Crafts

Ellen and William Craft's "Flight from Slavery"

By franklin8310
  • William Craft is born in GA.

    William Craft is born in GA.

    The birthdates of both William and Ellen are unknown as there were no birth records kept for slaves.
  • Period: to

    The Lives of the Crafts

  • Ellen Smith is born in Clinton, GA

    Ellen Smith is born in Clinton, GA

    The birthdates of both William and Ellen are unknown as there were no birth records kept for slaves.
  • Slavery is outlawed in the British Empire, including Canada

    Slavery is outlawed in the British Empire, including Canada

  • Ellen moves to Macon, Georgia

    Ellen relocated because she was given to her half-sister as her personal slave.

  • William and his sister are sold

    William becomes the property of Mr. Ira Taylor of Macon, GA.
  • Ellen and William meet

    Ellen and William meet

  • Ellen and William have a slave wedding

    Ellen and William have a slave wedding

    Slaves were not allowed to legally marry so a secrect marriage was performed in front of friends. William was allowed to move into the Collins' estate, which made the Collins' happy because they now owned William, too.

  • Ellen and William make a break for freedom

  • The Craft's reach freedom in Philadelphia, PA.

  • The Craft's must hide at Iven's farm outside Philadelphia

    The Craft's must hide at Iven's farm outside Philadelphia

    In mid-January the Craft's depart for Boston, MA. In January through the month of May, the two toured the New England states, renowned Georgia Fugitives, with William Wells Brown, a well known abolitionist.
  • Fugitive Slave Law takes effect

    Fugitive Slave Law takes effect

    On October 21, Slave catchers Knight and Hughes arrive in Boston. William dodges their watchful eyes and Bostonians warn the slave catchers from the city before they are hurt. On November 7, the Reverend Theodore Parker performs a wedding ceremony for the Craft's. By December, the Craft's had mad their way to Liverpool, England.

  • The Craft's make a lecture tour and enrollin the Ockham School

  • Charles, William and Ellen's first child, is born.

    Charles, William and Ellen's first child, is born.

  • The Craft's move to London

  • WIlliam Craft Jr. is born

    WIlliam Craft Jr. is born

  • The third son Brougham is born

    The third son Brougham is born

  • "Running a Thousand Miles for Freedom" is published.

    "Running a Thousand Miles for Freedom" is published.

    A novel written by the Craft's.
  • Civil War begins; the Craft's first daughter is born.

    Civil War begins; the Craft's first daughter is born.

    They name her Ellen.

  • William goes to Africa

    He returns with three African boys that the Craft's adopt and raise as freed slaves.

  • William's second trip to Africa.

    William, along his journey, is given 60 enslaved Africans. When he leaves the port of the king who has given him this "gift", he sails to a port of a British colony in Africa, and frees all of the men.
  • Civil War ends freeing the slaves; Ellen buys her mother's freedom.

    Civil War ends freeing the slaves; Ellen buys her mother's freedom.

    Ellen's mother joins the family in England. She helps care for the family while William is in Africa.
  • Ellen and William's youngest child, Alfred, is born. The Craft's return to Boston.

    Ellen and William's youngest child, Alfred, is born. The Craft's return to Boston.

  • Craft's return to Georgia

    Craft's return to Georgia

    The Craft's buy a plantation called Hickory Hill in South Carolina. The farm and school is eventually burned down by the Ku Klux Klan.

  • Ms. Craft's school opens in Bryan County, GA.

  • Mrs. Craft's school closes around this time.

  • WIlliam and Ellen retire to Charleston, SC.

    They live with their daughter and son.

  • Ellen Craft dies.

  • William Craft dies.