William Gardner

William Gardner (born Billey, c. 1759 - 1795) was an enslaved man born into the family of James Madison in Montpelier, Virginia, to a man likely named Tony. Madison's father gave Gardner to the young Madison as a companion when Madison was a child.

Named Billey, Gardner was with Madison from 1780 to 1783 in Philadelphia for the Continental Congress. Madison considered selling Gardner to buy philosophy books in 1782, the same year that Gardner attempted to run away. As Gardner had previously tried to get away, opposed returning to Montpelier, had been actively exposed to ideas about liberty and populations of free black people, and whose servitude was legally questionable, Madison opted to sell Gardner into indentured servitude for a seven-year term.

Upon the end of his term, Gardner became a merchant's agent who worked for notable American colonial figures, including Madison and Thomas Jefferson. As a free man, Gardner married Henrietta and started a family. His wife worked as a launderer.

Gardner's route to freedom highlighted a problem among American Revolutionary War supporters. It demonstrated a fear of enslaved and Native American uprisings and mass attempts at running away as a result of the colonies' rebellion from Great Britain, which was based on a philosophy that men who are not represented in their governance are enslaved (No taxation without representation).

Early life Photograph of the former home of United States President James Madison in Montpelier, Piedmont, Virginia, where William Gardner was born. Gardner was born in 1759 in Montpelier, Virginia, enslaved by the family of James Madison, who was an 8-year-old at the time. He was called Billey. His father might have been an enslaved man named Tony. James Madison Sr. gave Gardner to Madison, and Gardner became a constant companion to Madison in his youth. When Madison went to Princeton University, Gardner was left behind and another slave, Sawney, accompanied him instead. Two years later, in 1780, Virginia's legislature also passed a law to allow Virginian enslavers to emancipate the people they enslaved.

Emancipation Gardner was 23 years old in 1783 when Madison was preparing to depart Philadelphia as the Continental Congress ended. Gardner did not want to return to Virginia. Madison and his father worried that they could not force the enslaved Gardner back to Virginia because he could potentially foment rebellion. Madison said in a letter to his father, "I have judged it most prudent not to force Billey back to Montpelier, Virginia even if it could be done." Madison went on to say, "I am persuaded his mind is too thoroughly tainted to be a companion for fellow slaves in Virginia." Had Madison not done so, Gardner would likely have earned his freedom through Pennsylvania's emancipation laws.

Virginians in Philadelphia, including Martha Washington, would likely have been aware of Madison's dilemma regarding Gardner's emancipation. These situations worried many enslavers, who feared enslaved and Native American rebellions and their mass attempts at escaping as a result of the Colonies' rebellion with Great Britain, was based on a philosophy that men who are not represented in their governance are enslaved.