[Pics Richmond, VA, 1865; Lott Carey, d 1828]His third birth, his emancipation
Despite severe penalties awaiting any slave trying to escape, Johnson attempted it at least twice. He had found freedom in Christ and now longed for freedom from human slavery too. In 1860 Lincoln became president, and, like other slaves, Johnson saw this as an answer to prayer. Civil war soon broke out and Johnson went with his master’s eldest son, as a personal servant, when he volunteered for service. They saw much of the activity that centred on Yorktown. Technically Johnson’s freedom can be dated from August, 1861. In that month an act was passed freeing any slave used by his master for military purposes hostile to the Union. In June, 1862, a law was passed emancipating all slaves in federal territory and on January 1, 1863, the Emancipation Proclamation decreed perpetual freedom for all slaves in the rebel states.
During the second year of the war Johnson’s master died, leaving his property and slaves to his kind-hearted widow. From then Johnson remained at home, though at one point he was hired out to a cigar factory. In 1863 he married Henrietta Thompson, a maid to a Mrs Cooper, the wife of a Confederate General and the sister of famous Confederate General Robert E Lee. The couple met in Richmond. By this time Johnson was more literate and took on a class of six pupils.
For many months the sound of guns became commonplace in Richmond and great excitement stirred the slaves who sensed their freedom approaching. Each twist and turn was endlessly debated. Every scrap of information was eagerly seized on and discussed. Some slaves saw Daniel 11 as a prophecy of what was happening, though none were quite sure of the details. On April 2, 1865, General Grant took Petersburg, 20 miles from Richmond, and the southern leaders began to leave the capital. The following morning 40 US Cavalry rode in near to where Johnson was. He grabbed on to one and earnestly explained the case of an African-American he knew who had been forced to join the Confederate army, but the officer just laughed.
There was a measure of self-inflicted damage to property but little bloodshed when Richmond was finally taken. One can only imagine the salves’ delight now they knew they were free at last. Unbelievers strummed banjos loudly and climbed trees to shout out the news. Believers thronged to churches to praise God for this great answer to their prayers. There were tears of joy on all sides. The thirteenth amendment to the American Constitution proclaiming freedom for all slaves throughout the US was passed by two thirds majority on January 31, 1865. For some 250 years or so slavery had been an accepted part of the culture in North America. Between 1526 and 1810 some 400,000 men, women and children had been snatched from their native soil, transported across the ocean in inhuman conditions and forced to be slaves on a foreign shore. Many had not survived the journey. Those that did were treated in many, many cases, worse than animals. It is a huge blot on the history of mankind that such a traffic was allowed to go on virtually unchecked for so long.
Johnson was now a freeman. He describes his amazement at the wages he received after completing his first job. Having experience in hotel work he was put in charge of providing a grand dinner given by a Mr Sterns. He was could not believe it when, very satisfied, the man gave him 20 times what he was expecting.
Thoughts soon turned to moving north. By this time Johnson’s mind was filled with the idea of
going to Africa to share the gospel with his ancient people. To do that he needed to be properly educated. Where the idea of going to Africa came from Johnson never states but the idea was ‘in the air’ at the time. No doubt he had heard of Virginia Baptist and former slave, Lott Carey, who had gone as a missionary to Liberia.
Sadly, before the Johnsons could head north their little son Albert, not yet one, died. Three days later Johnson’s mother also died, bringing a double blow. Shortly after, he sailed to New York on a troopship. He describes his experiences on first coming to the bustling city. Much is typical of a Virginian in the big city for the first time. He had a paralysing fear of pickpockets and scrapes with those ready to take advantage of him. Above it all, however, there was a tremendous sense of joy at being free.
