Dr. Michelle Chresfield

Thank you for having me. I'm so happy to be back. The gang is back together.

Thank you for having me. I'm so happy to be back. The gang is back together.

That is correct. So the woman that we will come to know as Sojourner was actually born Isabella Bonfrey. And while there is no exact date for her birth, we know that she was born around 1797 in Ulster County, New York, which is a rural area about two hours north of New York City.

That is correct. So the woman that we will come to know as Sojourner was actually born Isabella Bonfrey. And while there is no exact date for her birth, we know that she was born around 1797 in Ulster County, New York, which is a rural area about two hours north of New York City.

Isabella was the youngest of 10 or 12 children born to the enslaved couple James and Elizabeth, and she was nicknamed Belle. And the young Belle was enslaved on a northern farm. Unlike the southern plantations that pervade historical lore, northern slavery was much more small-scale. Most people owned one or two enslaved people who laboured on small-scale farming or domestic work.

Isabella was the youngest of 10 or 12 children born to the enslaved couple James and Elizabeth, and she was nicknamed Belle. And the young Belle was enslaved on a northern farm. Unlike the southern plantations that pervade historical lore, northern slavery was much more small-scale. Most people owned one or two enslaved people who laboured on small-scale farming or domestic work.

Elizabeth and James live on their own in a cottage where they farm a small tract of land that was rented from the Hardenbergs. And in exchange from that land, they would have owed them labor, but also credits towards whatever it cost to cultivate that tract of land. We could conjecture that possibly at some point in time that the parents could have been able to purchase that land outright.

Elizabeth and James live on their own in a cottage where they farm a small tract of land that was rented from the Hardenbergs. And in exchange from that land, they would have owed them labor, but also credits towards whatever it cost to cultivate that tract of land. We could conjecture that possibly at some point in time that the parents could have been able to purchase that land outright.

But those dreams are really dashed when he dies and his son takes over. And the son is really trying to make money. And that involves selling the young Isabella away at the age of nine.

But those dreams are really dashed when he dies and his son takes over. And the son is really trying to make money. And that involves selling the young Isabella away at the age of nine.

Right. That's correct. So she sold for $100 alongside a flock of sheep. And the Neelys are an English speaking family. And Isabella only spoke Dutch. And so she had a hard time, as you might imagine. And so she can't comprehend the instructions given to her.

Right. That's correct. So she sold for $100 alongside a flock of sheep. And the Neelys are an English speaking family. And Isabella only spoke Dutch. And so she had a hard time, as you might imagine. And so she can't comprehend the instructions given to her.

Right. But her father, so he travels a distance and actually implores the Neelys to sell Isabella. Oh. And so she sold again in 1809 to a tavern keeper in called Martinus Shriver.

Right. But her father, so he travels a distance and actually implores the Neelys to sell Isabella. Oh. And so she sold again in 1809 to a tavern keeper in called Martinus Shriver.

She's sold to John and Sally Dumont. And she would spend the longest time of her enslavement with the Dumonts, about 17 years in total. So she arrives around the age of 12, roughly, and she's there until about the age of 30.

She's sold to John and Sally Dumont. And she would spend the longest time of her enslavement with the Dumonts, about 17 years in total. So she arrives around the age of 12, roughly, and she's there until about the age of 30.

So she is actually forced to marry another enslaved man owned by the Dumont family called Thomas. We don't know a lot about Thomas, but they have a general affection for one another and they have five children together. Diana, Peter, Elizabeth, Sophia and a fifth unknown child.

So she is actually forced to marry another enslaved man owned by the Dumont family called Thomas. We don't know a lot about Thomas, but they have a general affection for one another and they have five children together. Diana, Peter, Elizabeth, Sophia and a fifth unknown child.

Yes, that's absolutely right. Desiree Birchley remained my best student. Yeah.

Yes, that's absolutely right. Desiree Birchley remained my best student. Yeah.