Dr. Michelle Chresfield

Yes, she does. And in 1833, she follows him to a commune in Westchester called Kingdom of Matthias.

Yes, she does. And in 1833, she follows him to a commune in Westchester called Kingdom of Matthias.

She does. Yes. She does. She does. Yes. And members of this organization, cult, if you will, it's what it is. They sign over thousands of dollars in property to Matthias. And he styles himself as a prophet chosen by God. And he believes that he is the only prophet.

She does. Yes. She does. She does. Yes. And members of this organization, cult, if you will, it's what it is. They sign over thousands of dollars in property to Matthias. And he styles himself as a prophet chosen by God. And he believes that he is the only prophet.

So Elijah Pearson, who has a lot of money, also a prophet, he becomes kind of edged out, even though he still remains a member of the community. But it's Matthias who is the one who is speaking the word. He takes what he calls a spirit match. He's legally married to another woman, but takes on this other woman as his spirit match. He styles himself the father.

So Elijah Pearson, who has a lot of money, also a prophet, he becomes kind of edged out, even though he still remains a member of the community. But it's Matthias who is the one who is speaking the word. He takes what he calls a spirit match. He's legally married to another woman, but takes on this other woman as his spirit match. He styles himself the father.

So he very much wants to be the head of everything.

So he very much wants to be the head of everything.

Yes. And so she, you know, begins to or attempts at least to defy him. But he uses physical abuse and punishment against, you know, his followers. And so it's a real tough situation that she finds herself in and is marginalized in this community.

Yes. And so she, you know, begins to or attempts at least to defy him. But he uses physical abuse and punishment against, you know, his followers. And so it's a real tough situation that she finds herself in and is marginalized in this community.

Matthias. He gets in trouble, actually. He's alleged to have poisoned Elijah Pearson, who dies after a prolonged illness. And so it makes the newspapers. And this actually even brings side eyes, for lack of a better word, to Isabella. A family, the Folgers, accuse her of trying to poison them. So they both need lawyers. And she gets a lawyer for herself. She gets a lawyer for Matthias.

Matthias. He gets in trouble, actually. He's alleged to have poisoned Elijah Pearson, who dies after a prolonged illness. And so it makes the newspapers. And this actually even brings side eyes, for lack of a better word, to Isabella. A family, the Folgers, accuse her of trying to poison them. So they both need lawyers. And she gets a lawyer for herself. She gets a lawyer for Matthias.

She tries to get all these statements. She even goes back to DeMont to get a character statement. This is a really tough moment. It's all over the newspapers. And Matthias eventually kind of abandons Isabella, goes back to his wife. And so that's really how the whole thing kind of comes to an end, that particular chapter. So she's once again having to kind of start over.

She tries to get all these statements. She even goes back to DeMont to get a character statement. This is a really tough moment. It's all over the newspapers. And Matthias eventually kind of abandons Isabella, goes back to his wife. And so that's really how the whole thing kind of comes to an end, that particular chapter. So she's once again having to kind of start over.

Yes. So on June 1st, 1843, the day of Pentecost, she claims to have experienced the Holy Spirit calling her to travel and preach. At that point in time, she had been known more frequently as Sojourner, but that's when she really adopts the surname Truth because she believes that she is as true as God's word. God is with her.

Yes. So on June 1st, 1843, the day of Pentecost, she claims to have experienced the Holy Spirit calling her to travel and preach. At that point in time, she had been known more frequently as Sojourner, but that's when she really adopts the surname Truth because she believes that she is as true as God's word. God is with her.

Sojourner Truth is one who travels to preach God's truth, and she spends several months on the road trying to convince audiences to seek salvation before Judgment Day, which she predicts would occur in March 1844. So it is imminent. And so there's a huge expediency to her work at this moment.

Sojourner Truth is one who travels to preach God's truth, and she spends several months on the road trying to convince audiences to seek salvation before Judgment Day, which she predicts would occur in March 1844. So it is imminent. And so there's a huge expediency to her work at this moment.

She does. And she travels around New England. She's preaching. She doesn't speak to her children or family about this decision. And she gave her employer at the time only one hour's notice before she sets out on this new path.

She does. And she travels around New England. She's preaching. She doesn't speak to her children or family about this decision. And she gave her employer at the time only one hour's notice before she sets out on this new path.