State Archives find Sojourner Truth's historic court case

[Nevilledog]

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NY State Archives
@nysarchives
Within 5,000+ boxes of historical court records, the Archives uncovered 1828 documents detailing how Sojourner Truth successfully used the legal system to get her son released from slavery. Special thanks to William Nelson Cromwell Foundation.

timesunion.com
State Archives find Sojourner Truth's historic court case
Buried in 5,000 cubic feet of court records, the New York State Archives has uncovered...
10:49 AM · Feb 1, 2022

https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/State-Archives-find-documents-Sojourner-Truth-s-16816351.php

ALBANY — Buried in 5,000 cubic feet of court records, the New York State Archives has uncovered the 1828 documents thought lost to history detailing how Sojourner Truth became the first Black woman to successfully sue white men to get her son released from slavery.

Archivist and author Jim Folts’ knowledge that Sojourner Truth had once been known as Isabella Van Wagenen when she lived in the Kingston area and sued in Albany Supreme Court made the eight pages of historic court records jump out.

The records provide an insight into New York’s and the Hudson Valley’s waning days of slavery when it had been outlawed, but yet still lingered on. The records also show that despite illiteracy Sojourner Truth was able to go to court to sue Solomon Gedney and make her mark to start the path to securing her son Peter’s freedom after he was sold south to slave owners in Alabama.

“It’s a document that has been lost. The document is new to historians,” said Folts about the deposition.

*snip*

[electric_blue68]

1. Ah, History reemerges! I'm not sure I knew she lived in NYS

[brer cat]

2. That is a very great find.

She was an awesome woman.

[MerryBlooms]

3. Rec & Kick. Outstanding find.

I hope No student is denied learning of this discovery.

[Hekate]

4. This is the history the racists want to whitewash & erase: a mother seeking her son & rescuing him

When my little ones were 5 they started Kindergarten. When her son was 5 he was sold for $20 and passed along from one owner to another.

All American children should be taught our real history.

[Nevilledog]

5. In case you get a paywall, here's another link

https://archive.fo/nJLW0

[Nevilledog]

6. Morning kick

[crickets]

7. Fantastic. What a great find! K&R