Cornelius McDermott Roe worked at Mount Vernon from 1784 until at least 1788. Initially, he was an indentured servant. Roe was one of twenty-four Irish servants who arrived from the ships Angelica and Washington at Alexandria in August of 1784.1 After his two-year indenture with George Washington was completed, Roe signed a contract to work for at least another year, in return for a salary of thirty-two pounds plus board, lodging, washing, an allowance of spirits, clothing to be made and mended at Washington's expense from materials supplied by Roe, and an agreement by Washington to pay Roe's taxes and parish levies.2 Roe was also to be allowed one day off per quarter to tend to personal business.
Two of Roe's brothers were also employed by George Washington as ditchers.3 Roe later worked on the construction of buildings in the Federal City, including the the President's House and United States Capitol.4
Updated by Zoie Horecny, Ph.D., 11 April 2025
Notes:
1. Cornelius McDermott and George Washington, "1 August 1786, Memorandum of Agreement." George Washington Papers at the Library of Congress, 1741-1799: Series 4. General Correspondence. 1697-1799.
2. "September [1785],” Founders Online, National Archives.
3. “[Diary entry: 10 December 1787],” Founders Online, National Archives.
4. “To George Washington from the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 31 May 1796," Founders Online, National Archives; “To Thomas Jefferson from Cornelius McDermott Roe, [on or before 14 July 1802],” Founders Online, National Archives.
Bibliography:
Mesick, Cohen & Waite, Historic Structures Report (Mount Vernon Ladies' Association), 2-41.
W. Murphy, Nathan. “Cornelius McDermott Roe: Indentured Servant to George Washington,” National Genealogical Society Quarterly, 95 [2007], 135–46.
