how did thomas r gray describe nat turner

Everything connected with the rebellion was wrapped in mystery, until Nat Turner the leader of the violent and savage band, was captured. As Gray notes, "He makes no attempt (as all the other insurgents who were examined did,) to exculpate himself, but frankly acknowledges his full participation in all the guilt of the transaction.". THOMAS R. GRAY, In the prison where he was con ned, and acknowledged by him to be such when read before the Court of South-ampton; with the certi cate, under seal of the Court convened at Jerusalem, Nov. 5, 1831, for his trial. A white southerner, steeped in the history of his region . [10], Before Gray had the opportunity to interview Turner, he did a great deal of research on the rebellion including interviewing several other captured slaves who had partaken in Turners rebellion and enlisting the help of several other law professionals in this endeavor. These confessions were intended to create a powerful, yet vicious, image of Turner and his reasons for initiating such a devastating. After their first encounter, Turner baptizes Willis. eNotes.com, Inc. Turner had many reasons for revolting, but his most important motive was his hatred of slavery and the suffering his people had to endure. When captured after the revolt, Turner readily placed his revolt in a biblical context, comparing himself at some times to the Old Testament prophets, at another point to Jesus Christ. Yet even this seeming defect in the novel may be its major strength. Describe Southampton Nat Turner Slave in Virginia who started a slave rebellion in 1831 believing he was receiving signs from God His rebellion was the largest sign of black resistance to slavery in America and led the state legislature of Virginia to a policy that said no one could question slavery. Turner reportedly answered, Was not Christ crucified? With little explanation, he then sold his farmland and most of his enslaved laborers, moved to the county seat of Jerusalem, and embarked on a career in law. Then, in 1967, the novelist William Styrons The Confessions of Nat Turner turned Turners story into an award-winning bestseller, which he called a meditation on history rather than a historical novel. date the date you are citing the material. When he was in the woods, the Holy Spirit appeared to Turner and ordered him to return to the service of my earthly masterFor he who knoweth his Master's will, and doeth it not, shall be beaten with many stripes, and thus, have I chastened you. When the slaves heard Turner quote the slaveholders favorite passage from Luke, the slaves themselves rejected Turners claims to prophesy. Cookie Notice The editors of the Richmond Enquirer ran lengthy excerpts from the pamphlet and would have published more but for copyright restrictions.

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