White, Garland H, 1829-1894

Garland H. White was born in 1829 to a woman named Nancy in Hanover County, Virginia just northwest of Richmond, Virginia. While Garland was still young, his owner sold him to Robert Toombs, who was a lawyer and, in 1844, became a member of the U.S. House of Representatives. It is not known when Toombs purchased White, but it has been estimated as being around 1839 or in 1845. White accompanied Toombs to Washington, D.C. while he was in the House. White had no education as a slave and may have gained basic reading and writing skills while working as a servant in Washington. Another man owned by Toombs and a friend to White by the name of William Gaines also became a notable Methodist preacher, but was not freed until the Union Army arrived in Georgia during the Civil War.

In 1850 in Washington, Toombs' slave, Lousia, and possibly White attempted an escape with the help of New York abolitionist William L. Chaplin. During the pursuit of the escapees, Toombs said that he was more concerned about Lousia than White, as he did not care for White. Both were caught when a posse of six slave catchers chased Chaplin's carriage out of Washington. During the chase, the posse shot into the carriage, wounding the occupants. When they were caught, Chaplin was beaten and held in D.C. for six weeks.

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