We Were There, Too!Young People in U.S. History

By Mrs. Keller and Mrs. Campbell’sFirst Grade Class

1.When Maria Weems was 12 years old she was sold from one slave owner to another. Her new owner, Mr. Price, was very cruel.

Andrew

2. Maria had a few relatives who had escaped. She wanted to be free too. She needed help.

Brynne

3. A lawyer named Charles Bigelow raised money to buy slaves and set them free. Maria became his number 1 project.

Adam

4. He went to Maria’s master and asked to buy her, but Mr. Price said no. She would have to escape.

Banan

5. Mr. Bigelow sent for a young man with the code name “Powder Boy” to help Maria escape. One night she saw the chance and ran.

Anna

6. Mr. Price was very angry and sent his men to find and punish Maria.

John

7. She met up with Dr. Howard and his coach. She was dressed as a coach driver named “Joe Wright.” She had never driven horses before.

Georgios

8. She took the reins and drove out of town. Then Dr. Howard took over the reins and drove them to Philadelphia.

Julia

9. They arrived in Philadelphia on Thanksgiving Day, 1855. She was free. She later met up with some family members in Canada and was able to go to school.

Lilly

10. In 1855 an 18-year-old girl named Lear Green escaped from her master in a wooden chest.

Keira

11. She was put aboard a steamship with just a quilt, a pillow, a bottle of water and a little food.

Lexi

11. A friend of Lear’s who was already free was on the ship with her. She made sure Lear had enough air to breath by opening the box a few times.

Lily

13. After 18 hours on the ship she arrived in Philadelphia and became a free woman.

Liam

14. Susie Taylor knew that reading and writing must be important since so many people were trying to keep her from doing them.

Olivia

15. Each morning Susie and her brother left the farm pretending to be going to learn a farm trade.

Logan

16. Once out of sight, they headed to a friend of their grandmother’s house to learn to read and write.

Melinda

17. When Susie was 14 during the Civil War, the Union soldiers took over her town and sent many slaves to a camp on St. Simons Island.

Nico

18. When the Captain learned that Susie could read and write, he put her in charge of teaching all the newly freed slaves how to read and write.

Oscar

19. Susie would teach the children during the day, and in the evenings she would teach the adults.

Zachary

There were many other girls and boys, black and white, Hispanic and Native American, that played a big part in our history.

We Were There, Too! Young People in U.S. History.

Sara

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