Air Force Veteran Uncovers Hidden Family History in Virginia Home

Fred Miller, an Air Force veteran, bought a Gothic Revival-style house in southern Virginia. His intention was to have a space for family gatherings. Yet, he discovered hidden aspects of his family’s past.

The property, named Sharswood, was built in the 1850s by slave-owning relatives sharing his last name. Unknown to Miller at the time, it was once a plantation. “If I had known there was a ‘Miller Plantation,’ I might have put a connection with the last name Miller,” Miller shared in a 60 Minutes interview in 2022.

Miller’s sister, Karen Dixon-Rexroth, initially persuaded him to buy the house. She, alongside cousins Dexter Miller and Sonya Womack-Miranda, researched Sharswood’s past. Dixon-Rexroth felt compelled to learn about the property’s history. “I knew it was from the 1800s, so I began looking at previous owners and online records,” she explained.

With the assistance of historian Karice Luck-Brimmer, the Millers found proof that their ancestors were enslaved at Sharswood. “Since learning the truth…seeing the wear on the basement stairs, I realize my ancestors walked here,” Fred Miller disclosed.

During the 60 Minutes production team’s visit, a conversation with Bill Thompson, whose family owned Sharswood since 1917, revealed the location of the slave cemetery. Dexter Miller asked Thompson, “Where is the slave cemetery?” and Thompson pointed to trees near the property line.

Lesley Stahl later visited the site with Fred and Karen. Fred expressed his emotions: “It was heart-wrenching to find it so close all along.”

After the May 2022 airing of 60 Minutes, Fred Miller returned to Virginia. He established the non-profit Sharswood foundation to preserve the slave quarters and cemetery. Tours of the house are now available.

Watch Lesley Stahl’s full report on Sharswood in the video below.