History can sometimes be overwhelming with dates and names, but it’s just as important to understand the people as it is the facts. In that spirit, this exhibit introduces you to Ann Tunstall Maury Hite, more appropriately referred to as Mrs. Hite, the second wife of Major Isaac Hite.
Mrs. Hite was wife to Major Isaac Hite Jr., mistress of Belle Grove Plantation, mother to ten children, stepmother to two children, and enslaver of more than one hundred African Americans over the course of her lifetime.
Meet Mrs. Hite – not just the wife, not just the plantation mistress, not just the mother, not just the enslaver – but the wealthy, powerful, influential woman navigating her way through life in the Shenandoah Valley in the early 1800s.
The Enslaved Community
Meet the enslaved people, upon which the wealth and success of Belle Grove Plantation depended heavily.
Her Letters
Mrs. Hite wrote letters often, which provide a glimpse into life on Belle Grove Plantation in the early 1800s.
Learning Activities
Mrs. Hite’s life has a lot of teachable moments, so we invite you to explore some of our education resources.
