Letter, Gabriel Johnson to John Augustine Washington III

Containers:

Box 66, Folder 1845.08.06

Creator:

Johnson, Gabriel, 1820- and Hill, Henry P., active 1843-1845

Scope and content:

Letter in the hand of Henry P. Hill, likely dictated by Gabriel Johnson from Bruin's Slave Jail in Alexandria. Gabriel tells his side of the story following an disagreement with Joseph McFarland, John Augustine's overseer at Mount Vernon. According to Gabriel, McFarland threatened to whip him, but Gabriel "told him that he could not whip me as I did not think any person but my master out to do it or at least to authorize it." McFarland tied Gabriel up, but he escaped. When he was recaptured, he was brought to the jail.

Gabriel writes, "I want you if you please Sir to come down and see about the matter and hope that you will be satisfied that at best I am not the only one to blame. I love you and your family and hope that you will believe me that I have the utmost sort of feelings for you and would not by any means offend you if I could avoid it. I am very anxious to see you here and feel fully the painfull uncertainty of my situation."

Language:

English .

Subjects:

Enslaved persons
Correspondence

Names:

Washington, John Augustine, III, 1821-1861
Johnson, Gabriel, 1820-
Hill, Henry P., active 1843-1845
Washington, John Augustine, III, 1821-1861

Places:

Bruin's Slave Jail

Access and use