John Brown (fugitive slave) facts for kids
John Brown (born around 1810 – died 1876) was an amazing person who escaped slavery. He was born in Southampton County, Virginia. When he was enslaved, he was called "Fed".
John Brown became famous for his book, Slave Life in Georgia. This book was published in London, England, in 1855. It told the story of his life, his struggles, and how he bravely escaped from slavery in Georgia.
After his escape, John Brown moved to London in 1850. He lived there for the rest of his life and married an English woman.
Early Life and Family
John Brown was born in Southampton County, Virginia. His parents, Joe and Nancy (also called Nanny), were both enslaved. He grew up with his twin brother and sister, Silas and Lucy.
They lived on a large farm owned by Betty Moore. John only saw his father, Joe, once. His father was enslaved by a different owner in Northampton County. John's grandfather had been taken from Africa. He was from the Eboe, or Igbo, tribe.
After his father's owner moved away, John's mother, Nancy, had to marry another enslaved man named Lamb. Lamb lived on a nearby farm. Nancy and Lamb had three more children: Curtis, Iraene, and Cain. John and his family lived in a small two-room cabin.
Life in Slavery
When Betty Moore's husband passed away, his will said that the enslaved people would be divided among his wife and their three daughters. There were over 100 enslaved people. John, his mother, and his brother Curtis were given to one of the daughters and her husband, James Davis. They had to walk to Davis's farm in Northampton.
When John was about ten years old, James Davis sold him. John was sold to a person who bought and sold enslaved people. This person took John to Georgia, which was growing quickly. John was sold for about $310 and was separated from his mother forever.
In Georgia, John was sold to a farmer named Thomas Stevens. Stevens had a cotton farm and a place that made whiskey near Milledgeville. John worked for Stevens for more than 15 years. He later wrote that Stevens treated him and other enslaved people very harshly.
After Stevens became sick, John was given to Dr. Thomas Hamilton. Dr. Hamilton lived in Clinton, Georgia. John described how Dr. Hamilton tried different treatments on him. After several attempts, John managed to escape. When he escaped, he changed his name to John Brown.
Escape to Freedom
John Brown traveled north, working in different places along the way. In 1850, he sailed to England. He decided to leave the United States because a new law, the Fugitive Slave Law, made it easier for escaped enslaved people to be captured, even in free states. He wanted to be truly free.
In London, England, John Brown found work as a carpenter. He contacted the British and Foreign Anti-Slavery Society. This group worked to end slavery. He told them his life story.
In 1855, he told his story to the society's secretary, Louis Alexis Chamerovzow, who wrote it down. The book was published in London as Slave Life in Georgia: A Narrative of the Life, Sufferings, and Escape of John Brown, a Fugitive Slave, Now in England. John Brown's book is one of many important slave narratives published before and after the American Civil War.
John Brown married an English woman in London. He stayed in London for the rest of his life. He worked as a herbalist, someone who uses plants for health. He passed away in London in 1876.
See also
- List of slaves
