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following program is a
production of the Fairfax
network Fairfax County Public
Schools this program was made
possible through generous
support from the Donald W
Reynolds foundation to George
Washington's Mount Vernon estate
Museum and Gardens hear my story
the enslaved community at Mount
Vernon is a co-production of the
Fairfax network and George
Washington's Mount Vernon estate
Museum and Gardens
please join me in welcoming on
guest this evening we join them
in the year 1792 General
Washington's mansur throughout
the revolutionary war and now
oversees the shoemaker's shop in
the AM main particularly to the
presidential home in
philadelphia Bob Jennings is
with us tomorrow morning to
journey to Mount Vernon to be
with Mr Jefferson has he calls
on general washington and can
close to Mr Washington Shields
is no I i brought up Christopher
in that location at the house
just to let you know
well I was a young boy we we go
to Philadelphia to get out and
do it for him the Commission
general you travel with him
during the war
oh yes and hours a day realism
for example my body and as our
bodies served you tend to his
body so you can say that just as
well as his wife mrs. washington
knows some of the conversations
that went into forming the
constitution for example my game
up 12 as well as I did when you
hear about what he just in just
a moment could you tell me how
often are you with missus
Washington how close are you
kept under Fred Wilpon how can I
just into a mostly learn what it
takes to wait to her I'm also
handle woman and a seamstress
you see missus washington Post
the Queen's night captain you
see an hour and then have you
not well it takes a lot to
represent her in that way so I
help in that regard and travel
with her as well
first to New York to
Philadelphia with the presidency
you feel like you know some of
her innermost secrets I will you
you can't help it if you are
that close to someone
you do know them quite well she
asked you advice on anything I
wouldn't say anything like that
but i just as much as well
the young was added to the home
they're just sometimes proximity
world will give you familiarity
with someone but you are quite
aware of your place and Mr Bob
Jennings how close are you with
mister jefferson talked about as
part of a long time since I
seventy-five problem with
Philadelphia where he go to
shave him to propose horses
horses horses if you may
understand that not as far as a
joke so does he ask your advice
and they are many things he
bring you into the conversations
we must understand that the town
so everybody else about the
nature of our masters and
servants they will give him your
opinion on issues of them
opinions on the best things I
whether using not that has to be
discussed and Caroline know you
want me vs Washington here in
Mount Vernon how well do you say
that you would know and I'm not
revealing my age now
that was quite a lot of course
he was with her during the
presidency here because I was
with child I couldn't go up
got five children now that's
quite enough but I would say I
know well I know her likes and
dislikes her temperament or
temperament yes Mr Shiels now
you are currently the generals
man serving his right hand man
and how close to what you said
that you are with him I was
chosen by the channel to be his
manservant at the building a
retired and I think he chose it
because of the Trust said he had
built up with me
me to Philadelphia see I was
bitten by a dog disease that he
was afraid I might get I was
about maybe thirty diseases and
he said me to Philadelphia to
get cured and he gave money to
pay a doctor and which idea to
change back to him so trusting
and I felt he trusted week and I
believe that led to me now being
chosen to be his maidservant now
I know every frog is going to
praise his only pass
a lot from Billy but sometimes
we don't see how things here but
I still regard him Hartlepool
he's done in his lifetime with
the general so we know that the
American Revolution is the
Constitution has been ratified
three-fifths of a person being
as close to the journalists who
work for so many years what is
that about this and a man of
modern day here's what I see
happening from massachusetts
rolled down the New York had to
cross the river is a lot of
folks say in the south
cuz if we would take over 20
2012 you were looking to count
the number of people a
representative would represent
in congress which they might
lessen the person that's what I
have
taxation industry fifth civil
person I mean how could even
come up with you know it's not
just to replace the whole horses
get counted as a whole so we can
be counted as one people I'm not
comfortable with this idea
three-fifths here and it's not a
bad thing is a bit demeaning
we've come to understand what it
means that it is for
representation and taxation and
all those sorts of things but
just as we understand what it
means doesn't mean that have
changed I think that it's any
more like they are still there
still use and manage these men
were slaves at the expense of us
they advantage makes us less
that humans and you can't you
can't shake this I soon
rightfully so that once the
Constitution was ratified in the
words of the preamble citizen
all men are created equal that
you might find your freedom is
it might correct in assuming
that that's what you thought no
it's just understanding with the
words mean all men are created
equal that that that the fact
that I don't think anyone if you
don't want to go down for the
whole lot about why they should
