Nat Turner’s Bible

1782

Turner likely had this bible when he was captured.

Nat Turner escaped after his rebellion, but he was captured six weeks later and sentenced to death. This Bible likely belonged to him, and he may have been holding it when he was apprehended.

In response to Turner’s fierce intelligence and Biblical knowledge, Virginia tightened its anti-literacy laws. These laws prohibited teaching free or enslaved African Americans to read or write. The Virginia General Assembly also barred enslaved African Americans from preaching and forbade white ministers from preaching to free African Americans.