In Alethia’s Last Will and Testament of March 8, 1864, she states:

• “I, Alethia, commonly called Lethe Tanner…” (1)

In the Bill of Sale, from Rachel Belt to Joseph Dougherty for the purchase of Alethia, she is referred to as “my negro slave, Lethe.” When Joseph Dougherty manumits her, he says “…[I] set at free liberty my Yellow woman Lethe, who calls herself Lethe Tanner.” (2)

In her nephew John F. Cook, Sr.’s diary from 1850, he refers to her as “Mrs. Tanner.” And is often referred to that way in the Session Book for the First Colored Presbyterian Church in 1841-1842, “…the Session of the Church held in Mrs. Tanner’s front room.” (3)

As far as I can tell, during her lifetime, she was always referred to as Lethe Tanner, or more formally Alethia Tanner.

Sources:

1. Recorder of Deeds Office, Washington DC, Liber M.K. No. 1, Folio 323

2. Recorder of Deeds Office, Washington DC, Liber 24, Folio 334 & 335, pages 334-335

3. Moorland-Spingarn Research Center, Howard University, Cook Family Collection

She was married to a Jeremiah Tanner. I found a 1862 City Directory listing for her that seemed to indicate that she had a husband named, Jeremiah but that he was deceased. I don’t know when she married or when he passed. There doesn’t seem to be an indication of her husband in any records so he possibly died at a young age.

I have found a Jeremiah Tanner who had been enslaved by a Dr. Upton Scott, a British doctor who lived in Annapolis. I can not be certain that this is the same man who married Alethia, but it very possibly could have been. Dr. Scott manumitted Jeremiah on August 13, 1803. Jeremiah, commonly known as “Jerry” was 28 years old and described as a mulatto.

See Jeremiah Tanner’s manumission document

Short answer is, I don’t know.

One theory I’m working towards is that family members who were telling the story of Alethia wanted to provide a “proper” name for her and her sisters. Maybe it was a way to provide some humanity to them, since as slaves, they didn’t have a last name…as far as I can tell. The records from the wills of Tobias and Mary Belt, and the Bill of Sale from Rachel Belt, do not give any last name for Lethe.

Another theory that I am working on is that perhaps there was a Browning somewhere down the line. It seems from descriptions of Alethia, as well as her portrait, that she was a ‘mulatto.’ I did a quick DNA match on Ancestry to see if I have any genetic connection to people who are descendents of the Belt family. I do seem to have a few connections. To be clear, I have not yet confirmed that genetic connection, but I wouldn’t be surprised if Sophia, Laurana, and Alethia were all genetically connected to the Belt family.

First written appearance of Browning Tanner

The first instance that I’ve found where the name Browning appears is in 1871, after Alethia and her sisters have passed. It is in the often cited iconic book by Moses B. Goodwin, History of Schools for the Colored Population in the District of Columbia: Special Report of the Commissioner of Education on the Improvement of Public Schools in The District of Columbia, says on page 197, “All of the Browning family belonged to Mrs. Rachel Pratt.” Although, Goodwin only refers to Alethia as “Mrs. Alethia Tanner” or just “Mrs. Tanner.” Prior to this, I have never seen the name Browning associated with any of the sisters.

Subsequent writings and books about Alethia, such as Letitia Woods Brown’s informative book, “Free Negroes in the District of Columbia, 1790-1846,” or the wonderful blog post by John G. Sharp on Genealogy Trails, use Goodwin’s book as a source for using the name Browning. She says in her notes on page 207, “The author [Goodwin] examined documents not now available and talked with former pupils of antebellum free Negro schools.” So perhaps that is where the name Browning came from.

Since I have no other mention of Browning prior to this book, I’ve concluded that her name is Alethia or Lethe Tanner.

The only primary source document that I can find that documents a Bill of Sale for Alethia is from July 6, 1810 from Rachel Pratt to Joseph Dougherty. The amount was for $275.

• Know all men by these presents that I, Rachel Pratt, of Prince George’s County and State of Maryland, for and in consideration of the sum of two hundred and seventy five dollars to me in hand paid by Joseph Daugherty of the County of Washington and District of Columbia the receipt whereof I do hereby acknowledged have granted, bargained, sold and by these presents do grant bargain sell and deliver unto the said Joseph Daugherty my negro slave, Lethe which said Slave Lethe I will warrant and defend to the said Joseph Daugherty his Executors, administrators and assigns, against me, my executors, and administrators and against every other person or persons whomever. In witness whereof I have here unto set my name and affixed my seal this sixth day of July eighteen hundred and ten.