all be a good book said
everybody knows that the country
is the question
question is on human rights now
reaching out what do that mean
that we well I was told
god-given right not something
right all right on man can give
you is something that's created
a natural laws that natural laws
I believe creation of God so
therefore I believe that I am
part of that deal right now is
more important to you to be sure
to have your freedom
separate issues you have to have
both an even trade negroes now
not treated the same in the eyes
of the law as a matter of fact
many of the laws that pertain to
us as property also pertain to
those negroes on the road ozone
Indians who are free but you
must have an answer for you can
come and go if I like if I want
to make my way that I can do
such amorsote talk and talk to
the tree what might you motion
what we did we fought a war and
we had to be able to
around so long to be free
be able to walk around with to
be able to acquire knowledge so
that you can really do you have
to understand and have knowledge
and understanding things that
happened before you before you
can understand where you are now
so you can understand what you
are going to take this moment to
introduce our audience we have
teachers and students joining us
here in a year 1792 from West
Springfield High School
Northwestern and high school and
would like to take any questions
that our audience me for gas or
whenever you're ready in the
meantime heavy rain or tried to
get your for you thought about
it because you always think
about this what you also think
about what's gonna happen if you
run where you gonna go go go
south slavery in great numbers
down there
the West well indians out there
who don't know what they are
friendly not friendly they've
been given even know any money
away so you don't know who to
trust so but it's something you
always think about you always
keep in the back of your mind I
did think of it yes when I was
about 17 years of age
there was a sleep was more a
British people who came here to
the war and talk to you and I
don't know if yall know but the
British also to any Negro that
escaped and went with them and
this this ship came in the
captain was captain graves I
believe his name was about 16
slaves did run away on that ship
that came here to mark brown and
I was the lady's maid at the
time and I did give it some
thought but like you said you
don't know who to trust because
they like say they'll give you
freedom and they could sell off
you know for their own personal
gain so I stayed I think it's
better to stay with the people
you know when the family and
known you make freedom will you
do you have any questions in the
audience yes hello my name is
Nicole from northwestern high
school my question is for mister
billion text in the morning
heats question when did you
first meet the general and what
it was like your daily procedure
at them
his health
general and you put in the front
to you and which setting up his
household committed a good
bodies to be in a manservant you
need to know how to home to help
act properly and I was young
fella why don't we have another
question
hi my name is Shelly I'm from
Western Hills High School my
question is to all of you from
the fact that you all seem to
have such great access to
information do you share the
news you get with Monticello in
Mount Vernon
you don't share what you know
share everything with everybody
in truth it was some sort of up
knowledge that I was to acquire
that there was some ground
rebellion that was to be made
desire to to to to to pass that
on to everyone you know once you
have to to live day to day
knowing that you have got to
have been killed because of
information a document so there
are some things that you say but
that's something that I've heard
it said that general washington
envied the ability of the black
community
communicate quickly you think
that's a good point
absolutely
as he realized they negro was
able to communicate what's in
New York IBM Virginia block now
but they don't know how we move
you know there is very good news
one of singing singing sunup to
sundown masses come up 1000 my
neck was must be happy no shit
done is done in code is a way of
somebody you learn to pass the
news in the city will be on a
plantation you can hear that
news car from the plantation
plantation plantation use me to
drop the drug used to be a way
to communicate without the
singing is used as saying the
cozy messages news this in town
and you have to remember that we
are places where most people
they can't go we are in the
homes not only in the homes
about it
dining room table of these folks
are in the towel runs in the
businesses in the shops if you
go to market to purchase you'll
likely purchasing from Lagos
there and even the ships so real
have the advantage of being in a
place to to hear this
information that a lot of folks
don't know that you make it
plain another question my name
is Cody Thomas have no friends
soon came to Mount Vernon was
thomas jefferson some people say
the general and Mrs Jefferson
John did mr. Jefferson tell you
why he wants to take a second
term it seems that bass guitar
morning president general
general to take another term for
the new republic for things to
become more to the ideal on the
principles that have been
talking about the best way to to
have things happen that way is
to continue the presidency under
general
he understood these principles
of the workings and and and the
difference that word that are
being established between those
to the north and those to the
south
greatly respect perhaps more
