Council Declares August 22 as Elizabeth Freeman Day

Elizabeth Freeman’s pursuit of freedom became an important part of Massachusetts history and a powerful example of courage, equality, and justice. During this week’s Council meeting, the Council adopted a resolution recognizing and declaring August 22 as Elizabeth Freeman Day in the City of Boston and encouraging residents to honor and reflect upon her enduring legacy.

Also known as “Mum Bett,” Elizabeth Freeman was born into slavery and later enslaved in the household of Colonel John Ashley in Sheffield, Massachusetts. Inspired by the Massachusetts Constitution of 1780 and its declaration that “all men are born free and equal,” Freeman challenged the legality of her enslavement and sought recognition of the freedom and equality those principles promised.

In 1781, Freeman, alongside Brom, successfully brought suit for her freedom in the case of Brom and Bett v. Ashley. The case resulted in a judgment recognizing her legal right to liberty and made her one of the first enslaved people in Massachusetts to successfully sue for freedom under the Commonwealth’s new Constitution. Her pursuit of freedom contributed to a series of legal decisions that helped establish that slavery was incompatible with the Massachusetts Constitution and helped pave the way for the end of slavery in the Commonwealth.