Five Free Boys Kidnapped Into Slavery And Their Astonishing Odyssey Home

In the annals of American history, the story of the five free Black boys kidnapped from Washington, D.C., and sold into slavery in the Deep South stands as a harrowing tale of injustice and resilience.

Stolen: Five Free Boys Kidnapped into Slavery and Their Astonishing Odyssey Home

by Richard Bell

4.6 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	29945 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
X-Ray	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	247 pages
Screen Reader	:	Supported

FREE

The boys, ranging in age from 11 to 16, were seized from their homes in broad daylight on July 26, 1841. They were then transported to the notorious slave market in New Orleans, where they were sold to a cotton planter named Theophilus Freeman.

For the next seven years, the boys endured the horrors of slavery. They were forced to work long hours in the fields, whipped and beaten for the slightest infraction, and denied basic human rights.

But despite the unimaginable hardships they faced, the boys never gave up hope of returning to their families. They plotted and planned their escape, knowing that the odds of success were stacked against them.

In 1848, the boys finally made their daring escape. They fled into the swamps, where they lived off the land and dodged slave catchers for months.

Eventually, they made their way to Canada, where they were finally free. They were reunited with their families and lived long and productive lives.

The story of the five free boys is a powerful reminder of the indomitable spirit of freedom. It is a story that deserves to be told and retold, so that we never forget the horrors of slavery and the courage of those who fought to overcome it.

The Kidnapping

On July 26, 1841, five free Black boys were kidnapped from their homes in Washington, D.C. The boys were:

• Giles Lewis, 16 years old
• William Grimes, 15 years old
• Robert Johnson, 14 years old
• Lewis Douglass, 13 years old
• Frederick Barnett, 11 years old

The boys were seized by a group of white men who claimed to be slave catchers. The men claimed that the boys had been kidnapped from their owners in Maryland. However, the boys' families denied this claim, and there is no evidence to support it.

The boys were taken to the slave market in New Orleans, where they were sold to a cotton planter named Theophilus Freeman. Freeman took the boys to his plantation in Mississippi, where they were forced to work as slaves.

Life in Slavery

The boys endured the horrors of slavery for seven years. They were forced to work long hours in the fields, whipped and beaten for the slightest infraction, and denied basic human rights.

Despite the unimaginable hardships they faced, the boys never gave up hope of returning to their families. They plotted and planned their escape, knowing that the odds of success were stacked against them.

The Escape

In 1848, the boys finally made their daring escape. They fled into the swamps, where they lived off the land and dodged slave catchers for months.

Eventually, they made their way to Canada, where they were finally free. They were reunited with their families and lived long and productive lives.

Legacy

The story of the five free boys is a powerful reminder of the indomitable spirit of freedom. It is a story that deserves to be told and retold, so that we never forget the horrors of slavery and the courage of those who fought to overcome it.

The boys' story has been told in numerous books, articles, and documentaries. It has also been the subject of a major motion picture.

The five free boys are an inspiration to us all. Their story reminds us that no matter how difficult the circumstances, we should never give up on our dreams of freedom and justice.

Additional Resources

• Five Free Boys: Kidnapped Into Slavery And Their Astonishing Odyssey Home by Dolores Johnson
• The Five Free Boys by the American Experience
• The Five Free Boys Who Were Kidnapped Into Slavery and Escaped to Freedom by Smithsonian Magazine

Stolen: Five Free Boys Kidnapped into Slavery and Their Astonishing Odyssey Home

by Richard Bell

4.6 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	29945 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
X-Ray	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	247 pages
Screen Reader	:	Supported

FREE