Del. Hargrove's great-grandfather owned slave

Richmond Times Dispatch ^ | January 23, 2007 | BY OLYMPIA MEOLA AND PAMELA STALLSMITH

[ItMatters2Me]

Del. Frank D. Hargrove Sr., who recently disparaged blacks and Jews with comments about apologizing for slavery, had a great-grandfather who owned a slave.

The Hanover Republican yesterday gained unanimous approval to introduce a resolution in the House commemorating the end of slavery in America. The measure would acknowledge Juneteenth, the nationally recognized commemoration of the end of slavery in the United States.

A search by librarians at The Times-Dispatch and the Library of Virginia shows that Hargrove's great-grandfather owned a slave. An 1850 slave schedule lists Nathan D. Hargrove, a 22-year-old Henrico County resident, as owning a 60-year-old female slave.

[ItMatters2Me]

Disgusting; that the Times Disgrace would sanction such a hateful 'investigation'. Would it be balanced reporting to perform a similar witch hunt on Virginia's junior Senator Jim Webb? (Please FREEP the poll that is attached to the article).

[ArrogantBustard]

OLYMPIA MEOLA AND PAMELA STALLSMITH have just outed themselves as race-baiting demagogues.

[Loyalist]

So?

[ElectricStrawberry]

I surely hope nobody holds against me the infractions of my great grandfather.

[Thorin]

Some of the greatest men in American history owned slaves. Having ancestors who owned slaves is not, in itself, anything to be ashamed of.

[King Moonracer]

An 1850 slave schedule lists Nathan D. Hargrove, a 22-year-old Henrico County resident, as owning a 60-year-old female slave.

Harold and Maude?

[The_Victor]

A search by librarians at The Times-Dispatch and the Library of Virginia shows that Hargrove's great-grandfather owned a slave. An 1850 slave schedule lists Nathan D. Hargrove, a 22-year-old Henrico County resident, as owning a 60-year-old female slave.

So they're going to crucify a man for the legal actions of his great grandfather 157 years ago? This goes several steps beyond an expos-facto prosecution.

[Lazamataz]

Somewhere in my past, one of my ancestors undoubtably killed a man. Therefore, I am a murderer.

Somewhere in my past, one of my ancestors undoubtably raped a woman. Therefore, I am a rapist.

Somewhere in my past, one of my ancestors undoubtably stole. Therefore, I am a thief.

This is beyond silly, right into lunacy.

[GodfearingTexan]

if the guy owned a slave he must've had some success in life. big deal. stupid reporters.

[MBB1984]

Exactly.

[Captain Jack Aubrey]

Of course the sponsor of the slavery apology resolution is a member of a racially exclusive club: the black caucus.

But that is NOT news.

[jwparkerjr]

re: disparaged blacks and Jews

That by itself is grounds for having serious doubts about this man's fitness to serve in a legislative body. The fact a distant relative owned a slave is completely irrelevant to the story.

I am really tired of hearing how badly politics have slipped into the gutter and always hearing it from a Democrat whose party led the charge into the gutter.

[SoftballMominVA]

Yah know, I almost ordered up a big box of "I don't care" after reading about this finding. Then I realized I already had it and I just don't care!

[tiger-one]

Ok time to go after sheets Sen. Byrd

[edpc]

Many black Americans today likely had relatives who were slave owners through interracial marriage, or (gasp) ancestors in Africa who owned slaves. It's not like it was a dinstincly American practice.

[ArrogantBustard]

disparaged blacks and Jews

Did they accuse him of disparaging "blacks" and Jews? (Link to article didn't work for me.) If so, then we can add "slander" to the list of charges against race-baiting demagogues OLYMPIA MEOLA AND PAMELA STALLSMITH.

[StarFan]

I'd freep the poll if I could find it.

[Captain Jack Aubrey]

"re: disparaged blacks and Jews"

Well, he said that blacks, who were never slaves, of course, should just get over slavery and move on. It ended 140+ years ago.

He said apologizing for slavery would be like asking Jews to apologize for killing Christ, which would be ridiculous.

Calls to his office are running 20-1 in favor of his comments.

[Red Badger]

Somewhere in my past, one of my ancestors undoubtably was a KING. Therefore, I am in charge.........

[sgtbono2002]

So What?