The Boston Massacre

Alethia’s sister, Sophia (Bell) born 

The Boston Tea Party

American Revolutionary War begins

Declaration of Independence

Alethia’s sister, Laurena (Cook) born

Alethia “Lethe” (Tanner) born

American Revolutionary War ends

Tobias Belt dies

US Constitution adopted

George Washington becomes first President of the US

Washington District of Columbia is created

July 16, 1790  Residence Act of 1790, officially titled An Act for establishing the temporary and permanent seat of the Government of the United States 

The Act provided for a  national capital  and permanent  seat of government  to be established at a site along the  Potomac River  and empowered President Washington to appoint commissioners to oversee the project. It also set a deadline of December 1800 for the capital to be ready

Alethia, her sisters, and the other enslaved people on the plantation are dispersed when Mary Belt dies. According to her will: 

Laurena (age 17) is bequeathed to daughter Mary Belt (Addison) 

Alethia (age 14) and Sophia (age 25) are bequeathed to Rachel Belt (Pratt). Rachel was also given the plantation and tract of land called “Chelsea” which still exists today in Upper Marlboro. 

DC total population 3,210

Thomas Jefferson becomes President of the United States

August 17, 1801 George Bell (Beall) manumitted by Thomas Graften Addison

March 22, 1802 Lethe, aged 21, appears on Doctor’s bill for Thomas Jefferson’s White House "family" (staff/servants)

February 12, 1803 Rachel Belt marries John Wilks Pratt in Prince George’s County record: Prince George’s County Marriage Record 1797-1817, p. 20

Document of Good Behavior Allows Alethia's sister, Laurana (aged 27) and her husband Thomas to remain in the city. Laurana was owned by Edward Nicholls witnessed by Rhodes

12 January 1803 dated 31 July 1805 recorded

“I do hereby certify that the holder of this certificate is my negro woman slave, by name Laurana, who has with her four children, and who also has my permission to remain in the City of Washington until called for by my lawful Authority. Her husband is my Negro man Tom now hired at Mr. Rhodes’ who also has my permission to remain here with his wife and children in the manner as above written. I do hereby enjoin all persons not to molest them in their lawful pursuits, and to hold myself fully responsible for their good behavior and conduct.” — Signed Edward Nicholls, witness William Rhodes

January 23, 1806  Robert H. Nicholls sells Thomas Cook (Laurana's husband) to John Davidson

February 22, 1806 Mortgage recorded: William Kilty to Edward Nicholls

• Edward Nicholls mortgaged Laurana, and her 6 children, plus "future increase" (Betsy, Hannah, Annette, Oscar & Lethe, William) to pay a debt owed from January 27, 1795.
• Debt foreclosed, then sold to John Davidson by William Kilty

George Bell, Moses Liverpool, Nicolas Franklin start school for free blacks. 

• George + Sophia main financiers of school

• Population of free blacks was 494 people

 First Black Codes  enacted by DC

These codes made it unlawful for “Negroes” or “loose, idle, disorderly persons” to be on the streets after 10 p.m. Free black people who violated this curfew could be fined five dollars (equal to $65 in 2007). Enslaved African Americans had to rely on their owners to pay the fine. The punishment for nonpayment of fines was whipping.

June 18, 1809

Jim Bell, son of George and Sophia runs away from Rachel Pratt. He was about 17 years old. 

• Ad placed in Baltimore paper by Rachel Pratt. 
• According to Moses B. Goodwin’s “History of Colored Schools” George and Sophia ‘bought’ him running

John Francis Cook, born. Youngest child of Laurana and Thomas Cook

July 6, 1810 Alethia purchased by Joseph Dougherty from Rachel Pratt for $275

July 10, 1810 Alethia is manumitted (set free) by Joseph Doughtery. Witness is William Thornton, Architect of the Capital.

War of 1812 Harsher set of  Black Codes  enacted Free black people could be fined $20 if they violated the curfew, and jailed for six months if the fine went unpaid. Enslaved people received the same fine but the punishment for nonpayment was 40 lashes. In addition, free African Americans had to register with the local government and carry their certificates of freedom at all times.

Anne Marguerite Hyde de Neuville lives in Washington with her husband, Jean-Guillaume who was named Ambassador to the US in 1816. I am hypothesizing that Hyde de Neuville did the portrait of Alethia, as Hyde de Neuville lived at the Decatur House along Lafayette Square, which is where Alethia also apparently lived and worked. Hyde de Neuville also painted Black women while in Washington. And the age at which Alethia appears (35-40 years old) would also coincide with the time when Hyde de Neuville was living in Washington. See information about Hyde De Neuville

Tillman Bell runsaway from Rachel Belt Pratt. He was also 17 years old when he ran. Pratt again put ads in Baltimore papers seeking his return.

