She was born between 1797 and 1883 and given the name Isabella in a Dutch speaking county in New York.

She meets us at the intersection of former slave, abolitionist, women’s rights activists, mother, daughter, wife.

Isabella Baumfree spent the first nine years of her life close to her family. Her father,  James Baumfree was captured from Ghana. Her mother Elizabeth was captured from Guinea. She was sold for the first time at the age of nine.  She  spent the next decade of her life being sold to not very nice people.

She had a husband and five children. Her last master was supposed to free her, but reneged. In late  1826, she escaped with her daughter Sophia.

 I did not run off, for I thought that wicked, but I walked off, believing that to be all right.”

She walked to freedom.