than any other bad I see I see
no other that would be more
fitting to serve a second term
president Barack well as I had
your question
questions now I just want to
mention Mr hemming of course
your sisters sally hemmings
understand she has a very close
relationship with mr. Jefferson
is that is a cool cool with me
do you prove that so not to be
short you think you have a
brother of the man that you go
to see them at a time to be a
suitable suited to our system
for where are they going to go
away he will be able to take
care of as a proper suit would
be able to show you when your
sister obviously very close to
Mr Jefferson to have another
question my name is John from
West Springfield masses for
mister shields president general
would listen to the advice
mister jefferson and run for a
second term
John I don't know the general is
quite I
i mean sometimes he just barely
able to sit down and share there
all the time even at night
up and down i mean he's been to
now all a first time and I think
he would probably be persuaded
but I don't think is a good
thing for him from his own body
can just tell the way it is now
moving like he used to seem to
be to get calls and other things
happening to him that used to
quickly so I do feel that he
shouldn't be up to him
if he doesn't we ought to be
gravely concerned about the
state of the nation will be sold
out to be a source of play
generally present be worn out
right and I'd be one of the
things you said that you gave
him the general idea for did you
ask him about this three-fifths
of a person is why the black
community is not been freed with
the medication of the
Constitution well you know the
pleasure
children and your grandchildren
what happens to them because
someone else to do with them so
they don't have the mean you
speak of making a nation where
people can become who they want
to become my children cannot
become what they want to become
someone would tell them what to
become I was told to be a ladies
may I don't even like sewing and
I certainly know you know but
it's just it's my hope that with
these words have been written
down they carry a great deal of
meaning and I hope that they'll
be acted out in time they say
that these ablution is down and
Alexandria City these quakers
the quakers they say that in
time maybe in ten years time
here in Virginia we could be
good see freedom and I hope that
that happens you know what's
happening around the country
we've seen states have decided
new laws that free then the
growth I don't know if it will
happen here in Virginia but I
hope it will only do you have
faith of those will happen I
don't know I think these men
that owned slaves and large
number will be hard-pressed to
do with out i mean that's where
many of them attain most of
their well great majority of
their wealth and the way the
is any Negro mother by Caroline
when she has children become the
property of her master so you
gain this property you don't
have to spend for it at all just
with national increase alone you
can keep and hold slaves and
great number I don't think that
any of them will be persuaded to
do away with that system there
may be a feel and I they hear
about some like dr. rush to
philadelphia is still a little
bit before strongly oppose the
abolition of the trade but
slavery itself but I don't know
now we have another question
from northwestern high school in
my question is to missoni you
mentioned in same dominique's
now how did you come to learn
about it
well you hear about a lot of
things being in the household
that I can you wait upon this is
washington won for the president
you have people coming into the
home at all times and also being
in New York and being to
philadelphia is why we are at
Mount Vernon as well you have
access to papers from all over
the country in papers say in New
York you have stories from all
over the world and that's one
way to hear about things that
market like us it most of the
time when you go to market to
purchase you are purchasing for
more than a girl she keep things
that way and those folks that
are bringing in goods from
market but by way of
transporting the water that's
where you hear a great deal many
things to call us will transport
goods for their masters so they
can bring goods back and forth
when they're bringing goods you
can best believe they're
bringing news several there's
there's much news travels very
quickly
amongst all of us well I heard
about it right here in Virginia
as well because many people were
escaping with their slaves from
many of the Frenchman down and
sent it to me we're scraping
trying to get out of the
conflict then they brought their
slaves here so we had some
people that were friends came
and they spoke of where that
came from how they got here and
what was going on down there
being 1792 is it is the french
revolution has just begun and
the revolution in Haiti so those
surveyed this year seems to be
very tumultuous year around the
world revolves around a plea to
French what that declaration
just like we have a declaration
of independence shutting the
French want their declaration of
independence that they deserve
so true French when I have one
so I think we only have we not
only was supplied by team helped
him write decoration
yes another question I knew it
was going to northwestern high
school questions and you say
that most water heater and will
not be too happy in general
washington time do you know her
very well and as she often share
her thoughts and feelings with
you yes in her room in her room
about five in the morning or so
as the Sun is rising and I spend
