On Tuesday February 16th, Prince William County’s Board of Supervisors (BOCS) convened for their third and final meeting of the month. It was a double session with the first meeting at 2:00 pm and the second closed session at 7:30 pm.

During the opening session the Board authorized the conveyance of various easements across Prince William County and the execution of a deed of reservation for stormwater reservation for Locust Shade Park. They also authorized an agreement for improvement of the sidewalk on Old Bridge Road.

Notably, Supervisor Jeanine Lawson, R-Brentsville initiated recognition of “The Settlement” a historic African-American community in Western Prince William County.

The resolution itself mentioned that February is Black History Month and that after the Emancipation Proclamation free Black people established a community in Prince William County which is now referred to as “The Settlement” and describes its location. Mount Pleasant Baptist Church is a defining landmark of the area.

The community has been a point of discussion for several years as it has faced developments that would change its geography. In August 2020 PW Perspective covered an event by the ‘Alliance to Save Carver Road.’ Concerns around “The Settlement” also surfaced in PW Perspective’s coverage of the Board’s October resolution to define equity in housing and environmental justice, which failed.

Supervisor Lawson introduced the recipients and thanked them for being present, and reflected on the “silver lining” of the “four to the five-year saga over fighting a massive transmission line was getting to know folks in the historic settlement.”

Settlement resident and descendant, Yolanda King, thanked Supervisor Lawson and the Board: “I am standing on the shoulders of my great-great-great-grandmother Sally Grayson, where she met, they met, at her house to start up Mount Pleasant Baptist Church. Her grandmother purchased land in 1872 to begin the settlement area. My family, as I said, are standing on their shoulders. They were carpenters, farmers, housekeepers, cooks, nurses, midwives, we’re just so proud, and ministers and church family and just devoted family members, and we’re just so grateful that we’re honored with this resolution today.”

Pastor of Mount Pleasant Baptist Church, Reverend George D. Carlisle Carlisle said, “Thank you so much for the support and the contribution and the effort that has been involved in this entire process making sure the settlement indeed is an integral part of the preservation process in Prince William County.” He believes “we could not make this possible without your support and recognition.”

Also in virtual attendance were Mount Pleasant Baptist Church Deacon Henry Peterson and Justin Patton Prince William County’s archeologist.