Andrew Carpenter Census
Andrew Carpenter was a black male born in 1818. He was married to Emily Carpenter and his occupation was farm help meaning that he was a worker on another property. He was 62 in 1880 which means he was around 66 when he received his land. We do not know exactly when he was born but it can be assumed in 1818 in Virginia. His wife’s name was Emily Carpenter and she was 58. They lived in Mount Vernon, Fairfax. There isn't any record of him having children in the census and no record of children's birth certificates at the Fairfax Historical Archives. He is missing many documents. There is no death certificate or a marriage license. Despite the lack of certain documents, Carpenter's life unfolds as a testament to the challenges faced by African American individuals of his time. The absence of specific birth records echoes the historical gaps in documenting the lives of many enslaved and marginalized individuals.
Andrew's occupation as farm help, working on another property, often stemming from a history of enslavement. The 1880 census reveals that at the age of 62, Andrew acquired land, indicating a significant milestone, potentially marking his transition from a laborer to a landowner. This achievement is remarkable considering the social and economic constraints faced by African Americans during that period.
The missing documents, including a death certificate, highlights the difficulties in constructing the complete story of Andrew Carpenter's life. It also shows the broader challenges faced by individuals of African American descent in preserving their historical records during a time of social inequality.Piecing together fragments of a narrative that speaks not only to his personal experiences but also to the larger historical struggles of marginalized communities in 19th-century America.
[1]Andrew Carpenter in the 1880 United States Federal Census. Ancestry. (n.d.). https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/12073372:6742?tid=&pid=&queryId=030abebb6f5a48fe486d8b03f15bfdc0&_phsrc=HBg9&_phstart=successSource
[2]Deed from Smith to Andrew Carpenter, Fairfax Deed Book D-5 page 177,178, Fairfax County Historic Records Center, Fairfax, VA.
By Anabela Shearer