Anthony Johnson
So, we read in our chapters 4 and 5 readings that there were free blacks in what came to be the United States, who had entered into contracts with white indentured servants. At the time, there were no laws against a free black owning white servants, but in some places white people were appalled and then made bought the contracts from the free blacks and later made laws to prevent that from ever happening again. However, there is one free black man in United States history that broke the mold.
Once named Antonio, from Angola, Anthony Johnson went on to own land and slaves. Antonio came to the American colonies to be put to work and was also listed '"Antonio, a Negro"... a “servant” in the 1625 census" (facinghistory.org). He eventually became free and came to own his own land, though it was not as large as other lands owned by white men. It is unknown how Anthony became free, when he changed his name, and when he bought a slave, "...court records in 1641 indicate that Anthony was master to a black servant, John Casor" (facinghistory.org). He owned about 25 acres in Virginia where he started a family with his free wife, Mary.
After some years of establishing their lives and a respectable rapport, a huge fire burned down most of their land. They were so well-liked and respected that when they asked for aid, the townspeople exempted them from the hefty taxes free black men and women had to pay. After that, another white man bought his servant John Casor because he claimed to be illegally held hostage and forced into indentured service. Anthony fought it in court and won John back. When he died and gave his land to his son, the land was seized in the name of Virginia and given to a white neighbor. Anthony was documented as a Negro and therefore, an alien in the colonies.
Interesting, right?!
https://www.facinghistory.org/reconstruction-era/anthony-johnson-man-control-his-own
Once named Antonio, from Angola, Anthony Johnson went on to own land and slaves. Antonio came to the American colonies to be put to work and was also listed '"Antonio, a Negro"... a “servant” in the 1625 census" (facinghistory.org). He eventually became free and came to own his own land, though it was not as large as other lands owned by white men. It is unknown how Anthony became free, when he changed his name, and when he bought a slave, "...court records in 1641 indicate that Anthony was master to a black servant, John Casor" (facinghistory.org). He owned about 25 acres in Virginia where he started a family with his free wife, Mary.
After some years of establishing their lives and a respectable rapport, a huge fire burned down most of their land. They were so well-liked and respected that when they asked for aid, the townspeople exempted them from the hefty taxes free black men and women had to pay. After that, another white man bought his servant John Casor because he claimed to be illegally held hostage and forced into indentured service. Anthony fought it in court and won John back. When he died and gave his land to his son, the land was seized in the name of Virginia and given to a white neighbor. Anthony was documented as a Negro and therefore, an alien in the colonies.
Interesting, right?!
https://www.facinghistory.org/reconstruction-era/anthony-johnson-man-control-his-own
Comments
Post a Comment