The White House carpenters: Peter, Ben, Daniel and Harry on James Hoban's payroll (Washington, DC, May 1795)

SUMMARYThe White House carpenters: Peter, Ben, Daniel and Harry on James Hoban's payroll (Washington, DC, May 1795) [Connections: Tech & skilled labor, Nov 5, 2026]

RECORDThe carpenters' payroll for the President's House for May 1795 lists four enslaved carpenters owned by architect James Hoban. Their wages were signed for by Hoban: Peter, 28 days, £10 10s; Ben, 28 days, £8 8s; Daniel, 25 days, £6 5s; Harry, 9 days, £2 5s. The White House Historical Association suggests Peter may be the carpenter Hoban advertised as a runaway in Charleston in 1789. In 1797 the commissioners ordered that "no Negro Carpenters or apprentices be hired" at the public buildings.
STATUS: hired-out enslaved (wages paid to Hoban, their owner, per the payroll). The WHHA says Hoban "may" have let them keep small sums

PATTERNSkilled Black carpenters were on the payroll, the architect who owned them collected their pay, and then Black carpenters were barred by order

LENS (WW9)The President's House was framed by our carpenters, and then a rule pushed them off the job

OPENThe reason for the 1797 order; whether it was enforced; whether the 1789 runaway is the same Peter

SOURCEWhite House Historical Association, "Building the President's House with Enslaved Labor".