The Life of Josiah Henson, Formerly a Slave, Now an Inhabitant of Canada Free Audiobook Download by Josiah Henson

Josiah Henson is an individual who once lived as a slave in America. He was born into slavery and experienced the harsh reality of his years in bondage as he grew up on a plantation. Josiah's hard work and perseverance led to success after escaping from slavery and settling into Canada. His autobiography, The Life of Josiah Henson, Formerly a Slave, Now an Inhabitant of Canada is narrated by 'Warren Keyes' (Narrator) and tells the story of this courageous individual with much detail about the conditions he endured while living in the South.

In 1852, Josiah Henson was born into slavery in Canada. Josiah's family was owned by Colonel William Harkness and the name he used was Lewis. As an African-American man, he became a slave and often saw his family sold when they were not able to pay their debt. However, one day, Captain William Harkness came to visit his mother, who had just given birth to Josiah. Captain William took Josiah for his own son and sent him off to Montreal where he grew up in a catholic convent as a free man and eventually became a priest at the age of forty-one.

Josiah was a slave in the United States until he escaped with his wife and 10 children in 1832. They found refuge in Canada, but Josiah's life as an outcast there proved to be quite difficult. In 1834, Josiah found hope in the words of William Edward Foster, a preacher who told him that salvation could be found by sending money to the African Zion Society of Boston or through the Brown family.

Josiah Henson's life as a slave was only eight years long. But during those days and weeks, many things happened to him that would shape his future and make him into the person he is today. He lived in a world of pain, fear, humiliation and degradation. Josiah did not hide these things from the reader of his memoirs because they are what made him who he is today. In this account, Keyes tells listeners of his strength as a man and as an individual despite all that he went through as a child.

Josiah Henson was born in Virginia in 1818. His father, also named Josiah, became an abolitionist and was known as "the bad nigger." Josiah's mother died while he was a child. As a slave he was beaten with a cow-hide whip by his master and had to learn to fight to protect himself. Josiah's master eventually died and left the family without food and without shelter. They were released from slavery but still had many challenges ahead of them. Josiah became a Christian after buying their freedom, worked hard and eventually settled in Canada with his wife and children in 1851.

Josiah Henson was born in 1789. At the age of 13, he had been kidnapped and sold into bondage where he would work and live until his death in 1883. Josiah went on to become a minister, a farmer and active abolitionist with the help of slave friends such as Harriet Tubman.