Anna Maria Weems: The Girl Who Became a Boy to Escape Slavery

Q: Who is Anna Maria Weems?

Anna Maria Weems was an enslaved African American woman who escaped slavery in Maryland in 1855 disguised as a male carriage driver.

Q: How did Anna Maria Weems escape slavery?

Anna Maria Weems escaped slavery through the Underground Railroad, which assisted her in travel and disguise as a young, male carriage driver.

Q: How long did it take for Anna Maria Weems to reach freedom?

Anna Maria Weems escaped from slavery in September 1855, reached safety in Philadelphia in November, and finally found freedom in Canada in December 1855, three months from the time she fled her captors.

Q: How did Anna Maria Weems die?

There is no record of how Anna Maria Weems died. She is thought to have lived until 1863, but even that date is uncertain. She was reunited with her family in 1855 and was enrolled in school in Canada, and that is the last reliable information on her.

Joshua J. Mark

Anna Maria Weems

The Girl Who Became a Boy to Escape Slavery

Server Costs Fundraiser 2026

It costs $20,000 a year to run our servers, and we need your help to pay for them!

$20 / $20000

❤ Donate

Definition

Anna Maria Weems (circa 1840 to circa 1863) was an enslaved African American woman in Rockville, Maryland, who escaped by posing as a young Black livery man and carriage driver, assisted by the Underground Railroad, in September 1855. She later settled in Canada with other members of her family who had also escaped from slavery.

More about: Anna Maria Weems

Timeline

c. 1840 - c. 1863
Life of Anna Maria Weems, freedom seeker who escaped to Canada.
23 Sep 1855
Anna Maria Weems escapes slavery in Maryland and flees to Washington, D. C.
23 Nov 1855
Anna Maria Weems arrives safely in Philadelphia.
Dec 1855
Anna Maria Weems arrives safely in Canada as a free woman.

Timeline Search

Search through the entire ancient history timeline. Specify between which dates you want to search, and what keywords you are looking for.

Remove Ads