Thomas Green worked at Mount Vernon at least since 1783. He was employed first as a joiner and later as overseer of the plantation carpenters. GW accused Green of misconduct, which included alcoholism and absenteeism. By 1794 Green had abandoned his family and left GW’s employ.

By 1787 Green was married to Sarah Bishop, the daughter of Thomas Bishop, GW’s old military servant, and of Susanna Bishop, who from 1766 until her death in December 1785 delivered most of the babies born to slave mothers at Mount Vernon.