Edith Cumbo (c. 1735 – ?) was a free mixed-race Black woman and entrepreneur who lived in

Williamsburg, Virginia Williamsburg is an Independent city (United States), independent city in Virginia, United States. It had a population of 15,425 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. Located on the Virginia Peninsula, Williamsburg is in the northern par ...

. Her life story is taught in the

Advanced Placement Advanced Placement (AP) is a program in the United States and Canada created by the College Board. AP offers undergraduate university-level curricula and examinations to high school students. Colleges and universities in the US and elsewhere ...

American history curriculum to illustrate the challenges that free

African Americans African Americans, also known as Black Americans and formerly also called Afro-Americans, are an American racial and ethnic group that consists of Americans who have total or partial ancestry from any of the Black racial groups of Africa ...

faced during the period of the

American Revolution The American Revolution (1765–1783) was a colonial rebellion and war of independence in which the Thirteen Colonies broke from British America, British rule to form the United States of America. The revolution culminated in the American ...

Early life and family

Edith Cumbo was born in around 1735 in

Charles City County, Virginia Charles City County is a county (United States), county located in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), U.S. commonwealth of Virginia. The county is situated southeast of Richmond, Virginia, Richmond and west of Jamestown, Virginia, Jamestown. It is ...

. Because her parents were free, she inherited their legal status upon her birth. Her mother, Francine Cumbo, was an Irish indentured servant. Edith's father, Richard Cumbo, a free black man, fought in the

French and Indian War The French and Indian War, 1754 to 1763, was a colonial conflict in North America between Kingdom of Great Britain, Great Britain and Kingdom of France, France, along with their respective Native Americans in the United States, Native American ...

, and was granted 50 acres of land in Williamsburg in recognition of his service. By the mid-1750s, Cumbo was living in

Halifax County, Virginia Halifax County is a county (United States), county located in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Virginia. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the population was 34,022. Its county seat is Halifax, Virginia, Halifax. ...

. In the 1760s, she gave birth to a son, Daniel. Because she was unmarried, Edith was accused of having a child out of wedlock. However, she was found not guilty of this charge by the presiding judges "for reasons appearing to the court." Local tradition and oral history holds that her father was reportedly a prominent and powerful figure in Williamsburg.

Later life

By the late 1770s during the American Revolution, Cumbo resided in Williamsburg as one of the only free blacks in the city. After her father's death, Edith inherited his 50-acre farm in Williamsburg. Records indicate that Cumbo was her head of household and supported herself financially through a laundry business and the farm which she inherited from her father, where she grew corn, barley, wheat, and tobacco. Cumbo never married, likely due to 18th century laws at the time which transferred all property and assets of women to their husbands when they married. In 1778, Cumbo sued Adam White, a caucasian man, for trespass, battery, and assault. This legal action was largely unprecedented for the period, as was its outcome; the York County court found in Cumbo's favor and awarded her one shilling in compensatory damages. During the Revolutionary War, Edith's son Daniel served as one of the troops alongside General

George Washington George Washington (, 1799) was a Founding Fathers of the United States, Founding Father and the first president of the United States, serving from 1789 to 1797. As commander of the Continental Army, Washington led Patriot (American Revoluti ...

Valley Forge Valley Forge was the winter encampment of the Continental Army, under the command of George Washington, during the American Revolutionary War. The Valley Forge encampment lasted six months, from December 19, 1777, to June 19, 1778. It was the t ...

Legacy

Colonial Williamsburg Colonial Williamsburg is a living-history museum and private foundation presenting a part of the historic district in Williamsburg, Virginia. Its historic area includes several hundred restored or recreated buildings from the 18th century, wh ...

tells the stories of 18th-century African Americans including interpreters in programs portraying Edith Cumbo, whom they also have formally named as a ''"Nation Builder"''. She is also featured in the organization's ''"Her Enduring Spirit"'' tour series. Cumbo's life story is included in the curriculum of American elementary, middle, and high school courses and units, including

AP U.S. History Advanced Placement (AP) United States History (also known as AP U.S. History, APUSH (), or AP U.S.) is a college-level course and examination offered by College Board as part of the Advanced Placement Program. Course The AP U.S. History course i ...

, regarding the History of America and Virginia History.

References

External links

Colonial Williamsburg Biography of Edith Cumbo
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cumbo, Edith 1730s births African-American activists Colonial Williamsburg People from Williamsburg, Virginia Women of African descent 18th-century American farmers African-American farmers 18th-century American women farmers 18th-century American businesswomen 18th-century African-American women 18th-century American businesspeople 18th-century African-American businesspeople 18th-century African-American people