James Hambleton Christian

Abolitionist William Still interviewed James Hambleton Christian, who stated that John Tyler and Letitia Christian enslaved him while they lived at the White House during Tyler’s presidency. James also stated that he was Letitia’s half-brother, and that he was enslaved by the Christian family before and after his time at the White House. In addition, James spent some time as a young boy with one of his enslavers at William & Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia. [1]

Check out this article on James Hambleton Christian from the White House Historical Association, which describes and contextualizes James Hambleton Christian’s experience with the Christians and the Tylers. [2]

[1] Still, William. The Underground Railroad: A Record of Facts, Authentic Narrative, Letters, &c., Narrating the Hardships, Hairbreadth Escapes and Death Struggles of the Slaves in their Efforts for Freedom, Porter & Coates, 1872, p. 69.

[2] Hopkins, Callie. “From the White House to Freedom on the Underground Railroad,” White House Historical Association, 22 Feb. 2019, https://www.whitehousehistory.org/from-the-white-house-to-freedom-on-the-underground-railroad.