John Klein

John Klein worked for George Washington at the President’s House in Philadelphia. He immigrated from Germany in 1794. An entry in Washington’s household accounts from August 1794 recorded $57.10 paid to “Cap Chris. Franklin for the passage etc. of John Klein for which he is to serve three years.” This entry indicates that Klein joined the household as an indentured servant.¹ 

His role in the household and tenure are unclear. There is an entry from May 1795 indicating that Washington paid for 2 pairs of stockings & 2 fronts for “John & Henry.” Although there were other individuals named John working in Washington’s household, they were free workers. Henry was another indentured servant, therefore it is likely this entry refers to Klein.² Klein does not appear in further household accounts. Although he was set to work for Washington for three years, he did not stay the entire time but likely ran away before his contract was finished. In May 1797, James McAlpin, Washington’s tailor, wrote to the former president from Philadelphia, “I have to inform you that John Cline your old Servant is now in Town conciving it to be my duty to let you know this so that you may have an opportunity if acting as you think most proper.”³ Washington responded, “I thank you for the information repecting John Cline, but shall give myself to no further concern about him, for it was always my intention to have given him his freedom (as I did by the other servants under similar circumstances) when I retired from Public life had he remained with me.”⁴ 

No further information about Klein’s life is currently known.