First up, Sojouner Truth.
*She was born to James and Elizabeth Baumfree on a farm in Swartekill, New York in 1797.
*Her birth name was Isabella Baumfree but in 1843 she changed it.
*Sojouner was born a slave just like her ten siblings.
*Her master was Colonel Hardenbergh.
*A very intesting fact to point out is that Sojouner was only taught to speak Dutch.
*Colonel Hardenbergh died when Sojourner was 9 years old.
*She was then purchased, along with a flock of sheep, by John Neely for a mere $100.
*She was sold again in 1808 to Martinus Schryver for $105, and then again to John Durmont in 1810. I cannot believe we are still talking about a person being sold. Disgusting!
*Sojourner fell in love with a slave named Robert who lived nearby. Robert's owner forbid the relationship and Robert was beaten to death.
*Sojourner later married a slave named Thomas, they had three children, Peter, Elizabeth, and Sophia. Sojourner had two children before this marriage. It is speculated that either Robert or her master John Durmont fathered these children. They were James and Diana. Sadly, James died during childhood.*John Durmont sold Sojouner's 5-year-old son illegally in Alabama. She took Mr. Durmont to court over this, and she is the first African-American woman to win a case like this in the US history.
*Soujourner set out on a mission to abolish slavery.
*She was also lucky enough to meet President Lincoln, and she told him her story of her life and about being a slave.
*Sojourner died on November 26, 1883 at her home in Battle Creek, Michigan. More than 3,000 were in attendance at her funeral service.
Next up Harriet Tubman.
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