James M. Garnett

James Mercer Garnett (June 8, 1770 – April 23, 1843) was a nineteenth-century politician and slave owner from Virginia, who served two terms in the United States House of Representatives from 1805 to 1809, and separate terms in the Virginia House of Delegates representing Essex County, Virginia. Early and family life Born at "Elmwood" near Loretto, Essex County, Virginia, Garnett could trace his descent from the First Families of Virginia on both sides of his family. He was named for his paternal grandfather, James Garnett, who served in the Virginia House of Burgesses as well as operated plantations in Essex County using enslaved labor. His father, Muscoe Garnett, also served in the House of Burgesses and operated plantations using enslaved labor. His mother Grace Fenton Mercer was the daughter of prominent Stafford County planter and attorney John Mercer, and his cousin through her brother James Mercer, Charles F. Mercer, would also become a Congressman and prominent abolitionist. His younger brother Robert S. Garnett (1789-1840) also became a Congressman, and his brother William Garnett (1786-1866) moved to North Carolina where he operated plantations as well as survived the American Civil War. Meanwhile, James Mercer Garnett received a private education suitable to his class. In 1793, he married his cousin (James Mercer's daughter) Mary Eleanor Dick Mercer (1774-1837) and they had nine children, including James M. Garnett Jr. (1794-1824) and five daughters who reached adulthood: Ann Garnett (1797-1835), Mary Garnett Waring (1802-1822), Grace Fenton Garnett (1805-1826), Mary Mercer Garnett McGuire (1808-1841) and Eliza Garnett (1815-1847). His grandson Muscoe Russell Hunter Garnett (1821-1864) would become a prominent lawyer, Virginia politician and Confederate congressman long after this man's death. Several other grandsons would serve the Confederacy, including Dr. J.G.M. McGuire, Career Garnet inherited plantations in Essex County (including Elmwood) and continued the family tradition of farming using enslaved labor, although as discussed below, he would become a leading advocate of scientific agriculture and education. He owned 115 enslaved people in Essex County in 1820, 109 enslaved people there in 1830, and 63 enslaved people in the last census in his lifetime,