A monthly newsletter sharing new information about the enslaved community of Belle Grove Plantation, Middletown, Virginia SHADRACH BORN JANUARY 7, 1767 January 2021 THE MEANING BEHIND In the Old Testament of the Bible, Shadrach is one of three THE NAME SHADRACH Jewish men living in exile in Babylon, who after first In the mid-century of the earning the trust of King 1700s, choosing names from Nebuchadnezzar, lost it by Shadrach an enslaved man was the Bible for enslaved babies insulting him while refusing to born at Montpelier, the Madison was popular. From around worship a giant gold idol, family plantation in Orange 1750, attempts to convert which he had built as a symbol County, VA. His mother, second generation African of his wealth and power. The Daphne, is found in five years of enslaved to Christianity were book of Daniel tells how an tax lists, in the grouping of at their peak. Just like today, enraged King ordered younger women. She was names had trends. Eleanor Shadrach, Meshach, and named for, and likely the Conway Madison, wife to Abednego to be thrown into a daughter of, the Daphne owned James Madison Sr., was by Ambrose Madison, the revered and renowned for her fiery furnace. original patriarch of Montpelier. This baby’s birth early in the piety and religious learning. God protected them from any new year, just after the end of Whether it was she who gave harm, and they emerged the Twelve Days of Christmas, the name, or the baby’s unsinged and well, to the celebrated in the quarter and mother, who had learned astonishment of the King and the big house alike, may have Biblical stories from working in his court. Of course, such a allowed mother and son to rest the household, we cannot contest of Godly power quietly in the warmth of their know. resulted in the conversion of cabin for a while. the King and his people to the God of the Jews. We do not know the name of the baby’s father. Plantation SHADRACH’S records typically linked only HIS BACKSTORY mother and child, for by law, a FAMILY Isaac Hite Jr., owner of Belle We do not know if, Grove Plantation, purchased child born of an enslaved enslaved workers and was also or to whom, woman was also enslaved. In given or inherited them from 1801, Shadrach was in a group Shadrach was married at Belle family. Of the 276 people whom of enslaved whose ownership Grove, or if a partner came with Hite enslaved, a significant number were from Montpelier. was transferred from James him from the Madisons. His Madison’s Sr.’s estate to his name is not repeated in The first individuals that Ambrose successive generations, probably Madison enslaved were bought in daughter Nelly Hite to complete 1718, all from coastal Guinea, her inheritance. because it was out of fashion by the 1800’s. We cannot presently and more followed. Montpelier became a closed universe for At thirty-four years old, trace which, if any, of the children born at Belle Grove might be his. enslaved family relationships for Shadrach left the only home he 60 years. Everyone had kinship had known to journey three He did know the joy of young ones in his life. Anna, his younger ties to each other. Ambrose’s son, James Madison Sr., started days to the Shenandoah Valley sister, born in 1775, had five and Belle Grove. children. She and her first son gifting his adult children enslaved workers in 1782, thereby were among those deeded along The image of Shadrach’s name above is with Shadrach to the Hites in providing an inheritance to his from an inventory in the documents offspring and reducing his taxes. settling the will of James Madison Sr. 1801. WHAT WORK Another group of enslaved WHAT WAS workers who needed to have a DID HE DO? nice appearance were those in HIS FATE? There were never- constant contact with the There are no ending tasks for family and visitors. This includ- further records at the enslaved at ed any household worker from Belle Grove of all plantations and Belle Grove coachman to those who Shadrach being traded, sold, or was no exception. However, it waited on table, valet, lady’s deeded to an adult Hite child. is less common for plantation maid, steward, cook, or others. His death date is also not recorded. By 1837, he was 70. records to note the Both Shadrach and his sister At that age, an enslaved per- assignments or skills of the owned such shoes. He was son was no longer expected to enslaved, beyond the listed as being aged 20 and work and was therefore off the all-important blacksmith and wearing size 12. Anna was age cook. Still, there are clues tax rolls. Household records in 15 and wore size 8. about Shadrach’s life. 1835 reveal that in his The enslaved persons the “retirement,” he kept chickens In 1787, a record in James Madisons gave the Hites were and sold six to the Hite family. Madison Sr.’s handwriting valued, for taxation purposes. The 1837 inventory done survives that lists who among In 1801, of the seven men after the death of Isaac Hite Jr. his enslaved received transferred in this group, only does not list Shadrach as one expensive shoes, as opposed two were listed at the highest of the enslaved at Belle Grove. to the cheaper shoes issued to value of 120 English pounds. the masses. The group He appears to have died be- Shadrach was one. receiving these better-made tween May of 1835 and shoes were elite, but still their This implies he had a skill set January 1837 and may be jobs were not detailed. of great value. Knowing that interred in the enslaved burial he was likely working in the ground Belle Grove, where few To whom among your work- house, it is possible that he graves are still marked and no force would you allocate these was trained to execute the carved headstones exist. A better-looking, better-wearing duties of a steward. If so, this child or grandchild might well pairs of shoes? Yes, the gave him great status in the have lived to Emancipation and blacksmith and trading agent enslaved community and perhaps out there somewhere, received them; they often met value to the Hite family. In a family has an ancestor or two with customers and may have their new, elegant manor by the name of Shadrach. walked distances on business. house, which had just been Perhaps they needed the completed in 1797, the Hites’ protection, but certainly the had the room to entertain and goal was to present enslaved receive visitors from near and workers to visitors whose far—and they did. This issue produced by appearance enhanced the Robin Young and Kristen Laise reputation and status of the master. Research is underway about the 276 men, women, and children enslaved by the Hite family at Belle Grove Plantation in Middletown (Frederick NEXT MONTH WE County), Virginia. Enslaved individuals made the plantation a WILL HONOR success. Since 1967, Belle Grove has been a 501c3, nonprofit historic site and museum. Understanding and uplifting the contributions of the Eliza born enslaved community is an ongoing effort and priority. If you wish to help, February 17, 1750 consider volunteering or donating to Belle Grove, Inc. at P.O. Box 537, Middletown, VA 22645 or online at www.bellegrove.org/support/donate. Belle Grove Plantation 336 Belle Grove Road • P.O. Box 537 • Middletown • VA 22645 [email protected] • www.bellegrove.org • 540-869-2028 .