Harriet Bailey

Harriett Bailey (????–1825-28?) was the mother of abolitionist Frederick Douglass. Held in slavery in Talbot County, Maryland, she worked as a field hand on a farm some distance from the plantation of her slave master, where her children lived and were cared for by her mother, Betsey Bailey. Harriet died around 1825 to 1828, when Frederick was around 10 years old. He attributed his love of reading and writing to his mother who, although she spent most of her time in the field, had managed to learn to read and was the only slave known in the area who could read and write..

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