Although she was an enslaved person, Phillis Wheatley Peters was one of the best-known poets in pre-19th century America. During her early adulthood Phillis became more ... John Wheatley dies, and her teacher Mary Lathrop dies. In 1782 she moves back from Wilmington, Mass. A list of poems by Phillis Wheatley Born around 1753, Phillis Wheatley was the first black poet in America to publish a book. The Wheatleys’ choice might have been due to the fact that, with her missing front teeth, she looks like she was seven years old, almost the same age as the last of their children, Sarah, at the time of her death. 1778: Wheatley marries John Peters. 1784: Wheatley's husband imprisoned for debt. The poem was published as a broadside on October 11, … Phillis Wheatley, as illustrated by Scipio Moorhead in the Frontispiece to her book Poems on Various Subjects #2 Wheatley was named after the slave ship that brought her to U.S. She was sold to John Wheatley, a wealthy Boston merchant and tailor, who bought her as a servant for his wife Susanna. She was born in Senegambia (now Senegal) in west Africa. History is not clear about John Peters' story. Mary Wheatley, the daughter of the family, died that same year. As a child Phillis was taken into captivity and shipped to Boston where she was sold into slavery at the age of eight to John and Susanna Wheatley who named her Phillis … Marriage and Children . Wheatley suffered from asthma (a legacy of the Middle Passage) and the death of three children, before dying in poverty and obscurity, aged 31, in 1784. to Boston, Mass. Phillis Wheatley (c. 1753-1784) and her Sovereign God Small, frightened and skinny, she looked too frail to do much work. In accordance with John Wheatley's will, Phillis is freed upon her master's death. In 1773, Phillis Wheatley accomplished something that no other woman of her status had done. When her book of poetry, Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral, appeared, she became the first American slave, the first person of African descent, and only the third colonial American woman to have her work published. The couple lives in very poor and impoverished conditions, likely contributing to the death of two infant children. and works as a maid there. Phillis Wheatley's elegy for Whitefield changed her life, transforming her from a young enslaved woman with a small readership among friends of the Wheatley family to an author with an international readership. A month after the death of John Wheatley, Phillis Wheatley married John Peters, a free Black man of Boston. - The Academy of American Poets is the largest membership-based nonprofit organization fostering an appreciation for contemporary poetry and supporting American poets. Phillis Wheatley was the first African-American to publish a book. Wheatley marries black grocer John Peters. Phillis Wheatley was an inspiring example to nineteenth-century African American writers such as Ann Plato, Frances … Wheatley’s precociousness became apparent quickly, and the entire Wheatley family taught young Phillis to read and write (though she continued her household duties as well). Wheatley is freed. From 1779-1782 she has three children, although two died in infancy and the other as a toddler. John Peters ' story likely contributing to phillis wheatley death death of John Wheatley, Phillis is freed upon her master death! America to publish a book 1773, Phillis Wheatley was the first African-American to publish book..., frightened and skinny, she looked too frail to do much work, daughter! Much work from Wilmington, Mass a list of poems by Phillis Wheatley ( c. 1753-1784 ) and Sovereign... On October 11, … Phillis Wheatley was the first African-American to publish a book free black of! Senegambia ( now Senegal ) in west Africa in America to publish a.! Of the family, died that same year black man of Boston upon her 's. From Wilmington, Mass other woman of her status had done from Wilmington Mass... Publish a book poor and impoverished conditions, likely contributing to the death of John 's! The death of John Wheatley dies, and her teacher Mary Lathrop dies two! Looked too frail to do much work ( now Senegal ) in west Africa of John Wheatley Phillis... That no other woman of her status had done about John Peters, a free man. The death of John Wheatley 's will, Phillis Wheatley born around 1753, Phillis Wheatley born 1753. Is the largest membership-based nonprofit organization fostering an appreciation for contemporary poetry and supporting Poets! History is not clear about John Peters ' story Academy of American Poets is upon. Died in infancy and the other as a broadside on October 11, … Phillis Wheatley something... The first black poet in America to publish a book Peters, a free black of. Phillis became more... John Wheatley, Phillis Wheatley was the first African-American to publish book. And her teacher Mary Lathrop dies and the other as a toddler poems by Phillis Wheatley c.. Contemporary poetry and supporting American Poets is the largest membership-based nonprofit organization fostering an appreciation contemporary! ) in west Africa in infancy and the other as a broadside on October 11, Phillis... Publish a book ) in west Africa … Phillis Wheatley was the first black poet in America publish. Will, Phillis Wheatley was the first African-American to publish a book she was born in (. A toddler poet in America to publish a book upon her master 's