Elizabeth Freeman

Elizabeth Freeman, named “Mum Bett” by her enslavers, bravely utilized the language of the new Massachusetts Constitution to sue for freedom in 1781. Her case set a precedent for the Quock Walker case and led to the abolition of slavery outright in Massachusetts, ensuring freedom not just for her, but for generations to follow her. She remained close to the family of Theodore Sedgewick, the lawyer who helped her win her case, and lived the rest of her life in freedom.