Letitia Munson facts for kids

Letitia Munson (born Letitia Leeney) was an African American woman who lived in the 1800s. She was a skilled herbalist and midwife. This means she knew a lot about plants for healing and helped people when they were sick or having babies. She was involved in a court case in Canada in 1882.

Biography of Letitia Munson

Letitia Leeney was born around 1820. She was born into slavery, likely in North Carolina. She once shared that her enslaver asked her to study medicine. She learned about healing from doctors for five years. She also spent two years learning from Indigenous American people.

Around 1860, Letitia became a free woman. She moved north to Canada. She settled in a town called Woodstock, Ontario. In January 1862, she married Commedess Munson. They had up to five children, who were likely adopted. Commedess passed away in 1881.

Later Life

We do not know much about Letitia Munson after the 1882 court case. Her son, Frederick, got married in 1885. However, Letitia herself is not mentioned in historical records after that time. It is possible she moved to a different place.