Early Years
Political Career
Moseley was active in Republican Party politics throughout the 1870s and served on the resolutions committee of the 1870 state convention. A meeting of African Americans in Richmond in April 1872 elected him and seven other men to represent the state at a national convention of African Americans. In 1873 Moseley sought the Republican nomination for state senate, but in October announced that he would run as an independent Republican. He indicated, however, that if a Conservative candidate entered the race he would withdraw so as not to split the Republican ticket, which he evidently did since another Republican was elected. Moseley was a delegate to state conventions of African Americans in April 1875 and August 1875. He announced his availability for the Republican Party nomination for the House of Representatives in 1880, but John Paul, a Readjuster, ran with Republican support and won.
Later Years
When Moseley was a member of the Convention of 1867–1868, he had been described as a farmer, rather than as a boatman. In addition to the three town lots in Columbia and the property in Henrico County, he then owned only four head of taxable livestock in Goochland County. Following his father-in-law's death in 1868, Moseley and his wife purchased three tracts of land from the estate with him as trustee for her and their children. The property in the western part of Goochland County encompassed almost five hundred acres of land and had a taxable value when they finished paying off the note in 1883 of almost $1,800. To keep up the payments, Moseley borrowed money from two of his brothers-in-law. He had to sell a brick house in Richmond he had acquired through his wife and in-laws, as well as the three town lots in Columbia. He was not able to collect the money for the three lots, however, and initiated a lawsuit in 1876 that his children continued prosecuting until it was settled in 1901. Moseley and his family apparently resided on the Turpin family property in Goochland County, but Moseley family tradition indicates that he lived in the Haden family's former house. Following Moseley's death, creditors of Edwin Turpin's estate successfully sued to have the land sold. Moseley's wife died on January 24, 1890, and William P. Moseley died at his home in Goochland County on August 17, 1890. The place of his burial is not known.
Time Line
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ca. 1819 or 1820 - William P. Moseley is born into slavery in Goochland County.
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1857 - William P. Moseley and Martha Catherine Turpin marry. They are both free African Americans. They will have at least thirteen children.
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November 1863 - William P. Moseley purchases three lots in Columbia, Fluvanna County, for $3,000.
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August 1865 - William P. Moseley represents Goochland County at a convention of African Americans in Alexandria.
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October 1866 - William P. Moseley purchases part interest in 4.78 acres of land in Henrico County.
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March 1867 - The Freedmen's Bureau names William P. Moseley one of the six most-influential African Americans in Goochland County.
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October 22, 1867 - William P. Moseley wins election to represent Goochland County in the Convention of 1867–1868.
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July 1869 - William P. Moseley, a black Republican, defeats the white Conservative Party candidate for election to the Senate of Virginia.
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June 7, 1870 - William P. Moseley offers an amendment in the Senate of Virginia to prohibit racial segregation in public schools.
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April 1872 - A meeting of African Americans in Richmond elects William P. Moseley and seven others to represent Virginia at a national convention.
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April 1875 - William P. Moseley serves as a delegate to a state convention of African Americans.
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August 1875 - William P. Moseley serves as a delegate to a state convention of African Americans.
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January 24, 1890 - Martha Turpin Moseley, the wife of William P. Moseley, dies at her home in Goochland County.
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August 17, 1890 - William P. Moseley dies at his home in Goochland County.
References
Further Reading
External Links
Cite This Entry
- APA Citation:
Tarter, B., & the Dictionary of Virginia Biography. William P. Moseley (ca. 1819 or 1820–1890). (2019, January 17). In Encyclopedia Virginia. Retrieved from http://www.EncyclopediaVirginia.org/Moseley_William_P_ca_1819_or_1820-1890.
- MLA Citation:
Tarter, Brent and the Dictionary of Virginia Biography. "William P. Moseley (ca. 1819 or 1820–1890)." Encyclopedia Virginia. Virginia Humanities, 17 Jan. 2019. Web. READ_DATE.
First published: August 10, 2018 | Last modified: January 17, 2019
Contributed by Brent Tarter and the Dictionary of Virginia Biography. Brent Tarter is founding editor of the Dictionary of Virginia Biography.