October 12, 2024 – Shirley Plantation, Charles City, Virginia
Bo Price and Alicia Grangent, co-chairs of Vermont’s Stephen Bates historic marker committee, attended an event at the Shirley Plantation in Virginia on October 12th to celebrate the installation of the new historic marker for Stephen Bates (1842-1907). This was the second historic marker for Stephen Bates, the first having been installed in October 2021 near St. Paul’s church, where Stephen had been a church member in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Both historic markers describe Stephen Bates’ enslavement at Shirley Plantation prior to the Civil War and his journey to Vergennes, Vermont as a free man post-civil war where he was elected Sheriff for 25 years, starting in 1879. The first historic marker designated Stephen Bates as Vermont’s earliest known Black Sheriff and Chief of Police, while the second historic marker designated him as the earliest known Sheriff in the North, based on more recent research published by Jane Williamson, an historian who was part of the Vermont historic marker committee.
The Vermont committee was one of four sponsors of the application for the marker in Virginia. Liz Ryan, another co-chair unable to attend the event at Shirley, represented the Vermont committee during the application process. At the event, Bo Price, representing the Vermont committee, helped to unveil the faux marker. The actual marker had been recently installed on the road leading to the Shirley Plantation prior to the event.
The gathering at the Shirley Plantation was the first and largest gathering of descendants of those enslaved there, including a significant representation from the families descended from Stephen Bates. People traveled far and wide to attend the event. Larry Schuyler, great-grandson of Stephen Bates, spoke at the event, reflecting on his own journey to Vergennes and St. Paul’s in initally uncovering information about his great-grandfather.
In addition to the celebratory program, attendees were given a tour of the plantation which included tours of the outbuildings. Displays from the Stephen Bates Collection at the Bixby Library and Life of Stephen Bates documentary, filmed in Vergennes, were included as educational resources.
It was a beautiful day and a very moving ceremony, with speeches and a community choir. The family at the Shirley Plantation gave a lunch and reception afterwards for all descendants of those enslaved at Shirley and other program attendees including Bo and Alicia.
For more information about Stephen Bates please visit: https://www.saintpaulsvergennes.org/post/black-history-month-community-events-at-bixby-library
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