The Quander family is believed to be the oldest documented African-American family that has come from African ancestry to present day America. They are from the Fanti tribe of the Akan peoples. Historians believe so because they cannot find any records of any other African-American family whose ancestry has been consistently kept and published. Their origins began in Ghana, and now the majority resides in either Maryland or Virginia/Washington DC and more recently parts of Pennsylvania.
Origin
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. 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. 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 descent 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. Where the family’s freed members acquired land, Quander Road and later Quander Road Elementary School were named after the family. At least one home built along Quander Road has been standing for 100 years.
Slavery to George Washington
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. 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. In his will George Washington stated that he wanted his 124 slaves to be released upon the death of his wife, Martha Washington. George Washington died on December 14, 1799 with Martha signing a deed of manumission in December 1800, and the slaves were set free on January 1, 1801. 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.
Family reunions
There are two branches of Quanders; those who reside in Maryland and those who reside in the Virginia/Washington, D.C. area. The Quanders of Virginia and Washington DC have been celebrating annualfamily reunions since 1926. The Quanders of Maryland did not begin the tradition until 1974. 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. The family placed boxwood twigs and cuttings on the slave memorial in memory and respect to their ancestors who worked the grounds.
Noteworthy Quanders
Henry Quando
Many believe that he is one of the two sons of Egya Amkwandoh who was the first Quander brought to America through the Trans-Atlantic slave trade. He established himself in Maryland to build a family and eventually become freed in 1864. He was one of the first black males to adopt and act on the idea of civil rights, stemming from legal altercations involving his wife and daughters.
Charles Henry Quander
Charles Quander is the father of Nancy Quander, and worked on Hayfield Plantation; a slave plantation in present-day Fairfax County. Once he was freed, he bought two acres of land at a time up until his holdings amounted to 88 acres. When he died, his land around what became Quander Road was divided up among his children and then subsequently among their heirs.
Nancy Carter Quander, one of the daughters of George Washington's slave Suckey Bay and by virtue a slave herself, married Charles Quander of Maryland following her release to freedom. She was a spinner and landscaper; records have been found and kept of her work on the Mount Vernon grounds. She worked in the back room of the slave housing, spinning cloth for George Washington's garments. It is believed that she was unable to read or write, therefore after her release from Mount Vernon, no records can be found of her life thereafter.
Nellie Quander
was a 1910 initiate of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority and served as its first international president. She led a group of five other sorority members which ensured Alpha Kappa Alpha's perpetuity by securing legal incorporation on January 29, 1913. This strategic move enabled Alpha Kappa Alpha to grow by establishing chapters throughout the United States and, later, abroad. It also protected the name, colors, symbols and integrity of the organization. Nellie Quander also is closely related to George Washington as she is a direct descendant of West Ford, son of Bushrod Washington, who was George Washington’s nephew.
Elizabeth Ann Quander
Elizabeth Ann Quander was one of the first lead singers with the Duke Ellington Band. For a ceremony in her honor, she sang at the White House for former president Jimmy Carter in 1977, long after her retirement.
Rohulamin Quander
Rohulamin Quander is president of the Quander Historical Society, as well as an Administrative Judge for Washington, D.C.
Jay Quander
Jahmond “Jay” Quander is a descendant of the Quanders that worked on the Mount Vernon Estate, and established their freed slave community where Quander Road and Quander Road School stand. Some family members still live on the land acquired after their ancestor's release. Jay is now the Director of Food and Beverage at the Estate in which his family was enslaved.
Paul Alonzo Quander Jr.
Was the Washington, D.C deputy mayor for public safety and justice, with responsibility for the police and fire departments, and for six months was acting chief of staff for then Mayor Vincent C. Gray.
Michael Quander
Michael Quander is a television journalist currently working for WUSA-TV in Washington, D.C. He won a 2018 National Capital/Chesapeake Bay Emmy Award for "Historic/Cultural - No Time Limit" for his segment on his family's history.
