Henson was born to slave parents on june 15, 1789 in charles county, maryland. For the next 68 years it is estimated that 50,000 blacks entered canada for safety and freedom. Josiah henson park is the former plantation property of isaac riley where reverend josiah henson was enslaved. Josiah hensons description of plantation life umbc. The first antislavery law in canada was passed in 1783 by then ontario. Josiah henson, author info, published books, bio, photo. Call number e pam h526l rare book, manuscript, and special collections library, duke university libraries the electronic edition is a part of the uncch digitization project, documenting the. The character uncle tom, from harriet beecher stowes bestselling novel, uncle toms cabin, is based on the life of josiah henson 17891882. Josiah henson was an author, abolitionist, and minister. Born into slavery, in port tobacco, charles county, maryland, he escaped to upper canada now ontario in 1830, and founded a settlement and laborers school for other fugitive slaves at dawn, near dresden, in kent county, upper canada, of british canada. Published in 1849, the life of josiah henson, formerly a slave, now an inhabitant of canada, as narrated by himself provides a detailed description of the hensons life as a slave in the south. In 1828, henson became a preacher for the methodist episcopal church and could make money to purchase his liberty.
Hensonnevels family bringing the descendents of josiah. See all books authored by josiah henson, including the life of josiah henson, formerly a slave, now an inhabitant of canada, and uncle toms story of his life. Several groups, however, are pushing for the house to be studied for. An autobiography of the reverend josiah henson docsouth books by josiah henson sep 1, 2011. This slave narrative is hensons first work but was dictated to samuel a. The life of josiah henson, formerly a slave, now an inhabitant of canada book. His surname was given to him from the name of mcphersons uncle, which was henson. Josiah henson dawn settlement underground railroad. The life of josiah henson, formerly a slave, now an inhabitant of canada, as narrated by himself is a slave narrative written by josiah henson, who would later become famous for being the basis of the title character from harriet beecher stowe s novel uncle toms cabin. In 1830 henson fled to canada along with his family where. The character uncle tom, fr om harriet beecher stowes bestselling novel, uncle toms cabin, is based on the life of josiah henson 17891882. Call number e pam h526l rare book, manuscript, and special collections library.
Josiah henson s life in the key to uncle toms cabin, in support of her characterization of tom as a christian hero, stowe quotes several passages from josiah henson s 1849 narrative of his enslavement and escape. As a child, he was sold to isaac riley, who later appointed him superintendent of the farm at an unusually young age because of hensons strength and intelligence. May 08, 2017 the josiah henson interpretive center and museum contains books and artifacts from the slave era, related to abolition, the underground railroad and hensons life. In this groundbreaking new documentary narrated by danny glover as seen on pbs, retrace josiahs 3000mile journey from slavery to freedom.
The life of josiah henson, formerly a slave, now an inhabitant of canada language. Author jared brock sent our family a message via our facebook page on his new josiah henson biography and documentary. In 1841, a group of abolitionists, including henson. The henson cabin was originally a slave cabin on a plantation. The life of josiah henson, published in 1849, is hensons first work but was dictated to samuel a. The greatest of those helped others to achieve their dreams. It is also historically significant, having inspired the best selling novel of the 19th century. The life of josiah henson, formerly a slave, now an inhabitant of canada, as narrated by himself is a slave narrative written by josiah henson, who would later become famous for being the basis of the title character from harriet beecher stowes 1852 novel uncle toms cabin. Image 1 of the life of josiah henson, formerly a slave, now. After the civil war, henson and his supporters parlayed these stowe. For more information, see why, these days josiah henson can even be found on. He was sold three times before he reached the age of eighteen.
The second best result is josiah henson age 20s in spencer, in. In 1841, a group of abolitionists, including henson, created a communityschool for runaway slaves called the britishamerican institute for fugitive slaves. Genealogy profile for josiah henson josiah henson 1789 1883 genealogy genealogy for josiah henson 1789 1883 family tree on geni, with over 200 million profiles of ancestors and living relatives. The life of josiah henson, formerly a slave, now an inhabitant of canada, as narrated by himself by josiah henson 20150808 jan 1, 1807.
