The Enslaved Workers of Mount Vernon and their Social Lives
The social lives of the enslaved artisans at Mount Vernon, are much harder to track than their economic lives. Much of what is known about the enslaved people at Mount Vernon comes from letters from visitors, oral histories, Washington’s will, archaeology, and runaway ads. Using archaeological findings on the estate, historians have come across quite a few things that would give an insight into the social lives of the enslaved. One dig that yielded a lot of information was the House of Families site. Most of the enslaved artisans who lived on Mansion House Farm lived in the House for Families. Archaeologists have uncovered things like bone fragments, ceramics, personal items, and game pieces, which gives an insight into what the enslaved people were eating and playing. One visitor, Julian Niemcewiz, visited the estate in 1798 and wrote in detail everything he saw in his diary. It was later published into a book, Under Their Vine and Fig Tree: Travels through America in 1797-1799.
There is even evidence of some of the enslaved people that had some influence on Washington. One example would be Hercules, Washington’s cook. Hercules was an extremely talented cook, and when Washington had to leave Mount Vernon to serve the presidency, he brought Hercules with him. Hercules asked Washington to allow his son to enjoy them as well, and Washington granted Hercules’ request. Hercules was also given special privileges not given to most of Washington’s enslaved. According to George Washington Parke Custis, Washington gave Hercules a salary of “one to two hundred dollars a year,” for selling leftovers from the presidential kitchen. During his free time, Hercules would stroll about town in his finery, and those who knew him would bow to him. [1]Hercules’ decision to runaway blindsided Washington, who thought that Hercules was well provided for despite being a slave.[2] Another enslaved person who had some kind of influence was Will, an enslaved overseer. Will approached Washington asking him if his wife, Kate, could be a midwife, a job that Washington usually paid a white woman to do. It is not known if Kate attended any births as a midwife during this time. By Will and Kate asking Washington to allow her to become a midwife, Kate ensured that the enslaved community would have one of their own tend to such an important task, such as delivering the children of the enslaved.
Some of the most important records historians have in regard to the enslaved people of Mount Vernon, is runaway ads. Several enslaved people have run away from Washington’s estate, some were lucky and were not recaptured, whereas others were. When an enslaved person ran away, their description was given in newspapers so that should someone stumble upon them, they would be returned to Washington. The runaway ad for Peros, Neptune, Cupid, Jack, and Ona Judge provides their mannerism, dialect, and what clothes they were wearing when they left. Information like this was not often documented unless seen in these ads.
REFRENCES
[1] Custis, George Washington Parke, Recollections and Private Memoirs of Washington (Michigan: Derby and Jackson, 1860), 422.
[2] McLeod, Stephen A. and Scheib Walter, Dining with the Washingtons: Historic Recipes, Entertaining, and Hospitality from Mount Vernon (Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association, 2011) 25.