∼Micajah Philips, better known as "Cajo" was a black slave born in Virginia.
He was the salve of Harman Blennerhassett, and it was his duty to ferry the
members of the Blennerhassett family and there many guest back and forth
from their island mansion in the Ohio River near Parkersburg W Va. around
1806 Cajo escaped to the Waterford area where, over the years he helped
other black slaves to freedom. it is said he knew George Washington
personally, and that he had seven wife's and he lived to be 125 years old.
The tombstone-now totally illegible except for the letters" LIPS "and the
number "125" is located in and open hayfield on the Johnson farm not far from the Johnson Cemetery The Original Tombstone read---
"Here lies the remains of Micajah Philips who died Dec 8 1861; supposed
aged 125 years. Born a slave he is now gone to rest free from a master.
Also his two wives Binah and Anne, quietly sleep by his side. in this humble
cemetery.∼His first slave name "Cajoe Borrel" as property of his first owner.
His second owners were the Blennerhasset's of the famed Manse at Blennerhasset Island in the Ohio River, of Western Virginia.
Death of a Slave at Blennerhasset. Micajah Phillips, a colored man died recently near Marietta, Ohio, at the great age af 125 years. He went to the West in 1796 with Herman Blennerhasset, as his alave, and stayed with him until he died. He was never freed.
He went to Ohio soon after, and resided in Mannar, opposite Marietta, for some years. He afterwards went to Watertown, where be resided for over fifty years.
Micajah (Cajoe) was the slave of Colonel Borrel, of York, Glouchester county, Va.
At the death of Col. Borrel he went to his son-in-law, the Reverend Mr. Fountain, with whom he lived at the time of the battle at Yorktown, and was then a waiter in the army. His descriptions of the battle were vivid, and are presumed to be true. There are persons living who have known him for sixty years, who place his age at the above. His exact age was not recorded. Micajah could read and write, having been taught by Mrs. Blennerhaaset, of whom he always spoke of in high terms of respect. He attended the Baptist Church, and preached to the population of Parkersburg, Va., in the early years
∼Micajah Philips, better known as "Cajo" was a black slave born in Virginia.
He was the salve of Harman Blennerhassett, and it was his duty to ferry the
members of the Blennerhassett family and there many guest back and forth
from their island mansion in the Ohio River near Parkersburg W Va. around
1806 Cajo escaped to the Waterford area where, over the years he helped
other black slaves to freedom. it is said he knew George Washington
personally, and that he had seven wife's and he lived to be 125 years old.
The tombstone-now totally illegible except for the letters" LIPS "and the
number "125" is located in and open hayfield on the Johnson farm not far from the Johnson Cemetery The Original Tombstone read---
"Here lies the remains of Micajah Philips who died Dec 8 1861; supposed
aged 125 years. Born a slave he is now gone to rest free from a master.
Also his two wives Binah and Anne, quietly sleep by his side. in this humble
cemetery.∼His first slave name "Cajoe Borrel" as property of his first owner.
His second owners were the Blennerhasset's of the famed Manse at Blennerhasset Island in the Ohio River, of Western Virginia.
Death of a Slave at Blennerhasset. Micajah Phillips, a colored man died recently near Marietta, Ohio, at the great age af 125 years. He went to the West in 1796 with Herman Blennerhasset, as his alave, and stayed with him until he died. He was never freed.
He went to Ohio soon after, and resided in Mannar, opposite Marietta, for some years. He afterwards went to Watertown, where be resided for over fifty years.
Micajah (Cajoe) was the slave of Colonel Borrel, of York, Glouchester county, Va.
At the death of Col. Borrel he went to his son-in-law, the Reverend Mr. Fountain, with whom he lived at the time of the battle at Yorktown, and was then a waiter in the army. His descriptions of the battle were vivid, and are presumed to be true. There are persons living who have known him for sixty years, who place his age at the above. His exact age was not recorded. Micajah could read and write, having been taught by Mrs. Blennerhaaset, of whom he always spoke of in high terms of respect. He attended the Baptist Church, and preached to the population of Parkersburg, Va., in the early years
Inscription
New Tombstone: "Born in Tidewater VA. A slave of Harman Blennerhassett his duty to ferry guests to the Ohio River mansion. Came to the Waterford area circa 1807. Said to have had seven wives."
Orginial Tombstone (located in an open hayfield on the Johnson farm not far from the Johnson Cemetery): "Here lies the remains of Micajah Phillips who died December 8, 1861. Supposed age 125 years. Born a slave. He is now gone to rest free from a master. Also his two wives, Binah and Anne quietly sleep by his side in this humble cemetery."