Because Posey was notable in his own time, there are more records of his life than of others like him – although this information is still incredibly sparse. However, Washington's step grandson, George Washington Parke Custis, chose to immortalise the chef in an biographical sketch in his book Reflections and Private Memoirs of Washington. Much what we know about Posey's towering persona is gleaned in Custis' single description. Recalling his childhood in the presidential mansion, he wrote about Posey as "a culinary artiste" and "dandy", with "great muscular power" and a "master spirit", whose "underlings flew to his command" (among those underlings were paid white servants).
