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Death of a Remarkable Woman

This newspaper article is from the January 7, 1870, issue of The Old North State.
Author
Unknown
Grade Level

This text is part of the Teaching Hard History Text Library and aligns with Key Concept 6.

remarkable woman

Death of a Remarkable Woman. — The Philadelphia Post announces the death in that city of Harriet Miller, mulatto, aged 85, who leaves an estate valued $100,000, and says she was born in one of the Southern States of slave parents. While living in South Carolina she became the property of Mr. Purves, to whom she was most faithful. Purves was a single man and at one time a conspiracy was formed among a band of desperadoes to take his life. His faithful slave got an inkling of the conspiracy, and she advised her master of the plot, and by so doing saved his life. He shortly afterward gave her her freedom and made her his wife. Four children were the result of the marriage, Robert Purves being of the number.— They lived happily together for many years, and were finally separated by the death of Mr. Purves. During his lifetime he amassed a large estate, of which his wife inherited a portion, her children receiving their share. Mrs. Purves removed to this city some forty years ago, and purchased the house on Seventh street, in which her spirit took flight. She afterward married the Rev. Mr. Miller, a colored clergyman, who died a few years ago. They never had any children born them. A short time since she went to Charleston, S. C., to see an aged sister, and as she was returning to Philadelphia, was seized with paralysis on the cars. 

Source
This text is in the public domain. Retrieved from http://digital.ncdcr.gov/cdm/compoundobject/collection/p15016coll1/id/16482/rec/1082.
Text Dependent Questions
  1. Question
    Why would Harriet Miller marry the man who enslaved her, Mr. Purves? Is there any evidence that she wanted to marry him?
    Answer
    Answers will vary. Harriet may have liked her enslaver. She may have been forced to marry him, or she may have seen that her quality of life as a free woman would be better under the protection of a legal marriage to a wealthy man.
  2. Question
    Did it matter that Harriet was granted her freedom if she was immediately after married to her enslaver and remained with him? Could she even have been considered free while Mr. Purves was alive?
    Answer
    Answers will vary. Without more information on these individuals and their story, only guesses can be made. Harriet’s home situation may or may not have changed after she was granted her freedom but remained with her enslaver. It is likely that it did not.
  3. Question
    Why would Harriet save her enslaver's life? Would his death have granted her freedom?
    Answer
    Answers will vary. His death would not have freed her. The “desperadoes” may have killed her as well, and if not, Harriet would become a fugitive, most likely without means to sustain herself.
  4. Question
    Did Harriet’s multiracial identity have anything to do with her status and privileges?
    Answer
    Answers will vary. Harriet's multiracial identity may have allowed Mr. Purves to openly claim her as his wife without community backlash. The acceptance of her appearance may have allowed her to more easily hold on to her wealth, buy and own property, remarry, be deemed “a remarkable woman,” etc.
Reveal Answers