Back in 1988, I made my first visit to The Hermitage with my dad. During that visit we were unable to tour the house because it was undergoing some structural renovations. But we were able to walk the grounds and visit the tomb of President Andrew Jackson and is Wife Rachel.
It was during this visit that I first noticed the small stone near the Presidents Tomb inscribed “Uncle Alfred.” While I was curious about Uncle Alfred, it wasn’t until I returned to The Hermitage in 2005 and took the tour of the mansion that I was able to satisfy my curiosity and find out who Uncle Alfred was.
During the tour, the guide mentions that Uncle Alfred a couple of times, which further aroused my curiosity. After the tour I managed to corner one of the guided and found out a little more about Uncle Alfred. She said Alfred was born into slavery somewhere around 1805. His mother was named Betty who was a cook at the Hermitage for more than 50-years.
As young man Alfred was responsible for maintaining the wagons and farm equipment in addition to working in the fields. By all accounts Alfred was a responsible and dependable worker which was noticed by President Jackson. As time went by Alfred became a close and trusted servant of the President. He tended to the Presidents horses and carriages and eventually became his personal butler and at times bodyguard.
The guide went on to explain that Alfred lived in a small cabin behind the Hermitage. That cabin still stands today. When President Jackson died in 1845 the slaves, including Alfred was given their freedom. Most to them left The Hermitage and went to nearby Nashville, but Alfred remained at The Hermitage and continued to live in his small cabin.
After the war, the Hermitage fell into disrepair and the last two members of the Jackson Family were forced to begin selling furnishing. Alfred, who had managed to save some money over the years managed to buy several pieces of furniture that belonged to President Jackson. Alfred moved these treasured pieces into his small cabin where they remained until 1889.
It was then that the Ladies Hermitage Association purchased the mansion and 25-acres of land to preserve it as a historical site. Little by Little, Over the Next century the Association gained control of the entire 1,200 acres that was once The Hermitage Plantation.
Soon after the Ladies Hermitage Association gained control of the property, they approached Alfred and ask if he would consider selling the original furniture back to the Association so that it could be returned to the Mansion. Alfred agreed with one addition request. When he died, he wanted to be buried in Rachels Garden near the Tomb of President Jackson and his wife Rachel. The Association agreed and the furniture was returned to the Mansion. Today, almost 90% of what we see at The Hermitage is authentic to the property.
After the Association took control of the property, Alfred continued to live in the small cabin that he had called home all his life. He was too old to continue farming so he took great pride in conducting tours of the mansion and ground. He would delight visitors with his personal stories about our 7th President and his life at the Hermitage.
Uncle Alfred died on September 4, 1901. True to their word the Ladies Hermitage Association arranged for Uncle Alfred to be buried in Rachel’s Garden just a few steps from the tomb of President and Mrs. Jackson. The small stone that marks his final resting place is inscribed:
UNCLE ALFRED
DIED SEPT. 4, 1901
AGE 98
FAITHFUL SERVANT
OF ANDREW JACKSON.
So, if you ever visit The Hermitage, as you walk the grounds, pay
particular attention to that little cabin situated just outside the back door
of the Mansion. Then as you walk over to the tomb of President Jackson, stop
and spend a moment to remember Uncle Alfred, a remarkable man who spent his
entire life here at The Hermitage.
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