Vira, 1776-
Biography
Vira, or Elvira was born in 1776. An enslaved African American, she was owned by Henry Champion of Westchester, CT. Champion gave Elvia to his daughter Dorothy at the time of her 1781 marriage to Julius Deming. Champion, however, kept legal ownership of Elvira. The Demings came to Litchfield, where Julius, a merchant, became one of the town's wealthiest men. The Deming-Perkins Memorial, a family history held by the Litchfield Historical Society, recounts Vira's life. Henry Champion died in 1798, freeing his three male enslaved people and leaving Vira to his daughter Dorothy Champion Deming. His will stated, "... as I am not an advocate of slavery it is my desire that [she] be set free at twenty-six years of age." Vira left Litchfield in 1798 and went to New Haven where she worked for the wealthy Hillhouse family, which had many ties to Litchfield. In 1799, Julius Deming, Jr. wrote home of seeing Vira, saying her child was "a very handsome brat, its name is Alfred." Nothing is known as to Alfred's father. In 1799 Vira went to New York. Julius Deming filed her emancipation papers with the Town Clerk in 1801. A year later she was back in New Haven, doing laundry for Yale College. She had been in Litchfield as she wrote little Alfred was "homesick." After this she went to New York and "started the famous restaurant known as 'Elvira's,' adjoining the Park Theater." The restaurant was said to be "the resort of actors and pucks of those days." The family history also states Vira came to visit in Litchfield as an elderly woman. A letter written by Vira, along with several documents referring to her, can be found in the Deming, Perkins and Quincy families' papers.
Citation:
Author: Lynne Templeton BrickleyFound in 9 Collections and/or Records:
Champion, Clarissa to Deming, Dorothy, 1800 Feb 1
Item 1
Writes with news of friends and family; sleighing; Lucretia's pianoforte; has written a eulogy; an account of Bonaparte; books she has read; Phebe Moseley's weight gain; a poem she wrote about Bonaparte; a superb ball; Miss Phebe's hairstyle; mourning on Feb. 22; would send Vira a painting is she had any brushes. A small painting of flowers is attached to the first page.
Correspondence, 1798
Folder 1
Deming Jr. writes from Yale about needing money and settling his accounts; Vira has a child and is living at Mr. Hillhouse's; Isaac Baldwin will be publicly admonished; other details about his life in New Haven.
Correspondence, 1799
Folder 2
Deming Jr. writes from Yale about needing money and settling his accounts; Vira; news of family and friends; activities at Yale; his health.
Deming, Dorothy Champion to Deming, Dorothy, 1816 Oct 3
Item 4
Continues her account of the death of Mrs. Lyman Beecher started in her Oct. 1, 1816, letter; her new girl is working out better than she expected; can Dorothy bring some cranberries; inquires about little Mary and Vira.
Deming, Dorothy Champion to Deming, Julius, Jr., 1799 Jun 20
Item 1
Writes to her son that Julius Deming (Sr.) saw Vira in New Haven; discusses Vira; Miss Sally has a school ball; Independence begins to make a noise; news of friends and family.
Deming, Dorothy to Deming, Charles, 1817
Item 4
Writes to her brother regarding health of their father and other news of their parents; state of fruits and vegetables; intends visiting Burlington this fall with Miss Pierce; news of friends; Vira will know what kind of hat or bonnet she would like; acquiring some cambric for her; health of Gov. Wolcott; two trials upcoming for capital punishment.
Emancipation of Vira, a servant girl, 1801 Apr 6
Folder 20
Signed by James Morris, Justice of the Peace, and John Welch and James Marsh, Selectmen.
Families and individuals, [?], Vira
[?], Vira to Deming, Dorothy, 1802 Jun
Item 3
Vira, who was formerly enslaved by Henry Champion and Julius Deming, writes that she was glad to see both Charles and Julius Deming (Dorothy's brother and father); encloses back and sleeves of a gown of the latest fashion; discusses her activities.