Swartekill, New York (c 1797-November 26, 1883) age ~86 yrs

Sojourner Truth was one of the most inspirational and widely known African Americans of the 19th century. She was born Isabella Bomefree (also spelled “Baumfree”) in 1797, enslaved in New York, but received her freedom in 1828. In the 1830s, she became involved in evangelical movements. In 1843, she changed her name to Sojourner Truth. She then began traveling and preaching. Her autobiography, The Narrative of Sojourner Truth: A Northern Slave, was published in 1850. Her speeches against slavery and for women’s suffrage drew large crowds. In 1864, President Abraham Lincoln received her at the White House. From 1864 to 1868, she worked with the National Freedman’s Relief Association. She advised former slaves as they started new lives.