Dr. Michelle Chresfield

She's a credentialed woman. But to get back to your point, you know, Isabella gets her freedom, but it's not an easy feat. In 1799, New York State passes the Gradual Emancipation Act. And according to the act, children born to enslaved women after July 4th, 1799 are born free but are required to serve a period of indentured servitude, ending at 28 for men and 25 for women.

She's a credentialed woman. But to get back to your point, you know, Isabella gets her freedom, but it's not an easy feat. In 1799, New York State passes the Gradual Emancipation Act. And according to the act, children born to enslaved women after July 4th, 1799 are born free but are required to serve a period of indentured servitude, ending at 28 for men and 25 for women.

In 1811, the state of New York announces that enslaved people born before 1799 will be free on July 4th, 1827. But it retained the provision of the 1799 Act for children born after 1799. Essentially, Isabella is poised to be free, but not her five children. Isabella tries to bargain for her own emancipation in 1826, an early emancipation, which Dumont grants.

In 1811, the state of New York announces that enslaved people born before 1799 will be free on July 4th, 1827. But it retained the provision of the 1799 Act for children born after 1799. Essentially, Isabella is poised to be free, but not her five children. Isabella tries to bargain for her own emancipation in 1826, an early emancipation, which Dumont grants.

However, when that date arrives, Dumont went back on his word. And so she sets a time, she works into the autumn of 1826, and then she decides that now is the time.

However, when that date arrives, Dumont went back on his word. And so she sets a time, she works into the autumn of 1826, and then she decides that now is the time.

Yes. So she takes her infant daughter, Sophia, and she would later say, I did not run away because I thought that wicked. I walked away because I thought that was all right. And it's, I'm sure, a hard decision. She leaves her children and her husband behind with Dumont in order to make this break and to self-emancipate.

Yes. So she takes her infant daughter, Sophia, and she would later say, I did not run away because I thought that wicked. I walked away because I thought that was all right. And it's, I'm sure, a hard decision. She leaves her children and her husband behind with Dumont in order to make this break and to self-emancipate.

Yes, so her five-year-old son is sold. So Isabella is very concerned about her son. She gets lawyers and she sues. Not only does she sue Getney, so her son is sold to a man called Solomon Getney, for participating in the illegal sale of her son because New York state law prevents the sale of a person who would be free in a place where they cannot ever be free, right?

Yes, so her five-year-old son is sold. So Isabella is very concerned about her son. She gets lawyers and she sues. Not only does she sue Getney, so her son is sold to a man called Solomon Getney, for participating in the illegal sale of her son because New York state law prevents the sale of a person who would be free in a place where they cannot ever be free, right?

So by going to Alabama, he's never going to be emancipated. And she sues Albany Supreme Court for allowing the sale to happen. So she sues the man in the state. And she is victorious. So in 1828, the judge rules, quote, And she becomes victorious. and bringing the suit, the first black woman to win a legal victory against a white man to secure a family member's freedom.

So by going to Alabama, he's never going to be emancipated. And she sues Albany Supreme Court for allowing the sale to happen. So she sues the man in the state. And she is victorious. So in 1828, the judge rules, quote, And she becomes victorious. and bringing the suit, the first black woman to win a legal victory against a white man to secure a family member's freedom.

So this is hugely, hugely historic.

So this is hugely, hugely historic.

The Latourettes are as religious as they are wealthy, we could say. And they're followers of a religion that would come to be known as perfectionism. And perfectionism is mostly...

The Latourettes are as religious as they are wealthy, we could say. And they're followers of a religion that would come to be known as perfectionism. And perfectionism is mostly...

That's why I never get anything done. Right. And so Isabella begins to preach with this club as well. She becomes a housekeeper for Elijah Pearson, who is a successful businessman who would become a leading religious reformer.

That's why I never get anything done. Right. And so Isabella begins to preach with this club as well. She becomes a housekeeper for Elijah Pearson, who is a successful businessman who would become a leading religious reformer.

And Pearson would claim to be a prophet, and he believed that he could cure illness and prevent death, so much so that when his wife, Sarah, died, likely the result of the extreme fasting that the community had been engaged in, he attempted to pray her back to life, right? So Isabella, yes, is enmeshed in a society of deep religious devotion.

And Pearson would claim to be a prophet, and he believed that he could cure illness and prevent death, so much so that when his wife, Sarah, died, likely the result of the extreme fasting that the community had been engaged in, he attempted to pray her back to life, right? So Isabella, yes, is enmeshed in a society of deep religious devotion.