Nancy Davis and Eliza Ridgely III

Nancy Davis (1833 - 1908) was born a slave at Cowpens, the Howard family plantation near Hampton. However, she was free by the time this image was taken at a Baltimore photo studio during the Civil War. Davis was then nursemaid for little Eliza Ridgely (1858-1954), the daughter of Charles and Margaretta Howard Ridgely, and her brothers and sisters. Nancy continued to work for the Ridgelys of Hampton for many years, and is the only African American buried in the Ridgely family cemetery at Hampton National Historic Site.Paper, cardboard. H 9, W 5.8 cm