Robert Tucker

Colonel Robert Tucker was a member of the House of Burgesses who represented Norfolk County, Virginia, a mariner, and a slave owner. His father, mother and uncle, from the Caribbean, had an extensive mercantile trade and a number of ships that sailed throughout Chesapeake Bay and the Caribbean. In 1737, Robert Tucker inherited the mercantile empire and slaves that were crew members on ships. He was active in politics from the time that Norfolk, Virginia was established as a town. He became the first alderman and was a mayor three times. His role as alderman, a lifetime role, gave him a lot of power to determine how business would be conducted. Tucker also ran a mill and bakehouse.

Early life Robert Tucker was the son of Francis Courtenay and Robert Tucker of Barbados, who was a "very extensive merchant" who died in 1737. His brother and close associate was John Tucker. His uncle was Edward Thruston. Robert, born in 1741 and was a burgess from 1765 to 1769,

His slaves were primarily men who worked the maritime trade, including pilots, skippers, and crewmen—as well has men who maintain his ships, like coopers and caulkers. The ships conducted trade throughout the Chesapeake Bay area and into the Caribbean. Known for their skills, the black men had a great deal of freedom, some were masters of ships with crews of other black men. Some of the men were intended to be freed though John Tucker's will, but a manumission law of 1723 no longer allowed slaves to be freed through wills. It is likely that Robert Tucker treated them as if they were free. One of the men was called "Old Joe" and was likely Jane's father or brother.

Career Second Capitol at Williamsburg (viewed from Duke of Gloucester Street), where the House of Burgesses met. Norfolk was established in 1736 Tucker was a member of the House of Burgesses from Norfolk from 1753 to 1755, when he resigned to become a sheriff. In 1766, he and his son signed the Sons of Liberty resolution, in opposition to the Stamp Act 1765.

In addition to his brother, Thomas Nelson Sr. and John Phrip were close associates.

Death In 1767, Tucker died. His estate was settled by 1770. Although he was a large slaveholder, only some of his slaves were inherited by his wife and son. After his death, and during the American Revolutionary War, Lord Dunmore established a camp at Tuckers Point in May 1776. There were 25 slaves who ran away and joined the British during the Revolutionary War, many of whom died during a smallpox epidemic.