A Look Through the Life of Sojourner Truth

By Brian Simpson
  • My Birth

    My Birth

    I was born a slave to a family of 14 with the name Isabella Baumfree.
  • Sold to John Neely

    Sold to John Neely

    I was sold at an auction for $100 with a flock of sheep to a slave owner named John Neely.
  • Sold to Matinus Schryver

    Sold to Matinus Schryver

    I was old for $105 to Martinus Schryver of Kingston, NY. Here, I stayed for about 18 months.
  • Sold to John Dumont

    Sold to John Dumont

    I was sold to John Dumont for $175, and lived in New Paltz, NY for the next 16 years.
  • Marriage

    Marriage

    I married another slave on Dumont's property, named Thomas. Over the next few years we will have five children together.
  • My Escape

    My Escape

    After John Dumont failed to fulfil his promise to free myself and my family, I escape with my infant daughter, Sophia. I have to leave my other children behind for now, but I will return for them.
  • My Return

    My Return

    Upon my return to John Dumont's propoerty, I found that my son Peter had been illegally sold to a slave owner in another state. I took the issue to court and secured Peters freedom. I was one of the first black women to challenge a white man in court and win.
  • New York

    New York

    I moved to new york city with my son, Peter.
  • Elijiah Pierson

    Elijiah Pierson

    I began working as a domestric servant for a Christian Evangelist leader, Elijah Pierson.
  • Robert Matthews

    Robert Matthews

    I met one Robert Matthews, otherwise known as Prophet Matthias, when he visited the Pierson's home. I will begin working as a domestic servant for him as well.
  • Slander Suit

    Slander Suit

    Prophet Matthias was arrested and tried for the murder of Elijiah Pierson. He and the Folgers, members of his religious community, accused me of being involved in Pierson's death. I brought a slander suit against the Matthias and the Folgers and won.
  • New Name

    New Name

    I changed my name from Isabella Baumfree to Sojourner Truth because I was called in spirit to be an abolitionist. I will travel the East Coast to meet other abolitionists, such as Frederick Douglass and William Lloyd Garrison.
  • Speeches

    Speeches

    I am beginning to give speeches about why slavery is wrong and why it ought to be ended, and the importance of human rights. During my speeches, I share stories about my personal experience as a woman born into slavery.
  • Story of my Life

    Story of my Life

    I published a novel telling the stories of my life, The Narrative of Sojourner Truth: A Northern Slave.
  • Ain't I A Woman

    Ain't I A Woman

    I atttended the first Womans Rights Convention in Akron, Ohio. Here, I gave my famous “Ain’t I a Woman” speech.
  • Battle Creek

    Battle Creek

    I'm moving into my own house in Battle Creek Michigan, where I plan to live for the rest of my life. I will continue to travel and give speeches on abolitionism, women’s rights, and political equality.
  • Freedman's Bureau

    Freedman's Bureau

    I am travelling to Washington, D.C. to work with the Freedman’s Bureau to develop ways to help ex-slaves to create new lives for themselves.

  • My Plan

    I proposed a plan to congress where slaves would be given plots of land in the West that they could live on and farm. Unfortunately, Congress rejected my proposal.

  • Women's Rights Convention

    I was a delegate to the Women's Rights Convention in Rochester, NY.

  • Speeches

    I will travel around Michigan speaking for temperance and against capital punishment for the next two years.
  • My Passing

    My Passing

    Today, I passed away in my ome in Battle Creek, Michigan.