Hercules (chef)

Hercules (also Herculas, Uncle Harkless, * 1755, † after March 1797) was in 1780, the chef at George Washington's Mount Vernon in Virginia. In November 1790, he was taken to the then capital of Philadelphia to work in the local office of the President in the kitchen. Most of what today we know of him comes from Martha Washington's grandson, George Washington Parke Custis, the memory of which were published posthumously in 1860.

Mount Vernon

Hercules was probably the child of a slave of George Washington, or it was bought, after Washington married Martha Custis, the widow. Hercules took the seamstress Lame Alice, one of the " dowry " slaves of Martha, a woman, and with her had three children: Richmond ( * 1777), Evey (* 1782 ) and Delia (* 1785 ). Alice died in 1787, some years after his wife's death was Hercules yet another child by another woman. ; whose identity and eventual marriage but are unoccupied.

In the household of the President

Washington was so unhappy that he caused Hercules to Philadelphia with the kitchen in the presidential house. The other slaves from Mount Vernon, who also worked there, were Oney Judge, Moll, Austin, Christopher Sheels, Giles, Paris, William Lee and Joe ( Richardson ) ( Joe's wife and children took after their release by George Washington named Richardson, while Joe himself, as a " dowry " slave of Martha Washington, was released not ). At his request, his son Richmond was brought to Philadelphia. According to Custis Hercules was "a Celebrated artiste ... as a highly accomplished proficient in the culinary art as Could be found in the United States. " His cooking skills were highly appreciated by Washington. He received the privilege of leftovers for sale from the President kitchen, which earned him an estimated $ 100 a year. According to Custis Hercules was a " celebrated dandy " who spent his money on expensive clothing and luxury.

Pennsylvania had begun in 1780 with the abolition of slavery and banned there non-resident holding of slaves within the state for more than six months. In addition, the Gradual Abolition Act slaves was a legal power to liberate themselves. Washington argued ( privately ) that his presence in Pennsylvania is based exclusively on the fact that Philadelphia was the temporary headquarters of the state and that the state laws themselves would not be governed by it. In a letter to his lawyer, Edmund Randolph, he considered it expedient to let the slaves who worked in the presidential household rotate in and out of the state to prevent this six-month scheme could grab. He was careful to never be even six months at a time in Pennsylvania and argued to continue to be a resident of Virginia. This rotation was a violation or circumvention of the laws of Pennsylvania. This action of the President but had no legal consequences.

The son of Hercules, Richmond, worked on its side in the kitchen. When they returned again to Mount Vernon, Richmond was caught as he had stolen money. Washington had the suspicion that father and son were planning a joint flight. A few months later, in March 1797, when Washington's presidency ended, Hercules fled in the night before they returned to Mount Vernon, alone in freedom. Richmond was demoted to an ordinary worker.

Freedom for some

The future king of France, Louis -Philippe, Mount Vernon visited in the spring of 1797, a month after Hercules ' flight. His servants met his six year old daughter. In his diary, Louis -Philippe noted the following on April 5:

" The chef has run away, he is now in Philadelphia, and his little daughter has fallen in Mount Vernon. Beaudoin assumed that the little girl would have to be deeply troubled, because it would never see his father; she replied, 'Oh! Sir, I am very happy because he is now free. ' "

Hercules was a slave of Washington ( and not by Martha ), and although he would never know it, he was, according to the last will and testament of George Washington, four years after his escape freely. Then his wife Alice had been a " dowry " slave of Martha Washington in the possession of her first husband Daniel Parke Custis, the children of the two came through Washington's last will, however, not free. Like the 153 other " dowry " slaves they were divided according to Martha Washington's death in 1802 under their four grandchildren. About their further fate is not known.

Commemoration

A new building for the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia was opened in 2003, which partially stands on the site of the long ago demolished the President's house. On the lawn opposite this building is a memorial to the house and all its inhabitants, including slaves.

A portrait painted by Gilbert Stuart, that is now a museum in Madrid can be seen in the Thyssen- Bornemisza, probably shows the portrait of Hercules.