SC1896_FF1_003

I was born in Montgomery County, State of Maryland
about 12 miles north of the city of Washington, on the
14th day of May 1785. My fathers name was Ar
thur Thomas, & my Mothers name was Mary Anne
(her maiden name was Johnson). My father
as I alway understood, was born in Bladensburgh
5 miles from Washington. My Mother was born &
raised in Montgomery County, Md., near a small
village, called Clarksburgh - where the family
of her brother Regin Johnson, resided in 1815.11.17
when I was at Washington. My mother had six
sons, Benjamin Johnson, Pentecost, Jonathan -
Sevi, Samuel & Micah. (for our ages see family
Bible). My father removed with his family, to Ken
tucky in the fall of 1787 - and settled on Marble
Creek, in Fayette County, 12 miles south of Lexing
ton, and about 2 miles from the Kentucky
River. The County was then a Wilderness - Lexing
ton was a small village, consisting of a few
cabins - only one covered with shingles. Our im
mediate [immediate] neighborhood was pretty thickly settled.
I distinctly remember two circumstances that oc
curred, as we descended the Ohio River - One was
I fell from the boat into the River. My father
who was a very stout, active man, & possessed
great firmness & presence of mind on all occa
sions, sprung into the water, and saved me.
The other was, two negro men were sent from our
boat, in a canoe, at some point on the River, to
the opposite side, & the canoe turned over, near
the Bank - the negroes were both drowned - they
were got out of the water, in a short time, &
taken to a cabin, on the bank of the River
where I saw them, lying on the floor by a fire.
Attempts were made to resusitate them, but
without success all tho' occasionally it was said, there
were signs of life. I have at the time of writing
this (13th of January 1848) a distinct impression on
my mind of the features & appearance of the
drowned negroes; and it is, I presume because the

I was born in Montgomery County, State of Maryland
about 12 miles north of the city of Washington, on the
14th day of May 1785. My fathers name was Ar
thur Thomas, & my Mothers name was Mary Anne
(her maiden name was Johnson). My father
as I alway understood, was born in Bladensburgh
5 miles from Washington. My Mother was born &
raised in Montgomery County, Md., near a small
village, called Clarksburgh - where the family
of her brother Regin Johnson, resided in 1815.11.17
when I was at Washington. My mother had six
sons, Benjamin Johnson, Pentecost, Jonathan -
Sevi, Samuel & Micah. (for our ages see family
Bible). My father removed with his family, to Ken
tucky in the fall of 1787 - and settled on Marble
Creek, in Fayette County, 12 miles south of Lexing
ton, and about 2 miles from the Kentucky
River. The County was then a Wilderness - Lexing
ton was a small village, consisting of a few
cabins - only one covered with shingles. Our im
mediate [immediate] neighborhood was pretty thickly settled.
I distinctly remember two circumstances that oc
curred, as we descended the Ohio River - One was
I fell from the boat into the River. My father
who was a very stout, active man, & possessed
great firmness & presence of mind on all occa
sions, sprung into the water, and saved me.
The other was, two negro men were sent from our
boat, in a canoe, at some point on the River, to
the opposite side, & the canoe turned over, near
the Bank - the negroes were both drowned - they
were got out of the water, in a short time, &
taken to a cabin, on the bank of the River
where I saw them, lying on the floor by a fire.
Attempts were made to resusitate them, but
without success all tho' occasionally it was said, there
were signs of life. I have at the time of writing
this (13th of January 1848) a distinct impression on
my mind of the features & appearance of the
drowned negroes; and it is, I presume because the