Born in 1769, Abba is her first recorded name. Her birth month, unknown. Her birth day, unknown. Her birth place, unknown. Her parents, unknown. Her siblings, unknown. Her grandparents, unknown. Her death, unknown.
Despite so much of her life being unknown, historians have pieced together the story of a woman, a mother, and a wife, who endured at least four different enslavers in two different states during her lifetime. She lived in two cultures – the white one, and the Cherokee one.
She was married to Frank Thornton, an enslaved man, for nearly 50 years, and together they had at least eleven children, all of whom were born into enslavement.
However, Abba and Frank lived to see some of their grandchildren freed from enslavement at Belle Grove between 1827-1837. More on that story later!
This exhibit begins to share what historians have learned about Abba and, perhaps more importantly, what remains unknown about her complicated and traumatic life as an enslaved woman before, during, and after the American Revolution.
This project was supported by The Virginia Commission for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts through the Community Impact Grant and VA250 Impact Grant, as well as Laurel Ridge Community College.
Historical research conducted by the late H. Wayne Sulfridge, Ph.D., Kristen Laise, and Robin Young. Exhibit designed and created by Jess Pritchard-Ritter of For the Love of History Consulting, LLC.