Austin Steward facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Austin Steward
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| Born | 1793 |
| Died | February 15, 1869 (aged 75–76) |
| Resting place | Canandaigua, New York |
| Known for | Twenty-Two Years a Slave |
| Parent(s) | Robert and Susan Steward |
Austin Steward (born 1793 – died 1869) was an important African-American abolitionist and writer. An abolitionist is someone who worked to end slavery. Austin was born into slavery in Virginia. When he was about 7 years old, he moved with his owner's family to New York State. New York was a free state, but slavery was still allowed there for a while. At age 21, Austin bravely escaped slavery. He settled in Rochester, New York, and later lived in Canada. He wrote a book about his life called Twenty-Two Years a Slave. It was published in 1857.
Contents
Life Story
Early Life and Slavery
Austin Steward was born in Prince William County, Virginia, in 1793. His parents were Robert and Susan Steward. They were enslaved by a man named Captain William Helm. Austin also had a sister named Mary.
When Austin was seven, he started working as a house servant for Captain Helm. He secretly taught himself to read. But when he was found out, he was severely beaten.
In 1800, Captain Helm moved his family and the Stewards to New York. Even though New York was a free state, slavery was still allowed there for some time. Austin faced more harsh treatment. He was hired out to a very cruel boss.
Escaping to Freedom
Because of the continued abuse, Austin decided he had to escape. In 1814, when he was about 21 years old, he successfully ran away. He had thought about trying to become free legally. However, he was told it would take too long.
Austin made his way to Rochester, New York. There, he first worked for Darius Comstock. Mr. Comstock was the president of the Manumission Society. This group worked to free enslaved people. Austin also took classes to improve his education.
A New Start in Freedom
In 1817, Austin Steward started his own business in Rochester. He opened a meat market and a general store. His business was very successful. Over time, he bought a lot of property.
On July 5, 1827, New York finally ended slavery completely. Austin gave a speech to celebrate this important day. His speech was even covered by the newspapers.
Helping Others in Canada
In 1831, Austin Steward traveled to Canada. He wanted to help other enslaved people who had escaped. He was very interested in a new settlement called the Wilberforce Colony. This colony was named after William Wilberforce, who fought against slavery in Britain.
The Wilberforce Colony was located north of what is now London, Ontario. It was started in 1829 by African-Americans. They had fled from harsh laws in Ohio and riots in Cincinnati. Soon after Austin arrived, he was made president of the Colony's board of managers.
However, the Wilberforce Colony faced many challenges. There were disagreements among the people living there. They also had money problems. Because of these difficulties, Austin eventually returned to Rochester in 1837. He had lost almost everything he owned.
Sharing His Story
In 1857, Austin Steward published his autobiography. It was called Twenty-Two Years a Slave, and Forty Years a Freeman. This book is known as a slave narrative. It tells the story of his early life in slavery and his escape. It also shares his experiences during his years of freedom and his work at the Wilberforce Colony.
Before the American Civil War, books like Austin's were very popular in the Northern states. People who wanted to end slavery used these stories. They showed how cruel slavery was and helped convince others to join the fight against it.
Austin Steward died on February 15, 1869. He passed away from typhoid fever. He was buried in Canandaigua, New York.