  Rachel Pratt (1)

The confusion about the payment, I believe originates from Moses B. Goodwin’s History of Schools for the Colored Population in the District of Columbia: Special Report of the Commissioner of Education on the Improvement of Public Schools in The District of Columbia, which has been a primary source of information about Alethia. Unfortunately, I just haven’t been able to find documentary evidence to support the statement that is made on page 197 that she paid $1,400 in installments for her freedom.

However, there was a Bill of Sale for $1,450 that was made in installments but it was Alethia Tanner’s payment to John Davidson for her sister, Laurana and her six children. On April 15, 1826, she made a final payment to John Davidson for a sum total of $1,450 for purchasing her sister, Laurana, and six of her ten children. I believe this is where the confusion about how much money was paid for Alethia’s freedom. It was for her sister Laurana and Laurana’s children.

• Know all men by these presents that I, John Davidson, of the City of Washington, in the District of Columbia for and in consideration of the sum Fourteen Hundred and Fifty current money of the United States at different periods heretofore to me in hand paid by Lethe Tanner, of City and District aforesaid at and before the sealing and delivery of the presents the receipt whereof I do herby acknowledge and confess myself to be fully paid and satisfied, have granted, bargained, sold and delivered unto the said Lethe Tanner the following slaves,

  Oscar Fitz, Allen Cook, William Cook, Alfred Cook, Betsey Cook, John Cook, and their mother Laurana Cook  (2)

A year later, Alethia purchased another nephew, Thomas Cook from John Davidson whom she also had been paying in installments. She made a final payment of $25 for a total sum of $275. This again gives more credence that Alethia, herself was purchased for $275 seventeen years prior in 1810 rather than the $1,400 often cited.

• Received on the 10th day of this month of Lethe Tanner, $25 in cash, and I've received this day her note at sixty days for Two hundred and seventy-five dollars, dated 13 February 1827 endorsed by John A Wilson, which note together with the $25 in cash I have received in full of her for the purpose of my servant boy Thomas Cook, about seventeen years of age, the son of my housekeeper Laurana Cook, which servant boy Thomas I have sold and now deliver to Elijah Cheney for the said Lethe Tanner in the presence of Thomas Herbert and will warrant and defend the said boy Thomas unto the said Lethe Tanner, from all other persons whatever. (3)

Sources

1. Recorder of Deeds Office, Washington DC, Liber Y No. 24, Folio 334, page 334

2. Recorder of Deeds Office, Washington DC, Liber W.B No. 15, folio 356-357

3. Recorder of Deeds Office, Washington DC. Liber W.B. No. 22, p 220, 221

When Tobias Belt died in 1885, an inventory was taken on 18th of July, 1785, that listed all the items in his possession. Among the items listed were mundane items such as:

• 6 small butter potts

• 1 tea kettle and trivet

The end of this list includes the names, ages, and value of the people enslaved by the Belt family. You will see towards the bottom of this list is Leath, who is Lethe or Alethia and she is 4 years old. So if this Inventory was taken in 1785, that would make Alethia born in 1781.

• Toby, aged 53, value 30.00
  Tom, age: 26, value 100
  Merandir, age: 23, value 80
  Dabney, age: 14, value 50
  Hannah, age: 45, value 40
  Nelly, age: 20, value 60
  Jane, age 9, value 25
  Sophia, age 14, value 50
  Laurana, age 7, value 20
  Leath, age 4, value 10
  Easter, age: 18, value 60
  Jenny, age 7, value 20

Alethia was born enslaved on the plantation owned by Tobias and Mary Belt who lived in Upper Marlboro, Maryland. This town is within Prince George’s County. There currently is Chelsea Plantation that is now a part of Watkins Regional Park which is a part of PG Parks and Recreation.

You can see photos of that location here.

In 1795, Tobias’ widow Mary passed away. In Mary’s will, she divides up the enslaved people on their plantation to her various children.

Laurana, who is now 17 years old, is sent to Mary’s daughter, Lucy Belt Addison, who was married to John Cole Addison.

• Polly Addison, granddaughter (daughter of Lucy Addison)

  to have Negro Loriana" and that "Loriana" be allowed to attend to testatrix's daughter Lucy until Lucy consents to relinquishing her services to her daughter

Sophia and Lethe are to be with Mary’s daughter, Rachel Belt, who appears inherits most of the property and plantation. Sophia is now aged 24 and Lethe is aged 14.

• Rachel —daughter

  to have Negro woman "Nell" after the term of 6 years

  to  have the whole of testatrix's dwelling plantation being part of a tract of land called "Chelsea"

  to have all of Testatrix's plantation implements and such part of the crop growing as may not yet be applied to discharge debts, to have all of testatrix's plate excepting the legacy and household arid kitchen furniture

  to have Negro 'Sophia" with her children 

  to have Negro girl Lethe 

  and to have Negro woman "Esther"