Harriet Hemings

Biography

Harriet Hemings, born in 1801, was born into the complexities of slavery yet came to live as a freeman, carrying herself with quiet dignity in a world that offered few guarantees to people of color. A member of the Hemings family, she navigated her life with resilience and grace.

Though much of her story survives only in fragments, her burial at Mount Olivet Cemetery stands as a reminder of the strength it took to claim a life of autonomy amid the shadows of bondage. Visitors honor her by reflecting on the courage she exhibited every day.