Rubenstein Center Scholarship
Index of Enslaved Individuals
This article is part of the Slavery in the President’s Neighborhood initiative. Explore the Timeline
Below you will find a list of all known enslaved people who were associated with the White House. This list is not complete because some individuals were not recorded, and any documentation of their lives is either missing or lost. Research into the unidentified enslaved individuals that built, lived, and worked in the White House is ongoing. If you have more information about one of the individuals listed below, or know of a person not included on this list, please email SPN@whha.org.
Enslaved People Building the White House and Capitol Building (1792-1800)
- Abraham (hired out by James H. Blake)
- Abraham (hired out by Wilson)
- Abraham (hired out by Robert Young)
- Abram (hired out by James Hollingshead)
- Adam (hired out by Robert Douglass)
- Alexander (hired out by Joseph Turner)
- Amos (hired out by Anthony Reintzell)
- Anthony (hired out by Joseph Queen)
- Anthony (hired out by Peter Short)
- Bard (hired out by Reed)
- Basil (hired out by Richard Brown)
- Basil (hired out by Susannah Johnson)
- Ben (hired out by James Hoban)
- Ben (hired out by Toney)
- Benjamin (hired out by James Broome)
- Benjamin (hired out by James Burnes)
- Benjamin (hired out by James Hollingshead)
- Bob (hired out by Benjamin Burrough)
- Bob (hired out by William Cartwright)
- Bob (hired out by Bernard O’Neill)
- Bob (hired out by Gustavus Scott)
- Catherine Green (hired out by Burton Ennis)
- Cato (hired out by Robert Douglass)
- Charles (hired out by Eleanor Brent)
- Charles (hired out by Ignatius Boone)
- Charles (hired out by William Cartwright)
- Charles (hired out by John Cleare)
- Charles (hired out by Joseph Forrest)
- Charles (hired out by Goldsmith)
- Charles (hired out by James Hollingshead)
- Charles (hired out by Anthony Reintzell)
- Charles (hired out by Venable)
- Clinton (hired out by Susannah Mills)
- Daniel (hired out by James Hoban)
- Daniel (hired out by Samuel Smallwood)
- Dave (hired out by Wilson)
- David (hired out by Middleton Belt)
- David (hired out by Eleanor Brent)
- Davy (hired out by William D. Beall)
- Davy (hired out by Luke F. Matthews)
- Davenport (hired out by Samuel Smallwood)
- Dick (hired out by John Thomas Boucher)
- Dick (hired out by Middleton Belt)
- Dick (hired out by Mr. Alexander)
- Dick (hired out by Alexander Chisley)
- Dick (hired out by Anne Digges)
- Dick (hired out by Mary Magruder)
- Dick (hired out by Anthony Reintzell)
- Edward (hired out by James Broome)
- Edward (hired out by Samuel Smallwood)
- Emanuel (hired out by Alexander Scott)
- Fielder (hired out by Elizabeth Thomas)
- Frank (hired out by William D. Beall)
- Francis (hired out by Jasper M. Jackson)
- Gabe (hired out by Elizabeth Brent)
- George (hired out by Middleton Belt)
- George (hired out by Edward Boone)
- George (hired out by Gerard Blackistone Causine)
- George (hired out by James Clagett)
- George (hired out by John Davidson)
- George (hired out by Mary Magruder)
- George (hired out by Luke F. Matthews)
- George (hired out by Parker)
- George (hired out by Valentine Reintzell)
- Girard (hired out by Mary Brent)
- Gus (hired out by Bernard O’Neill)
- Harry (hired out by Thomas Bond)
- Harry (hired out by Bennett Fenwick)
- Harry (hired out by Goldsmith)
- Harry (hired out by James Hoban)
- Harry (hired out by Bernard O’Neill)
- Henly (hired out by James Simpson)
- Henry (hired out by Elizabeth Brent)
- Henry (hired out by Clemonds)
- Henry (hired out by Samuel Smallwood)
- Ignatius (hired out by Joseph Beck)
- Isaac (hired out by James H. Blake)
- Isaac (hired out by Susannah Johnson)
- Isaac (hired out by Parker)
- Jack (hired out by Middleton Belt)
- Jack (hired out by Richard Brown)
- Jack (hired out by James Burnes)
- Jack (hired out by Anne Digges)
- Jack (hired out by John Linton)
- Jack (hired out by William Pearce)
- Jack (hired out by Francis Wolfe)
- Jacob (hired out by James Broome)
- Jacob (hired out by Middleton Belt)
- Jacob (hired out by Ignatius Boone)
- Jacob (hired out by Ignatius Boone)
- Jacob (hired out by George Fenwick)
- Jacob (hired out by Anthony Reintzell)
- Jacob (hired out by James Stone)
- Jacob (hired out by Toney)
