New historical marker to honor earliest-known Black sheriff
CHARLES CITY COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) -- The Virginia Department of Historic Resources (DHR) approved a state historical marker to be dedicated to the earliest-known Black sheriff in the North. The marker will honor the life and legacy of Stephen Bates, who was a formerly enslaved man born in Charles City County -- he went on to become one of the first Black sheriff's in the United States, according to DHR. On Saturday, Oct. 12 at 11 a.m., a dedication ceremony will be held for the marker at Historic Shirley, located at 501 Shirley Plantation Road in Charles City. It will be open to the public and parking will be available at the visitors' parking lot. According to DHR, a faux marker will be unveiled after the ceremony at Historic Shirley and the real marker will be installed near the Route 5 and Shirley Plantation Road intersection. Bates was born in 1842 and enslaved at the Shirley plantation in Charles City County. He eventually claimed his freedom and began working for a congressman in Vermont, named Frederick E. Woodbridge. Bates moved with Woodbridge to Vermont in 1869 and began serving as the city's constable in 1875 for four years, according to DHR. In 1879, Bates was selected for the role of sheriff by the white electorate in Vergennes, Vermont. Afterward, he continued to get re-elected for sheriff and was frequently appointed as chief of police until he died in 1907. According to DHR, the full text of the historical marker will read: Stephen Bates (1842-1907) Stephen Bates, the earliest-known Black sheriff in the North, began life at Shirley enslaved as a domestic worker. Along with many other people enslaved in the region, he claimed his freedom during the Peninsula Campaign of 1862. After the Battle of Malvern Hill, he worked for a Union officer at nearby Harrison’s Landing and departed with the army in August. Bates became a coachman for VT Congressman Frederick E. Woodbridge in Washington, DC, and in 1869 moved with him to Vergennes, VT. The city council appointed Bates constable (1875-79), and in 1879 the overwhelmingly White electorate chose him to be sheriff. He was regularly elected sheriff and often appointed chief of police until his death. Virginia Department of Historical Resources (DHR)
VENN
CHARLES CITY COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) -- The Virginia Department of Historic Resources (DHR) approved a state historical marker to be dedicated to the earliest-known Black sheriff in the North.
The marker will honor the life and legacy of Stephen Bates, who was a formerly enslaved man born in Charles City County -- he went on to become one of the first Black sheriff's in the United States, according to DHR.
On Saturday, Oct. 12 at 11 a.m., a dedication ceremony will be held for the marker at Historic Shirley, located at 501 Shirley Plantation Road in Charles City. It will be open to the public and parking will be available at the visitors' parking lot.
According to DHR, a faux marker will be unveiled after the ceremony at Historic Shirley and the real marker will be installed near the Route 5 and Shirley Plantation Road intersection.
Bates was born in 1842 and enslaved at the Shirley plantation in Charles City County. He eventually claimed his freedom and began working for a congressman in Vermont, named Frederick E. Woodbridge. Bates moved with Woodbridge to Vermont in 1869 and began serving as the city's constable in 1875 for four years, according to DHR.
In 1879, Bates was selected for the role of sheriff by the white electorate in Vergennes, Vermont. Afterward, he continued to get re-elected for sheriff and was frequently appointed as chief of police until he died in 1907.
According to DHR, the full text of the historical marker will read:
Stephen Bates (1842-1907)
Stephen Bates, the earliest-known Black sheriff in the North, began life at Shirley enslaved as a domestic worker. Along with many other people enslaved in the region, he claimed his freedom during the Peninsula Campaign of 1862. After the Battle of Malvern Hill, he worked for a Union officer at nearby Harrison’s Landing and departed with the army in August. Bates became a coachman for VT Congressman Frederick E. Woodbridge in Washington, DC, and in 1869 moved with him to Vergennes, VT. The city council appointed Bates constable (1875-79), and in 1879 the overwhelmingly White electorate chose him to be sheriff. He was regularly elected sheriff and often appointed chief of police until his death. Virginia Department of Historical Resources (DHR)
