John Jasper facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John Jasper
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| Born | July 4, 1812 |
| Died | March 30, 1901 (aged 88) |
| Occupation | Baptist minister |
| Spouse(s) | Elvy Weaden Candus Jordan
(m. 1844, divorced)Mary Ann Cole
(m. 1863; died 1874) |
| Children | 9 |
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John Jasper (born July 4, 1812, died March 30, 1901) was an amazing Baptist minister. He was born into slavery but became a famous speaker for Christianity. This happened after the American Civil War, when he gained his freedom.
Early Life and Freedom
John Jasper was born on July 4, 1812, in Fluvanna County, Virginia. His parents were Philip and Tina Jasper. Philip was a well-known Baptist preacher. Tina was enslaved by a person named Mr. Peachy.
As a young man, John Jasper was hired out to different people. When Mr. Peachy's owner passed away, John was given to her son, John Blair Peachy. This new owner was a lawyer who moved to Louisiana.
John Jasper's time in Louisiana was short. His new master soon died, and John returned to Richmond, Virginia. In 1839, he had a special experience in Capital Square that made him a Christian. He then convinced another enslaved person to teach him to read and write. After learning, he began studying to become a Baptist minister.
Family Life
John Jasper was married three times during his life. His first wife was Elvy Weaden, who later left him.
In 1844, he married Candus Jordan. They had nine children together before they divorced. His third wife was Mary Ann Cole. They married in 1863, and she passed away on August 6, 1874.
A Powerful Preacher
For over twenty years, Reverend Jasper traveled all around Virginia. He often preached at funeral services for other enslaved people. He also frequently spoke at the Third Baptist Church in Petersburg, Virginia. During the American Civil War (1861–1865), he even preached to Confederate Soldiers.
After the American Civil War, John Jasper became a free man. He then started the Sixth Mount Zion Baptist Church in Richmond. By 1887, this church had grown to 2,500 members. It became a very important religious and social place for the Black community in Richmond's Jackson Ward. The church offered a Sunday School and many other helpful services.
Reverend Jasper was known for his lively and dramatic way of speaking. His powerful sermons made him famous. People invited him to preach all over the Eastern United States.
His most famous sermon was called The Sun Do Move. In this sermon, he shared his strong belief in God. He used the idea of a flat Earth where the sun moves around it. He first preached this sermon in March 1878, based on what he read in the Bible. Even though his ideas about the sun were different from modern science, he preached this sermon 273 times. He often spoke to thousands of people at once. He even preached it in London, Paris, and to the Virginia General Assembly.
Lasting Impact
John Jasper left a lasting mark on history. He is remembered as one of the most respected people in Richmond. This is especially true among African-American and Southern Baptist communities. He gave his last sermon just a few days before he passed away at 88 years old.
In 2012, the Library of Virginia honored him. They recognized him as one of the important African-American trailblazers in their "Strong Men and Women" series. The words of his famous sermon, The Sun Do Move, have since been updated into modern English from his original way of speaking. John Jasper is remembered for his strong loyalty to the Bible, which was the source of all his sermons.
