White House Historical Association

John B. Nesbitt

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"John B. Nesbitt," White House Workers History Project, White House Historical Association, 2026, https://whha.whirlihost.com/Detail/workers/432.
Positions
Stables
Usher
Messenger
Watchman
Years in President's House
1870 – 1876
Legal Status
Free Person
Gender
Male
Race/Ethnicity
White
Presidency
Ulysses S. Grant
Biography
John Bernard Nesbitt was born in County Roscommon, Ireland on October 20, 1849.1 In 1864, he immigrated to the United States and became a naturalized citizen six years later.2 After moving to the United States, Nesbitt served in the 5th United States Cavalry of the U.S. Army during the Civil War.3 In 1870, he joined President Ulysses Grant’s White House staff; in fact, several individuals who served in the Fifth Cavalry worked there at this time.4 Nesbitt’s position at the White House varies depending on the source, but they include groom, messenger, usher, night-usher, and watchman. It was not unusual for staff in the nineteenth century to take on a variety of roles, and these include elements of security and horsemanship, both of which make sense with Nesbitt’s background in the U.S. Army cavalry.5 Nesbitt worked at the White House until 1876, and then worked for the War Department’s Office of the Adjutant General of the Army for decades.6 Nesbitt died on January 7, 1933, and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery.7
  1. “J. B. Nesbit Retires,” Evening Star (Washington, D.C.), August 3, 1926, pg. 3. John B Nesbitt in the 1870 United States Federal Census, Year: 1870; Census Place: Washington Ward 4, Washington, District of Columbia; Roll: M593_124; Page: 666B; John B. Nesbitt in the 1880 United States Federal Census, Year: 1880; Census Place: Washington, Washington, District of Columbia, District of Columbia; Roll: 122; Page: 440b; Enumeration District: 042, Ancestry.com; John B Nesbitt in the U.S., Army, Register of Enlistments, 1798-1914, Ancestry.com. U.S., Army, Register of Enlistments, 1798-1914 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2007.
  2. John B Nesbitt in the 1920 United States Federal Census, Year: 1920; Census Place: Washington, Washington, District of Columbia; Roll: T625_209; Page: 10B; Enumeration District: 246.
  3. John B Nesbitt in the U.S., Army, Register of Enlistments, 1798-1914, Ancestry.com. U.S., Army, Register of Enlistments, 1798-1914 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2007; John B Nesbitt in the U.S., National Cemetery Interment Control Forms, 1928-1962, Ancestry.com. U.S., National Cemetery Interment Control Forms, 1928-1962 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012; “J. B. Nesbit Retires,” Evening Star (Washington, D.C.), August 3, 1926, pg. 3.
  4. A list can be found here: “The White House-The Retinue of a Republican President,” The Greeneville Democrat (Ohio), June 1, 1870, pg. 2.
  5. Ibid; John B Nesbitt in the 1870 United States Federal Census, Year: 1870; Census Place: Washington Ward 4, Washington, District of Columbia; Roll: M593_124; Page: 666B; Register of the United States (Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1876), 271; Jno B Nesbitt in the U.S., Freedman's Bank Records, 1865-1874, The National Archives in Washington, DC; Washington, DC, USA; Registers of Signatures of Depositors in Branches of the Freedman's Savings and Trust Company, 1865-1874; ARC Identifier: 566522; Record Group Number: 101; Record Group: Records of the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, 1863-2006; “J. B. Nesbit Retires,” Evening Star (Washington, D.C.), August 3, 1926, pg. 3.
  6. Official Register of the United States (Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1876), 271, “J. B. Nesbit Retires,” Evening Star (Washington, D.C.), August 3, 1926, pg. 3; “Veterans’ Service with U. S. Extended,” Evening Star (Washington, D.C.), July 19, 1924, pg. 28.
  7. “Nesbitt, John B.,” Evening Star (Washington DC), January 9, 1933; “Nesbitt, John B.,” Army Cemeteries Explorer, https://ancexplorer.army.mil/publicwmv/index.html#/arlington-national/search/results/1/CgdOZXNiaXR0EgRKb2hu/.
Birthplace
County Roscommon, Ireland
Arlington National Cemetery