Frederick Baily was born around FEBRUARY 7, 1817, though no accurate records exist, as he was a slave.
He did not know who his father was, and before being separated from her as an infant, he did not remember seeing his mother in the daylight.
Around 12 years old, his master's sister-in-law taught him to read, despite this being against the law.
Voraciously reading newspapers, books, and a publication titled "The Columbian Orator," Frederick is noted as saying "knowledge is the pathway from slavery to freedom."
Frederick was hired out to the William Freeland plantation where he taught other slaves to read the New Testament at a weekly Sunday school. Enthusiasm in learning to read drew more than 40 slaves to attend.
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