In 1809, a 10-year-old slave named Paul Jennings arrived at the White House, where he would serve President James Madison. On August 24, 2009, nearly two dozen descendants of the former slave were reunited at the presidential mansion. Historians say the reunion brings much-deserved attention to the role of African Americans in the history of the White House, which was built by slave labor. Thanks to Beth Taylor, a researcher at Montpelier, the Madison plantation, a family has its history back. Her “genealogical sleuthing” tracked down Jennings’s descendants, in the process discovering the only known photograph of Jennings and also finding a rare edition of his 19-page memoir, A Colored Man’s Reminiscences of James Madison.
According to Jennings’s recollections, he served Madison until the latter’s death in 1836. After buying his own freedom 11 years later, he helped organize a daring (though ill-fated) slave escape aboard a schooner named Pearl in 1848. Jennings and his wife, Fanny, had five children.
The date of the reunion – August 24 – has special significance to White House history: the anniversary of the famous rescue of the portrait of George Washington in 1814. In his memoir, Jennings recalled the chaotic flight from the White House, hours before the British set it ablaze. He witnessed, and probably assisted in, the saving of the Washington portrait. The full-length painting by Gilbert Stuart, which hangs in the East Room, is the only item currently on display that was present when the White House first opened in 1800.
Related Links
- Madison and the White House, through the Memoir of a Slave
This New York Times article tells the story of Paul Jennings, his memoir, and his descendants who honored his memory by gathering at the White House on August 24.(Source: New York Times, August 15, 2009) - Descendants of Madison’s Slave to Tour White House
This Philadelphia Inquirer article notes the significance of August 24: it was the day, in 1814, when the portrait of George Washington that still hangs in the White House was saved from British invaders – with the help of Paul Jennings.(Source: Philadelphia Inquirer, August 24, 2009) - For D.C. Family, a Distinguished, if Little-Known, Ancestor
This Washington Post story tells how descendants of Paul Jennings, the slave who served President James Madison, learned of their connections to him; includes a brief photo slideshow.(Source: Washington Post, August 25, 2009) - White House 101: Facts and Fun for All Ages
This Web site has a wealth of information on the White House, including the mansion’s history, biographies of every U.S. president and first lady, and even a photo gallery of the nation’s “First Pets.”(Source: whitehouse.gov; accessed August 30, 2009)