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Introduction to Anthony Johnson (AJ)
Colonial Virginia was a new adventure for everyone. Africans were brought over, but not as slaves for life. Indentured Servants were used more, because if you worshiped the Christian religion the Siete Partidas laws prevented you from being contained in slavery for your lifetime. -
Period: to
Life time of AJ
How long the Johnson family lived -
Anthony Johnson acquires land
Along with gaining their freedom, establishing a family, warding off contentious neighbors, and hammering out a decent existence, the Johnson family acquired land from Anthony's previous slaveowner. After AJ's many years working for his slaveowner, Captain Taylor, they agreed to separate their corn fields. He can now provide for his family, work on his own time, and buy slaves of his own. -
Anthony Johnson petitions for slave, John Casar
John Casar demands his freedom from Anthony. He came to Virginia for service. Anthony, his master, said he kept this servant well, fed him, cleansed him, and gave him a place to sleep. John didn't care because he thought he gave too much work. This trial could mean everything to Anthony, for this could mean his family, if he did not make enough money from slave labor. -
An act that states that negro children serve to condition of mother.
The child of an enslaved mother is also to be a slave for life. This law was a surprise, due to the english tradition in which a child recieved his or her status upon condition of their father. This law caused an outrage. Africans were furious that it had come to this. This law means that their children will have to live through everything they have. This means that their children will be beaten and mistreated, and no parent wants that. -
An act for the first and second offense of hog stealing
For the first offense of hog stealing commited by negro (african), indian, or mulatto (mixed race) slave shall be carried where the act was committed and recieve on his bare back thirty-nine lashes. As for the second offense he shall stand two hours in the pillory and have both his right and left ear nailed to the wall and at the end of the two hours, have his ears cut off. How could they make them suffer more than they already have? It has crossed the line for slavery and gone into cruelty. -
An act declaring slaves to be real estate.
The law now admitts enslaved men, women, and children to be property. Nothing in this act shall be taken to any merchant or factor that they cannot be sold. All slaves, though property, still must pay off debts, and may be taken to execution, if necessary. The english have now crossed the line of cruelty and strolled right into to abuse, without a second glance. This is the end, the definite destruction of any possible hope for Africans, no call for hope. -
A Last Thought about Anthony
You may have a Social Studies or US History class before, but when you talked about the 1600s and when the settlers came, you came across the subject of slavery, but I highly doubt that your teacher singled out specific slaves and families that suffered. That is what we have done, and you have learned something new. Ask your friends if they have ever heard of Anthony Johnson the slave. They won't know.
