The man who freed the slaves by Elsie May Johnson

In March, 1867, Sam sent a letter to President Andrew Johnson.

A reporter from Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper visited Greeneville and wrote that Sam was living in Johnson's old Tailor Shop. When Andrew Johnson became president in 1865, journalists became interested in his history and hometown. They all remained with him afterwards as paid servants. Johnson took care of some of the finances while her husband was absent.Īccording to family lore, Andrew Johnson freed all his personal slaves on August 8, 1863. All three were born into slavery.Ī January 1860 letter from Andrew Johnson's son, Charles, paints a vivid portrait of Sam: '.a few days since Mother sent him word to cut wood at Pattersons, - he came up in the house and said, he would 'be damed' if he wanted to cut wood there and if you wanted to sell him you could do so just as soon as he pleased, he did not care a dam,' You will see he is quite an independent gentleman and just to show his notions of himself and his rights, at another time he was asking Mother for his part of some money paid him for work Mother remarked to him if he was as ready to pay others as he was to collect, he would do better he replied that he did not get half enough no how - that he ought to have all that he could make &c.' The letter reveals that Sam was later reimbursed in part for his work, and at this point he was able to keep these wages. Their first child, a daughter named Dora, was born in 1858.

Sometime in the mid-1850s, Sam married a woman named Margaret. Among other tasks, Sam assisted with plastering a house, pulling corn, cutting oats with scythe and cradle, and doing janitorial work by 'attending the Court House.' From early Andrew Johnson journal and ledger entries during the 1840s and into 1850, we know that Sam was hired out to several people around town for odd jobs, thus earning Andrew Johnson extra income or goods and services.

The man who freed the slaves by Elsie May Johnson