The saying that “behind every successful man there is a remarkable woman” can certainly be applied to the remarkable Anna Murray… 
 
Born circa 1813 near Denton, in Caroline County, Maryland, just three miles away from Frederick's birthplace she would have been familiar to him in childhood when allowed out to play. 
 
The fundamental difference she was born free, by her mother being granted manumission from her owner on his death. 
 
During her adolescence, her family moved to Baltimore for better job prospects, and after working as a housekeep for the Montrels, a French family, she then served for at least five years as a househelp for the postmaster of Baltimore, Mr. Wells. 
 
It was during this time that they developed a relationship while Frederick was employed as a caulker in Mr. Bailey's shipyard and Anna, being a very capable seamstress, was responsible for producing the seamen’s outfit that Frederick used during his escape in September of 1838. 
 
Soon after his liberation they married in New Bedford, New York state, and she over the next ten years or so bore him five children, three of whom served in different Black regiments that Frederick helped influence the foundation of, as well as the fundraising to sustain them, during the last half of the Civil War. 
 
Anna never learned to read or write but took an active interest in her husband's Abolitionist activities, having people read to her the press accounts of his many and long travels in the USA as well as overseas. 
 
A keen gardener she provided fresh produce for the kitchen in their homes near Lynn, and finally Rochester. 
 
Despite her limited education she ran the household and its finances acutely and was principally responsible for the upbringing of their children. 
 
She assisted to all that came and benefited from the Douglass household being part of the “Underground Railroad” for several decades until Emancipation in 1863. 
 
She proved to be an incredible mother to her offspring, but sadly the youngest child, Annie, died at around eleven years of age in 1860 which was a tragedy that Anna Murray Douglass bore very heavily. 
 
Supporting Frederick to the last she passed away in 1882 of a stroke. 
 
Representing Anna within this production
​
As producers of this production, we have been keen to ensure that Anna has due representation within it which is why we have one of only two images of her in frame on a side table as Frederick begins to write the narrative that would change their lives forever. 
 
This appears in other scenes in his study. We have also given Anna a voice! In one scene Frederick is expecting a visitor, none other than Mr. William Garrison who at that time was his mentor in the Anti-Slavery Society before they fell out with one another later in life.
 
At the end of the scene after a knock on the door, Anna calls out to Frederick that William has arrived…
 
A young London-based actress, Sandra Espirito Santo, gives a voice to Anna.