People Enslaved at Monticello

*indicates link goes to an article in our Thomas Jefferson Encyclopedia

Bartlet (b. 1786), Enslaved Nailer

Mary Hemings Bell*

Ben (b. 1785), Enslaved Nailer

Critta Hemings Bowles* (1769–1850), Enslaved Domestic Servant

Cary (b. ca. 1785–sold 1803), Charcoal-burner, Nailer

Brown Colbert (1785–after 1831), Enslaved Nailer

Burwell Colbert* (1783–1862), Enslaved Nailer

Davy (b. 1785), Enslaved Charcoal-burner, Nailer, Sawyer

Dolly (b. 1794), Enslaved Weaver

Eliza (b. 1805), Enslaved Quiller

Jupiter Evans* (1743–1800), Enslaved Coachman, Hostler, Stonecutter, Valet

Edith Fossett

Joseph Fossett* (1780–1858), Enslaved Blacksmith, Nailer

Peter Fossett

Frank (1757-1809), Enslaved Charcoal-burner

Barnaby Gillette (1783–after 1827), Enslaved Cook, Nailer

Agnes Gillette (1798–1817), Enslaved Spinner

Israel Gillette (1800–c. 1879), Enslaved Carder (links to page in the Getting Word African American Oral History Project)

George Granger, Sr. (1730–1799), Enslaved Overseer

George Granger, Jr., (1759–1799), Enslaved Blacksmith, Manager, Nailer

Isaac Granger Jefferson* (1775–1846), Enslaved Blacksmith, Nailer, Tinsmith

Minerva Granger

Ursula Granger (1737–1800), Enslaved Cook, Dairymaid, Laundress, Nursemaid

Betsy Hemmings

Beverly Hemings

Elizabeth (Betty) Hemings* (1735–1807), Enslaved Domestic Servant

Eston Hemings* (1808-1856), Enslaved Joiner

Harriet Hemings* (1801–after 1822), Enslaved Spinner

Madison Hemings* (1805–1877), Enslaved Joiner

Martin Hemings

Nancy Hemings (1761–post 1827), Enslaved Brewer, Cook, Weaver

Peter Hemings* (1770–after 1834), Enslaved Brewer, Cook, Spinner, Tailor

Sally Hemings* (b. 1773–1835), Enslaved Domestic Servant

John Hemmings* (1776–1833), Enslaved Carpenter, Master Joiner

Priscilla Hemmings (ca.1776–1830), Enslaved Nursemaid

Cretia Hern (b. 1779), Enslaved Spinner

David Hern, Jr. (1784–after 1829), Enslaved Blacksmith, Charcoal-burner, Nailer, Wagoner

Mary Hern* (b. 1780), Enslaved Weaver

Moses Hern (1779–after 1832), Enslaved Blacksmith, Field Laborer, Nailer

John Hern (b. 1800), Enslaved Carder

Randall Hern (b. 1802), Enslaved Carder

Ben Hix (1784–1799), Enslaved Nailer

Kit Hix (b. 1786), Enslaved Nailer

James Hubbard* (1783–after 1812), Enslaved Charcoal-burner, Nailer, Stonecutter

Phil Hubbard (1786–1819), Enslaved Nailer, Sawyer

Robert Hughes 
Wormley Hughes* (1781–1858), Enslaved Coachman, Gardener, Hostler

Isabel (1800–1822), Enslaved Spinner

Isaiah (b. 1800), Enslaved Carder

Ann-Elizabeth Fossett Issacs

John (b. 1785), Enslaved Nailer

Lewis (1758/60–1822), Enslaved Carpenter, Field Laborer, Joiner

Lewis (b. 1788), Enslaved Nailer

Maria (b. 1798), Enslaved Spinner

Nace

Nanny (b. 1799), Enslaved Spinner

Sally (b. 1797), Enslaved Weaver

Shepherd (b. 1782), Enslaved Nailer

Suck (b. 1758), Enslaved Worker

At Monticello, Jefferson recorded only one free black man and two “mulatto” servants who worked in the 1770s and 1780s as general laborers.  Jefferson hired enslaved laborers, often termed “jobbers” or “hirelings,” from nearby owners to build the canal for his mills at Shadwell mills, dig an icehouse, excavate the foundations of the main house wings, construct the Shadwell toll mill, and begin the initial work on the Shadwell manufacturing mill. In some cases, these hired slaves ran away to their home plantations; others married and formed families with Monticello slaves. In the 1770s and 1780s, Jefferson hired white indentured servants and “bonded” mixed-race workers to work at Monticello. Indentured servitude – contract work with no pay – was a kind of temporary slavery that was a common form of labor in colonial Virginia.

George Bradby, a Free Black General Laborer

William Rice, an Indentured Servant and Stonecutter

Buck, a Hired Enslaved Shoemaker

Edmund, a Hired Enslaved Field Laborer

Essex, a Hired Enslaved Sawyer