The First American Slave Owner

Early in American colonial history there was no slavery. The system at the time centered around indentured servants. By definition and practice: An indentured servant was typically a young, unskilled laborer who came to America under contract to work for an employer for a fixed period of time, typically three to seven years, in exchange for their ocean transportation, food, clothing, lodging and other necessities during the term of their indenture.¹

The first American slave owner came to the colonies as an indentured servant named Antonio. He arrived in Virginia in 1821 and was sold to a white planter named Bennet to work on his Virginia tobacco farm.  In 1635 he was released from his indenture and as a reward for his hard work Bennet awarded him his own land to farm. Because Antonio had a servant of his own he claimed 250 acres of land based on the headright system.  In 1653 a fire devastated his plantation and Antonio, now a free man, sought tax relief from the Virginia courts. While pleading his case for tax relief Antonio also contested the freedom suit of one of his servants named John Casor. Antonio won the suit and retained Casor as his servant for life, the first true slave in Virginia.

True John Casor was the first adjudicated slave in the colonies, and yes he was a black man. But what if so often left out of common historic records it that Antonio Johnson, the first slave owner in the colonies was himself a black man!

Slavery was officially established in Virginia in 1654, when Anthony Johnson, a black man, convinced a court that his servant, John Casor was his for life.

Unfortunately after Johnson’s death in 1670, a court ruling set to a precedent that would be an important factor in determining the social status of freed black men in the colonies. A white Virginian planter was allowed to seize Johnson’s land because a ruling by a local court that said, "as a black man, Anthonio Johnson was not a citizen of the colony."

These are indisputable historic facts. But I would like to remind you slavery has been practiced since the beginning of time itself. From the first day a cave man bonked a gal over the head and dragged her to his cave, there has been slavery. For all intents and purposes slavery is still prevalent today. Not only in the sex trade but it is alive and well in China, North Korea and quietly in several Middle Eastern states.

What pushes me over the edge is the Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton types who act as though slavery was limited to America. Yes, slavery was a horrible chapter in our history but for crying out loud, we get it so give it a rest! Say something about the Native Americans we nearly drove to extinction, or perhaps mention the Jews who were so mistreated by the Egyptians 3,000 years ago. Jesse, Al try to remember the first slave owner in America was not one of the “white devils” you so enjoy reminding the world of. 

1 The Encyclopedia  Americana