Jim Henson (memorialist) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Jim Henson
Henson in 1888
Born	Maryland
Nationality	Canadian
Occupation	farmer
Known for	escaped slavery and dictated a memoir

Jim Henson was an African man who was forced into slavery in Maryland, U.S. He bravely escaped slavery and traveled to Canada. There, his life story, called Broken Shackles, was published in 1889. This book shared his experiences as an enslaved person.

Jim Henson's Story

Life in Slavery

Jim Henson was born into slavery in Maryland. He had seven different masters during his time as an enslaved person. His first master's wife had promised to free her enslaved people when they turned 35. However, she passed away before Jim reached that age.

Jim's grandmother, Chandesia, was also kidnapped from her home. She was the daughter of a leader of the Bagirmi people in what is now Chad.

Escape to Freedom

When Jim Henson escaped, he only needed to reach Pennsylvania to be free. He lived there for several years. Later, he decided to move to Canada. This was because a new law in the United States allowed people called "bounty hunters" to capture any Black person they thought might be an escaped enslaved person. Moving to Canada offered him greater safety and freedom.

A New Life in Canada

Jim Henson settled in Owen Sound, a town located on Georgian Bay in Canada. He built a new life for himself there.

In 1889, a writer named John Frost helped Jim Henson tell his life story. Frost wrote down Henson's memories, and they were published as the book Broken Shackles.

The publication of his book led to a wonderful event. Jim Henson was able to find and reunite with his wife, who he had been separated from for a long time. He traveled to Philadelphia to be with her. They spent their final months together, which was a very special time for them.