11/15/2025
Betsey Willson lived an extraordinary 102 years, passing away in 1887 — meaning she entered the world all the way back in 1785.
Think of what she saw in her lifetime:
-She was just two years old when the U.S. Constitution was signed.
-Four when George Washington became the first president.
-Twenty-nine when the British burned the White House.
-And by the time the 13th Amendment ended slavery, she was eighty years old.
Betsey’s life stretched across a century of America’s transformation — but much of her story unfolded in bo***ge. For most of her life, she was enslaved by the Swann family of Morven Park in Loudoun County. Pieces of her journey can be found in the 246 Years Project database.
In 1833, Thomas Swann took out a $1,500 loan and used five enslaved children as collateral — among them were Betsey Willson’s children, Jane (15) and Sandy (13). If Swann couldn’t repay the debt in 90 days, the children would be sold at auction. One can only imagine the terror that hung in the air during those three long months. Thankfully, Swann repaid the loan in time, and Jane and Sandy remained with their mother.
When Swann died in 1840, an inventory of his property listed Betsey, Jane, and Sandy. His will passed Jane and her daughter Martha to his son Wilson Swann, while Betsey herself likely went to Wilson’s brother, Thomas Swann, Jr. Both men inherited parts of Morven Park — and many of the people their father had enslaved.
In the years that followed, Betsey’s family grew. Henry in 1853 and another son in 1857 — Betsey’s grandsons, both recorded in the 246 Years Project archives.
After 1857, the paper trail fades, and we do not know where Betsey or her family spent the years of the Civil War. Betsey Willson’s name does not appear in the 1870 or 1880 census, and her exact whereabouts are lost to history.
Then, in 1883, her name surfaces again — in a most unexpected place. When Thomas Swann, Jr., a former Mayor of Baltimore, Governor of Maryland, and U.S. Senator, died, newspapers covered his funeral. The Washington Evening Star noted that an elderly woman, Betsey Willson, accompanied his remains as they passed through Washington, D.C. The article noted that she was born in Alexandria, had memories of the War of 1812, and had once served as a nurse to the young Thomas Swann, Jr.
Four years later, at the remarkable age of 102, Betsey Willson passed away — having lived through revolution, war, and emancipation.
Her story is one of many being uncovered through the 246 Years Project, which seeks to honor and document the lives of those enslaved in Loudoun County. To explore Betsey’s records and others like hers, visit bit.ly/43zjgLo and create a free account.
If you are a descendant of Betsey Willson or her family, the 246 Years Project team at Morven Park would love to hear from you: [email protected].
