that his slaves be freed when each became 30 years old. Pleasants died in 1771, but it was not until 1782 that some of his slaves gained freedom when the Virginia General Assembly approved private manumissions. His son, Robert Pleasants, and a few other heirs freed close to 100 slaves in multiple counties. Robert Pleasants attempted to get all of the family to honor the will's stipulations, which culminated in 1798 when the Virginia High Court of Chancery heard it as a legal case. Future U. S. Chief Justice John Marshall and John Warden represented Robert Pleasants on behalf of the slaves. In 1799, the court ruled in favor of freeing the slaves. Some of the freed slaves settled nearby on Robert Pleasants's land to form the Gravely Hill community.

Erected 2002 by Department of Historic Resources. (Marker Number V-43.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Abolition & Underground RR • African Americans • Colonial Era • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (DHR) series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1771.

Location. 37° 25.515′ N, 77° 18.015′

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W. Marker is near Richmond, Virginia, in Henrico County. It is on New Market Road (Virginia Route 5) east of Long Bridge Road, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Henrico VA 23231, 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 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 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: The Potters of Four Mile Creek (approx. 0.2 miles away); New Market Road (approx. half a mile away); First Battle of Deep Bottom (approx. 0.6 miles away); The War of 1812 / Richmond's War of 1812 Defensive Camps (approx. one mile away); Battle of New Market Heights (approx. one mile away); New Market Heights (approx. 1.1 miles away); a different marker also named New Market Heights (approx. 1.1 miles away); a different marker also named New Market Heights (approx. 1.1 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Richmond.

More about this marker. Marker was moved 200 ft southeast from its original location on the north side of New Market Rd (GPS 37.42575,-77.30064).

Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker.

Credits. This page was last revised on October 16, 2024. It was originally submitted on July 27, 2008, by Kathy Walker of Stafford, Virginia. This page has been viewed 4,465 times since then and 189 times this year. Last updated on October 15, 2024, by Carl Gordon Moore Jr. of North East, Maryland. Photo 1. submitted on July 27, 2008, by Kathy Walker of Stafford, Virginia. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.

Editor’s want-list for this marker. A wide shot of the marker in context. • Can you help?