Josiah hensons life is widely recognized as the inspiration for what of the american novels most noble and unfairly maligned characters. Indians those people who worked within the system and really didnt pull their. Josiah henson was born a slave on 15th june, 1789 in charles county, maryland. In this groundbreaking new documentary narrated by danny glover as seen on pbs, re. Josiah henson was given the christian name of his first master, dr josiah mcpherson, and the surname of his masters uncle. Over time these sentiments pushed blacks away from canada, while other factors. This park is a historic resource of local, state, national and international significance because of its association with reverend henson, whose 1849 autobiography, the life of josiah henson, formerly a slave, now an inhabitant of. Image 1 of the life of josiah henson, formerly a slave.
Online shopping from a great selection at books store. As the documentation of this shameful period in us history expands, works like this have increasing value. Also available in digital form on the library of congress web site. Summary of the life of josiah henson, formerly a slave, now. Josiah henson was a true hero and humanitarian leading up to the emancipation proclamation. The life of josiah henson is not only an interesting slave narrative and the memoir of an important leader of canadas black community, but is also an important source of a classic of american popular literature. The story is based on the life of josiah henson, father.
Even while a slave and enduring violence, when given the choice of defiling his word or gaining. Josiah henson was born june 15, 1789, in charles county, md. Book 1 is presented at venue 1 on these dates and times. Josiah w henson, jr was born circa 1891, at birth place, missouri, to josiah henson and alice henson. He was also involved in the underground railroad, and he served as a model for the title. My new biography on josiah henson the road to dawn and my new documentary narrated by danny glover. The life story of josiah henson, who was a slave in maryland and escaped to freedom in canada, was the inspiration for uncle toms cabin. Josiah henson gained sudden popularity because his life experiences were an inspiration for harriet beechers 1851 antislavery novel, uncle toms cabin. Josiah henson used his freedom well touchpoint press. Josiah henson dawn settlement underground railroad filing. The life of josiah henson, formerly a slave, now an inhabitant of canada.
During the period of slavery in the united states and afterward in the ongoing struggle for equality and opportunity for people of african descent, josiah henson was a man who lived his conviction of being honest in both word and deed. In 1858 she wrote a preface to henson s revised and expanded autobiography, father henson s story of his own life. The life of josiah henson, published in 1849, is hensons first work but. Nothing would really belong to you, and you would have no choice about what you wanted to do. Josiah henson phone, address, background info whitepages. According to his autobiography, the only known source for his early life, josiah was five when mcpherson died and he was sold to less benign masters, first to a tyrant named robb, and shortly thereafter to isaac riley in. Eliota former boston mayor known for his antislavery.
Josiah henson, born june 15, 1789, charles county, maryland, u. Josiah henson, his wife, nancy, and their four children began their life in canada in 1830. Josiah hensons life in the key to uncle toms cabin, in support of her characterization of tom as a christian hero, stowe quotes several passages from josiah hensons 1849 narrative of his enslavement and escape. In the first major biography of josiah henson ever written, the road to dawn chronicles hensons fortytwo years spent in bondage and his eventual escape with his wife and four young children, carrying the youngest two on his broken shoulders for 600 miles, eventually settling with his family as a free man across the border in canada. The life of josiah henson, formerly a slave, now an inhabitant of canada, as narrated by himself author. The life of josiah henson is told with a matter of fact narrative that allows the reader to empathise with the aspirations and crises of which the narrators life comprised. The life of josiah henson formaly a many of the earliest books, particularly those dating back to the 1900s and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. In the first major biography of josiah henson ever written, the road to dawn chronicles henson s fortytwo years spent in bondage and his eventual escape with his wife and four young children, carrying the youngest two on his broken shoulders for 600 miles, eventually settling with his family as a free man across the border in canada. Henson talked about the connection between his distant relative josiah henson and harriett beecher stowe.
