Theodore Dwight Weld

Birth

Nov 23, 1803

I was born on November 23, 1803.My parents were Ludovicus Weld and Elizabeth Clark Weld. My father and grandfather were ministers. I was born in Hampton, Connecticut.

Fun Facts

Period: Nov 23, 1803 to Feb 3, 1895

When I started losing my eyesight, Doctors thought that it would take 7 years for it to come back when it only took about 3 months to heal. Unlike Fetty Wap who lost his eye.
I was known for being “the most mobbed man in the country.”
I was good at presenting.
I wrote most of my antislavery pamphlets anonymously.
There was no minister or judge at my wedding to promote equality.

School

Jan 1, 1809

When Weld was 6 years old, an African American boy came to his school and the teacher segregated him and treated him very poorly. Weld felt bad for the boy so he sat with him. This was Weld’s first experience with racism.

Home Life

Jan 1, 1815

When I was 12, I was in charge of managing my family’s farm. We had 100 acres of planted crops.

Eye Problems

Jan 1, 1819

I started having trouble with his eyesight at age 16. I dropped out of school and developed my public speaking skills.

Moving

Jun 2, 1819

After I dropped out, my family moved to central New York. Later I attended the Oneida Manual Labor School.

College

Jan 1, 1823

I furthered my education at Hamilton College in New York.

Debate group

Jan 1, 1832

I attended Lane Theological Seminary as a ministerial student. I led a debate group and we talked about things such as slavery.

Oberlin College (1832-1834)

Jan 1, 1832

I left Lane Theological Seminary, along with some other students, to go to Oberlin College. Lane Theological Seminary prohibited the discussion of slavery abolition.

Lecture

Dec 31, 1834

I started to lecture about the idea of the abolition of slavery in Ohio.

First pamphlet

Jan 1, 1837

I anonymously wrote an anti slavery pamphlet called “The Bible Against Slavery.”

Marriage

May 14, 1838

I married Angelina Grimke who was also an abolitionist.

Second Pamphlet

Jan 1, 1839

I wrote another pamphlet called “Slavery as it is.”

Moving again

Jan 1, 1840

I moved to a farm in Belleville, New Jersey. I lived with my wife and her sister.

Moving to Washington, D.C (1841-1843)

Jan 1, 1841

I moved from the farm for a few years to Washington, D.C. to head a antislavery reference bureau.

Starting a school

Jan 1, 1848

I started a school on my farm with Angelina Grimke.

Teaching Job

Jan 1, 1853

I was offered a job to teach at a school in 1853 where I taught for a year. The school was open until 1862.

Co-founding a school

Jan 1, 1854

I co-founded and taught at a school with my wife in New Jersey.

Co-founding another school

Jan 1, 1864

I founded another school with my wife that I taught at located in Massachusetts.

Death

Feb 3, 1895

I died in 1895 at the age of 91 in Hyde Park, Massachusetts.