Elizabeth Johnson Forby
Formerly enslaved Tennessean (~1846–1905) / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Lucy Elizabeth Johnson Forby[lower-alpha 1] (March ~1846 – October 3, 1905) was an "estimable colored woman" of the United States.[1]
Elizabeth Johnson Forby | |
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Born | Lucy Elizabeth March ~1846 Tennessee, United States |
Died | October 3, 1905 Knoxville, Tennessee, United States |
Other names | Liz, Lizzie Forbey, Lizzy, Lucy Elizabeth Johnson, Lucy E. Forby, Mrs. George Forbey, Mrs. G. W. Forby, Mrs. Elizabeth Ford, Elizabeth J. Farley, Farbey |
Known for | Enslaved by a future U.S. President, "estimable colored woman" |
Parent |
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Relatives | Florence Johnson Smith (sister) William Andrew Johnson (brother) Sam Johnson (uncle) |
Lizzie Forby was a mixed-race Tennessean who was enslaved from birth until approximately age 17 by Andrew Johnson, later the 17th president of the United States. Her mother was Dolly Johnson; the identity of her father remains officially unknown. Since the late 20th century several scholars and popular historians have speculated or insinuated that Andrew Johnson may have been Lizzie's biological father, although there is no evidence that either affirmatively confirms the relationship or eliminates Johnson as a candidate for paternity.[2][3][4][5][6][7] She married a freedman named George W. Forby shortly after the American Civil War. He worked as a laborer and a coachman, and together they raised nine children in East Tennessee.
Elizabeth Johnson Forby died at the age of approximately 60 in Knoxville, Tennessee. She is the only known member of her family to have a headstone marking their grave at Knoxville's historic Freedmen's Mission Historic Cemetery; the stone reads "Our Mother Elizabeth Johnson Forby died October 3, 1905".