William Henry Harrison (Georgia politician)
William Henry Harrison | |
---|---|
Member of the Georgia House of Representatives from the Hancock County, Georgia district | |
In office 1868–? | |
Personal details | |
Born | Bill Thomas Hancock County, Georgia |
Political party | Republican |
Parent(s) | Eliza and Harrison McLane |
William Henry Harrison, also known as Bill Thomas (born September 1843), was a state legislator from Hancock County, Georgia.[1]
Early life
Bill was born into slavery, the son of a woman named Eliza and Harrison McLane, who died about 1854 or 1855. He had three sisters and two brothers. After his father died, 14 year old Bill became a slave of Judge James Thomas in southwestern Hancock County, Georgia. He became his body servant and was literate, having been taught to read the bible by the judge. Seeking his freedom, he was among the about 100 people involved in the Sparta insurrection of September 13, 1863. Bill Thomas was emancipated at the end of the Civil War and changed his name to William Henry Harrison.[2]
Members of his family are said to be buried at the Brown Chapel A.M.E. Church cemetery in the county.[2]
Legislator
He was a leader of Georgia's African-American community during the
Ku Klux Klan testimony
During this period, "wholesale violence broke out against black people" by the Ku Klux Klan and other white people.[5] Barnes and Harrison testified before the U.S. Congress on Ku Klux Klan violent activity in Georgia under the
References
- ISBN 9780807120828.
- ^ a b c Spencer, Leslie (June 2017). "Insurrection in Hancock County: Revolt Forges a State Leader" (PDF). Reflections. Georgia African American Historic Preservation Network, published on Georgia Department of Natural Resources - Historic Preservation Division website. pp. 1, 6. Archived from the original on May 24, 2018. Retrieved May 23, 2018.
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: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ISBN 9780252092367. Retrieved 2018-03-18.
- ISBN 978-0-8203-2329-9.
- ^ ISBN 9780252092367. Retrieved 2018-03-18.
- ISBN 978-0-8203-3717-3.