Question

What is the history of Anthony Johnson?

Answer 1

Anthony Johnson was an early black landowner in Virginia who, with his wife Mary, transitioned from indentured servitude to owning land and servants. His legal battle in 1655 to keep John Casar as a servant, despite claims of slavery, is a notable event that demonstrates the early legal and social complexities of race and servitude in America.

Step-by-step explanation:

The History of Anthony Johnson

Anthony Johnson, originally named Antonio, first appeared in the historical record in a 1625 muster as an indentured servant at Bennett's plantation in Virginia. He and his wife, Mary, later became free landowners on Virginia's Eastern Shore, acquiring their own servants and slaves. In a significant 1655 court case, Johnson was allowed to keep a black man named John Casar as an indentured servant, despite Casar's claim that he was being held as a slave. This court ruling highlights the precarious nature of freedom and autonomy for black individuals in the 17th century. The history of Anthony Johnson illustrates the complex dynamics of servitude, race, and the legal system in early American society.

Answer 2

Answer:nthony Johnson (c. 1600 – 1670) was a man known for achieving wealth in the early 17th-century Colony of Virginia. Born in Angola, he was one of the first African Americans whose right to own a slave for life was recognized by the Virginia courts. Held as an indentured servant in 1621, he earned his freedom after several years, and was granted land by the colony. He later became a tobacco farmer in Maryland. He attained great wealth after completing his term as an indentured servant, and has been referred to as "'the black patriarch' of the first community of Negro property owners in America"