yr9_Nat_Turner

 =__   Nat Turner's Rebellio n     __= = = = = = =

Basic Statistics:

 * [[image:http://www.nndb.com/people/937/000110607/nat-turner-1-sized.jpg width="229" height="302" align="left" caption="Nat Turner"]]AKA** Nathaniel Turner
 * Born:** 2-Oct-1800
 * Birthplace:** Southampton County, VA
 * Died:** 11-Nov-1831
 * Location of death:** Jerusalem, VA
 * Cause of death:** Execution
 * Gender:** Male
 * Religion:** Baptist
 * Race or Ethnicity:** Black
 * Occupation:** Military
 * Nationality:** United States

My Background:
Hello. My name is Nat Turner and I'm an abolitionist! I was born on October 2nd 1800 in Southampton County, Virginia, USA and when I was young I was known for being highly intelligent. I taught myself to read and write as a young child and was often immersed in deep thought, prayer and fasting. During my periods of deep thought I have experienced visions from the past and future. These, I believe, are messages from God. These visions from God, my intelligence and other marks have made people think, in the past, that I am a prophet sent by God himself. People have said I am "intended for some great purpose." Being a deeply religious man, I "therefore studiously avoided mixing in society, and wrapped [my]self in mystery, devoting [my] time to fasting and praying."

My Visions:
In 1821, I ran away from my overseer and returned after only thirty days because of a vision in which the Spirit told me I should "return to the service of my earthly master." The next year, 1822, following the death of Samuel Turner, my master,I was sold to another slave owner called Thomas Moore. Three years later, I had another vision. I saw lights in the sky above me and I wished to find out what they were. Then "... while laboring in the field, I discovered drops of blood on the corn, as though it were dew from heaven, and I communicated it to many, both white and black, in the neighborhood; and then I found on the leaves in the woods hieroglyphic characters and numbers, with the forms of men in different attitudes, portrayed in blood, and representing the figures I had seen before in the heavens." On May 12, 1828, I had my third vision when: "I heard a loud noise in the heavens, and the Spirit instantly appeared to me and said the Serpent was loosened, and Christ had laid down the yoke he had borne for the sins of men, and that I should take it on and fight against the Serpent, for the time was fast approaching when the first should be last and the last should be first... And by signs in the heavens that it would make known to me when I should commence the great work, and until the first sign appeared I should conceal it from the knowledge of men; and on the appearance of the sign... I should arise and prepare myself and slay my enemies with their own weapons."

How I Helped Abolish the Slave Trade:
I was an abolitionist intent on getting my way and in the end I did. I let people know of the problem and made them see how I felt by leading violent demonstrations and protests. At the beginning of the year 1830, I was moved to the home of Joseph Travis, the new husband of Thomas Moore's widow. Thomas Moore being my master before. My official owner was Putnum Moore who at the time was still a young child. Turner was a nice master who treated us like people. I feel he was much nicer thatn other slave owners in the area. Then, in February, 1831, there was an eclipse of the sun. This was my sign from God, as promised. I took the opportunity and told my plans to the four men I trusted the most, Henry, Hark, Nelson, and Sam. After discussion we decided to hold the rebellion on the 4th of July and began planning a strategy. However, when I became too ill to work we had to postpone our rebellion. However, on August 13 there was an atmospheric disturbance in which the sun appeared bluish-green. This was another sign, I had been told to carry out my plans again, and a week later, on August 21, me and six of my closest men met in the woods to eat a dinner and make our plans once again. At 2:00 that morning, we set out to opur master house, where we killed the entire family as they lay sleeping. We continued on, from house to house, showing our rage and anger to the slave trade, killing all white people we saw until our force consisted of over 40 angry, malicious, righteous men. In the end some of our force were captured, including myself, and taken away. A few were killed but many of us managed to escape and were free once again, well as free as a slave can be. Our rebellion had killed over 55 whites in a variety of ways. But, on 30th October I was captured and taken to the County Jail where I confessed to Physician Thomas R. Gray. I was later tried at Southampton County Court where I was sentenced to death by execution and then was to be skinned.

Although, as you may have noticed, my rebellion did not have an immediate effect on the abolition of slavery, it did raise public awareness across the country (North America).