Major was an enslaved worker during the Wight period of Tuckahoe. He would have been born sometime around 1824 and was one of the children of Maria mentioned in the will of Hezekiah Wight. He was not freed upon Wight’s death but was to be granted his freedom when he turned 30 years old. True to Wight’s wishes, Major and his sister, Betsy, were granted their freedom in 1854.
On September 20, 1854 he and his sister, Betsy Henley, were registered on the account of “free negroes” in Goochland County. He was described as “about thirty seven years of age of brown complexion about five feet eleven inches high” with no distinguishing markings or scars. It was also noted that neither he nor his sister had permission to remain in the state of Virginia. At the time, permission was required to remain in the state after freedom was granted. Once freed they were obligated to leave within one year or risk being re-enslaved. It is unknown where Major would have gone or if any of his other family would have gone with him.
