Julia A. Johnson

Julia A. Johnson was born in Virginia c. 1853. William J. Shumate purchased her from William Robinson February 22, 1865 at Bowman Auction, Odd Fellows Hall, Richmond, Virginia. Julia was separated from her mother during a skirmish between Union and Confederate troops and was sold as an orphan.

Representatives of the Freedmen’s Bureau attempted to find Julia’s mother. She was in needy circumstances after the War while continuing to live at Montgomery Hall. Shumate was finally coerced by the Bureau to provide for her support for one year. She lived with a local African-American family with Shumate paying for her room and board.