DABNEY'S  (ABNER'S) BARRY FARM PLOT TODAY

So, you may ask, "What does Dabney's plot look like today over there in Hillsdale, Anacostia, S.E.?"    Good question!  Let us take a look.  But before we do that, let me insert some interesting background facts.

Mr. Joseph M. Brown was a Commissioner and the Assistant Quartermaster ​Disbursing Officer for the Freedman's Bureau.  His duties included managing, approving and ​generally watching over any type of distribution given to the former slaves and others whom the Freedman's Bureau served.  Barry Farms had a local Superintendent, J.B. Johnson who reported to Mr. Brown and supervised actions related to Barry  Farm.  When plots were sold to the former slaves at Barry Farm, they generally had been divided beforehand into 1 acre lots.  Included in the sale was enough lumber to build a 2- room house (what a deal!).  They were required, however to make monthly payments for 2 years before they received full ownership of the property.

I mention the officials above and the fact that wood was also sold to the former slaves, because we shall post now a document showing that in a letter (an order) addressed to J.B. Johnson, Superintendent of Barry Farm,  Commissioner  Joseph M. Brown authorized the  Superintendent  to sell four hundred (400) feet of spruce flooring and two hundred (200) feet of hemlock board to Abner (Dabney) Fleming.   I actually found this record.   How cool is that?  Here is the document.  It reads "The Asst. Commissioner DC this day directs that the following lumber be sold to Abner Fleming."  It then goes on to describe the wood and quantities.  Real cool!. 

Let's get back to finding the location  of Dabney's plot and what it looks like today.  That is where we started out.

previous next

Page 4