Anna Murray Douglass facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Anna Murray Douglass
|
|
|---|---|
Murray Douglass c. 1860
|
|
| Born |
Anna Murray
March 8, 1813 Denton, Maryland, U.S.
|
| Died | August 4, 1882 (aged 69) Washington, D.C., U.S.
|
| Occupation |
|
| Spouse(s) | |
| Children | 5 |
| Relatives | Douglass family |
Anna Murray Douglass (1813 – August 4, 1882) was an important American abolitionist. This means she worked to end slavery. She was also a key member of the Underground Railroad, a secret network that helped enslaved people escape to freedom. Anna Murray Douglass was the first wife of Frederick Douglass, a famous social reformer and leader. They were married from 1838 until her death.
Contents
Anna Murray's Early Life
Anna Murray was born in Denton, Maryland. Her parents, Bambar(r)a and Mary Murray, were freed from slavery just one month before Anna was born. This meant Anna and her younger siblings were born free, unlike her seven older brothers and sisters.
Anna was a very clever and hardworking young woman. By the time she was 17, she was working as a laundress and housekeeper. Her laundry work often took her to the docks, where she met Frederick Douglass. At that time, Frederick was working as a caulker, sealing the seams of ships.
Marriage and Support for Freedom
Anna's freedom gave Frederick hope that he could also escape slavery. When Frederick decided to run away in 1838, Anna strongly supported him. She helped him by giving him some sailor's clothes, which she got from her laundry work. She also gave him some of her savings. She even sold one of her feather beds to get more money for him.
After Frederick successfully escaped to Philadelphia and then New York, Anna followed him. She brought enough things with her to help them start a new home. They got married on September 15, 1838. At first, they used the last name Johnson. But when they moved to New Bedford, Massachusetts, they chose the name Douglass.
Family Life and Activism
Anna Murray Douglass and Frederick had five children in their first ten years of marriage: Rosetta Douglass, Lewis Henry Douglass, Frederick Douglass, Jr., Charles Remond Douglass, and Annie Douglass. Sadly, Annie died when she was only 10 years old.
Anna helped support her family financially. She continued working as a laundress and also learned how to make shoes. This was important because Frederick's income from his speeches was not always steady.
Anna was also very active in the fight against slavery. She joined the Boston Female Anti-Slavery Society. She also convinced her husband to teach their sons how to be typesetters for his anti-slavery newspaper, North Star.
When the family moved to Rochester, New York, Anna turned their home into a safe place for the Underground Railroad. She provided food, a place to stay, and clean clothes for enslaved people who were escaping to Canada.
Anna's Important Role
Frederick Douglass wrote three books about his life, but he didn't mention Anna very much. However, her daughter Rosetta reminded everyone that Frederick's amazing story was only possible because of Anna Murray's strong loyalty and support. She was a true hero behind the scenes.
Later Life and Passing
After her youngest daughter Annie passed away in 1860, Anna Murray Douglass often had poor health.
She died from a stroke in 1882 at her family home in Washington D.C. She was first buried at Graceland Cemetery in Washington, D.C. Later, in 1895, her remains were moved to Mount Hope Cemetery in Rochester, New York. Frederick Douglass was buried next to her after he passed away in 1895.
See also
