| First Name | Hercules |
| Surnames | |
| Gender | Male |
| Birth Information | 20 Nov. 1794, Poplar Forest Thomas Jefferson’s Farm Book, page 30 and Thomas Jefferson’s Farm Book, page 31 |
| Death Information | 1823, Louisiana Wilson Cary Nicholas to Thomas Jefferson Randolph, 2 Mar. 1824 |
| Thomas Jefferson documents the people he enslaves across his properties and where they will be settled the following year. 49 people are recorded in Bedford County. | |
| Role | Enumerated |
| Listed With | Hercules (1733-1807)Betty (b. 1749)Augustine (b. 1775)Gawen (b. 1778)Cate (b. 1788)Mary (b. 1792) |
| Sources | Thomas Jefferson's Farm Book, page 30 |
| Thomas Jefferson documents the people he enslaves in Bedford County from late 1798 to early 1799. | |
| Role | Enumerated |
| Listed With | Hercules (1733-1807)Betty (b. 1749)Augustine (b. 1775)Gawen (b. 1778)Cate (b. 1788)Mary (b. 1792)Jupiter (1800-1809) |
| Sources | Thomas Jefferson's Farm Book, page 57 |
| Thomas Jefferson documents the people he enslaves in Bedford County. | |
| Role | Enumerated |
| Listed With | Hercules (1733-1807)Betty (b. 1749)Augustine (b. 1775)Gawen (b. 1778)Cate (b. 1788)Mary (b. 1792)Jupiter (1800-1809) |
| Sources | Thomas Jefferson's Farm Book, page 60 |
| Thomas Jefferson documents people living at Poplar Forest. | |
| Role | Enumerated |
| Listed With | Betty (b. 1749)Cate (b. 1788)Mary (b. 1792) |
| Sources | Thomas Jefferson's Farm Book, page 129 |
| Thomas Jefferson records the distribution of woollen, shirting, blankets and beds to people at Tomahawk. | |
| Role | Receives Provisions |
| Sources | Thomas Jefferson's Farm Book, page 166 |
| Thomas Jefferson records schedule of blanket distributions to people between 1819 through 1821 at Poplar Forest. On 1820 list | |
| Role | Receives Provisions |
| Sources | Thomas Jefferson's Farm Book, page 168 |
| Gawen, Billy, and Hercules are charged with the stabbing of William Hough and for conspiring to rebel. Gawen and Hercules are found not guilty. Billy is found guilty and sentenced to be burned on the left hand and whipped. | |
| Role | Defendant |
| Listed With | Gawen (b. 1804)Billy (b. 1799)William Gough |
| Sources | Bedford County Trial Proceedings for Poplar Forest Slaves Gawen, Billy, and Hercules
in Assault on William Gough, Overseer, 23 Dec. 1822 William Radford to Thomas Jefferson, 26 Dec. 1822 |
© 2026 Thomas Jefferson Foundation. Getting Word: African American History at Monticello is supported by the Mellon Foundation