Mrs. Read

Information about Mrs. Read’s life outside of the President’s House, including her first name, is currently unknown. 

Mrs. Read worked for George Washington as a cook at the first presidential residence in New York. She started working at the beginning of Washington’s presidency in April 1789 and was a “protege of Fraunces,” Washington’s steward. However, President Washington disliked her and began searching for a new cook, placing ads by December 1789.¹ When the household moved to the second presidential residence in New York in February 1790, she did not continue and kitchenmaid Rachel Lewis briefly filled in as cook.² Following Mrs. Read’s departure, Washington had trouble consistently employing a cook. In June 1790, Washington wrote: “I find by Mrs. Washington’s letters that Mr Frauncis is desirous of introducing Mrs Read into the family again; this idea it would be well for him to relinquish at once, & forever; for, unless there are reasons inducing it, which my imagination cannot furnish, it never will happen.” He went on to question Mrs. Read’s honesty and stated that Washington’s enslaved chef at Mount Vernon, Hercules Posey, would be able to “answer every purpose that Mrs Read would do, and others she will not.”³ Washington’s secretary, Tobias Lear agreed. A follow up letter from Lear to Washington stated, “Her coming would certainly be attended with all the evils which you suggest.” ⁴