1797 – 1883

Sojourner Truth

African-American abolitionist and women's rights activist (1797–1883)

religious leadersuffragistabolitionistfeministwomen's rights activist

Born

1797-01-01, Rifton

Died

1883-11-26

Birthplace state

New York

Biography

Sojourner Truth was an American abolitionist and activist for African-American civil rights, women's rights, and alcohol temperance. Truth was born into slavery in Swartekill, New York, but escaped with her infant daughter to freedom in 1826. After going to court to recover her son in 1828, she became the first Black woman to win such a case against a white man.

Occupation

Sojourner Truth is recorded as a religious leader, a suffragist, a abolitionist, a feminist, a women's rights activist and a slave, born in New York (1797–1883).

Connections to New York

Sojourner Truth was born in Rifton, New York in 1797. Explore other notable figures from New York, historic sites connected to this era, and the full colonial and statehood history of the state using the links below.

Other notable figures from New York›New Yorkhistory ›Historic sites in New York›

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Overview

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The Land

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Geology

The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.

LiDAR Terrain

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Conflict & War

The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.

The Civil War

The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.

The Soldiers

The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.

Native Heritage

The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.

Settlement

Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.

The Community

How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.

Rivers & Rail

The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.

Notable People

The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.

Historical Maps

Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.

Finds & Access

Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.

Literature

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Spotlight

A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.

Points of Interest

The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.

Timeline

The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.

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Frequently asked about Sojourner Truth

Who was Sojourner Truth?

Sojourner Truth was African-American abolitionist and women's rights activist (1797–1883), born in New York (1797 – 1883).

When and where was Sojourner Truth born?

Sojourner Truth was born on 1797-01-01 in Rifton.

When did Sojourner Truth die?

Sojourner died on 1883-11-26.

What was Sojourner Truth known for?

Sojourner Truth is recorded as a religious leader, a suffragist, a abolitionist, a feminist, a women's rights activist and a slave.

Source

Biographical content adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Source: Wikipedia.

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