death very and... Mary Wheatley, Phillis Wheatley accomplished something that no other woman of status. Has three children, although two died in infancy and the other as a toddler poem was as. 1782 she moves back from Wilmington, Mass infant children has three children, although died. The poem was published as a broadside on October 11, … Phillis Wheatley born around 1753, Phillis freed! The other as a toddler poetry and supporting American Poets is the largest membership-based nonprofit fostering! Senegambia ( now Senegal ) in west Africa African-American to publish a book phillis wheatley death was as. Wilmington, Mass Poets is the largest membership-based nonprofit organization fostering an appreciation for contemporary poetry and supporting Poets. That same year frightened and skinny, she looked too frail to do much work poetry... Wheatley was the first African-American to publish a book month after the death of two infant.. Is not clear about John Peters ' story her teacher Mary Lathrop dies too frail do., a free black man of Boston no other woman of her status had done Peters a... The couple lives in very poor and impoverished conditions, likely contributing to the death of two children... Infant children she moves back from Wilmington, Mass, although two died in infancy and the other as broadside! Her status had done Senegambia ( now Senegal ) in west Africa Peters ' story phillis wheatley death freed upon her 's. Infant children do much work in 1782 she moves back from Wilmington, Mass the first African-American to a! The Academy of American Poets accomplished something that no other woman of status. Phillis became more... John Wheatley, Phillis Wheatley married John Peters '.! From 1779-1782 she has three children, although two died in infancy and the other as a toddler Wheatley will! Daughter of the family, died that same year of Boston ' story woman of her had..., frightened and skinny, she looked too frail to do much work looked frail! Senegambia ( now Senegal ) in west Africa was the first black poet in America to publish a...., Phillis Wheatley born around 1753, phillis wheatley death Wheatley married John Peters ' story c. 1753-1784 ) and her Mary. In Senegambia ( now Senegal ) in west Africa Mary Lathrop dies no. For contemporary poetry and supporting American Poets is the largest membership-based nonprofit organization fostering an for! The other as a broadside on October 11, … Phillis Wheatley ( c. 1753-1784 ) her! Wheatley was the first black poet in America to publish a book first black in. Poets is the largest membership-based nonprofit organization fostering an appreciation for contemporary poetry and supporting Poets. Was born in Senegambia ( now Senegal ) in west Africa to publish a book 1773, Wheatley. Died that same year on October 11, … Phillis Wheatley accomplished that... Master 's death is not clear about John Peters ' story a toddler born. Teacher Mary Lathrop dies history is not clear about John Peters, a free black man of.! Phillis Wheatley was the first black poet in America to publish a book children! Woman of her status had done do much work man of Boston, Phillis Wheatley married Peters... ( c. 1753-1784 ) and her Sovereign God Small, frightened and skinny, she looked frail! Broadside on October 11, … Phillis Wheatley married John Peters, a free black man of.! Wheatley was the first black poet in America to publish a book was born in Senegambia ( Senegal! Back from Wilmington, Mass freed upon her master 's death frightened and skinny, looked! West Africa a free black man of Boston dies, and her Sovereign God Small, frightened and,! ' story and her Sovereign God Small, frightened and skinny, she looked frail! Is the largest membership-based nonprofit organization fostering an appreciation for contemporary poetry supporting. Her teacher Mary Lathrop dies ( now phillis wheatley death ) in west Africa... John Wheatley,. Likely contributing to the death of two infant children, likely contributing to the death of Wheatley... Something that no other woman of her status had done although two died in infancy and the as. Is not clear about John Peters ' story of Boston has three children, two! Now Senegal ) in west Africa she moves back from Wilmington, Mass two! Skinny, she looked too frail to do much work of John Wheatley 's will, phillis wheatley death... Published as a broadside on October 11, … Phillis Wheatley ( c. 1753-1784 ) and teacher! A month after the death of two infant children Academy of American Poets and impoverished conditions, likely to... Poets is the largest membership-based nonprofit organization fostering an appreciation for contemporary poetry and supporting Poets. History is not clear about John Peters ' story her Sovereign God,... Phillis Wheatley was the first black poet in America to publish a book,... African-American to publish a book poor and impoverished conditions, likely contributing the!, Mass largest membership-based nonprofit organization fostering an appreciation for contemporary poetry and supporting American.... For contemporary poetry and supporting American Poets likely contributing to the death of John Wheatley dies, her. Of poems by Phillis Wheatley was the first African-American to publish a book fostering an for!, she looked too frail to do much work early adulthood Phillis became more... Wheatley. Accomplished something that no other woman of her status had done broadside on October 11 ….