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Jane Minor facts for kids

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King cholera poster 1849
An old poster from a cholera outbreak in 1849. Jane Minor became free because of her healing work during an epidemic in Virginia in 1825.

Jane Minor (born around 1792–died 1858) was also known as Gensey (or Jensey) Snow. She was an African-American healer who was once enslaved. She is one of the few enslaved healers in U.S. history whose work is well-documented. She also helped many people gain their freedom.

Early Life of Jane Minor

Jane Minor was born into slavery as Gensey Snow. This happened in Dinwiddie County, Virginia. She worked on the large farm of Benjamin Harris May.

A Skilled Healer and Freedom Fighter

Historian Susan Lebsock described Jane Minor as a very skilled and caring healer. Patients felt much better when she helped them.

Helping During an Epidemic

In 1825, a serious fever epidemic hit Petersburg, Virginia. Many families, both Black and white, became very sick. Jane Minor worked tirelessly to heal people during this difficult time.

Gaining Freedom

Because of her amazing healing work, Benjamin May gave Jane Minor her freedom. In the legal document that freed her, called a manumission deed, he wrote why. He said he freed her for "extraordinary merit" in nursing. She risked her own health and safety. She showed great patience and care while looking after sick people in the town. He also believed she would keep doing such good deeds in the future.

Buying Freedom for Others

In 1826, Jane Minor met and married Lewis Minor, who was a free worker. After she became free, she started using the name Jane Minor. She earned money as a medical helper, usually $2 to $5 for each visit. With this money, she bought freedom for at least sixteen enslaved people. Some of them cost over $2,000.

For example, in July 1840, she bought and freed a woman named Emily Smith and her five children. In the same month and year, she also freed another healer named Phoebe Jackson. Historian Lebsock says Jane Minor was the most active free Black person in Petersburg, male or female, who helped others gain freedom.

Her Healing Methods

More than 30 years after she became free, newspapers in Petersburg still wrote about operations done by doctors at "the Hospital of the well-known nurse Jinsey Snow." Back then, common medical practices included cupping and leeching. Cupping used heated cups to create suction on the skin. Leeching used leeches to draw blood.

Researchers have learned that enslaved healers like Jane Minor often brought medical knowledge from Africa. This included using special herbs. This knowledge was often new to early colonial America.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Jane Minor para niños

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