Frederick Douglass Obstacles

Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave by Frederick Douglass. (Anti-Slavery Office NO. 25 Cornhill., 1845)

In the book Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, Frederick tells his story of his life and the many different obstacles he endured during his time as a slave. Though many believed that because he was on a lot in Maryland, he did not have it hard being a slave. Maryland was one of the slave states that many considered not hard, but fair to slaves. Slaves in Maryland were said to have been fed better and treated less cruel than those on the plantations in Georgia, Louisiana, or even Alabama. In his narrative he names those that took ownership of him during his time of enslavement. He also gives names of

When he as an infant she was bought by another plantation twelve miles away in order then to keep from having a bond or any emotional ties. He never knew his father was only heard talk that his master was his father, but this was never verified. Douglass tells how being a slave he was never told of his birthday, upon overhearing his masters conversation he discovered that he was around seventeen some time during 1835. Not knowing birth dates or ages was common with all slaves and they were not allowed to ask their master’s for this information or they may be punished. During these times many of the slave masters fathered children with their female slaves. They would then sell their children so that their white wives would not feel as though they were sparing them from trouble because

The first was known as Captain Anthony, where he resided until around age seven or eight. The second was the brother of Captain Anthony’s son-in-law, Mr. Hugh Auld. During his enslavement with Mr. and Mrs. Auld he was taught his ABC and also how to read small words by Mrs. Auld. She was a very kind and pure hearted woman. Upon Mr. Auld discovering what his wife was doing he ordered her to stop because it was giving Douglass too much power. This is when Douglass realized that the white man only wanted to keep the black man enslaved ad unknowledgeable. He lived with the Auld’s for seven years were he continued in secret to gain knowledge and learn to read. While living with his new masters his old master and children died because no will was left detailing what was to happen to his property Douglass was called back to be valued and separated with all other property. After property was equally separated he was returned to the Aulds to live. In September of 1838 Frederick Douglass planned his escape and left headed to New York. When he arrived in New York Douglass mee a man named Mr. David Ruggles, who allowed him to live in his boarding house. He then decided that staying in New York was a bad idea and would then be moving him and his intended wife Anna to New Bedford. Before they left a Rev J.W.C. Pennington would perform a marriage ceremony for the two of them. During this time Frederick