The Stories of the Enslaved Persons at Menokin and Their Descendants

Daniel West Gordon

Written by Judith Gordon, direct Descendant of Daniel W. Gordon

Daniel W. Gordon, Enslaved Person at Menokin

Daniel West Gordon was born to Amanda Beverly and Stafford Gordon, in Richmond County, Virginia in March 1847. He was their second child and first son. 1847 is accepted as the year of his birth with validation by Cohabitation records, his marriage license and the 1870 and 1880 census records. The 1900 Census gives his birth month as March. The marriage license gives Richmond County, Virginia as his place of birth however, as of this writing, it is not known when Amanda came to Menokin and whether the children were born there.

Judging from the stature of his children, known to descendants, it is thought that Daniel was probably a tall, sturdily built man.

Research has provided a few interesting facts about Daniel W. Gordon. “The Richmond County Record of Slaves that have escaped to the enemy during the war [1861-1863]” lists Daniel Gordon as having escaped from Richard H. Harwood, then owner of Menokin, on June 3, 1863. It is not clear whether he actually served in the Colored Troops. Property tax records confirm that Daniel was back living and or working at Menokin by 1867. Records also indicate that his father and two brothers were also working at Menokin at that time.

Census Records suggest that Daniel learned to read and write between 1870 and 1880. Farming is consistently reported as his livelihood.

On December 17,1874 Daniel married Elizabeth Saunders, daughter of Solomon and Maria Levett Saunders. They were married at Cedar Grove Farm, Richmond County, Virginia. Cedar Grove was a John C. Mitchell property where it is suspected that both Stafford Gordon and Solomon Saunders were enslaved.

Daniel and Elizabeth were blessed with thirteen children. Elizabeth died on September 1,1893 giving birth of their 14th child. The child, an unnamed male, also passed away. The other children born of this marriage are:

Moses Monroe Gordon: B. September 27, 1875

Henry Gordon: B. December 3, 1876

Frank Gordon: B. April 26, 1878

Maria (pronounced Mariah) Gordon: B. April 15, 1879

Blanche Gordon: B. August 26, 1880

Amanda (Mandy) Gordon: B. August 26, 1881

Richardanna Gordon: B.March 4, 1883

Lucious Gordon: B. August 4, 1884

Jencie Gordon: B. January 13, 1886

Louisa Gordon: B. May 1, 1887

Nannie Gordon: B. February 13, 1889

Rose Gordon: B. August 16, 1890

Clarence Gordon: B. September 19, 1892

At the time of their mother’s death, five of the remaining thirteen children were 13 years of age or older, five were between 1 and nine years old and three had predeceased their mother. Henry died a year later in 1894, at 16 years of age.

Daniel was last known to reside in the Stonewall District, Richmond County in 1900 with seven of his children, Frank, Maria, Lucious, Jencie, Nannie, Rosa and Clarence. This is the last time he is seen on the Census. A death certificate has not been found for Daniel.