Resolute Beneficial Society School opens "Founded by an association of free people of color called the "Resolute Beneficial Society" situated near Eastern Public School and dwelling of Mrs. Fenwick is now open for the reception of free people of color and others that ladies or gentlemen may think proper to be instructed in reading, writing, arithmetic, English grammar or other branches of education apposite to their capacity, by a steady active and experienced teacher, whose attention is wholly devoted to the purpose described." —National Intelligencer, August 29, 1818

John Davidson, who owns Laurana and Thomas Cook and their children, lists these people as living in his household in the 1820 census.

Free white males 1  -  of 16 years but under 26 years (for males) 1  -  45 years and upward 1  -  Engaged in Commerce

Male Slaves Female Slaves 3   under 14 years of age 0 2   of 14 years but under 26 years 2 0  of 26 years but under 45 years 1 0   46 years and above

NOTE: In 1820, Laurana was age 42, Annette age 24, Oscar Fitz age 22, Betsey age 20, Hannah age 19, Lethe age 17, William age 15, Alfred age 14, Allen age 12, Thomas age 11, and John Francis age 10, 

Harsher "Black Codes" were enacted Mayor Samuel Smallwood and the Board of Aldermen imposed even greater restrictions on free black people in the District. The new set of Black Codes required them to appear before the mayor with documents signed by three white people vouching for their good character, proving their free status. They also had to pay a “peace bond” of $20 to a “respected” white man as a commitment to good behavior. This code illustrates the precarious nature of freedom for non-enslaved African Americans, by attempting to control the movement of people of color.

1826-

Bill of Sale, recorded 27 April 1826

John Davidson to Lethe Tanner for $1,450, paid in installments, purchased:

1. Oscar Fitz

2. Allen Cook

3. William Cook

4. Alfred Cook

5. John Cook

6. Betsey Cook

7. Laurana Cook (mother) (aged 48)

Henry D. Smothers mortgages a property to John A. Wilson as surety for his repaying a debt he (Smothers) owes to Ms. Isha Smothers. The mortgage is to be voided if Henry Smothers pays off the debt within a year.

July 4, 1826  Thomas Jefferson dies

10 March 1827

“Received on 10th day March of Lethe Tanner, twenty five dollars in case, and I have received this date noe at sixty days for two hundred and seventy-five dollars, dated 13 Feb 1827, endorsed by John A. Wilson, which note together with the twenty five dollars in case… I have received in full of her for the purchase of my servant boy Thomas Cook about seventeen years of age, the son of my housekeeper Laurana Cook, which servant boy Thomas I have sold and now delivery to Elijah Chaney, for the said Lethe Tanner …. Feb 12, 1827

• Recorder of Deed Office, DC, Liber W.B. No. 22, p.220

29 June 1827

Chas. W. Boteler, to Lethe Tanner Lethe purchases property Lot 10 in Square 250, corner lot and fronting on Fourteenth & H St

She was able to purchase at a public sale on 28 May 1827. Property had fallen into foreclosure by Henry D. Smothers, who ran Smothers School which John F. Cook attended

• Lethe Tanner highest bidder for property for $52.60

• map 1820.  https:www.loc.gov/resource/g3850.ct004202/?r=0.36,0.265,0.16,0.06,0 
• deed Aug 12 1834, to lot 10, square 250.  https:dchistory.pastperfectonline.com/archive/06063D36-FFCA-4F8C-9742-501833296133 

• 2 story frame house
• ran a ‘variety shop’ here
• adjoined the schoolhouse

Alethia purchased

1. Hannah Cook 
2. Hannah’s child 1
3. Hannah’s child 2
4. Annette Cook
5. Annette’s child 1
6. Annette’s child 2
7. Alethia Cook 
8. Alethia’s child
9. George Cook
10. Daniel Cook

manumitted.  Alfred Cook 

Note: because law required a slave to be capable of self-support, I believe that Lethe manumitted Alfred and William later (after purchasing them) once they could prove they could sustain themselves

manumitted.  William Cook  Had been bought in 1826 by Lethe

Aug. 21-23, 1831 Nat Turner slave rebellion in Southampton County, VA.

