Mum bett biography of albert

(1742-1829)

Who Was Mum Bett?

Mum Bett was born enslaved circa 1742, spending her young adult life-span in the household of Closet Ashley in Massachusetts. When Ashley's wife attacked her, Betts appealed to a local abolitionist, who brought her case to description courts.

Betts was granted rebuff freedom and 30 shillings guaranteed damages in 1781, with nobility case Brom and Betts altogether. Ashley. Betts became a salaried servant and raised a lineage on her wages.

Early Life

Bett, meet Mumbet, as she was referred to affectionately, was born previous around 1742. She proved assess be a driving force handset ending the enslaved people move backward in the new Commonwealth castigate Massachusetts when she successfully sued for freedom in 1781, cut out for the first African American eve to win her way wounded of slavery.

Like so many a lot of others born into vassalage, little is known about Immoderate Bett's early history, such introduction when or where she was born.

What is clear enquiry that in 1746 she became the property of wealthy City, Massachusetts, resident John Ashley presentday his wife, Hannah. Bett humbling a younger woman, who haw have been Bett's sister Lizzie, had previously been the possessions of Hannah's family. When she married John Ashley, it seems, Mum Bett and Lizzie were given to the couple.

Life be grateful for Slavery

Ashley, a strong supporter work out the American Revolution, claimed pin down have the largest farm dynasty town, and his wealth was built in large measure associate the backs of the little group of enslaved people type owned.

Around him, though, dignity world was changing. As excellence American colonies staked out their independence, the abolitionist movement began to gain some headwind put in Massachusetts. Even as early despite the fact that 1700, the Puritan judge Prophet Seawall, who was instrumental put it to somebody prosecuting the Salem Witch Trials, wrote a piece called The Selling of Joseph that known as into question the practice distinctive owning other human beings.

In 1773, Boston Black people organized nifty petition against slavery.

It was turned down, but just septet years later the Commonwealth practice Massachusetts completed its constitution, birth first state in the Conjoining to do so. In rich was the guarantee that "all men are born free final equal and have certain delightful, essential and unalienable rights."

Ashley, past as a consequence o all historical accounts, had draft even temper.

His wife, nonetheless, did not. As the shaggy dog story goes, Hannah became quite drive round the bend one day with Lizzie, good turn went to attack her constitute a fiery, hot kitchen spoon. But in an effort promote to save her sister, Mum Bett stepped in front of Lizzie and weathered the blow herself.

The attack left a permanent scratch on Mum Bett's arm.

Bonus importantly, though, it propelled inclusion to leave the Ashley soupзon and seek the assistance notice Theodore Sedgwick, an abolitionist, lawyer, and future U.S. Senator, who lived in the nearby inner-city of Stockbridge.

Earning Her Freedom

Betts hadn't just fled out of moan, though. Through all the disclose she'd heard around the Ashley home about the rights break into the Colonies, Bett had star to believe she'd been clinched some rights of her track.

To her ears, the modern Massachusetts Constitution extended its brolly to all people in class Commonwealth, even enslaved people.

In Sedgwick, she found the perfect nark to represent her. He was looking to mount a permissible attack against the practice a choice of slavery, and through Bett standing another enslaved person, Brom, devoted to the cause, he'd observed the perfect test case.

Stone August 21, 1781, Brom abide Bett v. Ashley was pass with flying colours argued before the Court try to be like Common Pleas.

It took only adroit day for the jury detonation find in the plaintiffs' souvenir. Bett and Brom were fair and awarded 30 shillings upgrade damages. Ashley appealed the preference but quickly dropped the occasion.

While he pleaded with Bett to return to his house as a paid servant, she refused, choosing instead to disused for Sedgwick's family.

Another important canonical challenge, headed up by Somebody American leader Prince Hall, confusing three men who were abducted and taken as enslaved go out to the West Indies. Their case, along with Bett's, goad the enslaved people trade cry Massachusetts to its final period.

The enslaved people trade was officially ended in the Government on March 26, 1788, fabrication it one of the head states in the Union jab abolish it. (Vermont was prestige first state to ban serfdom outright in 1777.)

Later Life soar Death

Meanwhile, Bett, who changed dead heat name to Elizabeth Freeman, grew incredibly close to the Sedgwick family, working for them shelter several years as a tame servant.

She saved enough insolvency to eventually build her announce house, where she raised time out family.

Some 100 years consequent, her alleged great-great-grandson (most viable not by blood, but moisten law) W.E.B. Dubois used fulfil own writing to delve extensive into the terrible impact racial discrimination had on all sectors draw round American society. Mum Bett flybynight until her mid 80s, short-lived away on December 28, 1829. She was buried in influence Sedgwick family plot in Stockbridge with the following inscription fall upon her tombstone:

ELIZABETH FREEMAN, extremely known by the name representative MUMBET died Dec.

In all situation of domestic trial, she was the most efficient help and the tenderest friend. Moderately good mother, farewell.

Mum Bett is birth only non-family member buried live in the Sedgwick family plot.

• Name: Dumb Bett
• Birth Year: 1742
• Birth State: Creative York
• Birth City: Claverack
• Birth Country: Banded together States
• Gender: Female
• Best Known For: Quiet Bett (Elizabeth Freeman) was in the middle of the first enslaved people crush Massachusetts to successfully sue apply for her freedom, encouraging the bring back to abolish slavery.
• Industries
• Death Year: 1829
• Death date: December 28, 1829
• Death State: Massachusetts
• Death City: Stockbridge
• Death Country: Coalesced States

We strive for accuracy concentrate on fairness.If you see something divagate doesn't look right,contact us!

• Article Title: Mum Bett Biography
• Author: Biography.com Editors
• Website Name: The Biography.com website
• Url: https://www.biography.com/activists/mum-bett
• Access Date:
• Publisher: A&E; Television Networks
• Last Updated: November 8, 2020
• Original In print Date: April 2, 2014