Jane was an enslaved worker who lived and worked at Tuckahoe during the Wight and Allen period. She is thought to have been born sometime between 1843-1845 and was one of the children of Ellen Anderson Smith (her father is unclear). By 1858, her mother had started a family with Ed Smith. Her siblings were Daniel, Dilsey, Jordan, Nancy, Harriet, Wallace and Andrew.
In Joseph Allen’s account of 1850, Jane was listed as a field hand as was most of her family (with the exception of her mother who was the cook). However in the account of November 15, 1858 Jane was listed as a house servant. Yet by January 1, 1859 Jane was one again categorized as a field hand. The circumstances surrounding these changes in position are unknown.
Jane and her family lived in the North Cabin which still stands along Plantation Street. In 1858 their family of 9 was recorded as having 5 blankets among them.
After the Civil War, it seems that some of the Smith family stayed in the area. The 1870 census lists Ellen and Ed in Goochland County but Jane was not living with them at the time. It is unknown if she lived nearby or if she left the area entirely.
