William Gardner (former slave) facts for kids

William Gardner (born Billey, 1759 - unknown) was born into slavery in 1759. He was owned by the family of James Madison in Montpelier, Virginia. His father was likely named Tony. When James Madison was a child, his father gave Billey to him as a companion.

From 1780 to 1783, Gardner, then known as Billey, was with Madison in Philadelphia. Madison was serving in the Continental Congress there. In 1782, Madison thought about selling Gardner to buy philosophy books. That same year, Gardner tried to run away. Because Gardner had tried to escape before and did not want to return to Virginia, Madison decided to sell him into indentured servitude. This meant Gardner would work for someone else for seven years. After this time, he would be free.

Once free, Gardner became a merchant's agent. He worked for important American figures like Madison and Thomas Jefferson. As a free man, Gardner married Henrietta and started a family. His wife worked as a launderer. Gardner's journey to freedom showed a challenge for those who supported the American Revolutionary War. The fight for freedom from Great Britain was based on the idea that people should not be controlled without their consent. This made many slave owners fear that enslaved people would also seek their own freedom.

Early Life

Photograph of the former home of United States President James Madison in Montpelier, Piedmont, Virginia, where William Gardner was born.

William Gardner was born in 1759. He was born into slavery at Montpelier, Virginia. This was the home of the Madison family. At the time, James Madison was eight years old. Gardner was called Billey. His father may have been a slave named Tony.

James Madison Sr. gave Billey to his son, James. Billey became a close companion to young James. When Madison went to Princeton University, Billey stayed behind. Another enslaved person, Sawney, went with Madison instead.

Laws About Slavery

The state of Pennsylvania passed a law in 1777. It was called the Gradual Abolition of Slavery Act. This was the first law of its kind in the Western Hemisphere. The law stated that after March 1, 1780, any child born to an enslaved woman would become free after 28 years.

The law also stopped the sale of enslaved people in Pennsylvania. People could only be sold for a set time, no longer than seven years. Two years later, in 1780, Virginia also passed a law. For the first time, slave owners in Virginia could choose to free their enslaved people.

Time in Philadelphia

Gardner traveled with James Madison to Philadelphia in 1780. Madison was working in the Continental Congress there. In 1782, Madison needed money. He wanted to buy philosophy books, including Leviathan by Thomas Hobbes. Madison thought about selling Gardner to pay for these books. However, Pennsylvania's laws would have made this difficult. That same year, Gardner tried to run away. He was later captured.

Becoming Free

In 1783, Gardner was 23 years old. Madison was getting ready to leave Philadelphia. Gardner had been with Madison in the city for three and a half years. During this time, he learned many ideas about liberty and freedom. He also saw many free Black people every day. Gardner did not want to go back to Virginia.

Madison and his father worried that Gardner could cause trouble if he returned to Virginia as a slave. Madison wrote to his father, saying he thought it was best not to force Billey back. He believed Gardner's mind was "too thoroughly tainted" to be a companion for other enslaved people in Virginia. Madison thought about selling Gardner in a place where slavery was legal, like the Caribbean. But he decided against it. He felt he could not punish Gardner for wanting freedom.

Madison's final decision was to sell Gardner into indentured servitude for seven years. This meant Gardner would work for a set period and then be free. If Madison had not done this, Gardner would likely have gained his freedom through Pennsylvania's laws anyway. Other Virginians in Philadelphia, like Martha Washington, knew about Madison's situation with Gardner. These events made many southern slave owners fearful. They worried about uprisings and mass escapes by enslaved people. This fear grew because the American colonies were fighting for their own freedom from Great Britain.

Life After Freedom

After being sold into indentured servitude, Billey changed his name to William Gardner. When his seven years were over, Gardner became a merchant's agent. He also worked as a shipping agent and a merchant seaman. As a merchant's agent, Gardner handled business for important people. These included James Madison and Thomas Jefferson. For example, when Madison needed plows, Jefferson gave Gardner money to buy them.

William Gardner married a woman named Henrietta. They raised a family in Philadelphia. Henrietta worked as a launderer, cleaning clothes. She even cleaned Thomas Jefferson's clothes every week when he was in the city. Sadly, Gardner was never able to return to Montpelier to see his family again.