Frederick douglass biography early life

Frederick Douglass, named at birth Frederick Augustus Washington Bailey, was born in c.1818 in Tuckahoe, Talbot County, Maryland. The date of his birth is unknown as records were not kept at the time.

Frederick douglass biography early life

He adopted February 14 as his birthday as his mother called him “my valentine”.

Douglass was a slave by birth, his mother was a black slave woman named Harriet Bailey and his father a white man, alleged to be his master Aaron Anthony.

Holmes Hill farm was his home for his first seven or eight years.

Family

Since day one he was subjected to the cruelties of slavery when he was separated from his mother and sent to live with his grandmother, Betsey Bailey.

This was a common practice since young childbearing women were more productive on the field and older women raising children. His mother, Harriet Bailey, was a woman of great intellect; she was the only slave known in the area being able to read and write.

Douglass’ mother worked in a different plantation, he saw her four or five