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of Virginia”
CHARLOTTE SCOTT,
“a freedwoman,” was born in what is now Lynchburg, Virginia. She was born a slave sometime between 1803 and 1805 and was owned by succeeding members of the Scott family. The Scotts lived on a large plantation along the James River, about four miles above Lynch’s Ferry. (Today, the property is divided among the Virginia Epis- copal School and Westminster- Canterbury, the former Reusens industrial complex, a large apart- ment complex, and numerous residential neighborhoods.)
The presentation of the Freedman’s Memorial included a speech by Mr. James E. Yeat- man, the president of the West- ern Sanitary Commission, in which he highlighted the role Charlotte Scott’s former own- ers played in championing
her cause. Yeatman explained that, upon hearing of Presi- dent Lincoln’s death, Char- lotte Scott “went in great distress” to Margaret Scott Rucker “her mistress—that
had been, for she was then free—and said to her: ‘The colored people have lost
their best friend on earth!
Mr. Lincoln was our best friend, and I will give five
FALL/WINTER 2013 5
Photo courtesy of the Library of Congress


































































































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