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Harriet Ann Jacobs

© Mary M. Alward

Harriet Ann Jacobs was born into slavery at Edenton, North Carolina in 1813. Her mother, Delilah, was the daughter of a slave. Her father, Daniel, was a carpenter, owned by doctor Andre Knox. His father was white.

Harriet's mother died when she was six. She was then taken in by her mistress, who taught her to read. When the mistress died, Harriet thought she would be given her freedom. However, the mistress' Will left her to her five-year-old niece. Because the niece was a minor, Harriet became the property of her father, Dr. James Norcom, who sexually harassed her.

When Harriet learned that the doctor was building a cottage in the country where he planned to take her as his concubine, she was desperate. In order to stall the doctor's advances, Harriet encouraged a relationship with a lawyer, Samuel Sawyer. Samuel had been attracted to Harriet for some time. The couple began an affair. Their son, Joseph, was born in 1829. A daughter, Louisa, was born in 1833.

Dr. Norcom was furious when he learned of the relationship. He banished Harriet to a plantation where he ordered her to work as a field hand. This was excruciating work, but Harriet would not be intimidated. She continued to refuse the doctor's advances. In retaliation, Dr. Norcom refused to allow her to have her children. Harriet was again desperate. She made a plan to escape.

With the help of the women in the community, both black and white, Harriet managed to hide from Dr. Norcom. Then, Harriet found a great hiding place.

Harriet's maternal grandmother, Molly Horniblow had been freed during the American Revolution. Unfortunately, on her way to Florida, she had been captured by slave traders and resold into slavery. She regained her freedom in 1828.

Molly's house had a small crawlspace over a shed that had been added onto the residence. It was seven feet wide and nine feet long. The compartment had a bed on the floor for Harriet to lie on. The slope roof, which was only three feet high at one point, wouldn't allow her to roll over. The area had no window. Harriet lay in the dark hiding place while mice and rats crawled over her.

Samuel Sawyer had managed to buy the couple's children from Dr. Norcom without his knowledge. Joseph and Louisa came to live in their great-grandmother's home. Harriet could lie in the dark crawlspace and watch her children play through a hole she had drilled in the wall. Harriet couldn't take the chance of being found by Dr. Norcom. She lived in the crawlspace for six years and eleven months, coming out only at night for exercise.

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