- Jacob (hired out by Robert Young)
- James (hired out by James H. Blake)
- James (hired out by Thomas Bond)
- James (hired out by Jasper M. Jackson)
- James (hired out by Pierce Purcell)
- Jarrot (hired out by King)
- Jerry (hired out by Susannah Mills)
- Jerry (hired out by Neale)
- Jess (hired out by Edmund Plowden)
- Jim (hired out by Mr. Alexander)
- Jim (hired out by Richard Brown)
- Jim (hired out by Edmund Plowden)
- Jim (hired out by Edmund Plowden)
- Joe (hired out by Bennett Fenwick)
- Joe (hired out by John Lynch)
- Joe (hired out by E.J. Millard)
- John (hired out by John Thomas Boucher)
- John (hired out by Middleton Belt)
- John (hired out by Nathaniel Dare)
- John (hired out by Bennett Fenwick)
- John (hired out by James Hollingshead)
- John (hired out by James Simpson)
- John (hired out by Louis Stone)
- Joseph (hired out by James H. Blake)
- Joseph (hired out by Clement Newton)
- Joseph (hired out by Joseph Queen)
- Josiah (hired out by Jasper M. Jackson)
- Josias (hired out by Edward Burrows)
- Kit (hired out by Gustavus Scott)
- Lewis (hired out by Ignatius Boone)
- Lin (hired out by Edmund Plowden)
- Liverpool (hired out by Richard Brown)
- Luke (hired out by Bennett Fenwick)
- Manuel (hired out by Olley Scott)
- Mich (hired out by Alexander Chisley)
- Mike (hired out by Valentine Reintzell)
- Miles (hired out by Hezekiah Orme)
- Moses (hired out by Ignatius Boone)
- Moses (hired out by Edmund Plowden)
- Moses (hired out by John Porter)
- Moses (hired out by Joseph Queen)
- Moses (hired out by Edward Simmes)
- Moses (hired out by Venable)
- Nace (hired out by Teresa Brent)
- Nace (hired out by Alexander Chisley)
- Nace (hired out by Goldsmith)
- Nace (hired out by James Hollingshead)
- Nace (hired out by Susannah Johnson)
- Nace (hired out by Clement Newton)
- Nace (hired out by Parker)
- Nathaniel (hired out by Overton Carr)
- Ned (hired out by Thomas Bond)
- Nero (hired out by Middleton Belt)
- Newton (hired out by William D. Beall)
- Oliver (hired out by John Jackson)
- Oliver (hired out by Mary Magruder)
- Orston (hired out by George Fenwick)
- Osten (hired out by James Hollingshead)
- Peter (hired out by Middleton Belt)
- Peter (hired out by James B. Heard)
- Peter (hired out by James Hoban)
- Peter (hired out by Susannah Johnson)
- Peter (hired out by Owens)
- Pompey (hired out by Jasper M. Jackson)
- Ralph (hired out by Clement Newton)
- Randall or Randolph (hired out by Samuel Smallwood)
- Richard (hired out by Mr. Alexander)
- Richard (hired out by Bennett W. Barber)
- Robert (hired out by James Broome)
- Robert (hired out by Edward Boone)
- Robert (hired out by Parker)
- Robert (hired out by James Simpson)
- Robert (hired out by Samuel Smallwood)
- Salisbury (hired out by James Stone)
- Sandy (hired out by Robert Young)
- Sam (hired out by Harry Burch)
- Sam (hired out by Robert Douglass)
- Sam (hired out by Edward Simmes)
- Silvester (hired out by Jane Brent)
- Solomon (hired out by Hoover)
- Stephen (hired out by Edward Boone)
- Stephen (hired out by Overton Carr)
- Stephen (hired out by John Cleare)
- Stephen (hired out by Joseph Dant)
- Stephen (hired out by Samuel Smallwood)
- Thomas (hired out by Edward Burrows)
- Thomas (hired out by Toney)
- Thomas (hired out by Leonard Wood)
- Thomas Humphrey (hired out by Jane Scott)
- Tom (hired out by Anne Digges)
- Tom (hired out by Bennett Fenwick)
- Tom (hired out by E.J. Millard)
- Tom (hired out by Pierce Purcell)
- Tom (hired out by Joseph Queen)
- Tony (hired out by Edmund Plowden)
- Tony (hired out by Pierce Purcell)
- Tony (hired out by James Stone)
- Walter (hired out by Joseph Queen)
- Will (hired out by Thomas Dixon)
- Will (hired out by Susannah Johnson)
- Will (hired out by Anthony Reintzell)
- Will (hired out by Edward Simmes)
- Will (hired out by Mary Simmes)
- William (hired out by James H. Blake)
- William (hired out by James Burnes)
- William (hired out by Samuel Smallwood)
- William (hired out by Elizabeth Thomas)
Enslaved People in George Washington’s Presidential Households (1789-1797)
- Austin (1789-1794)
- Giles (1789-1791)
- Hercules (1790-1797)
- Moll (1789-1797)
- Paris (1789-1791)
- Richmond (1790-1791)
- Ona (Oney) Judge (1789-1796)
- William Lee (1789)
- Joe Richardson (1795-?)
