Ceremony honors George Washington's slaves on 200th anniversary of their freedom

A portrait shows George Washington with one of his slaves

From CNN National Correspondent Bruce Morton and CNN Producer Bill Mears

MOUNT VERNON, Virginia (CNN) -- Direct descendants of George Washington's slaves gathered Monday at the Virginia home of the former president to mark the 200th anniversary of their ancestors' emancipation.

Boxwood wreaths were laid at a memorial honoring the 316 slaves who lived and worked at Mount Vernon at the time of Washington's death in 1799.

"I hope you feel as I do, a sense of joy and sadness," said Irene Alexander, a descendant of Suckey Bay, a farm laborer at Mount Vernon. Alexander was among a number of descendants who served as re-enactors of their slave forebears, sharing with visitors their families' histories and their connection to the estate.

VIDEO CNN's Bruce Morton reports on the contributions of George Washington's slaves Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media)

Washington's will directed that his 123 slaves be freed upon his death. His widow, Martha, carried out her husband's wishes on New Year's Day, 1801.

But not all the slaves at Mount Vernon became free that day. About 200 slaves owned by Mrs. Washington from a previous marriage could not be freed, under a Virginia law.

Among them was Caroline Burnham, who was Mrs. Washington's maid at the main mansion.

Slave descendant Irene Alexander hangs a wreath during memorial ceremonies on Monday

ZSun-nee Matema, a descendant of Caroline who portrayed her in Monday's re-enactment said, "Anyone that could survive those times in American history deserves all the dignity that we can give her. And I promised to give my Caroline that."

Washington's will also directed for the continued care and support of his former slaves. Many of them continued living at Mount Vernon as pensioners into the 1830s, according to historians at the estate.

Mount Vernon is a popular tourist destination, located just south of Washington D.C. along the Potomac River. Its mansions and grounds are preserved to the time Washington lived there.

George Washington's Mount Vernon

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