American clergyman, born at Port Tobacco, Charles county, MD. He was a negro, and was born and bred as a slave. Mrs. Harriet Beecher Stowe took his life as the foundation for her novel entitled Uncle Tom’s Cabin. His arms were crippled as the result of blows from a Maryland overseer. Although he paid $500 toward purchasing his freedom, yet his master’s son took him to New Orleans to be sold. The latter was attacked with yellow fever, and the slave accompanied him back to Kentucky and nursed him through his sickness. He finally escaped with his wife to Canada, carrying his two children, through swamps and thick forests. “Uncle Si,” as he was called, settled on Sydenham River, ON, near the present town of Dresden, and prospered as a farmer. He was also the pastor of a church. When fifty-two years old he learned to read and write. In 1858 he wrote and published an Autobiography. He went three times to England, lecturing and preaching in various cities, and was, in 1876, presented to Queen Victoria at Windsor Castle. He died in Dresden, ON.
