Peter Marks
Cite this Page
"Peter Marks," White House Workers History Project, White House Historical Association, 2026, https://whha.whirlihost.com/Detail/workers/158.
- Positions
- Butler
- Coachman
- Valet
- Years in President's House
- circa 1817 – 1825
- Legal Status
- Enslaved Person
- Gender
- Male
- Race/Ethnicity
- Black or African American
- Presidency
- James Monroe
- Biography
- Peter Marks was born around 1795 in Virginia, likely enslaved to James Monroe. According to a letter of recommendation, Peter was “brought [up in?] the family of Mr Monroe from his infancy [yout]h. (1) While it is difficult to definitively prove, Peter may have lived and worked at the White House during James Monroe’s presidency. The 1820 census indicates at least six enslaved individuals living in Monroe’s White House, including four individuals matching Peter’s age range. In addition, a financial record noted the purchase of clothes for enslaved men, including one named Peter, further indicating it is likely Peter Marks worked at the White House. (2) Peter Marks was the only enslaved person freed by James Monroe upon his death in 1831. This indicates that he may have had a close relationship with the former president and perhaps served as his valet. Other documents indicate that Peter was also a dining room servant, waiter, and coachman throughout his life. After gaining his freedom, Peter moved to Washington, D.C. and married Eugenia Hemings, who was formerly enslaved by Thomas Jefferson. The couple had five children and moved to Frankford, Pennsylvania, where the family appears in the 1850 census. He died in April 1860 in Pennsylvania. (3)
- (1) “Peter Marks,” James Monroe’s Highland, accessed August 6, 2025, https://highland.org/enslaved-biographies/peter-marks/; “Tench Ringgold: Recommendation of Peter Marks, August 27, 1831,” Monticello, accessed August 6, 2025, https://tjrs.monticello.org/letter/2490. (2) Callie Hopkins, “‘liberated & set free at Mr. Monroe’s dying request’: Peter Marks’ White House Story,” The White House Historical Association, May 29, 2020, https://www.whitehousehistory.org/peter-marks; Matthew Costello, “The Enslaved Households of President James Monroe,” The White House Historical Association, February 25, 2020, https://www.whitehousehistory.org/the-enslaved-households-of-president-james-monroe. (3) “Peter Marks,” James Monroe’s Highland, accessed August 6, 2025, https://highland.org/enslaved-biographies/peter-marks/;
- Birthplace
- Virginia, USA
- Related Association Content
- https://Peter Marks
- https://www.whitehousehistory.org/the-enslaved-households-of-president-james-monroe