Henry Washington
Encyclopedia
Henry Washington was a one time African American
slave of the first president of the United States
, George Washington
. His history and linked documents can be found on-line He was a saltwater slave from Africa purchased from a deceased estate in 1763 to be part of Washington's workforce in the Great Dismal Swamp. He later went to work at one of the farms at Mt Vernon. He twice ran away from Mt Vernon first in July 1771 but was recovered, He ran away again in July 1776 when he defected to the British and joined Lord Dunmore fleet. Harry Washington was a Black Loyalist
and one of the 3,000 Black Americans who were evacuated to Nova Scotia
at the end of the Revolutionary War and part of the first group of immigrants to what eventually became Sierra Leone
. He is listed as leaving New York the Book of Negroes, where he is incorrectly listed with the name Henry. He is called Harry in all other documents. After spending a number of years in Birchtown
(the largest free African American city in North America), where he married Jenny, Washington and his wife joined the 1,192 black colonists who migrated to Sierra Leone
. Washington was one of those involved in a rebellion against the colonial authorities in Sierra Leone in 1800 and was exiled to the Bullom Shore where he subsequently died. His descendants and those of other African Americans make up a portion of the Sierra Leone Creole people
.
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
slave of the first president of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
. His history and linked documents can be found on-line He was a saltwater slave from Africa purchased from a deceased estate in 1763 to be part of Washington's workforce in the Great Dismal Swamp. He later went to work at one of the farms at Mt Vernon. He twice ran away from Mt Vernon first in July 1771 but was recovered, He ran away again in July 1776 when he defected to the British and joined Lord Dunmore fleet. Harry Washington was a Black Loyalist
Black Loyalist
A Black Loyalist was an inhabitant of British America of African descent who joined British colonial forces during the American Revolutionary War...
and one of the 3,000 Black Americans who were evacuated to Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
at the end of the Revolutionary War and part of the first group of immigrants to what eventually became Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone , officially the Republic of Sierra Leone, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Guinea to the north and east, Liberia to the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west and southwest. Sierra Leone covers a total area of and has an estimated population between 5.4 and 6.4...
. He is listed as leaving New York the Book of Negroes, where he is incorrectly listed with the name Henry. He is called Harry in all other documents. After spending a number of years in Birchtown
Birchtown, Nova Scotia
Birchtown is a community in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia, located near Shelburne in the Barrington Municipal District of Shelburne County. Founded in 1783, it is famous as the largest settlement of Black Loyalists and was the largest free settlement of Africans in North America in the 18th...
(the largest free African American city in North America), where he married Jenny, Washington and his wife joined the 1,192 black colonists who migrated to Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone , officially the Republic of Sierra Leone, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Guinea to the north and east, Liberia to the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west and southwest. Sierra Leone covers a total area of and has an estimated population between 5.4 and 6.4...
. Washington was one of those involved in a rebellion against the colonial authorities in Sierra Leone in 1800 and was exiled to the Bullom Shore where he subsequently died. His descendants and those of other African Americans make up a portion of the Sierra Leone Creole people
Sierra Leone Creole people
The Sierra Leone Creoles, or Krios, are an ethnic group in Sierra Leone, descendants of West Indian slaves from the Caribbean, primarily from Jamaica; freed African American slaves from the Thirteen Colonies resettled from Nova Scotia; and Liberated Africans from various parts of Africa...
.