Virginia Eastern Shore

  WTK  Bringing The Constitution and American history back to life for our children through our children. Reposted with permission from Jamestown Settlement & American Revolution:   Mary Johnson was a free African woman living on Virginia’s Eastern Shore in the mid-17th century. She worked as an equal next to her husband—caring for their plantations, supervising laborers, and working through the legal system to protect the family’s assets. Mary arrived in the colony in 1623 and went into service at Bennett’s Welcome plantation where she probably met “Antonio,†also unfree. Shortly after marrying in the 1630s, Mary and Anthony gained their [...]