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Formerly enslaved man (~1844–1890) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Henry Johnson (~1844–December 5, 1890) was a Tennessean who was once enslaved by Andrew Johnson. Johnson purchased Henry in 1857 for US$1,050 (equivalent to $34,335 in 2023), when Henry was approximately 13 years old.[1] Unlike Sam, Dolly, Liz, Florence and William, Johnson does not appear to be enumerated on the 1860 slave schedule as property of Andrew Johnson.[2][3] Johnson emancipated all of his personal slaves on August 8, 1863.[1]
In 1864 and 1865, when Andrew Johnson was military governor of Tennessee, he "claimed pay toward wages, rations, and clothing for three servants: Henry, Florence, and Elizabeth (Liz)."[4] Henry worked at the White House during the Johnson administration.[5] He may be conflated in some historical accounts with Henry Brown, who was likely an older man and who died of cholera in Washington, D.C. in 1866.[6][7]
In later life Henry Johnson worked at the United States Post Office in Knoxville, where he died at approximately age 46.[1]
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