Memoranda Respecting Servants, Washington, DC
Scope and Contents
One document preservation binder housing six manuscript sheets, size 6.25” x 7.50”.
Written in diary form and titled Memoranda Respecting Servants Washington, D.C., this log records the service of servants (both slave and free) who worked in an unknown Washington, D.C., household between 1833 and 1847. Pages have been removed (torn) from their original bound form. Details include purpose for which individual was retained, fees paid, as well as some personal details regarding servants and their reasons for dismissal.
Dates
- Creation: 1833 - 1847
Biographical / Historical
Based upon a search of the 1834 and 1843 city directories, none of the non-servant names could be ascertained as living in Georgetown. The first entry dated May 2, 1833, reads, “Removed to a frame house on D Street between 6th and 7th belonging to C.W. Boteler,” and the second entry, dated June 22, 1833 reads, “Removed to a two-story brick house on F Street, corner of 6th belonging to E. Fitzgerald, U.S. Navy.” It could be inferred that the writer was residing at these locations.
(Research has revealed that this paper was manufactured by Robert Donaldson, Phenix Mill, Hanover Township, Morris County, NJ. Active circa: 1820-1840.)
Extent
1 Linear feet
Language of Materials
English
Custodial History
No accession record is extant for this item.
Physical Description
Page 7 is watermarked:
R DO…
PHEN
Page 8 is watermarked:
…ALDSON
…X MILL
Processing Information
This collection is unprocessed. It was accessioned by the Library, and was placed in archival containers upon its receipt. A descriptive container listing was created to facilitate access.
Index of Names
Anderson, Milly (colored woman, belonging to Miss Semmes) 10
Austin, Mary (belonging to Mrs. Harrison) 8 Bell, Laura (mulatto) 1
Boteler, C.W. (owner frame house on D St between 6 & 7) (from 1834 directory: Charles W. Boteler, west side 5th west, between D & E, north. John D. Boteller, Guns & Locksmith, north side D north, between 6 & 7, west)
Brightwell, Mr. (owner of Letty) 4
Brook, Milly (colored woman) 2
Brown, Betsey (free colored girl) 5
Brown, David (free colored boy) 5
Buchanan, Charles (colored boy, about 10) 2
Butler, Ann (free colored woman) 4 Catherine (46, belonging to Mrs. Thomas Hughes) 6
Cummins, Mrs. (employer of Elizabeth, white girl, about 17) 7 Davis, Nelly (dark mulatto woman) 3 Eliza (colored woman belonging to Mr. Webb) 5
Eliza (belonging to Miss Webb) 7
Eliza (free colored girl…burned to death at Miss English’s Seminary, Georgetown) 10
Elizabeth (Dutch girl, about 20) 2
Elizabeth (free colored girl) 5
Elizabeth (white girl, about 17) 7
Elsey (free colored woman) 9 Fitzgerald, E. (U.S. Navy…owner two-story brick house on F Street, corner of 6th) 1
Fletcher, Cassandra (free colored woman) 8
French, Winny (colored woman) 3 Grant, Julia Ann (colored girl) 2
Grant, Michael (colored boy, about 10) 2
Gray, Jemima (free mulatto) 9
Gray, Mima 6 Hamilton, Miss (owner of Elizabeth Sims) 3
Harrison, Mrs. (owner of Mary Austin) 8
Henson, Winney 5
Hobbs, John (colored boy, about 12) 4
Hughes, Mrs. Thomas (owner of Catherine, 46) 6 Ireland, Archer (free colored boy) 3 Jones, Matilda (white girl, aged 19) 2 Landsdown, Kitty (free mulatto) 9
Lanham, Lucy (elderly free colored woman) 8
Lee, Betty 7
Lee, Milly 8
Lethe (belonging to Miss E. Moreland) 6
Letty (belonging to Mr. Brightwell) 4 Martha (free colored woman) 10
Mason, Mary (colored servant) 1
Moreland, Miss E. (owner of Lethe) 6 Parrott, Mary (colored woman, cross-eyed) 1 Rebecca (free colored girl) 8
Reeder, Isabella (white girl, about 10) 2
Roach, E. N. (owner of Susan)
(from 1843 directory: Edward N. Roach, register of wills, west side 8th west between G & H north, near G.) 4
Ross, Alfred (colored boy) 9 Sandick, Sarah (colored girl, about 14) 3
Scott, Mary (colored woman) 1
Scott, Rachel (colored servant) 1
Semmes, Miss (owner of Milly Anderson) 10
Sheppard, Mary Ann 9
Sims, Elizabeth (colored woman, belonging to Miss Hamilton) 3
Sims, Ellen (dowdy colored girl) 1
Susan (belonging to E.N.Roach) 4 Turner, Mr. (owner of Washington, colored boy, about 12) 3 Vincent, Mary Ellen (free colored girl) 6 Washington (colored boy, about 12, belonging to Mr. Turner) 3
Webb, Miss (owner of Eliza) 7
Webb, Mr. (owner of Eliza, colored woman) 5
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
Repository Details
Part of the The Peabody Room at Georgetown Neighborhood Library Repository