Cite the primary manuscript or the official transcription at p. 1. Explain the rented-labor arrangement from the document’s heading and Mount Vernon’s contextual note.
In a July 15, 1799 census of people enslaved by Penelope French whose labor George Washington rented, Washington identified James, about twenty-four, as a cradler who had been employed mostly at the distillery.
Verified against all four manuscript images and the complete official transcription package. Exact passage appears on manuscript p. 1 and transcription p. 1.
The record identifies only the given name James and does not specify his exact distilling tasks, duration of service, or every work assignment. His recorded skill as a cradler should not be restated as a distillery job title.
The complete manuscript’s first page and the official transcription agree on James’s name, approximate age, agricultural skill, and predominant assignment to the distillery.
Used and link-verified on the public history page “Revolution and the Early Republic — Rum, Whiskey, Taxation, and Federal Power” on 2026-09-02. Retain the recorded qualifications in future revisions.