William Gwin
1846 - 1901
William Gwin, former slave to Bishop James Osgood Andrew in Oxford, was appointed the chief messenger for the United States State Department in 1871 after having worked as a waiter and servant for several years in Washington D.C. Earning an annual salary of $840, he held this position for 30 years, until his death in 1901.
Born with the name Russell Nathan Boyd, he changed his name to William Gwin after emancipation. In 1877, Judge McCallister met Gwin while visiting the Department of State and during their conversation, Gwin told the judge that he was the son of Catherine "Kitty" Andrew Boyd, who had been enslaved by Bishop James Osgood Andrew in Oxford, Georgia. This account is supported by United States Census data of 1900, which lists William Gwin, living at 1112 18th Street NW in Washington D.C. as having a birth date of May 1846, the same as the child who appears to be Kitty’s second son in the 1850 Census.
The Baltimore Afro-American Ledger reported Gwin’s death with a front page obituary:
Born with the name Russell Nathan Boyd, he changed his name to William Gwin after emancipation. In 1877, Judge McCallister met Gwin while visiting the Department of State and during their conversation, Gwin told the judge that he was the son of Catherine "Kitty" Andrew Boyd, who had been enslaved by Bishop James Osgood Andrew in Oxford, Georgia. This account is supported by United States Census data of 1900, which lists William Gwin, living at 1112 18th Street NW in Washington D.C. as having a birth date of May 1846, the same as the child who appears to be Kitty’s second son in the 1850 Census.
The Baltimore Afro-American Ledger reported Gwin’s death with a front page obituary:
Mr. William Gwin, messenger to the Secretary of State and one of the oldest employees in the department, was found dead in his bed last night. Mr. Gwin has been messenger to the Secretary of State since 1871, when Hamilton Fish appointed him. He affixed the Great Seal of the United States to all important treaties and conventions negotiated over the last 30 years. His last action of this character was in the case of the new Hay-Panncefote Treaty. His death is deeply regretted by all officials of the department who always implicitly trusted him with secrets of State. Mr. Gwin was an ex-slave.
Afro-American Ledger
November 20, 19; P.1