He found work as a waiter, first in a hotel, then, thanks to his strong Christian integrity, in a private home, where his wife joined him. What education Johnson had gained was rather piecemeal and haphazard. He cut a comic figure in some ways. He tells of his love of impressive words and phrases. Until his wife pointed out what it meant, he delighted to tell people he had left Virginia under ‘peculiar’ or ‘very peculiar’ circumstances! He also describes a meeting he attended where plans were being laid to send former slave and outspoken black orator and writer, Frederick Douglass, as a delegate to Washington. There were many speeches about suffrage and the ballot-box. Johnson could not understand a great deal of what was said. What the ballot-box was he did not know and as for ‘suffrage’, he thought that was an allusion to the suffering they had endured. Somehow he was able to make a speech pledging support that was well received but he realised again how greatly in need of further education he was.
There were many movements around in this period of change and Johnson was nearly caught up in one or two. His employer’s offers of help to make money in business could have been another distraction. However, in God’s providence, he stuck determinedly to his desire to prepare for work in Africa. The story of how emancipated African-American slaves turned round their unenviable situation with such great toil and energy is a remarkable one. This was true not just in business and industry and the arts but also in the churches. Johnson is an example to us of such zeal and hard work.
In 1866 he decided to move 800 miles west to Chicago where prospects appeared better. Although he was disappointed in his initial expectations he joined Olivet Baptist Church, a church made up of former slaves, where he soon felt at home. He reconsecrated himself to study in preparation for Christian ministry. After some set backs he eventually found work supervising washing up and doing odd jobs and then waiting on tables again. Finally, he was able to get early morning work preparing offices for the day, as well as waitering at lunch time. This paid better and left him with more free time to study. His wife had gone to Washington meanwhile, successfully seeking to locate members of her family from whom she had been taken some years before. Johnson used to live very frugally to have money to send her. Chicago winters can he very cold and he felt unable to go on at times but kept looking to the Lord. As time went on he was able to gain better work as a waiter with H M Kinsley, the man for whom he had originally come to Chicago to work. He also worked as a steward for the Union Pacific Railroad. By this means he came to be acquainted with George Pullman, of railroad fame, his brother Albert, Lincoln’s son Robert and many other influential people who were very kind to him. ‘Thomas’ was well known as the best waiter for miles around.
Despite severe penalties awaiting any slave trying to escape, Johnson attempted it at least twice. He had found freedom in Christ and now longed for freedom from human slavery too. In 1860 Lincoln became president, and, like other slaves, Johnson saw this as an answer to prayer. Civil war soon broke out and Johnson went with his master’s eldest son, as a personal servant, when he volunteered for service. They saw much of the activity that centred on Yorktown. Technically Johnson’s freedom can be dated from August, 1861. In that month an act was passed freeing any slave used by his master for military purposes hostile to the Union. In June, 1862, a law was passed emancipating all slaves in federal territory and on January 1, 1863, the Emancipation Proclamation decreed perpetual freedom for all slaves in the rebel states.
During the second year of the war Johnson’s master died, leaving his property and slaves to his kind-hearted widow. From then Johnson remained at home, though at one point he was hired out to a cigar factory. In 1863 he married Henrietta Thompson, a maid to a Mrs Cooper, the wife of a Confederate General and the sister of famous Confederate General Robert E Lee. The couple met in Richmond. By this time Johnson was more literate and took on a class of six pupils.
For many months the sound of guns became commonplace in Richmond and great excitement stirred the slaves who sensed their freedom approaching. Each twist and turn was endlessly debated. Every scrap of information was eagerly seized on and discussed. Some slaves saw Daniel 11 as a prophecy of what was happening, though none were quite sure of the details. On April 2, 1865, General Grant took Petersburg, 20 miles from Richmond, and the southern leaders began to leave the capital. The following morning 40 US Cavalry rode in near to where Johnson was. He grabbed on to one and earnestly explained the case of an African-American he knew who had been forced to join the Confederate army, but the officer just laughed.
