Johnson, Gabriel, 1820-

Scope and Contents 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...

Scope and Contents Letter from Alexandria slave dealer Henry P. Hill of the firm Bruin and Hill writing to John Augustine Washington III about an enslaved man named Gabriel who has escaped from Mount Vernon and is being held at Bruin's Slave Jail. Hill writes, "your man Gabriel by strict measurement is five feet five and a half inches... He is likely and a very good man of his stature and if you are offered more than we priced him at I think if you will excuse a stranger for the expression of his opinion in all...

Scope and Contents Autograph letter signed with integral address panel. Jane writes to her son about work taking place at Mount Vernon, where she has spent almost all of $800 she brought down with her. She reports that Skidmore has "finished the large room which is now to be plastered and painted." Mr. Ball has nearly finished the stables, and West Ford is still engaged with the enclosures. She writes of Mount Vernon , "The dear old place will be more comfortable and decent in appearance, than we have known in...

Scope and Contents Autograph letter intialed. Janes writes that she is sending down "four large shoulder of Bacon" to Mount Vernon, along with two enslaved men, Willoughby and Gabriel, who she hopes will be "faithful and useful." She writes, "have them comfortably fixed my dear son treat them kindly, and I trust they will both prove valuable servants. Gabriel will require a strict tho kind discipline. Sarah or Milly must wast and mend for them." Jane also writes that she has had a letter from West Ford asking for...

Scope and Contents Autograph letter signed with integral address panel. Jane writes in response to Augustine's letter dated March 7, 1842 that Gabriel Johnson, the enslaved man who ran away from Mount Vernon, has arrived at Jane's plantation. Jane writes, "Please come up without delay."

Scope and Contents Autograph letter signed with integral address panel. John Augustine writes to his mother about Gabriel Johnson, an enslaved man who has run away. He suspects Gabriel has gone to Jefferson County, where Jane is.

Scope and Contents Letter from Alexandria slave dealer Joseph Bruin of the firm Bruin and Hill to John Augustine Washington III regarding an enslaved man named Gabriel who escaped from Mount Vernon and is now being held at Bruin's Slave Jail. Bruin writes, "I have to inform you of what I am willing to pay for your man now in my Jail we will give you $565 neat for him at this time if the prices should improve we are willing to pay what ever the prices may be but when you come down I am inclined to think we...

Scope and Contents Autograph letter signed. John Augustine's overseer, Joseph McFarland, writes that he has had "a great deal of difficulty" with the enslaved worker Gabriel Johnson and has had to put Gabriel in Bruin's Slave Jail in Alexandria.McFarland describes a scene in which Gabriel was "cursing & fighting" against some horses, and then began cursing McFarland when McFarland took the horse whip away from Gabriel. McFarland writes, "I put him with Mr. Bruen at 25 cts a day. Mr. Bruen thinks he would...

Scope and Contents A list of property, including enslaved persons, reported to be taken by the 16th New York Regiment from John Augustine Washington III's farm near Mount Vernon. Although John Augustine sold the Mount Vernon mansion and grounds to the Mount Vernon Ladies Association in 1858, he retained property in the surrounding area. The list of slaves includes Jim Mitchell and Edmund Parker, who were later employed by the Mount Vernon Ladies Association, and Gabriel Johnson, who had escaped in 1845 and been...