Today in Black History, let's shine the spotlight on an enslaved American woman, who escaped slavery by disguising herself as a male carriage driver, Anna Maria Weems.✨Anna Maria Weems was born in Maryland in 1840 to John and Arabella Talbot Weems. Her father was a free man, but her mother was enslaved, and so were nine of her 10 children.
Her father died when she was between five and seven years old. His death changed the trajectory of their path to freedom.
Weems, her siblings and mother were the property of Adam Robb, who lived in Montgomery County, Maryland. In 1847, when Robb died, his slaves were divided between his two daughters.
Weems, her mother and siblings were sent to Catherine and her husband, Henry Harding.
Three of her brothers were sold off to another plantation owner, but her mother and one of her sisters were freed by purchase from the Weems Ransom Fund.
Weems kept waiting for her freedom to be purchased but by 1855, it was clear that her only way to obtain freedom was to escape.
On September 23, 1855, fifteen-year-old Weems ran away from Montgomery County and made her way to Washington, D.C.
Meanwhile her supporters crafted a plan for her escape from Washington, D.C.
In late November, Dr. Ellwood Harvey, the Bigelow family physician, drove his carriage in front of the White House. He waited for Weems who was dressed in a male driver’s uniform including a jacket, pants, a bow tie, and cap and who assumed the name, “Mr. Joe Wright.”
To most observers one would assume Dr. Harvey had just finished doing business in the White House and was now being driven away by his coachman.
Weems traveled to Dresden, Ontario, where other fugitive slaves lived, she was greeted by her aunt and uncle who had earlier settled in Canada.
She remained in Canada for the rest of her life. In 1858 the rest of her family, including all her brothers, were purchased through the Weems’ Fund.
The date and place of Anna Maria Weems’ death are unknown.
Words by Anaverde Magazine
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