The History of Slavery in the Ag Reserve

Thank you to Kenny Sholes for his presentation on the History of Slavery in the Ag Reserve. With Kenny’s deep interest in the historic properties of the Ag Reserve and the people who lived and worked there, this is a subject that naturally surfaced.  

From the earliest settlement of Maryland there were farms and estates that required plenty of cheap labor for tobacco. The Medley District surrounding Poolesville had more than a few of these farms. Some may be surprised to find that population statistics from the 1790’s to the 1860’s show that 30% to 42% of the county residents were enslaved. Some of the former living quarters for these enslaved peoples are still standing.  

To watch the full recording of this event, check out our Facebook and YouTube channels. Register now and Zoom in next month when Kenny picks up his historical journey after the Civil War.