John M. Washington (slave) facts for kids
John M. Washington (born May 20, 1838, in Fredericksburg, Virginia) was an amazing American man. He was born into slavery but learned to read and write. This was very unusual for enslaved people at that time. After the American Civil War, he wrote a special book. It was one of the few true stories written by someone who had been enslaved. He passed away in 1918 in Washington, D.C..
A Difficult Start
John M. Washington was born into slavery in Fredericksburg. His mother, Sarah, was a brave woman. She tried to escape slavery many times when John was a child. The first time she was caught, she was forced to work hard in the fields. Even with these challenges, she taught John how to read and write.
Later, Sarah tried to escape again. This time, she was separated from her family. She became a personal servant for a strict school headmaster, Dr. Rev. Phillips. After John got sick, he briefly saw his mother again in Staunton. But he was sent back to Fredericksburg because he didn't follow Phillips' harsh rules. John later remembered learning about the "cruelty of the white man" during his time there.
The Civil War and Freedom
Soon after John returned to Fredericksburg, the American Civil War began. In April 1862, the Union Army took control of Fredericksburg for a short time. During this period, John gained his freedom. He even became a spy for the Union Army! One of his biggest achievements as a spy was helping to expose a Southern spy named Belle Boyd.
When the Union Army left Fredericksburg, John had to escape to Washington, D.C. He had to leave his wife behind, but she later joined him.
Life After the War
After the war ended, John M. Washington wrote his life story. It was called Memorys of the Past and was published in 1873. This book is very important because it's one of the few stories written by someone who escaped slavery.
In 2007, a historian named David W. Blight published a book called A Slave No More: Two Men Who Escaped to Freedom, Including Their Own Narratives of Emancipation. This book shared the stories of John M. Washington and another man named Wallace Turnage.
John M. Washington passed away in 1918 at his son's home. His family still lives in Washington, D.C., today.
See also
