Fidus Imhoff

Fidus Imhoff was born in Germany around 1760 and may have initially come to the United States as a German mercenary fighting for the British during the American Revolution.¹ At some point after his arrival to the United States, he married a woman named Jane (Jeane) Imhoff. 

In 1789, Fidus began working for George Washington at both presidential residences in New York. He worked alongside his wife, Jane, who was employed as a housemaid. They then moved with the Washingtons to Philadelphia.² He served as a footman, earning $10.00 per month, serving meals and running errands. In this role he wore white and red livery with the Washington coat of arms and “cocked hats, gloves, and highly polished shoes.”³ In November 1790, his wife left the household, likely because she gave birth to a child. The birth of their child, Johann, was recorded in church records in 1790.⁴ Fidus continued working for the Washingtons in Philadelphia through March 1793, when he last appeared in household account records.⁵

After leaving the president’s household, Fidus and his family moved back to New York. In 1795, the Imhoffs had another child, Jeany.⁶ In 1807, Fidus became a naturalized citizen. Documentation of his naturalization indicates that he worked as a porter.⁷ Fidus died on July 5, 1814 in Manhattan and was buried at a “Potter’s Field,” the common name of a burial location for poor or unknown people.⁸