Photograph shows a halflength portrait of josiah henson, facing slightly left. At age twentytwo henson married a slave woman whose name remains unknown. Josiah henson, a true abolitionist african american registry. This book captures the triumph of the human spirit over slavery and of mans inhumanity to man. Josiah henson, who was a slave in maryland, inspired the. The dawn collect from kingston presents josiah henson. Time team america headed to the tiny historic plantation tucked away in a suburb of the nations capital in order to learn more about a very special. The life of josiah henson is told with a matter of fact narrative that allows the. We are republishing these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the original text and artwork. The second installment of the josiah henson leadership conference shall address the local legacy, history and challenges facing montgomery countys africanamericans and people of african ancestry. The josiah henson interpretive center and museum contains books and artifacts from the slave era, related to abolition, the underground railroad and hensons life. Feb, 2015 the original uncle tom, josiah henson june 15, 1789 may 5, 1883 was an author, abolitionist, and minister. Josiah henson josiah henson was born on june 15th 1789, his master was a man named dr.
Read this, and face some truths still not accepted today. Josiah henson died on may 5, 1883 in ontario, canada. Josiah henson from slave to saviour a two act play starring cassel miles written and directed by charles robertson what audiences say. The original uncle tom, josiah henson june 15, 1789 may 5, 1883 was an author, abolitionist, and minister. He was an author of three books, including uncle toms story of his life. Born in maryland, henson escaped and fled to dresden, ontario, canada in 1830. The following information is provided by the ontario heritage trust which now owns and manages the property initially known as the dawn settlement. Time team america, season 2, episode 1, the search for josiah. In 1858 she wrote a preface to hensons revised and expanded autobiography, father hensons story of his own life. Jul 09, 2019 josiah henson was an author, abolitionist, and minister. As a child, he was sold to isaac riley, who later appointed him superintendent of the farm at an unusually young age because of henson s strength and intelligence.
Born into slavery in charles county, maryland, he escaped to upper canada now ontario in 1830, and founded a settlement and laborers school for other fugitive slaves at dawn, near dresden in kent county. Josiah henson historical records and family trees myheritage. Josiah henson june 15, 1789 may 5, 1883 was an author, abolitionist, and minister born into slavery, in port tobacco, charles county, maryland, he escaped to upper canada now ontario in 1830, and founded a settlement and laborers school for other fugitive slaves at dawn, near dresden, in kent county, upper canada, of british canada. This date marks the birth of josiah henson in 1789. Harriet beecher stowe novel became one of the most important books in. Escape born into slavery in charles county, maryland, he escaped to upper canada now ontario in 1830, and founded a settlement and laborers school for other fugitive slaves at dawn, near dresden in kent county. Josiah henson was born into captivity june 15, 1789, in port tobacco, maryland. One of them was josiah henson, a former slave from kentucky. In this groundbreaking new documentary narrated by danny glover as seen on pbs, retrace josiah s 3000mile journey from slavery to freedom. Josiah henson 17891883 was born into slavery in charles county, maryland, on a farm owned by francis newman. Once there, henson rescued 118 more slaves, including his. The story of the real harriet beecher stowes uncle tom.
It is from this man that josiah attained his first name. Josiah henson june 15, 1789 may 5, 1883 was an author, abolitionist, and minister. Select this result to view josiah hensons phone number, address, and more. I was born, june 15, 1789, in charles county, maryland, on a farm belonging to mr. Summary of the life of josiah henson, formerly a slave. Josiah henson books list of books by author josiah henson. Catherine leggett, first lady of montgomery county and chair of the josiah henson campaign committee is leading this very special event. Josiah henson is the author of the life of josiah henson, formerly a slave, now an inhabitant of canada 4.
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