my whole day but there for the
most part and so yes I know I
know what she's thinking and I
can tell when she's upset as
well as what happens is she
often becomes ill when she gets
upset and she's not been feeling
very well these days with the
general thinking about taking a
new term because as a wife you
know being in the first first
lady of the new United States I
think she got worn out because
almost every night they had an
occasion she had to be dressed
and ready to go and meet all
these dignitaries and constantly
taking visitors and having
dinners and she just wants her
husband to herself you know I
don't think they've had a meal
down
since he became president and
she wants to have time here at
Mount Vernon with her husband
and her grandchildren have taken
upon yourselves to mention to do
the general and missus
washington mister jefferson that
you think that there should be
freedom every chance I do you
actually say that there's
certainly I would not speak of
such matters ahead and in public
like this but yes we have talked
about this and that would be a
grand idea but they would also
require a key again from find
out for Thor understand what you
said to have children to be
friends but you not be in the
same circumstances of white
children teach you that learning
to have understanding time now
to be able to provide for
themselves without would be a
detriment floor
that would make me think that
and my question is for you
billy i was just wondering and I
don't mean any offense but why
are you no longer the generals
manservant while prop occasion
to work so far so you can't get
a job so you know how to resume
and what about 10 billion
tremendous amount of status to
see you specifically to stories
about what happened in New York
what happened in Cambridge first
set up shop here from New
England 11 Jul set to the young
taking billy's price you really
can't take his place
easy to your you doing his
position well as that for you as
I see it every frog is going to
praise his own lilly pad
i think im doing alright fine
job with a gentle and easy and
Billy has taught me many ways of
doing things a little bit easier
so I have a lot of respect for
building
and I seem to general change
from waw
billion this when you see Indian
blood I guess color really does
believe is within your heart
soldier fighting one another
when the battle and I believe
that this battle the slave I
think the general I think
someone makes some kind of
statement I don't know what it
is but I believe he's going to
make some kind of statement
about to sleep well I think it's
time to order the year 2011 want
to stay seated everybody
and is known this year by larry
is Richard josie is a Sania
Dungy
here
and hope what happened on it
will only going back and forth
with washington's during their
time in New York and
Philadelphia becomes aware that
if you stand Philadelphia for
six months you become free and
Washington begins to since lays
out of Philadelphia at about the
five months smart so on
before they take the voyage to
to return to Virginia for the
last time at the end of
Washington second term she
escapes and we we don't know how
she did it which goes to show
how successful it was cuz you
wouldn't know the details of it
but ends up in new hampshire
marries a man named John
Harrison have two children and
that's how she gets her freedom
Little Italy they did there were
schemes to kidnap her there was
even over sure is that if you
return that she'll eventually
get your freedom that Washington
plan to free his slaves at his
his wife but she did one way she
wanted her freedom Richard what
happened two years after this
time frame bob and what's
happening is jobs and going back
up north you know sort of you
know undercover cop doesn't stay
bob is not come back probably
because his wife dolly's
Jenya and so far so good for all
the people who work for people
ages saving those wages and has
a yard or but I think becomes
actually katie's Jefferson
about the two parties ball and
then Bob Hayes that made 2479
has been helping to Caroline ok
a lot is not owned by general
washington she's owned by the
dowry the estate of the
customers who was missus washes
first husband so she's not a
part of the place that would be
freed up on missus Washington or
general washington stuff so she
along with all the other slaves
like herself and her children
this is washington's
grandchildren she eventually
trades that freedom of her one
of her grandson's for giving a
story to a rider General
Washington's death mister
russians grand kids caroline's
grandson his freedom because she
told the story
General Washington's death
writer but she herself never
attains freedom her
grandchildren yes
James what happened Christopher
Christopher the same situation
as caroline is not by general
washington but by the dowry and
so he didn't see freedom there
at the deathbed of General
Washington d.c stands in general
as Christmas it out you know
because he was standing so long
there but he sees his death but
I see freedom
married he had a young lady that
he wanted to bury but the
washington this did not approve
of this young lady because you
spoke up right away and so just
give us an idea of what's it
like to portray person and sleep
it looks like you because you
get you give people that did not
have the necessary for society
face of voice and we do all we
can to try to honor these people
by not only researching our
lives but also making sure that
whatever we do we do with very
very much caution because we
want to make sure that it is an
auto and it's not a dishonor
thank you very much
goodnight