33 Facts About Peter Fossett

Peter Farley Fossett was an enslaved laborer at Monticello, Thomas Jefferson's plantation, who after he attained his freedom in the mid-19th century, settled in Cincinnati where he established himself as a minister and caterer.

Peter Fossett was a captain in the Black Brigade of Cincinnati during the Civil War.

Peter Fossett was brought to Cincinnati by Abraham Evan Gwynne, the father of Alice Claypoole Vanderbilt.

Peter Farley Fossett was born into slavery at Monticello, near Charlottesville, Virginia, on June 5,1815.

Peter Fossett's parents were Edith Hern Fossett and Joseph Fossett.

Peter Fossett assisted his parents in their work and worked as a house servant, for which he sometimes received tips.

Peter Fossett's grandmother was Mary Hemings Bell, who lived in Charlottesville.

Peter Fossett provided nicer clothes than other slaves received at Monticello.

Peter Fossett's father was one of five people who had been freed by Jefferson in his will.

Eleven-year old Peter Fossett was put on the auction block, feeling like he was sold like a horse.

Peter Fossett was purchased by Colonel John Jones who ran his plantation differently than Jefferson.

Under threat of whippings, Peter Fossett continued these practices, and taught fellow slaves to read and write, but hid those activities.

Peter Fossett forged papers for fugitive slaves so that it would appear that they were free.

Peter Fossett ran away two times from Jones' estate, but was recaptured both times.

The second escape resulted in Peter Fossett being taken to jail and then sold on the auction block.

Peter Fossett worked to buy his family out of slavery, but Peter's owner, John Jones, would not sell him until the second time he escaped.

Peter Fossett was put on the auction block in 1850.

Peter Fossett held several jobs when he first arrived in Ohio, he worked as a waiter for a caterer and was a whitewasher.

Peter Fossett became a caterer, working with his brother William and in the 1870s he opened his own catering business.

Peter Fossett was a conductor on the Underground Railroad, supporting the efforts of Levi Coffin, who commended him for his "zealous efforts" to aid people to freedom.

Peter Fossett lobbied for prison reform and sat on the school system's board of directors.

When he arrived in Cincinnati, Peter Fossett joined the Union Baptist Church and was a trustee and clerk.

Peter Fossett was ordained as a minister in 1870 and formed his own church, the construction of which was paid in large part by Fossett.

Peter Fossett was a pastor for 25 years of that church, which came to be called the First Baptist Church in Cumminsville, Ohio.

Peter Fossett is held in great regard by colored people and is loved by all the white ministers of Cincinnati, who know him well and esteem him highly.

Peter Fossett wrote his remembrances in the book Once the slave of Thomas Jefferson in 1898.

Captain Peter Fossett served with a unit of African Americans called the Black Brigade of Cincinnati.

Peter Fossett married Sarah Mayrant, who was born in Charleston, South Carolina in 1826.

Peter Fossett's parents were Judith and Rufus Morant.

Peter Fossett arrived in Cincinnati by 1854 when she married Peter Fossett.

Peter Fossett was the manager of the Colored Orphan Asylum for more than 25 years.

Peter Fossett said it had seemed like an "earthly paradise" in his boyhood.

Peter Fossett was believed to be the last surviving slave from Monticello.