Davy was an enslaved worker during the Randolph period at Tuckahoe. It is possible that his name appears on tax records as early as 1782 (while the name “Davy” is not listed, there are several named “David” and so it is possible he would have been one of those).
In a 1790 indenture document, Davy is specifically listed as the wheelwright along with 3 other workers (Billey, Charles, and Guy). The wheelwrights were responsible for making and repairing wheels on carriages and wagons and would likely have worked closely with the blacksmiths and carpenters.
When Thomas Mann Randolph died in 1793, his estate including the enslaved workers was sold off. On the estate sale list, we see a man named “Davie” who was sold to a man named John Harris for £112. If this is indeed the same “Davy” (which seems likely) this amount suggests that the skills of a wheelwright were highly valued in this time.
