Christopher Sheels

The Washington Family , the slave in the background is probably Christopher Sheels

Christopher Sheels (* around 1774 ) was a "dowry" slave on George Washington's Mount Vernon plantation in Virginia. It was part of the legacy of Martha Washington 's first husband Daniel Parke Custis . As a widow, Martha had over 100 custis slaves (including sheels) at her disposal, hence the nickname “dowry”.

In the President's household

Along with Oney Judge , Austin, Giles, Paris, Moll, and William Lee, he was one of the seven slaves who were brought to New York City in 1789 to work in the first presidential household. When the household moved to the new capital Philadelphia , three slaves were added: Hercules , Richmond and "Postilion" Joe Richardson (Joe's wife took the name Richardson after her release by George Washington, while Joe himself, as a "dowry" slave by Martha Washington, not released). He took the place of his uncle William Lee as the President's personal servant.

Pennsylvania had begun the abolition of slavery in 1780, banning non-residents from keeping slaves within the state for more than six months. In addition, the Gradual Abolition Act gave slaves a legal power to free themselves. Washington argued (privately) that its presence in Pennsylvania was based solely on the fact that Philadelphia was the temporary seat of the state and that state law did not conform to it. In a letter to his lawyer, Edmund Randolph , he saw it as useful to rotate the slaves who worked in the presidential budget in and out of the state to prevent this six-month rule from taking effect. He made sure never to be in Pennsylvania for six months straight and argued that he would continue to be a resident of Virginia. This rotation was in violation of Pennsylvania law. However, this action by the President had no legal consequences.

Mount Vernon

From January 1792, Sheels was a permanent servant in Mount Vernon, serving the family at meals. Washington returned to Mount Vernon after his second term in March 1797.

In September 1799, Washington discovered a note pointing to an escape plan by Sheels and his fiancée. Washington thwarted the escape plans. Sheels was standing by George Washington's bedside three months later when he died on December 14, 1799. Washington's last words are said to have been addressed to him: "It is good".

As a "dowry" slave, Sheels was not one of 124 slaves released according to George Washington's last will. After Martha Washington's death in 1802, he was one of 153 "dowry" slaves that she bequeathed to her four grandchildren.

Individual evidence

1. ^ Slavery By the Numbers from www.ushistory.org
2. ^ The President's House in Philadelphia
3. ↑ Pennsylvania's Gradual Abolition Act (1780)
4. ↑ Enslaved minors were legally freed, but required to work as indentured servants until they attained their majority.
5. ↑ Christopher Sheels from www.ushistory.org
6. ↑ Slaves at the President's House ( Memento of the original from January 7, 2014 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.  
7. ^ Joseph J. Ellis, Martin Pfeiffer: His Excellency George Washington . Pp. 331-333.