West Ford and Priscella Bell
2nd Sketch of West Ford
This is a drawing from an unnamed source of an older West Ford from the Ford Archives. Ford again signed his name at the bottom of the sketch. West Ford's name is more than a signature; he was a man who survived slavery and lived to tell his story to his children and his grandchldren.
William Ford
William Ford was the son of West Ford and Priscella Bell. William was born abt 1813-1814 on the Mount Vernon Plantation and died in 1874. He married Henrietta Bruce on September 3rd, 1840. Henrietta was the child of Daniel and Hannah Bruce, a well-to-do free family who resided in Virginia. Henrietta was born on June 7, 1819. The couple had George, John, Elizabeth “Constance”, Hannah, Matilda ? (Believed to have died as an infant). Drawing rendition by J. Madama.
George Washington, older
A painting of George Washington around the age of 60. In the Ford oral history, the father of the country was also the father of West Ford and a slave named Venus. For almost 56 years, Washington bought and sold slaves, yet at the end of his life, he freed the ones he still owned. West Ford would have been around 14 years old.
A Young George Washington
A painting of a young George Washington around 25 years of age. The world into which George Washington was born in 1732 was a comfortable one and wholly dependent on the "peculiar institution" of slavery. Washington's ancestors had been practicing slavery in Virgina for almost a century and throughout his young manhood he accepted the institution without question. He was born into a time when slavery was the mores of the old South. Washington owed more than 300 enlaved black men, women and children that provided the labor force required to run his plantation.
_0_0.thumbnail.jpg "West Ford, young")
Property of West Ford
*West Ford was willed 160 acres of land adjoining Mount Vernon in 1829, making him the richest black man in Virgina at that time. He later sold his land and purchased 214 acres adjacent to it which he later divided into four, 52-3/4 acres for his children. Before, during and after the Civil War his property became a refuge and depot for the newly freed enslaved. The area is known today as Gum Springs and West Ford as the founder and father of Gum Springs.
The Pittsburgh Courier Sat Aug 19 1961
Article stating that West Ford was known as the Negro son of George Washington.
This is what people are saying are about "I Cannot Tell a Lie: The True Story of George Washington's African American Descendants" by Linda Allen Bryant.
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Powerful storytelling with unforgettable characters...
Amazing what this family has endured and yet has found the strength to tell in this compelling story...I found the part about the Buffalo soldiers to be especially interesting. Also a touching and romantic love story.
I thought I knew my American history, but I was astounded by what I learned from this book. The author has done some fascinating work researching her family's journey from the Bushfield plantation of 1785 through the Civil War and race riots in Chicago in 1919. Much of this is mysteriously missing from our current public school history curriculum. Woven throughout the book is the thread of this family's strength fueled by their courage and commitment to place "family" above all else. Although sure to stir some controversy, this story needed to be told.
It's good to know that the ol' general was human after all. Hey, maybe the government will put George Washington's son on the other side of the dollar! (well, it was a thought!)
A great history lesson for all.
Though touted as a "novel," the back matter of this book demonstrates that this author did some serious research in putting together "I Cannot Tell a Lie." This extensive saga gives the reader a wrenching, personal tour through the victories and heartaches of one family - who spent 200 years in the shadow of a secret that can - and will - change the way the world views American history. The book gives us a whole new set of heroes - in the form of courageous, lively people of color, and of mixed race - who have been omitted from our texts. Read this book if you're ready to hear the truth about what America is, and should be, all about.
Linda Allen Bryant's book 'I Cannot Tell a Lie' was beautifully written and heartwarming. The characters were alive and appealing. Her statement, 'We hope that revealing the truth about George Washington's African American son will serve as a catalyst toward greater racial reconciliation amongst all Americans,' leaves me very proud and optimistic for our country's healing process.
I can't wait until the movie comes out!
It's about time someone came forward and finally told the truth.
George Washington, may not have chopped down the cherry tree, but Linda Allen Bryant, had enough branches to build a tree of his African-American Descendants. She weaves the story through each generation to bring us up to the present ending with her own family.
As a Washington buff, this is a story I had heard rumors about but never anything in any great detail, and this book at least made me consider whether or not my hero's blood flows through the veins of a living family. The author handles the sensitive areas of her story with grace and dignity, which heightens the humanity on both sides of the tale.
After reading this book, I finally understand the legacy of slavery left on the African American race. America has a diverse populace and it is about time everyone was included in the making of its history. This book was so appealing to my emotions - I cried and I laughed and I couldn't put it down! Truly this is one spectaluar piece of literary prose.
Wow, a black son!
I was very happy to hear that George Washington had a black son. I can relate to this book because I was born with blond hair and green eyes, although my mother is black and I look white like my father. It's hard living in a world that only sees black and white, even though it's full of color!!!
Thomas Jefferson did the same thing. The book was really good. I'm a white guy and I could relate to this book.
This book is very radical and to the point. It shows what all African American people had to go through without a history.
A quote from West Ford "Tell your children, tell them about the Old General. But don't tell nobody else' cause white folks won't accept it."
My initial thoughts on this book were "why did I volunteer to review this?" I wasn't partial to history, could barely keep up in school. I progressed to the foreword and realized this might be interesting. After completing the foreword, I noticed there were portraits of George Washington at age 25, West Ford age 21 and his mother Venus Ford. I was totally intrigued. The resemblance West Ford had to George Washington, his father, was uncanny.
What was so different about this story from all the other influential white men who bedded mulatto slaves and wives of sharecroppers? Nothing. What's interesting is how the Fords kept their family secret legacy alive. The prologue opens with Elise Ford Allen, facing her 79th birthday and choosing the "special ones" who would continue the legacy of the family. Each generation had a chronicler, who would continue the legacy. How neat is that. I, for one, am happy they did this. Imagine not ever knowing West Ford's story.