Henry Johnson (~1844–December 5, 1890) was a Tennessean who was once enslaved by Andrew Johnson. Johnson purchased Henry in 1857 for US$1,050 (equivalent to $34,335 in 2023), when Henry was approximately 13 years old. [1] Unlike Sam, Dolly, Liz, Florence and William, Johnson does not appear to be enumerated on the 1860 slave schedule as property of Andrew Johnson. [2] [3] Johnson emancipated all of his personal slaves on August 8, 1863. [1]
In 1864 and 1865, when Andrew Johnson was military governor of Tennessee, he "claimed pay toward wages, rations, and clothing for three servants: Henry, Florence, and Elizabeth (Liz)." [4] Henry worked at the White House during the Johnson administration. [5] He may be conflated in some historical accounts with Henry Brown, who was likely an older man and who died of cholera in Washington, D.C. in 1866. [6] [7]
In later life Henry Johnson worked at the United States Post Office in Knoxville, where he died at approximately age 46. [1]
Henry Johnson (~1844–December 5, 1890) was a Tennessean who was once enslaved by Andrew Johnson. Johnson purchased Henry in 1857 for US$1,050 (equivalent to $34,335 in 2023), when Henry was approximately 13 years old. [1] Unlike Sam, Dolly, Liz, Florence and William, Johnson does not appear to be enumerated on the 1860 slave schedule as property of Andrew Johnson. [2] [3] Johnson emancipated all of his personal slaves on August 8, 1863. [1]
In 1864 and 1865, when Andrew Johnson was military governor of Tennessee, he "claimed pay toward wages, rations, and clothing for three servants: Henry, Florence, and Elizabeth (Liz)." [4] Henry worked at the White House during the Johnson administration. [5] He may be conflated in some historical accounts with Henry Brown, who was likely an older man and who died of cholera in Washington, D.C. in 1866. [6] [7]
In later life Henry Johnson worked at the United States Post Office in Knoxville, where he died at approximately age 46. [1]