In 1797, Isabella Baumfree was born into slavery, one of the 12 children of James and Elizabeth Baumfree,in Ulster County, New York. When Charles, her family’s master, died in 1806, the Baumfrees were separated. At the age of 9, she was sold into slavery along with a flock sheep for 100 dollars. Up until that time, Truth (known as Belle at the time), only spoke dutch. In later years, Truth wrote about how her master, John Neely, was cruel and harsh, beating her daily and once with a bundle of rods. In the following 2 years she was sold two times, finally landing with John Dumont in West Park, New York, where she learned English for the first time and gave birth to 5 children. In 1826, Truth fled her master, one year before slavery was abolished,
