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The Narrative of Sojourner Truth (1850)
Dictated by Sojourner Truth (ca.1797-1883);
Edited by Olive Gilbert

NARRATIVE OF SOJOURNER TRUTH

Written by Olive Gilbert, based on informationprovided by Sojourner Truth.

1850

CONTENTS

HER BIRTH AND PARENTAGEACCOMMODATIONSHER BROTHERS AND SISTERSHER RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTIONTHE AUCTIONDEATH OF MAU-MAU BETTLAST DAYS OF BOMEFREEDEATH OF BOMEFREECOMMENCEMENT OF ISABELLA'S TRIALS IN LIFETRIALS CONTINUEDHER STANDING WITH HER NEW MASTER AND MISTRESSISABELLA'S MARRIAGEISABELLA AS A MOTHERSLAVEHOLDER'S PROMISESHER ESCAPEILLEGAL SALE OF HER SONIT IS OFTEN DARKEST JUST BEFORE DAWNDEATH OF MRS. ELIZA FOWLERISABELLA'S RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCENEW TRIALSFINDING A BROTHER AND SISTERGLEANINGSTHE MATTHIAS DELUSIONFASTINGTHE CAUSE OF HER LEAVING THE CITYTHE CONSEQUENCES OF REFUSING A TRAVELLER A NIGHT'S LODGINGSOME OF HER VIEWS AND REASONINGSTHE SECOND ADVENT DOCTRINESANOTHER CAMP-MEETINGLAST INTERVIEW WITH HER MASTER

CERTIFICATES OF CHARACTER

NARRATIVE OF SOJOURNER TRUTH

HER BIRTH AND PARENTAGE.

THE subject of this biography, SOJOURNER TRUTH, as she now callsherself-but whose name, originally, was Isabella-was born, as near asshe can now calculate, between the years 1797 and 1800. She was thedaughter of James and Betsey, slaves of one Colonel Ardinburgh, Hurley,Ulster County, New York.

Colonel Ardinburgh belonged to that class of people called Low Dutch.

Of her first master, she can give no account, as she must have been amere infant when he died; and she, with her parents and some ten ortwelve other fellow human chattels, became the legal property of hisson, Charles Ardinburgh. She distinctly remembers hearing her fatherand mother say, that their lot was a fortunate one, as Master Charleswas the best of the family,-being, comparatively speaking, a kindmaster to his slaves.

James and Betsey having, by their faithfulness, docility, andrespectful behavior, won his particular regard, received from himparticular favors-among which was a lot of land, lying back on theslope of a mountain, where, by improving the pleasant evenings andSundays, they managed to raise a little tobacco, corn, or flax; whichthey exchanged for extras, in the articles of food or clothing forthemselves and children. She has no remembrance that Saturdayafternoon was ever added to their own time, as it is by some masters inthe Southern States.

ACCOMMODATIONS.

Among Isabella's earliest recollections was the removal of her master,Charles Ardinburgh, into his new house, which he had built for a hotel,soon after the decease of his father. A cellar, under this hotel, wasassigned to his slaves, as their sleeping apartment,-all the slaves hepossessed, of both sexes, sleeping (as is quite common in a state ofslavery) in the same room. She carries in her mind, to this day, avivid picture of this dismal chamber; its only lights consisting of afew panes of glass, through which she thinks the sun never shone, butwith thrice reflected rays; a

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