The History of African Americans at Poplar Hill

Currently, little is known about the history of African Americans at Poplar Hill. The Dunnington Mansion Foundation is actively researching to add depth to the property's history and story. We encourage anyone with information on the people and families that lived and worked here please contact us! We are working with the Robert Russa Moton Museum to help further our research and will update this page as we find more information.

According to an 1860 slave schedule (census) Captain John Hughes Knight did own 30 slaves at that time. To our knowledge no photographic documentation exists. 

Anecdotal history suggests that the last person born into slavery at Poplar Hill died in 1935 while still residing there. His name was Jim and he is likely buried in the farm worker cemetery that is now part of the Manor Golf Course property.

We also have anecdotal evidence that a nanny for the Dunnington family, Mary Ann Holmes, was a resident of the nearby Israel Hill settlement. (Please read Israel on the Appommatox, by Melvin Patrick Ely, to learn more about Israel Hill).

Walter and India Dunnington had a large number of African American employees who labored on the Poplar Hill farm and worked in the house. Many of these employees lived on the property, and several of the original outbuildings were used as employee housing during the time of Dunnington ownership. 

A small photographic history of African Americans at Poplar Hill is represented below. Through these photographs, we hope to offer a rare glimpse into the lives of those seldom recorded in this period of history.  We offer thanks to Dunnington family members Kathy Goebel and India Pruitt Trice and historian Jimmy Hurt for photograph contributions!!

Statement of Support from The Moton Museum

As a currently operating site of a historic building in Prince Edward County I write in strong support of the efforts to preserve the Dunnington Mansion. The building is a contribution to architectural history in and of itself, but also serves as a vehicle to tell stories of those who occupied the space. I am very impressed and inspired by the intentional way they choose to tell the stories of the families and those who worked at the home in a variety of capacities. Many of which are ancestors of individuals involved in the Moton story and the history intersects in a prominent way. I commend the foundation for their work thus far, and am hopeful of their efforts to restore the building.

- Cainan Townsend Executive Director, Moton Museum 


Mr. Lester Bigger

Of all the employees at Poplar Hill, the Dunnington children were most fond of India's chauffeur, Mr. Lester Bigger. Lester began as an employee sometime after Mr. Dunnington passed away in 1922 (we are searching for an exact date) and was an integral part of running both the house and the grounds of Poplar Hill.

Lester was born in Prince Edward County on October 16,1900, one of Alexander and Katie Hudson Bigger’s ten children. Lester married Ellen Henry Richardson on August 19, 1937. Ellen received her B. S. and M. S. degrees from Virginia State College, and further studied at Ohio University, the University of Virginia, and Longwood College. Ellen taught school in various localities including Prince Edward, Appomattox, and Charlotte Counties. She served as an assistant principal and supervisor of Elementary Education in the Prince Edward County Public Schools.

Following his graduation from the Trade Department of Hampton Institute, Lester taught for one year in the Prince Edward County Public Schools. Lester was a member of the Randolph Lodge No. 30 of Free and Accepted Masons and of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. After working in New York for a short time, Lester returned to Prince Edward County where he was employed by the Dunnington Family until his retirement. 

Dunnington great-grandson Frank Orgain tells of the beaten biscuits that Mr. Bigger used to bake. Granny (India Dunnington) used to keep them in a basket on the radiator. As children they would fill their pockets with the biscuits and head out to play on the farm's 1000 acres. Mr. Orgain saved a copy of the original recipe written by Mr. Bigger himself and he still makes them to this day.  

Mr. John Fred Word

We have some evidence that the gentleman located first on the second row is John Fred Word (1914 - 2002). His parents were Paddie Word (1887 - 1963) and Mary J. Word (1898 - 1963). 

The DMF is actively pursuing additional information. If any members of the public have information please contact us through the website contact page!