Julia & Lewis Cartwright Sr.
Marriage & Family
On May 19, 1841 two months before her indentured servitude to Samuel Whitall finished, Julia Ann Duckett (daughter of Gracie Duckett) married Lewis Cartwright (son of Rev. Joseph Cartwight). The couple lived together as a free family in Georgetown D.C. at 31 West Street (now 2620 P Street) until Lewis died on March 4, 1875. The couple had nine children, Alice, Annie, Lewis Jr, Margaret, Matilda, William Henry, and three children with unknown names (two listed as A. Cartwright and one listed as E. Cartwright in census records). Julia Ann died in March 1901 in their Georgetown house, which she left to her daughters Annie and Alice in her 1889 will.
Cartwright, Julia Ann. Last Will and Testament. 1889. Manuscript document
Path to Freedom
Julia Ann Cartwright, daughter of Gracie Duckett, was freed from the Whitall family on July 10, 1841 two months after marrying Lewis Cartwright. Her manumission by Samuel Whitall is documented in the DC manumission books (Vol. 3, p, 362). Lewis’ freedom was purchased by his father, Reverend Joseph Cartwright, but it is unknown when or from whom. It is certain that Lewis Jr. was free by 1850, as proven by the Free Inhabitants in Georgetown 1850 Census which list a 30 year old male “L. Cartwright”. Additionally, this census lists Lewis as a “Cart Driver.”
“Free Inhabitants in Georgetown, 1850 Census.” Seventh Census of the United States, 1850. National Archives and Records Administration.
Reverend Lewis Cartwright Sr.’s Church Work
Although not much documentation exists, it is known that Lewis Cartwright Sr. worked as a sexton at the Mount Zion Methodist Church.