Mount Vernon shines light on the lives of George Washington and enslaved community

Mount Vernon served as Washington's home from 1754 until his death in 1799. Today, visitors to the 8,000-acre estate can choose between tours that focus on the women of Mount Vernon or the history of the enslaved people who lived and worked there.

Maddie Tinsley, a Shreveport native currently living in Washington, worked as an intern at the historic estate. Her work focused on supporting outreach engagement with the descendants of the enslaved community.

Records show there were 557 enslaved people at Mount Vernon. Some belonged directly to George Washington. Others belonged to his wife, Martha Washington, who inherited them from her first husband.

Tinsley noted that much of George Washington's success was made possible by the enslaved workforce. Their labor made the rest of his life easier.

Living conditions for the enslaved population varied based on their specific jobs. Those who worked as cooks lived closer to the main house. Field hands lived in quarters located near the distant agricultural fields. Families were largely kept apart during the week. Children stayed with their mothers, and families could only gather late Saturday nights and on Sundays.

Unlike other Founding Fathers like Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson, Washington did not have a university education. His formal schooling ended when he was a young teenager.

Despite his limited formal education, Washington committed himself to lifelong learning. He built a highly profitable fishing operation on the Potomac River that hauled in more than one million fish in a single year. He also transitioned his agricultural empire from growing tobacco to wheat as his primary cash crop, and he operated the largest whiskey distillery in America.

During the Revolutionary War, the general chose to stay in tents with his men. Active fighting paused during the cold winter months, and Martha Washington traveled to stay with her husband at his winter encampments.

The Mount Vernon Ladies Association purchased the estate from Washington's descendants in 1858. The organization still operates the historical site today without any state or federal funding.

In 1983, the association established a burial ground to honor the enslaved individuals buried on the property. Stones now mark the locations of the bodies that researchers have found. Staff and visitors hold a memorial service at the site every day.

Local families still trace their lineage back to the estate. Descendants of the Quandra family continue to live in the local area today, including the lineage of Nancy Carter Quandra.

Other individuals remembered at the estate include George, a man Washington likely inherited from his mother and later freed through his will.

William Lee is also celebrated. George Washington purchased William Lee and his brother Frank in 1768. William Lee served as Washington's personal valet for over 20 years.

Another prominent figure was Daulle, who served as the estate's cook for nearly 30 years and trained others in her culinary skills. Daulle was the matriarch of a large extended family at Mount Vernon. By 1799, she had four children, 14 grandchildren and at least four great-grandchildren living on the estate.

In his will, George Washington provided for all of his slaves to be freed following the death of his wife. However, complications arose for married couples when one spouse belonged to Washington and the other belonged to Martha's estate, as Martha's slaves were not freed by the will.

The Mount Vernon Ladies Association continues to preserve these historical narratives. The next stop in this historical series will look at Philadelphia, the site of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.