Mum Bett Day in Sheffield
SHEFFIELD, Mass. – The Trustees of Reservations invite the public to join them in honoring the memory of Elizabeth Freeman at the annual Mum Bett Day at the Ashley House in Sheffield.The event is free and takes place on Friday, August 21 with an open house starting at noon and speakers and performers starting at 2pm. Following the ceremony, there will be an opportunity to trace the Mum Bett trail route by car, ending at Elizabeth Freeman’s grave in Stockbridge.
Speakers this year will be authors Emilie Piper and David Levinson. They will preview a forthcoming book that will be titled, “One Minute on God’s Earth A Free Woman.” This book explores previously unknown details about the life of the enslaved African American woman who successfully sued for her freedom from Colonel John Ashley in Sheffield on August 21, 1781, helping to end slavery in Massachusetts.
According to Levinson, “This is the first telling of Elizabeth Freeman’s whole story – not accepting any of the folklore as fact. We started over.” The authors sought answers to questions such as, how she became free, what impact she had, and why she was already well known at the time prior to her court case. The authors also focused on Mum Bett’s family and tracing her descendants.
Youth Alive!, a group of young dancers from Pittsfield, will perform, authors Piper and Levinson will give a short talk. Stephanie Wright will tell Mum Bett’s story. The Ashley House will be open for tours from 12:00 – 2:00. There will be free maps available showing the “Mum Bett Trail,” a self-guided driving tour covering sites important to Mum Bett’s story. Stops include the Great Barrington Town Hall, the site of the former courthouse; the Ashley family gravesite; the site of Mum Bett’s own house near Monument Mountain; and Mum Bett’s grave in the Stockbridge Cemetery, across from Town Hall. For more information, contact Barbara Dowling at The Trustees of Reservations, 413.298.3239 x3013.
The Trustees of Reservations
Since 1891, The Trustees of Reservations have been committed to preserving properties of exceptional scenic, historic, and ecological value across Massachusetts—a conservation effort funded through the support of 100,000 members.
One of our over 100 properties across Massachusetts, the Ashley House preserves the heritage of Massachusetts and the distinct community character of this region. Our passion is to share with everyone the irreplaceable landscapes and landmarks that we care for – as we know how valuable they are to our every day lives. www.thetrustees.org.
The Upper Housatonic Valley African American Heritage Trail
The African American Heritage trail encompasses 29 Massachusetts and Connecticut towns in the Upper Housatonic Valley National Heritage Area, and celebrates African Americans in the region who played pivotal roles in key national and international events, as well as ordinary people of achievement. Among more than fifty sites along the trail are the Ashley House, the W. E. B. Du Bois Boyhood Homesite, a National Landmark property in Great Barrington; and the Samuel Harrison House in Pittsfield, home of the 54th Massachusetts Regiment chaplain who protested discriminatory pay practices.
For information about the African American Heritage Trail visit www.AfricanAmericanTrail.org. The African American Heritage Trail is a project of the Upper Housatonic Valley National Heritage Area.
