On many a morning he could be seen out on the river in his skiff, beguiling the toothsome perch, bass or rock-fish.

Not infrequently he would fall asleep and then the impatient cook, who had orders to have dinner strictly upon the hour, would be compelled to seek the shore and roar at him.

Old Jack would waken and upon rowing to shore would inquire angrily: "What you all mek such a debbil of a racket for hey?
I wa'nt asleep, only noddin'." Another colored factotum about the place was known as Tom Davis, whose duty it was to supply the Mansion House with game.

With the aid of his old British musket and of his Newfoundland dog "Gunner" he secured many a canvasback and mallard, to say nothing of quails, turkeys and other game.
After the Revolution Washington formed a deer park below the hill on which the Mansion House stands.

The park contained about one hundred acres and was surrounded by a high paling about sixteen hundred yards long.