Later she was told to marry a slave named Thomas, who was 20 years older than her. The painful incident left a lasting legacy, haunting Truth throughout her life. The beating was so savage that Robert later died from his injuries. Unfortunately, Cation caught the pair and severely beat his slave, Robert. The relationship was strictly forbidden by Robert’s slave owner Charles Cation – because Cation would not own any children they had – but they met anyway. Unlike previous owners, Dumont was more kindly disposed and her life improved somewhat, although she was harassed by Dumont’s wife.Īround 1815, Truth began a relationship with a slave from a nearby farm, called Robert. She was then sold between slave owners a few times, before moving to John Dumont of West Park, New York. When her Dutch slave owner, Charles Hardenbergh died in 1806, Sojourner, aged nine, was sold for $100 to a new owner John Neely, who frequently beat her. Her family, including 10-12 siblings, were kept on an estate in the town of Espouses – 95 miles north of New York. She was born around 1797 and, at birth, was named Isabelle or ‘Belle’. Sojourner Truth was born to slave parents – James and Elizabeth Baumfree. At 6ft tall, she was a striking presence and used her powerful oratory to awaken the conscience of America to the injustice of slavery and discrimination. She was deeply religious and felt a calling from God to travel America speaking on slavery and other contemporary issues. Sojourner Truth (1797–1897) was born into slavery but escaped to freedom and became one of the most noted African-American women speakers on issues of civil rights and abolition.

The book of life sojourner truth