- Christopher Sheels (1789-1791)
Enslaved People in Thomas Jefferson’s White House (1801-1809)
- Frances (Fanny) Gillette Hern (1806-1809)
- [Child] Hern (1808)
- Asnet Hughes (1802)
- Ursula Granger Hughes (1801-1802)
- John Freeman (1802-1809)
- Edith (Edy) Hern Fossett (1802-1809)
- James Fossett (1805-1809)
- Maria Fossett (1807-1809)
- [Boy] Fossett (1803)
- John (Jack) Shorter (1801-1809)
- Alethia "Lethe" Tanner (1802?)
Enslaved People in James Madison’s White House (1809-1817)
- Abram (?-1817)
- Jim (?-1817)
- Sukey (Susan) (1809-1817)
- Joseph Bolden (Bolin/Bolen) (1809-1817?)
- Paul Jennings (1809-1817)
- John Freeman (1809-1815)
Enslaved People in James Monroe’s White House (1817-1825)
- Sucky
- Eve
- Betsey
- Daniel
- Tom
- Peter
- Hartford
- Unknown woman
- Unknown man
- Unknown man
- Unknown man
- Unknown man
- Unknown man
*The 1820 census indicates that six enslaved people were living in James Monroe's White House. Their names are currently unknown. If you have any information about these individuals, please email SPN@whha.org.
Enslaved People in John Quincy Adams’ White House (1825-1829)
- Holzey (1825-1828)
- Rachel Clark (1825-1828)
Enslaved People in Andrew Jackson’s White House (1829-1837)
- Adam (1831-1833?)
- Byron (1832)
- Charles (1830-?)
- Emeline/Evelina (1832-1837)
- George (1829-1837)
- Jesse (1832)
- Jim (1832)
- Louisa (1833?-1837)
- Gracy Bradley (1832?-1837)
Enslaved People in Martin Van Buren’s White House (1837-1841)
- Unknown woman
- Unknown woman
- Unknown man
- Unknown man
*The 1840 census indicates that four enslaved people were living in Martin Van Buren’s White House. Their names are currently unknown. If you have any information about these individuals, please email SPN@whha.org.
Enslaved People in John Tyler’s White House (1841-1845)
- Henry Armistead (1841-1844)
- James Hambleton Christian (1841-?)
- Mary Murphy (?-1844)
- Fanny (1841-1845)
Enslaved People in James K. Polk’s White House (1845-1849)
Enslaved People in Zachary Taylor’s White House (1849-1850)
- Charles Porter (1849)
- Tom (1849-1850)
- Dicey (1849-1850)
- Jane Webb (1849-1850)
- Henrietta Evans (1849-1850)
- Nancy Reed (1849-1850)
- William Webb (1849-1850)
- Caroline Webb (?) (1849-1850)
- Lawrence Smith (1849)
- Eliza Smith (1849-1850)
- Eli (1849-1850)
Enslaved Workers on the White House Grounds (1818-1821)
- Charles (hired out by John Winman, 1818)
- Harry (hired out by Mr. Cook, 1818)
- Isaac (hired out by Bennett Jarbo, 1818)
- John (hired out by Robert Miller, 1818)
- Peter (hired out by Thomas Murray, 1818)
- Thomas (hired out by Thaw, 1818)
- Nace Beall (hired out by Walter B. Beale, 1819)
- William Black (hired out by Richard Stonewick, 1819)
- John Butler (hired out by William Parker, 1821)
- Barry Davis (hired out by Mary Ann Borday, 1819)
- Andrew Elzey (hired out by Henrietta Elzey, 1820)
- Leven Elzey (hired out by Henrietta Elzey, 1820)
- William Elzey (hired out by Henrietta Elzey, 1819)
- James Forrest (hired out by Rich Forrest, 1819)
- Emanuel Green (hired out by Charles B. Davis, 1821)
- Henry Harrison (hired out by Sam Harrison, 1819)
- Peter Harrison, (hired out by Sam Harrison, 1819)
- William Harrison (hired out by Sam Harrison, 1819)
- Matthew Inglish (hired out by Julia Inglish, 1818)
- Vincent Kedgler (hired out by Ann Kedgler, 1819-1820)
- Daved Mitchell (hired out by Dennis Mitchell, 1819)
- Sampson Nutter (hired out by James Handy, 1821)
- Thomas Nutter (hired out by James Handy, 1821)
- John Parker (hired out by William Parker, 1820)
- Charles Shade (hired out by R.S. Briscoe, 1818)
- Henry Stewart (hired out by Ann Stewart, 1819-1820)
- Richard Tasker (hired out by Rich Forrest, 1819)
- Edward Waring (hired out by Basil Waring, 1819)
- William Watson (hired out by James Watson, 1819)
- Eprahaim Wilson (hired out by Betsy G. Handy, 1821)
- George Worthington (hired out by William Worthington, 1819)