Quander family

The Quanders originated from the Fanti tribe in Ghana. A man by the name of Egya Amkwandoh was kidnapped during the African slave trade during the late 17th century and transported to the United States.[1][lower-alpha 1] According to official slave records, when slave owners asked for his name, and he answered “Amkwandoh,” which was misinterpreted as “I am Quando.’ The next few generations of Quanders went by the name Quando rather than Quander.[4] Other variations used include Quandoe and Kwando. The name became recognized as the present day pronunciation “Quander” during the 19th century. Egya Amkwandoh had two sons, who were both taken away from him and split up. One was sent to Maryland and the other sent to Virginia. The first known records of the “Quando” family existing as free people come from the Maryland side, specifically the family member Henry Quando. A slave owner by the name of Henry Adams from Port Tobacco, Charles County, Maryland, included the freedom of the Maryland Quandos in his will on October 13, 1684. The Quandos who reside in Virginia are related to George Washington, as well as the ones who remained in slavery up until the death of Martha Washington.[1]

Where the family’s freed members acquired land, Quander Road and later Quander Road Elementary School (now known as Quander School)[5][6] were named after the family. At least one home built along Quander Road has been standing for 100 years.[7]

Nancy Quander and her mother Sukey Bay were amongst the slaves who worked on the grounds of George Washington’s Mount Vernon. Nancy Quander worked as a spinner for the Washington family and began her work once she was of age; 13 years old. She worked in a small back room behind the slave quarters.[8] The slave quarters were two one-story wings, one a female wing and the other male. Even if the slaves were married, they had to sleep separately. The quarters consisted of a working area and sleeping room, both of which had conditions that were unsanitary in addition to being small, and every room contained a fireplace as well.[9]

In his will George Washington stated that he wanted his 124 slaves to be released upon the death of his wife, Martha Washington.[10] George Washington died on December 14, 1799 with Martha signing a deed of manumission in December 1800,[11] and the slaves were set free on January 1, 1801.[11] On that date, Nancy Quander being one of the slaves included in Washington's will, was freed. She returned to his tombstone with ten others about 30 years later to pay their respects attributed to their loyalty to Washington, whom they claimed to have been like a father.[12]

There are two branches of Quanders; those who reside in Maryland and those who reside in the Virginia/Washington, D.C. area. Both belong to the African-American upper class.

The Quanders of Virginia and Washington DC have been celebrating annual family reunions since 1926. The Quanders of Maryland did not begin the tradition until 1974.[7] The Quanders had their 85th family reunion held at Mount Vernon for the first time in 2010 to return to the grounds their family was once enslaved to.[2] The family placed boxwood twigs and cuttings on the slave memorial in memory and respect to their ancestors who worked the grounds.[13]

• Syphax family