Unlocking Freedom’s Door
Numerous brave and dedicated people—some famous, but many unknown—shaped our great nation. Discover the heartwarming and captivating story of Mary Peake, a genuine heroine, as she teaches the slave children of Hampton, eludes brutal patrols who are in constant pursuit, gets caught up in early conflicts of the Civil War, and strives to overturn slavery itself.
Inspired by actual events and people, follow the hardships and struggles of an enslaved population, the sacrifices and horrors of war, and the challenges faced by a president determined to heal a fractured nation. Unlocking Freedom’s Door weaves together historical fact and fiction, culminating with the first public reading of the Emancipation Proclamation in the South.
Learn about the characters in Unlocking Freedom’s Door and Hampton Hattie:
MARY SMITH PEAKE
(1823 – 1862)
Mary was born in Norfolk, Virginia to a free black woman and a prominent . . .
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DAISY PEAKE
Hattie Peake, who went by the pet name of Daisy, was the only child of Mary and Thomas Peake.
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GENERAL BENJAMIN FRANKLIN BUTLER
(1818 – 1893)
Butler was born on November 5 in South Deerfield, New Hampshire. . . .
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SARAH HILDRETH BUTLER
(1816 – 1876)
Sarah was born on August 17 to Dolly Jones and Dr. Israel Hildreth. With early . . .
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