Who is Anna Murray?

On February 14, Sister Paula Damiano, SP, and I had the privilege of attending the unveiling of the Frederick Douglass monument at the Hilton Garden Inn in Terre Haute. I had just taken out the library book, “Facing Frederick,” by Tony Bolden.

This extraordinary man, born a slave, did such passionate work for desegregation and accomplished so much for human rights. His life is definitely worth reading.

The more I read, however, I said to myself, “His wife also deserves a lot of credit! Knowing that March is Women’s History Month, I decided to write this blog to honor her. And guess what? I discovered her birthday is March 8, Women’s History Day! I later learned this was an assigned date as her daughter said the exact date is unknown.

44 Loving Years

Anna Murray’s parents, Bambarra and Mary, were former slaves. On March 8, 1813, Anna, the eighth children of this family, was the first to be born free. At age 17, she left home to make it on her own.

She was involved in the abolitionist movement and the Underground Railroad. When she met Frederick and they fell in love, he was still a slave. She told him that she did not want the father of her children to be a slave.

She sold some of her goods to provide the travel funding. She sewed a sailor suit because black sailors were common in that area.

She borrowed a free papers document for him to escape slavery, taking a train to New York. Once there, she joined him and they were married. 

Their marriage would last forty-four years until Anna’s death on August 4, 1882. They would give birth to five children. Sorrow struck when one daughter, Annie, died at age 10 of a brain hemorrhage.

Frederick was almost constantly traveling to give speeches. For his safety, he had to leave the country for two years while his children were young. As primary caretaker for their children, she raised them with strong moral values.

Ups and Downs

Anna, as a laundress, seamstress and shoemaker, provided financial support for the family. Frederick sent money home when possible. When he came home from overseas, their finances were in perfect order, every bill was paid.

While in later years they would accumulate some wealth, it was not so in the early years. When Frederick’s initial anti-slavery newspaper, the North Star, was struggling financially, the mortgaged their home to keep the newspaper going.

His advocacy work was full of ups and downs, both financially and with people whom he counted on for moral support. He was beaten and received death threats. All of this had to profoundly affect her life as well as his.

Her daughter, Rosetta, the oldest child recounted how on the days the North Star was published, a celebrative meal would be prepared. When her father was able to be home, Anna treated him like an honored guest.

Rosetta recalled how their home was open to all. “From the highest dignitaries to the lowliest person, bond or free, white or black were welcomed and my mother was gracious to all.”

As one of the first agents of the Underground Railroad, people fleeing slavery could arrive at any time of the day or night and she would provide food for them.

An Unsung Hero

Anna, you are one of the many women who are unsung heroes whose extraordinary contribution has been largely unrecognized.

It is with the deepest gratitude that I honor you for the persistent heroism and grace you showed in your daily life.

Your home became a model of what you wanted the world to be, a place where all are welcome. Because you were deprived of reading skills, some people criticized you as not being worthy of being Frederick’s wife. 

Your daughter, Rosetta knew better. She reminded people that without your unswerving loyalty, his story would not have been possible.

To you who are reading this, is there an unsung woman you want to honor in some special way this month?