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Jane Pittman Timeline


Timeline Description: Jane Pittman is a fictional character in The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman. This novel tells the life story of a 110 year old African-American woman born into slavery, and still alive at the time of the Civil Rights Movement.

DateEvent TitleEvent Description
1850Birth of Jane Pittman(Early 1850s)Jane Pittman was born into slavery in the early 1850s. She was named Ticey at birth.
1864A Union Soldier Gave Ticey the Name JaneA Union Soldier, Corporal Brown, tells 10 year old Ticey that Ticey is a slave name. He named her Jane Brown. She was later beaten when she announced her name was Jane Brown.
1865Master Bryant Reads Emancipation ProclamationSome two years after the Proclamation, Jane's master finally tells his slaves of the Emancipation Proclamation.
June 27, 1865Passage of the 13th AmendmentThe 1865 passage of the 13th Amendment formally abolished slavery. Conditions for many slaves did not improve immediately.
August 11, 1865MassacreJane, an orphan, and other freed slaves leave the plantation, led by Big Laura. A group of white patrollers attacks the group as they head North. Laura and her baby are killed, but Laura's young son, Ned, survives. Jane went on to raise Ned as her own. Jane hoped to reach Ohio and Corporal Brown.
August 15, 1865Moved to New PlantationAfter travelling with Ned for a short time, Jane accepted that she would not make it to Ohio and took work as a field hand on Mr. Bone's plantation. Jane worked on the plantation for the next ten to 12 years.
September 13, 1873Ned Moved OutNed, now an adult, moved out of the house in September 1873. He had come into conflict with local white power groups, likely the Ku Klux Klan and was in danger. He moved to Kansas to avoid the danger presented, and later joined the army.
1873Jane Married Joe PittmanAfter Ned left, Jane married Joe Pittman. Together, the two moved to a ranch near the Texas-Louisiana border, where Joe has found work.
June 8, 1876Joe Pittman DiedIn June 1876, Joe died, while trying to recapture a loose stallion.
July 27, 1898Ned and His Family Came HomeNed came home with his family, including his wife and three children. He began building a school, and taught egalitarian ideas.
July 26, 1899Ned DiedLocal whites were threatened by Ned's teachings. They hired a Cajun man, Albert Cluveau, to shoot and kill Ned. He did, and Ned died only a year after he returned.
March 17, 1912Death of Albert CluveauWhen Cluveau lay dying, Jane told him the chariot of hell was coming for him. He died in fear and in pain, tormented by his own actions.
March 11, 1920Moved to Samson PlantationIn March 1920, Jane moved to the Samson Plantation. There, she comes in contact with both whites and African-Americans challenging racial norms and beliefs.
August 20, 1921Jane Found ReligionJane had a religious experience or vision in August 1921. She was already nearly 70 years old.
August 12, 1958Jimmy "The One" DiedA baby named Jimmy was born at the Samson Plantation and many on the plantation recognized him as a potential civil rights leader. He grew up to lead the people in the community as a civil rights leader. He was shot and killed at a protest.
August 17, 1958Jane Led Civil Rights ProtestOnly days after Jimmy's death, Jane led people in her community to join a civil rights protest in his name. Jane is, at this time, more than 100 years old.
1962Jane Told her StoryIn 1962, Jane told her life story.