Quick Facts
Biography
Cherry Turner (also spelled "Chary") was an enslaved African American in Southampton, Virginia in the early 1800s. She was the wife of slave rebel, Nat Turner.
Early life
In the year 1807, Cherry was believed to be about 11 years old. Cherry lived at the Turner's plantation from about 1807 to 1823.
Marriage and children
It is largely speculated that Nathaniel and Cherry met and were married at Samuel Turner’s plantation in the early 1820s, although historians still dispute who exactly Nat Turner's wife was. Furthering the issue, claims about Nat Turner are difficult to verify.
It is widely believed that Cherry did have children, but it is undetermined how many. Historians vary anywhere between believing she had 1 to 3 children. The most widely held belief is that the pair had 2 or 3 children - 1 daughter and 1 or 2 sons. Historians believe one of their children was a slave boy named Riddick.
Giles Reese Plantation
After Samuel Turner died in 1823, Cherry and Nat were separated. Nat was sold to Thomas Moore for $400, while Cherry and her children were sold to Giles Reese for $40.
Nat Turner's Rebellion
During Nat Turner's rebellion, the rebels avoided Giles Reese plantation, even though it was in route, likely because Nat wanted to keep Cherry and the children safe. Regardless, while authorities were in search of Nat, they went looking for Cherry as well. On September 26, 1831 the Richmond Constitutional Whig published a story after the raiding of Reese' plantation stating that, "in [his] possession, some papers given up by his wife, under the lash." The Authentic and Impartial Narrative also publish that same year saying that journal entries belonging to Nat were "in her possession after Nat's escape."
In his book Nat Turner: Slave Revolt Leader author Terry Bisson writes "[Nat] trusted [Cherry] with his most secret plans and papers. After his slave rebellion, she was beaten and tortured in an attempt to get her to reveal his plans and whereabouts."
In a report by James Trezvant immediately following the uprising, Cherry was mentioned as having admitted to Nat "digesting" a plan for the revolt "for years."
Cherry was not mentioned in Nat Turner's confession to lawyer Thomas Ruffin Gray.