LEWIS HAYDEN AND THE WAR AGAINST SLAVERY

Written by: Joel StrangisPresentation: Tori E. O’ConnellSeptember 21, 2011

Early Years

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Lewis was born around 1811 in Lexington

When Lewis was born he was attacked by his mother who was trying to kill him because she didn't want her son to grow up a life of a slave

Lewis’s father worked for a bagging company and when his father’s work moved Lewis’s father abandoned his children and wife and went with the company.

Since Lewis was a slave he was not able to go to school Lewis only knew how to communicate with his many masters

Lewis Was Bought and sold many times as a child

Adult years

As an adult Lewis crossed the border from being a slave to a free man

After Lewis was a free man he went to a colored peoples collage in River Sydenham

Surprisingly as a free man Lewis would write letters to his recent master telling him what he was doing and how he was.

Lewis told his friends a little bit after he was finally a free man “ I am happy and ready to die now. They cannot take from us this record of history showing that we participated in the revolution to secure American Liberty as we have participated in every great movement in the best interests of the country side.

Lewis died on the date of April 7th, 1889

Interesting facts about adult years

The Hayden family made their way to Boston by January 1846. Lewis ran a clothing store and quickly became a leader in the black community. In 1850, the Haydens moved into the house at 66 Phillips (then Sothic) Street. The Hayden’s family cared for African Americans at their home.

Lewis would sometimes write to his last master seeing how he was doing and explaining what he was doing!

Lewis Hayden Bio Poem

LewisDedicated, Hardworking, determined

Lover of freedomWho excels at work

Who feels tortured constantlyWho needs to know what it means to be free

Who gives inspirationWho fears of his many owners

Who would like to see the freedom of slavesHayden

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hscmWvtnxkg&feature=related