Born: about 1761
Died: after 1836
Family relationship: Wife of Solomon Green
Role: unknown
Nancy Green and her husband Solomon were held in bondage by James Monroe – and after Monroe’s death in 1831, by his heirs – for over 40 years. It is not known when Monroe purchased Nancy or her husband Solomon, but they are mentioned as already being enslaved at Highland prior to 1796. It is assumed Nancy and Solomon are among the individuals Monroe spoke of when he wrote after the sale of Highland that he planned “the removal of some old servants, too old to be sold, to this place [Oak Hill] to be taken care of by us.” (James Monroe to Thos. Swann, 19 May 1828). Nancy’s and Solomon’s names are listed together on an 1836 inventory at Oak Hill (property Monroe owned in Loudoun County, Virginia) after Monroe’s death.
Joseph Jones to James Monroe
“Fredg 16th Janry 1796
…dear as they are I shall endeavor to buy Spotswood Charles and Julius as you much want hands and having not hired any for the present year it is indispensably necessary to add to Solomon his wife and Jesse at Hogs* some others if to be got.” *Hog was the overseer at Highland.
Courtesy of the Papers of James Monroe: http://monroepapers.com/items/show/1058
Albemarle County Deed Book (25:143)
April 5, 1825
“Have granted bargained and sold aliened released and confirmed and by these presents do grant bargain and sell alien release and confirm into the said John Hooff* and his heirs a tract of land in the County of Albemarle and the State of Virginia about three miles below Mill on and about one mile from the Rivanna a branch of the James River consisting of seven hundred and eight acres divided into two farms, with a good framed Dwelling house and other improvements on each. Also the following negro slaves, Jesse, Charles, Nelson a Blacksmith, all young men and brothers, William a Carpenter, Joe and Eve his wife and their four children, Armstead and Zachariah both young men, Toby and Betsy his wife with their three children, Solomon and Nancy his wife, Ned & Peggy his wife.”
James Monroe mortgaged Limestone Farm and 21 enslaved people to John Hooff, Cashier of the Farmer’s Bank of Alexandria. Monroe had borrowed $4,735.76 from the bank. It is difficult to determine whether the individuals listed are at Limestone or at Highland.
James Monroe to Thos. Swann
“Oak Hill May 19, 1828
The preceding part of the letter, relates to a small private object of my own, the removal of some old servants, too old to be sold, to this place to be taken care of by us.”
Courtesy of the Library of Congress, James Monroe Papers: https://www.loc.gov/resource/mss33217.010_0001_1003/?sp=906
1836 Oak Hill Inventory
Nancy Green 75 years old — —
Courtesy of the Library of Congress, James Monroe Papers: https://www.loc.gov/resource/mss33217.010_0001_1003/?sp=985