Recently, I happened across the super interesting story of The Kinsey African American Art and History Collection, one of the largest collections of African-American art in the world.

The story of the Kinsey family’s dedication to preserving so much of our history is beautiful and encouraging. There are a number of showings of various portions of The Kinsey African American Art and History Collection in different cities. Right now, there is a major exhibition of the collection going on now at SoFi stadium in Los Angeles, CA.

In an amazing effort to bring some of these very important historical items to the view of all, The Kinsey Collection has partnered with Google Arts & Culture for an online exposition.

It was while looking at this beautiful presentation that I saw a poignant letter from 1854, concerning an enslaved young lady by the name of Frances.

My initial quick thought was that AMF was….

Well, well.

Dear-heart Frances had no idea that she was carrying a letter that would seal her fate, an at once cruel and complimenting letter of introduction to persons who ultimately had no interest in her family ties, happiness, or liberty.

Were Dickerson and Hill trustees of Frances’ new “owner,” or were they to hold on to her? Who was this previous holder of Frances, this AMF Crawford?

While there is not a pronoun in front of Crawford’s name to distinguish the AMF, the tone of this letter (to me) reads as intimate, nervous vs. steely—anguished yet resolved.

No, could it be?

Let’s check the records. We’re going to look for an A M F Crawford in Charlottesville, Albemarle, Virginia.

And so it is—-

Let’s keep going.

According to the 1860 U.S. Federal Census, the household of M F Crawford in Albemarle County, Virginia includes a certain A F Craword, listed as female.

Looking further, M F Crawford is Malcolm F. Crawford (b.1794), originally of Maine.

His wife was named A.manda M.elvina F.itzAllen Craven Crawford (1808-1863)—the author of our historic 1854 letter concerning Frances. For background, Amanda was willed a plantation and a number of enslaved souls, via her father’s—John H. Craven—3 August 1841 will.

In the 1850 U.S. Federal Census—Slave Schedules, MF Crawford held a number of enslaved souls.

In the April 1854 letter that she wrote, Amanda mentioned that she was selling Frances (who was a mere days away from her 17th birthday) for the horses she just bought and for the stable that she would need to build.

Just who were the characters of Dickinson and Hill? Who was Frances delivering this awful letter to?

Dickinson & Hill

Richard H. Dickinson was one of the most active slave auctioneers in Richmond in the 1840s through the Civil War. In 1856 his firm reportedly sold $2 million worth of slaves, the commissions from which would have amounted to $50,000. In the 1830s he was a general auctioneer in Richmond and gradually specialized in the enslaved. Dickinson partnered with several other slave traders including brothers Nathaniel and Charles Hill. Dickinson, Hill & Company operated on the north corner of Franklin and Wall Street, where by the mid-1850s they auctioned slaves exclusively. The firm competed with Hector Davis and continued to sell enslaved people as late as 1865.

—-VirginiaMemory.com

What an even more despicable development. Yes, it would have been horrible for Frances to have walked into any environs as chattel, even if it were in the “comfort” of every convenience and luxury. She had just been sold away from her family.

As it was, Frances took this letter to a putrified auction house. The mournful wails of Frances and her family must have pierced the Virginia air for miles and they surely still echo through the ages.

Where did Frances end up, how did she fare? Who were her other family members? What happened to them?

The Genealogy Situation Room will take a closer look and post any updates here.

As it relates to Amanda Melvina FitzAllen (AMF) Crawford, writer of the letter, holder and cunning betrayer of Frances, we have previously discussed here how They Were Her Property…

Frances’ story is just one out of literally millions. Her history proves that we have a situation. We need to find our people.

Again, many thanks to The Kinsey Collection.

The Genealogy Situation Room