Timeline of Isabel's Youth
Ms. Gardener has made the details of her second (illegal) enslavement open to the public. An illustrated timeline is above, while details are below.
May 27, 1776 - Miss Mary Finch dies. Though her slaves, Isabel and Ruth, are legally free, Ms. Finch’s nephew takes them and sells them in Newport, bought by the Locktons.
May 28, 1776 - Isabel and Ruth are transferred to the Locktons, a Loyalist family in New York. Mr. Lockton is suspected of being a loyalist by Committee Member Bellingham.
May 29, 1776 - Isabel meets Curzon, Mr. Bellingham’s slave, who informs her that any information she has can secure her release. Isabel also meets Becky Berry, the no-nonsense maid for the Locktons.
June 7, 1776 - Isabel begins informing on the Locktons, and tending to Curzon and his comrades while they are in prison. She delivers food to the prisoners, which pleases Mr. Lockton’s wealthy aunt Seymour.
June 10, 1776 - When Ruth has a fit, Mrs. Lockton pretends to sell her to the West Indies, enraging Isabel. After insulting Mrs. Lockton, Isabel is sent to a courtroom, where she is sentenced to be branded.
June 15, 1776 - Isabel recovers after being branded with an ‘I’ and meets Lady Seymour, who proves to be a kind old lady. The British soon recapture New York, but a fire engulfs the city.
September 21, 1776 - Isabel is barely able to save Lady Seymour and a few of her cherished valuables before the fire spreads. However, Isabel’s visits to the prison are noticed by Mrs. Lockton, who resolves to sell Isabel.
January 18, 1777 - Fearing that she might be sold, Isabel escapes the city with Curzon, intending not only to find her sister Ruth, but also to win her freedom, which is legally entitled to.
May 27, 1776 - Miss Mary Finch dies. Though her slaves, Isabel and Ruth, are legally free, Ms. Finch’s nephew takes them and sells them in Newport, bought by the Locktons.
May 28, 1776 - Isabel and Ruth are transferred to the Locktons, a Loyalist family in New York. Mr. Lockton is suspected of being a loyalist by Committee Member Bellingham.
May 29, 1776 - Isabel meets Curzon, Mr. Bellingham’s slave, who informs her that any information she has can secure her release. Isabel also meets Becky Berry, the no-nonsense maid for the Locktons.
June 7, 1776 - Isabel begins informing on the Locktons, and tending to Curzon and his comrades while they are in prison. She delivers food to the prisoners, which pleases Mr. Lockton’s wealthy aunt Seymour.
June 10, 1776 - When Ruth has a fit, Mrs. Lockton pretends to sell her to the West Indies, enraging Isabel. After insulting Mrs. Lockton, Isabel is sent to a courtroom, where she is sentenced to be branded.
June 15, 1776 - Isabel recovers after being branded with an ‘I’ and meets Lady Seymour, who proves to be a kind old lady. The British soon recapture New York, but a fire engulfs the city.
September 21, 1776 - Isabel is barely able to save Lady Seymour and a few of her cherished valuables before the fire spreads. However, Isabel’s visits to the prison are noticed by Mrs. Lockton, who resolves to sell Isabel.
January 18, 1777 - Fearing that she might be sold, Isabel escapes the city with Curzon, intending not only to find her sister Ruth, but also to win her freedom, which is legally entitled to.