There was a measure of self-inflicted damage to property but little bloodshed when Richmond was finally taken. One can only imagine the salves’ delight now they knew they were free at last. Unbelievers strummed banjos loudly and climbed trees to shout out the news. Believers thronged to churches to praise God for this great answer to their prayers. There were tears of joy on all sides. The thirteenth amendment to the American Constitution proclaiming freedom for all slaves throughout the US was passed by two thirds majority on January 31, 1865. For some 250 years or so slavery had been an accepted part of the culture in North America. Between 1526 and 1810 some 400,000 men, women and children had been snatched from their native soil, transported across the ocean in inhuman conditions and forced to be slaves on a foreign shore. Many had not survived the journey. Those that did were treated in many, many cases, worse than animals. It is a huge blot on the history of mankind that such a traffic was allowed to go on virtually unchecked for so long.
Johnson was now a freeman. He describes his amazement at the wages he received after completing his first job. Having experience in hotel work he was put in charge of providing a grand dinner given by a Mr Sterns. He was could not believe it when, very satisfied, the man gave him 20 times what he was expecting.
Thoughts soon turned to moving north. By this time Johnson’s mind was filled with the idea of
going to Africa to share the gospel with his ancient people. To do that he needed to be properly educated. Where the idea of going to Africa came from Johnson never states but the idea was ‘in the air’ at the time. No doubt he had heard of Virginia Baptist and former slave, Lott Carey, who had gone as a missionary to Liberia.Sadly, before the Johnsons could head north their little son Albert, not yet one, died. Three days later Johnson’s mother also died, bringing a double blow. Shortly after, he sailed to New York on a troopship. He describes his experiences on first coming to the bustling city. Much is typical of a Virginian in the big city for the first time. He had a paralysing fear of pickpockets and scrapes with those ready to take advantage of him. Above it all, however, there was a tremendous sense of joy at being free.
He found work as a waiter, first in a hotel, then, thanks to his strong Christian integrity, in a private home, where his wife joined him. What education Johnson had gained was rather piecemeal and haphazard. He cut a comic figure in some ways. He tells of his love of impressive words and phrases. Until his wife pointed out what it meant, he delighted to tell people he had left Virginia under ‘peculiar’ or ‘very peculiar’ circumstances! He also describes a meeting he attended where plans were being laid to send former slave and outspoken black orator and writer, Frederick Douglass, as a delegate to Washington. There were many speeches about suffrage and the ballot-box. Johnson could not understand a great deal of what was said. What the ballot-box was he did not know and as for ‘suffrage’, he thought that was an allusion to the suffering they had endured. Somehow he was able to make a speech pledging support that was well received but he realised again how greatly in need of further education he was.
There were many movements around in this period of change and Johnson was nearly caught up in one or two. His employer’s offers of help to make money in business could have been another distraction. However, in God’s providence, he stuck determinedly to his desire to prepare for work in Africa. The story of how emancipated African-American slaves turned round their unenviable situation with such great toil and energy is a remarkable one. This was true not just in business and industry and the arts but also in the churches. Johnson is an example to us of such zeal and hard work.
In 1866 he decided to move 800 miles west to Chicago where prospects appeared better. Although he was disappointed in his initial expectations he joined Olivet Baptist Church, a church made up of former slaves, where he soon felt at home. He reconsecrated himself to study in preparation for Christian ministry. After some set backs he eventually found work supervising washing up and doing odd jobs and then waiting on tables again. Finally, he was able to get early morning work preparing offices for the day, as well as waitering at lunch time. This paid better and left him with more free time to study. His wife had gone to Washington meanwhile, successfully seeking to locate members of her family from whom she had been taken some years before. Johnson used to live very frugally to have money to send her. Chicago winters can he very cold and he felt unable to go on at times but kept looking to the Lord. As time went on he was able to gain better work as a waiter with H M Kinsley, the man for whom he had originally come to Chicago to work. He also worked as a steward for the Union Pacific Railroad. By this means he came to be acquainted with George Pullman, of railroad fame, his brother Albert, Lincoln’s son Robert and many other influential people who were very kind to him. ‘Thomas’ was well known as the best waiter for miles around.
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