White House Historical Association

Polly Glenn

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"Polly Glenn," White House Workers History Project, White House Historical Association, 2026, https://whha.whirlihost.com/Detail/workers/30.
Position
Unclear from Context Unclear from Context
Years in President's House
circa 1795
Legal Status
Free Person
Gender
Female
Race/Ethnicity
White
Presidency
George Washington
Biography
Polly Glenn worked at the President’s House in Philadelphia for President George Washington. Polly appears in a single entry from a household account book in 1795, earning $5.00 for a month of work. It is unclear whether she worked for the household prior to or after 1795. Polly’s position in the household remains unknown. However, there is another woman listed in the household account book in 1793 earning the same wage named Polly Channing. It is possible this is the same person and that Glenn is a married name. However, this person is most likely Patty Channing, misspelled as Polly. There is also another woman referred to as “Polly washwoman” listed in 1796. It is unclear whether these are different individuals or possibly the same person.1 Additional details about Polly Glenn’s life are currently unknown.
(1) “References to People from the Presidential Household Account Books,” The President’s House in Philadelphia, accessed September 16, 2025, https://www.ushistory.org/presidentshouse/history/references.php?srsltid=AfmBOopFiYUZUdcz3kbbBsBpIznmonPRPLxke0tEsvIlh3pLFLeNRZ1Z.
Birthplace
Unclear from Context
Unclear from Context
Related Workers
Patty Channing
Housekeeping and Laundry, circa 1792 – 1794
"Polly washwoman"
Housekeeping and Laundry, circa 1796
Polly Channing
circa 1793