How many slaves did President James Madison own?
President James Madison, along with his father and grandfather owned slaves at Montpelier. Madison’s mother, Nelly Madison, and grandmother, Frances Madison, also owned slaves at Montpelier. The 1820 Census notes the Madison household as having 15 free white persons, 106 enslaved African Americans (54 of which were men and 52 of which were women), and 0 free African Americans. In the 1830s Census, Montpelier is described as having 2 free white males, 56 enslaved men, and 41 enslaved women. Additional information also suggests that the number of slaves owned by President James Madison fluctuated. This data is drawn from Orange County personal property tax records, which recorded the number of “tithables” or taxable individuals (and items) for which a property owner was responsible. Ill, infirm, aged, juvenile, or injured slaves were not considered productive and were not taxed, nor do they appear in these records.
