1808 Sale: Sojourner Truth

Identifier
NJS-EVE-00038
Source
Narrative of Sojourner Truth

Truth, Sojourner. Narrative of Sojourner Truth. Edited by Olive Gilbert. 1850. Reprint, Battle Creek, MI: Review and Herald Office, 1884.
Event Description
Sojourner Truth was sold at an auction by the executors of the estate of Charles Hardenbergh (1765-1808), who was Sojourner Truth's enslaver until his death in 1808. The executors of the estate were Isaac LeFever, Samuel DuBois, and Peter LeFever. Hardenbergh's will stipulated that all his "real and personal property" should be sold and the proceeds divided among his heirs, thus consigning Sojourner Truth and her family to the auction block. She was sold together with a flock of sheep for $100 to John Nealy of Ulster County, NY.

Sojourner Truth was 9 years old and was known as Isabella at the time of these events. She recalled the auction, and the ensuing family separation, as the first major traumatic event of her life.

The following passages from her 1850 book, The Narrative of Sojourner Truth, recall the circumstances of the auction sale.

"Isabella and Peter, her youngest brother, remained, with their parents, the legal property of Charles Ardinburgh till his decease, which took place when Isabella was near nine years old. After this event, she was often surprised to find her mother in tears; and when, in her simplicity, she inquired, 'Mau-mau, what makes you cry?' she would answer, 'Oh, my child, I am thinking of your brothers and sisters that have been sold away from me.' And she would proceed to detail many circumstances respecting them. But Isabella long since concluded that it was the impending fate of her only remaining children, which her mother but too well understood, even then, that called up those memories from the past, and made them crucify her heart afresh." (Narrative of Sojourner Truth, p. 17)

"At length, the never-to be-forgotten day of the terrible auction arrived, when the 'slaves, horses, and other cattle' of Charles Ardinburgh, deceased, were to be put under the hammer, and again change masters." (Narrative of Sojourner Truth, p. 18)

"At this memorable time, Isabella was struck off, for the sum of one hundred dollars, to one John Nealy, of Ulster County, New York; and she has an impression that in this sale she was connected with a lot of sheep. She was now nine years of age, and her trials in life may be dated from this period. She says, with emphasis, 'Now the war begun.'" (Narrative of Sojourner Truth, p. 26)
Event Type
Sale
Keywords
Estate (deceased enslaver)
Date
1808
Date Certainty
Inferred
Location of Event
Hurley, New York
Preceding Event
1808-05-12 Probate (of Charles Hardenbergh): Sojourner Truth, Elizabeth Baumfree, Peter Baumfree, Sam
Primary Participants

Sojourner Truth (ca. 1799-1883)
Person identifier: NJS-PER-00369
Role: Sold Person
Age: 9
Status: Enslaved
Enslaver(s) of this participant:
- Charles Hardenbergh (1765-1808)
- John Neely
Additional Participants

Charles Hardenbergh (1765-1808)
Person identifier: NJS-PER-00410
Role: Enslaver, Deceased

Isaac LeFever
Person identifier: NJS-PER-01749
Role: Seller

Peter LeFever
Person identifier: NJS-PER-01792
Role: Seller

Samuel DuBois
Person identifier: NJS-PER-01798
Role: Seller

John Neely
Person identifier: NJS-PER-01916
Role: Enslaver, Buyer
Record Contributor
Jesse Bayker
Resource class
Event