The enslaved people of Gunston Hall were not able to leave records of their own, so historians must rely on the records of the very people who enslaved them. Looking through documents like wills, account books, tax receipts, and bills of sale, historians search for snippets of information about the men, women, and children who were held in bondage on farms and plantations or in cities. Such is the case for the people enslaved by George Mason the 4th. As we look at the Memorial to Penny, keep in mind that George Mason’s will is one of the few places that we see her name written down. How, from such limited amounts of information, can we learn about this young enslaved girl’s life?