Josiah Henson was born into slavery on June 16, 1789 in Charles County, Md. He is most known for his remarkable journey from enslavement to becoming a prominent abolitionist and community leader. His life even inspired the famous, “Uncle Tom’s Cabin”, written by Harriet Beecher Stowe.
Henson was sold to several slave owners before eventually being bought by Isaac Riley of Bethesda, where he became a trusted plantation overseer, and helped transport slaves from Maryland to Kentucky. After a botched deal for his freedom from Riley, Henson and his family successfully escaped slavery and fled to Canada.
MCM partnered with Montgomery History to spotlight historical figures and stories in the community for Black History Month. Through this collaboration, we aim to promote understanding and appreciation of the rich history of African Americans in Montgomery County.
Read more Black History in Montgomery County by visiting the Montgomery History website.
Join us every Friday throughout Black History Month as we Highlight Historical stories from Montgomery County. This week, learn about historic figure Josiah Henson.
Credit to @mocomdhistory for this information! #BlackHistoryMonth #MontgomeryCountyHistory pic.twitter.com/hNomxZIVTU
— Montgomery Community Media (@mymcmedia) February 16, 2024
