William Short Sr.

Little is known about William Short Sr.’s birth and early life. A man named “William” was listed in Judge John Tyler’s 1813 will and inventory of enslaved people, and as a result Short may have been bequeathed to son John Tyler around that time.¹ Short accompanied future-president Tyler during his military service in the War of 1812 as a valet, and likely continued to work in a similar capacity in all of Tyler’s households – including the White House.² Valets traveled with the president, assisted with their wardrobe and personal effects, and often acted as confidantes and companions to the Commander in Chief. For much of history, these personal attendants were free or enslaved Black men; today, responsibility for the role falls to members of the U.S. military.³

Short was likely married to a woman named Louisa Short, and together they had at least five children: William Jr., Jerry, John, Washington, and Roscius.⁴ While it is unclear if the rest of the Short family worked at the White House, there is evidence some may have. In 1843, President Tyler wrote to his daughter Elizabeth Tyler Waller: “I am very anxious to have a blacksmith and should be willing to part with Washington but if I can hear of a servant that would suit you… I will purchase him for you – I think that Louisa’s William, would make a good servant and if you choose to try your hand with him you can do so – He is a fine boy – and all of Wm Shorts children have a turn for the House – I will willingly my dear daughter pay the hire of a servant maid for you and I think you would do well to procure one of your Aunt Douglas’s – Either Delilah or Maria would suit you if you could get them. Besides it is no trifling matter to have a nurse who is a good seamstress.”⁵ The president mentioned Washington and William by name, and his reference to all of the Short children receiving a “turn for the House” suggests that they all may have been working in the White House. 

In his will, Tyler asked his wife Julia to “take good care of my faithful servants William Short and Fanny Hall so that their old age may be rendered comfortable,” but he did not free either of them.⁶ He and many other enslaved people at Sherwood Forest, the Tyler family plantation in Virginia, likely became free due to the Civil War, but there is little known of his post-emancipation life.