Discover the extraordinary story of Anna Maria Weems, a determined young woman born into enslavement in the United States, as she embarks on a courageous journey to reunite with her family in Canada. Ms. Anna Maria Weems was born into slavery in 1840, Maryland US.
Ms Anna’s father was a free coloured man, but her mother was enslaved, meaning Ann Maria and her siblings were also enslaved people. Eventually, Ms Anna’s family was split up and her mother and sister bought their freedom, but Ms. Anna was refused hers for over 6 years. At the age of 13, Ms.
Anna made the choice to escape.
Two years later, on Sept 23, 1855, she successfully escaped slavery and started her journey through the Underground Railroad. She made her way to Washington DC, where she assumed the role of a young, male carriage driver for a successful physician. On Nov 30, 1855, Ms. Anna traveled by train into Canada and was united with her aunt and uncle in Drayton, Ontario. By 1858, Ms. Anna’s entire family was emancipated due to
the Weems Ransom Fund – created to help enslaved people buy their freedom.
