Thomas Lewis Johnson: Twenty- Eight years a slave, or The Story of My Life in Three Continents

Summary

 Based on the information given to him by his mother, Thomas Johnson believes he was born on August 7th, 1836, at Rock- Raymon in the state of Virginia. Thomas's father was an Octoroon, and a free man. When Thomas was 3 years old his master, Mr. Brent, moves to Alexandria, Virgina. Johnson's father wanted to purchase Johnson and his mother, but Mr. Brent would not allow the purchase. Mr. Brent held some office in the government, and moved to Washington when Thomas was 7 or 8 years old. His mother instilled in him the importance of learning how to read and write. Over time Thomas became the property of his master's son. His young master would whip him often for trivial things. Thomas reports that his condition was better than others he had seen. In 1852 his master married, and Thomas was sold to his master's brother who lives in Richmond, Virginia. Here he got to see his Mother again. He purchased himself a copy book to learn how to write. During this time he found religion. He used a Bible to teach himself how to read more thoroughly. In 1863, Thomas was married to Henrietta Thompson, maid to Mrs. Cooper, wife of General S.G Cooper. Mrs. Cooper was the sister of General Robert E. Lee. Thomas became a free man during the Civil War, under the Emancipation Proclamation. The first wages Thomas made as a free man were earned waitering for General E. Lee, and other generals. Thomas later became a minister, and he was a Missionary for some time. He went to Pastoral College in England in December, 1876. He later went as a Missionary to Africa in 1878. He also later traveled to Ireland to preach. Thomas continued to preach until around April, 1894, when he found himself unfit health wise to continue his missionary work. The year of his death is unknown.