The Man Behind Our Story
Born into slavery in Maryland in 1789, Josiah Henson overcame extraordinary hardship to become a minister, author, abolitionist, and one of the most respected conductors on the Underground Railroad.
After escaping to Upper Canada with his family in 1830, Henson helped establish the Dawn Settlement near Dresden, Ontario—a thriving community where formerly enslaved people could build new lives through education, faith, and skilled trades. His remarkable autobiography inspired generations, and his life is widely recognized as one of the inspirations behind Uncle Tom’s Cabin.
Today, Josiah Henson’s legacy lives on through museums, historic sites, books, and educational programs that honour his courage, leadership, and enduring impact on the pursuit of freedom.
More reference material for Josiah
The Josiah Henson Museum of African-Canadian History
The Josiah Henson Museum of African-Canadian History recognizes the accomplishments of Josiah Henson through interpretive videos, interactive exhibits, numerous artifacts and tours that reflect the Black experience in Canada. (Ref. - Josiah Henson Museum website)
Located in Dresden, Ontario, Canada
Josiah Henson Memorial Park
Josiah Henson Museum and Park seeks to educate the public about the life of Reverend Josiah Henson, including his challenges and accomplishments, slavery in Maryland, and the ongoing struggle for racial equality through its exhibits and programs. (Ref. Josiah Henson Museum & Park Website)
Located in Wheaton, Maryland, USA
The Autobiography of the Former Slave Who Became Stowe's Uncle Tom
Henson's autobiography, The Life of Josiah Henson, Formerly a Slave, Now an Inhabitant of Canada, as Narrated by Himself (1849), is widely believed to have inspired the character of the fugitive slave, George Harris, in Harriet Beecher Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin (1852). (Source: Amazon.ca)
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The Road to Dawn
A major literary moment: after being lost to history for more than a century, The Road to Dawn uncovers the incredible story of the real-life slave who inspired Uncle Tom's Cabin. (Source: Amazon.ca)
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Sharp Flashes of Lightning Come From Black Clouds - The Life of Josiah Henson
His name was Josiah Henson. In 1849, Henson, by then a citizen of Canada, published his autobiography to awaken Americans to the realities of slavery and also to earn money to purchase the freedom of his brother, enslaved in Rockville, Maryland. The trials and tribulations of his life were common for slaves. But his strong spirit and clear voice were anything but common. (Source: Amazon.ca)
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"My Name Is Not Tom": The Life of the Reverend Josiah Henson
"My Name Is Not Tom" is a biography of Josiah Henson, the man catapulted into fame after Harriet Beecher Stowe noted that certain events in his life partially influenced the development of her fictional character Uncle Tom. While previous biographies have relied heavily on Henson's four autobiographies, which replicated the myth that he was the sole inspiration for Stowe's character, "My Name Is Not Tom" uses new primary source research to fill in the untold parts of his extraordinary life and examine his views of slavery and morality, which changed substantially over the course of his life. (Source: Amazon.ca)
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