In the 1820s, Jared Sparks interviewed her for his biography of Washington, which she did in exchange for the freedom of her grandson, a toddler at the time, Robert H. Robinson.

[7] She and other housemaids, like Molly and Charlotte, were responsible for cleaning and maintaining the Washington's mansion and other buildings on the plantation.

[2] In the early morning, she lit fireplaces in the mansion to warm the rooms, including the occupied bed chambers, before the family and any guests awoke.

[6] Her work included: washing clothes and linens, dusting furniture, cleaning floors, and other household duties.

[2] A house bell system, built in the 1780s, summoned domestic workers to the piazza, dining rooms, or bedrooms.

[8][9] At times Branham coordinated activities, such as readying the mansion when the Washingtons returned to the plantation from Philadelphia.

[2] I beg you will make Caroline put all the things of every kind out to air and Brush and Clean all the places and rooms that they were in…On the first, second, and third floors, bed chambers were frequented by visiting relatives, friends, and strangers.

[9][11] Washington claimed that Mount Vernon was a "well resorted tavern" with overnight guests two-thirds of the time.

"[9] Washingtons provided luxurious accommodations with furniture, china, soap, wine, cheese, and other foods from Europe.

[11] House maids prepared bed chambers for visitors with fresh linens and jugs of water for washing.

They would also wear aprons, shoes with buckles, stockings, a type of corset, and caps over their hair if they interacted regularly with family members and visitors.

They valued and relied upon their highly skilled household workers and worried about angering her and other enslaved people.

He was concerned that Caroline kept pieces of fabric (for mending clothes and for quilts) and that Hardiman took longer than needed when traveling between the five farms on Mount Vernon.

Hardiman drove Eleanor from Abington plantation to Mount Vernon to visit Martha and George.

[6] Mount Vernon operated corn and wheat mills and a blacksmith shop where iron tools were made.

[14] Washington contracted for Hardiman to establish himself at Mount Vernon and oversee breeding and maintaining horses.

Washington's lawyer, Tobias Lear recorded that Branham and three other enslaved people were in his room when he died.

[4][5] Martha decided to manumit the enslaved people early and signed a deed of manumission in December 1800, and they were freed on January 1, 1801.

Branham and their children, as well as Peter Hardiman, were inherited by Martha's grandson, George Washington Parke Custis.

[6] Around 1806, Branham gave birth to a daughter named Lucy whose father was likely Custis, based upon scholarship performed for the Mount Vernon exhibit Lives Bound Together.

[2][21][e] Custis's daughter Mary Anna married Robert E. Lee at Arlington House when Branham lived there.

"[2][3][25] Managing the stables for Washington meant that Hardiman would live with his wife and children at Mount Vernon.

Washington lent Hardiman to his friend William Fitzhugh to prepare his horse Tarquin for a race in the autumn of 1785.

[24] In the 1820s, Branham agreed to in-depth interviews with historian Jared Sparks on the condition that her grandson Robert H. Robinson, a toddler at the time, was to be freed.

[2][4] Branham was portrayed in two documentaries I Ain't No Three Fifths of a Person: Slavery and the Constitution and Hear My Story: The Enslaved Community at Mount Vernon.