Wallace (also Wallis) was an enslaved worker who worked at Tuckahoe during the Wight and Allen period. He was born sometime around 1827. His name first appears in the inventory of the will of Edwin Wight in April 1850 and shortly thereafter on the Allen account in July. He is listed as a field hand of about 23 years of age. Two other men with the last name of Smith are listed below him: Edward (or Ed) born around 1829 and Generac (1831). Judging from the proximity of their birth dates, it believed they were brothers. All three were valued at $750 in the Wight appraisal which suggests they were skilled laborers.
Prior to being owned by the Wight family, he was owned by M.W. Kemp in Gloucester County. In 1849 he worked on the railroad in the counties of Amelia and Chesterfield.
It seems that sometime in November 1850, Wallace ran away from Tuckahoe. He was on the run until at least July 1852 and Joseph Allen put out numerous ads in the newspaper offering a reward for his return beginning at $20 and eventually escalating to $200. Mr. Allen described Wallace as “tall and slim, and of dark brown or gingerbread color- has a small head, large feet, bow legged and hesitates or stammers when alarmed or sharply spoken to”. He also noted that Wallace may have been attempting to pass as a free man during this period which indicates that Wallace may have known how to read and write (in order to forge his free papers) or he knew someone who did.
We do not know what became of Wallace Smith. Whether he was recaptured (and sold or even killed) or if he was successful in his bid for freedom. His name does not appear on any Allen account after 1850.
