Dr. Michelle Chresfield

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 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. So her parents are frequently depressed, going into bouts of kind of emotional hardship because many of her siblings are sold away. So when Isabella grows up, she only knows her brother. And so it's this constant fear that our parents are going to have that their children will be sold away.

And that involves selling the young Isabella away at the age of nine. So her parents are frequently depressed, going into bouts of kind of emotional hardship because many of her siblings are sold away. So when Isabella grows up, she only knows her brother. And so it's this constant fear that our parents are going to have that their children will be sold away.

And this happens when Isabella is nine.

And this happens when Isabella is nine.

Right, that's correct. So she's 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. And on top of the language barrier, the Neelys are generally cruel people, and they make life difficult for the young Isabella.

Right, that's correct. So she's 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. And on top of the language barrier, the Neelys are generally cruel people, and they make life difficult for the young Isabella.

And she faces violent and cruel punishments that she would later recall in her later life. and bear the marks of this abuse on her body for a long time.

And she faces violent and cruel punishments that she would later recall in her later life. and bear the marks of this abuse on her body for a long time.

Right, but her father, so Isabella's father, he is an older man, and he is some distance from his daughter after the sale, but he doesn't lose track of her. And this makes it very different than the relationship that he's able to have with his other children. So he travels a distance and actually implores the Neelys to sell Isabella.

Right, but her father, so Isabella's father, he is an older man, and he is some distance from his daughter after the sale, but he doesn't lose track of her. And this makes it very different than the relationship that he's able to have with his other children. So he travels a distance and actually implores the Neelys to sell Isabella.

And so she sold again, right? in 1809 to a tavern keeper called Martinus Shriver. And she spends about 18 months with the Shrivers, where she works at an inn. She makes beer, she picks herbs, she fishes, she farms. And she would claim that it's the Shrivers who taught her to curse, which is a very interesting development for a woman who would be known for her piety and religious devotion.

And so she sold again, right? in 1809 to a tavern keeper called Martinus Shriver. And she spends about 18 months with the Shrivers, where she works at an inn. She makes beer, she picks herbs, she fishes, she farms. And she would claim that it's the Shrivers who taught her to curse, which is a very interesting development for a woman who would be known for her piety and religious devotion.

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. And it's during her time with the Dumonts that Isabella would do farm work for John, but she also performed housework for Sally.

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. And it's during her time with the Dumonts that Isabella would do farm work for John, but she also performed housework for Sally.

And so she gains a reputation for the hard work that also characterized her father. And she also has a stunning physique and figure. She's just under six feet tall. She's a very tall, statuesque woman. So she's doing the work of several people, which really gains her the kind of compliment and the admiration of John Dumont. And she begins to care very much about how Dumont feels about her.

And so she gains a reputation for the hard work that also characterized her father. And she also has a stunning physique and figure. She's just under six feet tall. She's a very tall, statuesque woman. So she's doing the work of several people, which really gains her the kind of compliment and the admiration of John Dumont. And she begins to care very much about how Dumont feels about her.

And that is in stark contrast to her feelings about Sally, who she resents more so. And where Dumont might praise Isabella in her work ethic, Sally is a lot more critical.

And that is in stark contrast to her feelings about Sally, who she resents more so. And where Dumont might praise Isabella in her work ethic, Sally is a lot more critical.