William Jones was an enslaved man owned by Ulysses S. Grant for a period of time

[David Lockmiller]

William Jones was an enslaved man owned by Ulysses S. Grant for a period of time in the late 1850s. On March 29, 1859, Grant went to the St. Louis Courthouse and wrote a manumission paper legally freeing Jones from slavery. Jones is the last enslaved person to have been owned by a U.S. President.

According to his manumission paper, Jones was born around 1824, five foot seven in height, and of mulatto complexion (a nineteenth century term for someone who is of mixed black and white ancestry). For a number of years he lived and worked on the White Haven plantation in St. Louis, Missouri, which was owned by Grant's father-in-law, Frederick F. Dent. Grant purchased Jones from his father-in-law while working as a farmer at White Haven (1854-1859). The exact date of this purchase is unknown. Jones may have assisted in the construction of Grant's log cabin on the property, "Hardscrabble," and most likely worked on eighty acres of White Haven land that was managed by Grant and cultivated for fruit and vegetable crops.

After continued setbacks and financial struggles at White Haven, Grant gave up farming and moved to downtown St. Louis in early 1859 to work in real estate. Had Grant chosen to do so, he could have sold Jones for a profit of $1,000 to $1,500 (more than $43,000 in 2020 dollars) to a prospective slaveholder in St. Louis. Instead, he chose to give Jones his freedom.

(Source: Ulysses S Grant National Historic Site -- William Jones)

[RJNorton]

(06-25-2020 01:07 PM)David Lockmiller Wrote:  William Jones was an enslaved man owned by Ulysses S. Grant for a period of time in the late 1850s. On March 29, 1859, Grant went to the St. Louis Courthouse and wrote a manumission paper legally freeing Jones from slavery. Jones is the last enslaved person to have been owned by a U.S. President.

Here is the manumission of William Jones written in Ulysses S. Grant’s handwriting. Source: Missouri Historical Society

[David Lockmiller]

(06-25-2020 01:21 PM)RJNorton Wrote:  

(06-25-2020 01:07 PM)David Lockmiller Wrote:  Jones is the last enslaved person to have been owned by a U.S. President.

Here is the manumission of William Jones written in Ulysses S. Grant’s handwriting. Source: Missouri Historical Society

It should be noted that this "manumission of William Jones written in Ulysses S. Grant’s handwriting" occurred before the American Civil War, years before President Abraham Lincoln appointed U.S. Grant as supreme commander of the U.S. Army, and many years before U.S. Grant was elected as President of the United States.

I hope that you are listening and understand this fact of history, Nikole Hannah-Jones.

[LincolnMan]

And for this Grant is labeled as a “slave owner” and has his statues defaced and torn down. As if his accomplishments are of no value whatsoever. It doesn’t matter that he defeated Lee. It doesn’t matter how much he did for African-Americans as president. Such a myoptic viewpoint. Idiocy!

[My Name Is Kate]

LincolnMan: I'm glad your back. I noticed that you hadn't posted anything or visited this forum in awhile.

[LincolnMan]

Thank you. My health has not been good. I have neuropathy. Because of COVID all of my treatment halted. It is scheduled to resume next week. I just haven’t felt up to par enough to be active. I have missed everyone!

[RJNorton]

We send you all best wishes, Bill!

[David Lockmiller]

(07-05-2020 07:16 PM)LincolnMan Wrote:  Thank you. My health has not been good. I have neuropathy. Because of COVID all of my treatment halted. It is scheduled to resume next week. I just haven’t felt up to par enough to be active. I have missed everyone!

Welcome back and good luck with the renewal of your medical treatment!

[LincolnMan]

Thank you for the well wishes! As they say: “growing old ain't for sissies.”