Unidentified John Tyler Worker

Cite this Page

"Unidentified John Tyler Worker," White House Workers History Project, White House Historical Association, 2026, https://whha.whirlihost.com/Detail/workers/255.

Position

Unclear from Context

Years in President's House

circa 1844

Legal Status

Enslaved Person

Gender

Unclear from Context

Race/Ethnicity

Black or African American

Presidency

John Tyler

Biography

In 1844, newspapers reported a theft at the White House. According to the National Intelligencer, a “colored woman named Mary Murphy” who was “living at the President’s house, was charged with stealing silver table and teaspoons, the property of the United States.”¹ An investigation was conducted by local justices, and one individual, “Avery” was held on suspicion of receiving stolen property. The article continues, “A colored servant belonging to the president is also implicated in this theft.”² Two individuals faced criminal charges for receiving stolen property – George Avery and Susan Goodyear; however, Murphy and Tyler’s unidentified enslaved worker do not appear in these court records.³ It is unclear who this “colored servant” may have been, but the Tylers used a mix of free and enslaved labor at the White House. The use of the word “belonging” in the National Intelligencer article suggests that this was someone enslaved by the Tylers, who did bring enslaved people from their Virginia plantation Sherwood Forest to Washington, D.C.. There is nothing else known about this individual at this time.

The White House Workers History Project relies on the U.S. Census Bureau’s updated guidelines for collecting demographic data related to race and ethnicity published in 2024. Adhering to these categories, this project identifies this person as Black or African American; however, there is documentation or other evidence suggesting that they were multiracial or mixed race. It is important to recognize that historical terms such as “mulatto” and “colored” are problematic, as these reflect the document writer’s views and the historical period more than the individual’s preferences or identity. See “Robbery at the President’s House,” The National Intelligencer (Washington, D.C.), February 28, 1844, pg. 3.
“Robbery at the President’s House,” The National Intelligencer (Washington, D.C.), February 28, 1844, pg.3
Matthew Costello, “The Enslaved Households of President John Tyler,” White House Historical Association, https://www.whitehousehistory.org/the-enslaved-households-of-president-john-tyler.

Birthplace

Unclear from Context

Related Worker: Mary Murphy
circa 1844

Related Association Content: https://www.whitehousehistory.org/the-enslaved-households-of-president-john-tyler