harriet jacobs
Harriet Jacobs was a young woman with a very interesting life with a little insight into the world of slavery. She was born in 1813 to her parents Elijah and Delilah Jacobs. Her father’s job as a carpenter paid for Harriet and her brother, John, to live in a house. As Harriet grew older, her grandmother, Molly Horniblow, became a major influence in Harriet’s, life. By the time Harriet was six years old her mother, Delilah, died and Harriet was sent to live with her mother’s owner. While there she learned to read, write, and sew. These are a few things most slaves never get the chance to do in life. As life went on Harriet was soon sent to live with a physician, Dr. Norcom when she was eleven years old. Her brother was sent along with her. Dr. Norcom was a cruel man and he became even more strict after the death of Harriet and John’s father. While living there, Harriet met a free black carpenter. However she was forbidden to marry him and was instead set up with a white lawyer by the name of Samuel Tredwell Sawyer. They had two children, Joseph and Louisa Matilda. After a failed escape to her grandmother’s, Harriet was sent to work for Dr. Norcom’s son. While here she started to plan another escape. She once again ran away and hid in her grandmother’s attic for seven years. She secretly watched her children grow, and she even watched as Samuel Tredwell Sawyer freed them and John. Later Harriet found her way to New York where she met up with her children and John. She became employed by Mrs. Cornelia Willis who later freed Harriet. She went on to become famous for her story and she became the author of the story Life of a Slave Girl.