Unidentified Andrew Jackson Pastry Cook 1

According to a recollection from Mary C. Dorris, a founding member of The Ladies’ Hermitage Association (a private organization that acquired Andrew Jackson’s property in 1889), an unidentified free Black woman was employed at Andrew Jackson’s White House as a pastry cook. Apparently, this individual was a sister of two enslaved workers: Gracy Bradley, a child who served as a maid and seamstress at the White House and her sister Louisa, a nurse. At this unidentified pastry cook’s direction, Andrew Jackson purchased Gracy and Louisa and other members of their family in 1832. Gracy and Louisa joined their sister working at the White House. 

Although Dorris does not provide a name for this woman, staff at The Hermitage posits the free sister may have been named Nellie Richardson. It remains unclear whether this recollection of the free sister working at the White House is accurate.¹

Thank you to The Hermitage providing research assistance with this biography.