Uncovering a Family Legacy at Sharswood

In May 2020, Air Force veteran Fred Miller purchased Sharswood, a historic house set in the hills of Pittsylvania County, Virginia. Fred, who sought a place for family gatherings, had no idea that this house would lead him to profound discoveries about his own family’s history.

Fred’s family, including his mother Betty and sister Karen, grew up in the area. They often drove past Sharswood, a grand yet mysterious house. Encouraged by his sister Karen, Fred placed a bid on the property, doubting that as a Black man, his offer would be accepted. To his surprise, it was.

Upon buying the property, Fred learned that Sharswood had once been a large plantation, complete with slave quarters. This revelation was both shocking and powerful for the Millers, as the family’s knowledge of their ancestry was limited.

“Fred, owning the plantation, gave us a feeling of power,” shared cousin Tonya Miller Pope.

The newly purchased property led to unexpected revelations. Genealogical research by Karice Luck-Brimmer uncovered that Fred’s ancestors, David and Violet Miller, were enslaved on the very land Fred now owned. A Virginia Slave Birth Index even confirmed that their son Samuel had been born there.

Fred realized the significance of his purchase, taking steps to preserve the property and share its history. He invited archaeology experts Dennis Pogue and Doug Sanford, who confirmed the authenticity of the slave quarters, one of the best preserved in the area.

Beyond the house, Fred discovered a slave cemetery nearby. Plain rocks marked the graves, standing as silent testimonies to numerous lives.

This discovery prompted Fred to establish the Sharswood Foundation to maintain and protect the historical sites. He aims to open the space to anyone interested in learning about the history of slavery and his family’s connection to it.

The Miller family now uses Sharswood for gatherings, celebrating both their heritage and the legacy they’ve uncovered. The story has stirred feelings of reconnection and healing within the family, symbolizing a homecoming to a place entwined with their ancestry.