Five Free Boys Kidnapped Into Slavery and Their Astonishing Odyssey Home

In 1841, five free black boys were kidnapped into slavery and sold to a cruel plantation owner in the Deep South. Their story is a harrowing tale of resilience, courage, and the power of hope.

Stolen: Five Free Boys Kidnapped into Slavery and Their Astonishing Odyssey Home

by Richard Bell

4.6 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	29945 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
X-Ray	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	247 pages
Screen Reader	:	Supported

FREE

The boys were all from Washington, D.C. They were freeborn, and their parents were respected members of the community. But one day, they were lured into a trap by a group of slave traders. The traders promised them a job on a ship, but instead, they were taken to a slave market in New Orleans and sold to a plantation owner named John Johnson.

Johnson was a brutal master. He forced the boys to work long hours in the fields and beat them mercilessly. The boys tried to escape several times, but Johnson always caught them and punished them severely. Despite the abuse, the boys never gave up hope of returning home.

One day, the boys heard that a group of abolitionists were planning to raid Johnson's plantation. The abolitionists were led by a white man named Calvin Fairbank. Fairbank had heard about the boys' plight, and he was determined to help them escape.

The raid was a success. Fairbank and his men freed the boys and helped them make their way back to Washington, D.C. The boys were overjoyed to be home, and they were reunited with their families and friends.

The story of the five free boys who were kidnapped into slavery is a powerful reminder of the horrors of slavery. It is also a story of hope and resilience. The boys never gave up on their dream of returning home, and they eventually achieved their goal.

The boys' story is also a reminder of the importance of abolitionism. The abolitionists were a group of people who fought to end slavery. They risked their lives to help slaves escape to freedom, and they played a major role in the eventual abolition of slavery in the United States.

The Boys

The five free boys who were kidnapped into slavery were:

• Sandy Cornish, age 12
• Isaac Draper, age 10
• Joseph Johnson, age 11
• Josiah Proctor, age 12
• Lewis Washington, age 13

The boys were all from poor families, but they were freeborn and they had a good education. They were all bright and ambitious, and they had dreams of a better future.

The Kidnapping

On April 15, 1841, the five boys were playing in the streets of Washington, D.C., when they were approached by a group of slave traders. The traders promised them a job on a ship, and the boys agreed to go with them.

The traders took the boys to a slave market in New Orleans, where they were sold to John Johnson, a cruel plantation owner. Johnson forced the boys to work long hours in the fields and beat them mercilessly.

The Escape

The boys tried to escape several times, but Johnson always caught them and punished them severely. One day, the boys heard that a group of abolitionists were planning to raid Johnson's plantation.

The raid was a success. Fairbank and his men freed the boys and helped them make their way back to Washington, D.C. The boys were overjoyed to be home, and they were reunited with their families and friends.

The Legacy

The story of the five free boys who were kidnapped into slavery is a powerful reminder of the horrors of slavery. It is also a story of hope and resilience. The boys never gave up on their dream of returning home, and they eventually achieved their goal.

The boys' story is also a reminder of the importance of abolitionism. The abolitionists were a group of people who fought to end slavery. They risked their lives to help slaves escape to freedom, and they played a major role in the eventual abolition of slavery in the United States.

The five free boys who were kidnapped into slavery are an inspiration to us all. They remind us that even in the face of great adversity, we should never give up on our dreams.

Stolen: Five Free Boys Kidnapped into Slavery and Their Astonishing Odyssey Home

by Richard Bell

4.6 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	29945 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
X-Ray	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	247 pages
Screen Reader	:	Supported

FREE