Dec. 13, 1832 John Francis Cook marries Jane Mann                                 

Cholera outbreak kills more than 450 mostly in Irish and German workers. Many thought that their vices were to blame and burned an effigy of an Irish worker.

John A. Wilson deed to Lethe Tanner

John A. Wilson deed to Lethe Tanner, Aug. 12, 1834, to lot 10, square 250. Includes signatures of B.K. Morsell and Samuel Stettinius, justices of the peace, and William Brent, clerk.

Aug. 11-14, 1835 SNOW RIOT

White rioters rampaged and vandalized black-owned businesses and institutions, including John F. Cook school at the corner of 14th and H streets. Fearing that the mob would come after him, John Cook fled to Pennsylvania.

The impact of the Snow Riot lasted far beyond the few days of violence. As one of a number of clashes in the 1830s and 1840s, it was emblematic of the continued centrality of slavery in the nation’s capital.

Cook flees riot to Columbia PA, to home of  William Whipper , a well-known advocate of nonviolence and co-founded the American Moral Reform Society, an early African-American abolitionist organization.

purchased by Alethia

1. John Butler

2. Ellenora “Nelly” Nobel

3. Thomas Simmes Ferguson

4. Letitia Ferguson

5. Joseph Ferguson

6. Hannah Ferguson

manumitted by Alethia.

1. George Cook
2. Thomas Cook

manumitted by Alethia.

1. Rachel Jennifer

Israel Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church founded

manumitted by Alethia

1. Lethe Cook Kennedy 
2. son George William Wood
3. Susanna Smith 
4. son William Henry

manumitted by Alethia.

1. Elizabeth Smith

Enoch George Bell (son of George and Sophia Bell) arrested for ‘abducting’ a slave woman who belonged to Gov. Thomas Pratt (Rachel Belt Pratt's son). On trial in Baltimore. While on bail, Enoch fled to New Bedford, MA

George Bell dies

15 May 1847

Alethia writes her will

April 15, 1848

Pearl Incident On the evening of April 15, 1848, at least 75 enslaved adults and children from Washington, Georgetown and Alexandria sought freedom on the Pearl, a 64 foot cargo schooner waiting for them in the Potomac River at a wharf in Southwest DC. The escape was facilitated by two white men: Daniel Drayton, who chartered the ship for $100, and Edward Sayres, the captain of the Pearl.

After dark on that Saturday night, the freedom seekers made their way to the wharf in small family groups. The Pearl set off to sail by night down the Potomac River to Alexandria, Virginia, and subsequently to the Chesapeake Bay where the captain planned to turn and head toward Pennsylvania, but bad weather slowed the voyage. The next morning, when the 41 white families that owned the fugitives discovered the escape, a posse was formed to capture them. Having learned about the escape route from an informer, the posse of 30 white men traveled by steamboat and overtook the Pearl at Point Lookout, about 100 miles southeast of the capital, and returned all aboard to Washington.

Compromise of 1850 Slave trade in DC was abolished

John Francis Cook Sr. (aged 42) marries Jane LeCount. His first wife, Jane Mann died in 1849

Sophia Bell dies at age 83

Jan 3, 1854  John F. Cook's new church, 15th St Presbyterian Church opens. in 40 x 60 ft building

Feb 1, 1855 To meet financial obligations due to the new church building, 15th Street Presbyterian held a fundraising concert by “Black Swan” Miss E.T. Greenfield from Natchez, MS.

March 24, 1855 John Francis Cook Sr dies at age 45

April 16, 1862 Slave emancipation in DC

Emancipation Proclamation

March 3, 1864

Badly Burned This morning, an aged colored woman, named Lethy Tanner, residing on the corner of 14th and H Streets, was badly burned by her clothes, taking fire from a grate. But notwithstanding her feebleness, she had the presence of mind, and seizing a rug, wrapped it around her, extinguishing the flames; not, however before her face and hands were badly burned. Dr. Hatch was immediately called in.and dressed her injuries. She is upwards of ninety years of age, and during the administration of President Jefferson she was his housekeeper. She came originally from Maryland, where she was a slave of the Belt family, but for upwards of forty years, she resided in the house in which she was burned. Her recovery, on account of her age, is doubtful.

March 7, 1864

Terminated Fatally The colored woman, Lethy Tanner, who was badly burned by her clothes taking fire, on Thursday last, died on Friday. and her funeral took place from the color church on M, near 15th street and was largely attended. Many of the most aged colored folks about the city being present. The deceased was upwards of 90 years and was perhaps the oldest colored resident of the District.

Alethia Tanner was 83 years old when she died