Lydia Broadnax was an enslaved cook born in 1736 in Virginia and owned by George Wythe. She had no children or husband of her own as she was never married. After gaining freedom, Lydia worked as a boarding house keeper. She had few relationships beyond other slaves and freedmen, including Aggy, Dennis, Eve, Gaby, Johnny, Judith, and others. Lydia died in 1820 after living most of her life as a slave until gaining emancipation.