In the 1850s, “William and Ellen Craft were slaves in the State of Georgia.” Their “desire to be free was very strong.” It was rare for slaves that deep in the Confederacy to successfully flee, but it “occurred to William and Ellen, that she might act the part of master and her husband the part of servant.” “Ellen was fair enough to pass for white,” but how to transform her into a young planter? She needed to “dress elegantly in a fashionable suit of male attire, and have her hair cut in the style usually worn by young planters.” But she was beardless. So, they muffled up the face of the young planter as if he were “suffering badly with a toothache.” But how could they register for a room at hotels? Their planter had to be a “gentleman who was very much indisposed. He must have his right arm in a sling,” so he could not sign in. “He must be a little lame, with a nice cane in the left hand; he must have large green spectacles over his eyes, and he must be hard of hearing and depend on his faithful servant, as was common with slaveholders, to look after all his wants.” “William was just the man to act this part. To begin with, he was very smart, active, and exceedingly attentive to his young master. Indeed, he was almost the eyes, ears, hands, and feet for him. William knew that this would please the slaveholders. The young planter would have nothing to do but hold himself subject to his ailments and put on a bold air of superiority; he was not to deign to notice anybody. If, while traveling, gentlemen, either politely or rudely, should venture to scrape acquaintance with the young planter, in his deafness he was to remain mute; the servant was to explain.” Other slave narratives included the lives of Frederick Douglass, Booker T Washington, and Father Augustine Tolton. For more interesting videos, please click to subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@ReflectionsMPH/?sub_confirmation=1 Shortcut: https://www.youtube.com/@ReflectionsMPH YouTube video using this script: https://youtu.be/VEggppALPLE © Copyright 2024 This blog includes footnotes and Amazon book links: https://seekingvirtueandwisdom.com/fleeing-female-slave-impersonates-planter-husband-posing-as-trusty-servant-william-ellen-craft/ We also review: • Support of William Lloyd Garrison and other abolitionists. • How the Fugitive Slave Act compelled many runaway slaves to seek refuge in Canada.