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Nat Turner is born
Nathanial Turner is born in Southampton County, Virginia, to a slave woman.Turner's owner recorded only his given name, Nat, on his birth certificate. People referred to him by the last name of his owner, Benjamin Turner. -
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The life of Nat Turner
Nathanial Turner lived from 1800 to 1831. -
Turner has a new owner
In 1809 Benjamin Turner, his owner, loaned Nat and his mother, along with some other slaves, to work his son Samuel Turner's land; the next year Benjamin died, and Samuel inherited both mother and son. Nat was put to work as a field hand two years later. -
Turner has his first vision
While working in the fields, Turner, "heard a loud noise in the heavens, and the Spirit instantly appeared to me and said the Serpent was loosened, and Christ had laid down the yoke he had borne for the sins of men, and that I should take it on and fight against the Serpent, for the time was fast approaching when the first should be last and the last should be first." He was convinced this was a vision from God, telling him to 'slay his enemys', i.e., the white slaveholders. -
Nat Turner begins his plans
Turner begins to believe certain weather conditions could mean he should rebel against the slaveowners. These conditions, for example, were; cloudy skies, colorful skies, as well as colorful sunsets. -
There is a solar eclipse
There was an annual solar eclipse in Virginia, and Turner saw this as a black hand reaching over the sun. He begins serious planning. -
There is a second solar eclipse
There is a second eclipse, blueish green looking, due to an eruption of Mt. St. Helens. Turner took this event as a final signal, and he soon begins the rebellion. -
The Rebellion begins
A week after the eclipse, Nathanial Turner begins his 'mission', given to him by God. That night, the slaves rebel against their masters. -
The second day of the rebellion
The rebellion is in it's second day, The rebels ultimately included more than 70 enslaved and free blacks. Before any militia could respond, the rebels had killed sixty whites, including men, woman, and children. Some homes were spread out of mercy. Turner later said he wanted to spread 'terror and alarm', among the whites. -
The rebellion is supressed
A white militia with twice the manpower of the rebels and reinforced by three companies of artillery eventually defeated the insurrection. The rebels do not have firearms and are unable to defend themselves. -
The State executes countless blacks for their involvement
The state executed 56 blacks. Militias killed at least 100 blacks, and probably many more. Another estimate is that up to 200 blacks were killed.The number of black victims overall far exceeded the number of white victims. Blacks suspected of participating in the rebellion were beheaded by the militia. "Their severed heads were mounted on poles at crossroads as a grisly form of intimidation."A section of Virginia State Route 658 remains labeled as "Blackhead" Signpost Road. -
Nat Turner is caught
Turner eluded capture over two months. On October 30, a white farmer, Benjamin Phipps, discovered him in a hole covered with fence rails. A trial was quickly arranged. Turner was on the run for 70 days until he was caught. -
Thomas Grey visits Turner
From November 1st to the 4th, Thomas Grey, Turner's lawyer, visits Turner and recorded his statements. Soon, Turner was executed. Later, Grey publishes a book about Turner, called The Confessions of Nat Turner. -
Turner's trial
Nat Turner is tried for "conspiring to rebel and making insurrection", convicted, and sentenced to death by hanging. -
Nathanial Turner is hanged
Nat Turner is executed as an example to blacks to see what happens when you revolt. Furthermore, his corpse is skinned, beheaded, and chopped into pieces. He is made an example for countless slaves in the South about the consequences of rebellion.
