Father Henson’s Story of His Own Life

Born into slavery in Maryland in 1789, Josiah Henson endured decades of bondage before escaping with his family to Canada, where he became a minister, community leader, and founder of a settlement for other freedom seekers. This autobiography recounts the beatings, betrayals, and rare mercies of his enslaved years, his religious awakening, and the dangerous journey north. Published in this expanded form in 1858 with a preface by Harriet Beecher Stowe, the book is often cited as a partial model for the title character of Uncle Tom’s Cabin. Henson’s plain, unsparing testimony remains an important firsthand record of American slavery and the determination to be free. Free PDF and EPUB editions are available here.