Who Was Josiah Henson?
Born in 1789 in Maryland to enslaved parents, Josiah Henson lived in slavery until 1830. For most of that time, he worked and lived on the Isaac Riley plantation, where he sustained humiliation, deprivation, and crippling violence. After a life of extraordinary hardship, Henson escaped to Canada, then published his memoir (or life story) in 1849. His story inspired Harriet Beecher Stowe's 1852 abolitionist novel, Uncle Tom's Cabin.
[Captions:]
Frederick Douglass noted Henson "…is said to be the original Uncle Tom in Uncle Tom's Cabin.
Erected 2021 by Montgomery Parks.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Abolition & Underground RR • African Americans • Arts, Letters, Music. A significant historical year for this entry is 1789.
Location. 39° 2.715′ N, 77° 7.183′ W. Marker is in North Bethesda, Maryland, in Montgomery County. Marker is at the intersection of Nicholson Lane and Old Georgetown Road (Maryland Route 187), on the right when traveling west on Nicholson Lane. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 11504 Old Georgetown Rd, Rockville MD 20852, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. How Did Josiah Henson Help Free Enslaved People? (within shouting distance of this marker); Maryland: Confederate or Union State?
this page online
Credits. This page was last revised on June 4, 2021. It was originally submitted on June 4, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 348 times since then and 16 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 4, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
