Syphax, William, 1825-1891

William Syphax
BIRTH 4 Apr 1825
Alexandria, Alexandria City, Virginia, USA
DEATH 15 Jun 1891 (aged 66)
Washington, District of Columbia, District of Columbia, USA
BURIAL
National Harmony Memorial Park Cemetery
Hyattsville, Prince George's County, Maryland, USA
MEMORIAL ID 125702732 · View Source

MEMORIAL
PHOTOS 3
FLOWERS 3
1880 Washington, District of Columbia
William Syphax Self mulatto Male 55 Virginia
Mary M. Syphax Wife Female 50 Virginia
Maria B. Syphax Daughter Female 18 District of Columbia
William B. Syphax Son Male 16 District of Columbia, United States
Mary M. Syphax Daughter Female 12 District of Columbia

Shortly after Charles and Maria married, Custis made arrangements to free Maria. He also gave her a 17-acre plot on his Arlington plantation, where she and her family lived as free people. The Syphaxes would go on to have 10 children, many of whom became leaders in the local community. Their son William Syphax served as Chief Messenger for the U.S. Department of the Interior. Through William’s efforts, his mother was able to retain the rights to her Arlington property when the U.S. government confiscated Custis’s estate after the Civil War.