George kirkland son of elizabeth keckley image
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While living in the White House, Mary Lincoln formed several friendships. Perhaps her most notable connection was one with a formerly enslaved woman, Elizabeth Keckly (also sometimes spelled Keckley). Elizabeth Keckly’s life was an incredible story of perseverance and survival. It started in the direst of conditions and ultimately involved and influenced some of the most powerful Americans of the day.
In February in Dinwiddie County, Virginia, an enslaved woman named Agnes (“Aggy”) gave birth to a daughter, Elizabeth. Elizabeth’s father was their enslaver, Colonel Armistead Burwell. Agnes had no choice or power in the "relationship." Since her mother was enslaved, Elizabeth ("Lizzy)" was born into slavery as well. Not initially aware of the identity of her biological father, Lizzy grew up believing him to be Agnes’ later husband, George Hobbs. Hobbs was an enslaved man who lived nearby and with whom she had a close relationship. Growing up on the Burwell plantation, Elizabeth wor
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While most may be familiar with the narrative of a talented young woman who rose from the horrors of slavery to be a privileged witness to the inner workings of the Lincoln White House, the scene in which a fictional dialogue takes place between the president and Keckley outside the Executive Mansion introduces the viewer to a fact that even I was unaware of &#; that Keckley had had a son who served in the Union army and was killed in battle.
As soon as that line left Gloria Reuben&#;s lips, my mind immediately leapt to the obvious question &#; was this son of hers a member of the United States Colored Troops? After a little digging, I soon found my answer.
Before delving into the details of the short military career•
Elizabeth Keckley
American inventor, activist, professional dressmaker and writer (–)
Elizabeth Hobbs Keckley (February – May )[1] was an African-American seamstress, activist, and writer who lived in Washington, D.C. She was the anställda dressmaker and confidante of Mary Todd Lincoln.[2] She wrote an autobiography.
She was born enslaved to Armistead Burwell who had also fathered her. Keckley would later be bound to Armistead's daughter Anne Burwell Garland, the wife of Hugh A. Garland. She became a nursemaid to an infant when she was four years old. She received brutal treatment—including being raped and whipped to the point of bleeding welts—from Burwell's family members and a family friend. When she became a seamstress, the Garland family found that it was financially advantageous to have her make clothes for others. The money that she made helped to support the 17 members of the Garland family.
In November , she purchased her and her son's freedom i