Elizabeth Freeman

Elizabeth Freeman

Elizabeth Freeman was born a slave in New York, in 1742. Elizabeth got released from slavery and proceeded to help abolish it. She was really dedicated to her beliefs, and never stopped chasing her dreams. Even if it risked her her own life, she was willing to do anything to free herself and other people.

At the age of six months, she and her sister were sold to John Ashley, who they stayed with as slaves until 1780. Her serving time ended when Ashley attempted to hit her sister Lizzy with a heated kitchen shovel, and Elizabeth took the hit instead. Elizabeth dashed out of the house as fast as she could, and went to a lawyer downtown. She told him her story, and refused to return to the house. The lawyer agreed to represent Elizabeth at court to sue John Ashley. They won the trial, and she was granted freedom.

Now that Elizabeth won the trial, the Massachusetts constitution made slavery illegal. She also was paid 30 shillings from Captain Ashley. She was also now allowed to get a job that paid money, so Ashley offered for her to return to him and work for wages, but she declined his offer and worked for her lawyer instead. Elizabeth continued with her anti-slavery cause, and managed to ban slavery in all of Massachusetts.

Elizabeth began the end to slavery and she made a big difference. Life with slavery was awful, so we should be so thankful that she did all that she did to stop it.

Elizabeth Freeman is a hero in my eyes. She stopped slavery in Massachusetts. She was brave and she accomplished so many things that are amazing.