Lynchburg, VA – Newspaper article – Parmelia Johnson death
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THE PUBLIC LEDGER, Norfolk, Va., Thursday Afternoon, February 14, 1878 
Burned to Death - From the Lynchburg News, 13th: 
Parmelia Johnson, a colored cook employed at the residence of Captain John 
H. Bailey and Dr. Frank Spencer, who occupy the same tenement on Lynch 
street, failing to put in appearance at the usual hour yesterday morning, 
her room, in the basement of the building, was visited and found to be 
locked, with the key inside.  The previous night she had made preparations 
for an early breakfast, and retired at the usual hour.  The door was forced 
open when a horrible sight met the view of the anxious searches for the 
missing woman.  Burned almost to a crisp, and with not a particle of 
clothing on, the unfortunate woman was found at the door, cold in death.  It 
is supposed that she kindled a fire in the grate and fell asleep while 
sitting before it, that her clothes took fire, and that in her confusion and 
terror she was unable to open the door.  Captain Bailey's wife remembers to 
have heard a noise, which she thought was the rattling of the window blinds. 
It was doubtless the death struggle of the poor woman, vainly attempting to 
open the door.  The body was burned beyond possibility of recognition, and a 
pool of blood marked the spot where she died. The deceased, who has long 
been a faithful and trusted servant, was a native of Appomattox county, and 
was about fifty years of age. She leaves several children in the city. 
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I'm not researching this family, but found the notice while I was 
transcribing the above-mentioned newspaper. 
Julie Hampton Ganis 
jganis@tampabay.rr.com