Charity Still facts for kids
Charity Still (born around 1775, died 1857) was a very important woman in the American movement to end slavery. She also saw the beginning of the famous Underground Railroad.
Early Life and Freedom
Charity was born into slavery in the 1700s. Her birth name was Sidney. She lived on a large farm near the Chesapeake Bay. When she was a child, her father was sadly killed by the farm's owner.
Sidney met Levin Still (also known as Steele) when they were both enslaved in Maryland. They had four children together. Levin was able to buy his own freedom. He then moved to Lawnside, New Jersey. Sidney bravely escaped with her four young children to join him in New Jersey.
However, a few months later, Charity and all her children were captured. They were forced to return to Maryland. On her next escape, Charity made a very difficult choice. She left her two older sons, Levin Jr. and Peter, with their grandmother. She then reached New Jersey again with her two daughters, Mahalia and Kiturah. Her older sons remained enslaved. One son died due to harsh treatment. Peter, her other son, finally gained his freedom. He reunited with Charity Still in 1850.
Life in the North and Family Legacy
To avoid being captured again, Levin and Charity Still moved to a hidden cabin. This cabin was in Burlington County, New Jersey. Here, their younger fourteen children were born.
Their youngest son was William Still (born around 1820, died 1902). William became a successful businessman in Philadelphia. He worked with the Pennsylvania Society for the Abolition of Slavery. This group worked to end slavery. William Still helped many people escape slavery. He also created the term "Underground Railroad." This was a secret network of people and safe places. It helped hundreds of enslaved people find freedom.
Another son, James Still, became a healer in the African-American community. He was not allowed to get formal medical training. Charity Still passed away in 1857. She was about 82 years old.
One of Charity Still's granddaughters was William's daughter, Caroline Still Anderson (born 1848, died 1919). She grew up to become a medical doctor.
The family of Charity and Levin Still still holds regular reunions in New Jersey. This tradition continues more than 200 years after they first met.
