Hercules was one of George Washington’s slaves and a famed chef known for his cooking skills. Washington brought Hercules and Hercules’s young son Richmond along to Philadelphia to run the kitchen at the Executive Mansion on High Street. The Washingtons favored Hercules and allowed him to earn an income by selling kitchen scraps. Hercules used his savings to purchase fine clothing and accessories for himself, and, in Philadelphia, he socialized with a community of Black men and women. When Washington learned of the statute that allowed slaves over the age of 28 who had resided in Philadelphia for more than six months to claim freedom, Washington became nervous that Hercules would seek freedom and run away. Though Hercules put on a great show of “theatrics” to convince Washington that he valued his position, Hercules eventually escaped bondage in 1797—on Washington’s birthday, no less.
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Hercules Character Timeline in Never Caught
The timeline below shows where the character Hercules appears in Never Caught. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 4
...slavery are shifting. Martha chooses to bring along Ona, and Washington assigns a slave named Hercules who possesses great culinary skills to work in the kitchen at the grand new house...
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Chapter 5
...begin hurrying many of their slaves out of Philadelphia—but they remain concerned about their chef, Hercules, whom they have recently allowed to start making an income for himself by selling kitchen...
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Hercules’s departure raises questions at the house—and it leads to an information breach. Hercules learns of...
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Chapter 6
...They like the comedy so well that the following night, they give Ona, Austin, and Hercules permission to attend the long, intricate performance. Throughout their stay in Philadelphia, Ona and her...
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