Nat Turner (October 2, 1800 – November 11, 1831) was an enslaved Black carpenter and preacher who led a four-day rebellion of both enslaved and free Black people in Southampton County, Virginia in August 1831.
58-836: Nat Turner's Rebellion resulted in the death of 55 White men, women, and children before state militias suppressed the uprising, while 120 Black men, women, and children, many of whom were not involved in the revolt, were killed by soldiers and local mobs in retaliation. Turner was captured in October 1831 and executed after a trial in November. Before his execution, he told his story to attorney Thomas Ruffin Grey , who published The Confessions of Nat Turner in November 1831. In 2002, scholar Molefi Kete Asante included Nat Turner on his list of 100 Greatest African Americans . He has been depicted in films, literature, and plays, as well as many scholarly works. Turner
116-784: A slavery apologist . In the 1960s, William Styron published a fictional and controversial account of the Nat Turner's Rebellion using the same title as Gray's pamphlet, The Confessions of Nat Turner . Thomas Gray's pamphlet, the Confessions of Nat Turner , was the first document claiming to present Nat Turner's words regarding the rebellion and his life. Although the pamphlet is a primary source, some historians and literary scholars have found bias in Gray's writing indicating that Gray may not have portrayed Turner's voice as accurately as he claimed to have done. Kenneth S. Greenberg, professor, and Chair of
174-637: A "throne" as allegory. The phrase the Kingdom of God is not common in intertestamental literature. Where it does occur, such as in the Psalms of Solomon and the Wisdom of Solomon , it usually refers to "God's reign, not to the realm over which he reigns, nor to the new age, [nor to ...] the messianic order to be established by the Lord's Anointed". The term does occasionally, however, denote "an eschatological event", such as in
232-534: A Christian lifestyle, some as a method of world evangelization, some as the rediscovery of charismatic gifts, others relate it to no present or future situation, but the world to come . France states that the phrase Kingdom of God is often interpreted in many ways to fit the theological agenda of those interpreting it. In the New Testament , the Throne of God is alluded to in several forms. Among these are Heaven as
290-517: A coming messianic figure that will bring a golden age of humanity , the kingdom of God on earth. He claimed to be that figure, and that his teachings would bring about the kingdom of God; he also noted that the prophecies relating to the end times and the arrival of the kingdom of God were symbolic and referred to spiritual upheaval and renewal. The Baháʼí teachings also state as people worship and serve humanity they become closer to God and develop spiritually, so that they can attain eternal life and enter
348-423: A consistent 55 white people killed. In the final revision, Gray was able to give the names of 18 of the deceased, supplying more names than any other person had. When the time came for Gray to interview Turner, Gray recorded his recollections of his life leading up to the rebellion, and most particularly Turner's experiences with reading and writing, scientific experiments, prophecies, and his spiritual influence on
406-434: A depression in the earth, created by a large, fallen tree covered with fence rails. This was referred to locally as Nat Turner's cave although it was not a natural cave. Around 1 p.m. on October 31, Turner arrived at the prison in the county seat of Jerusalem, Virginia (now Courtland ). Turner was tried on November 5, 1831, for "conspiring to rebel and making insurrection" and was convicted and sentenced to death. His attorney
464-676: A house on the Main Street in town, which supplied him with 800 acres of real property . Soon after, he married Mary A. Gray and, together, they had a daughter which they named Ann Douglas Gray. As a planter, Gray's status in society began to rise; however, simultaneously his family's fortunes began to sink. The years between 1822 and 1830 was a financially unstable time for his family, with his father and brother falling into debt. Gray attempted to provide financial assistance to his family but, in doing so, brought himself down into debt along with them. These financial struggles forced Gray to leave life as
522-500: A medical specimen. In 2002, a skull said to have been Turner's was given to Richard G. Hatcher , the former mayor of Gary, Indiana , for the collection of a civil rights museum he planned to build there. In 2016, Hatcher returned the skull to two of Turner's descendants. Since receiving the skull, the family has temporarily placed it with the Smithsonian Institution , where DNA testing will be done to determine whether it
580-596: A pagan origin, for in the Vedas Paradise is the kṣatra of Varuṇa , the kingdom of heaven which for their own happiness men longed to attain. The term " kingdom of the LORD " appears twice in the Hebrew Bible , in 1 Chronicles 28:5 and 2 Chronicles 13:8 . In addition, "his kingdom" and "your kingdom" are sometimes used when referring to God. "Yours is the kingdom, O Lord" is used in 1 Chronicles 29:10–12 and "His kingdom
638-618: A physician in Southampton County in 1866, that attested to the authenticity of the skull. The skull was eventually misplaced. Turner married an enslaved woman named Cherry, also spelled Chary (however, historians still dispute exactly who Nat Turner's wife was). It is thought that Turner and Cherry met and were married at Samuel Turner's plantation in the early 1820s. The couple had children; historians vary in believing that there were one, two, or three children (a daughter and possibly one or two sons, including one named Riddick). The family
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#1732852741922696-401: A planter behind and pursue a career in law. In 1834, Gray stated that he had studied law in his youth; however, there is no record of his going to college or attending a law school at any point in his life. Despite this, Gray had had passing experiences with the law that may have included an apprenticeship alongside his cousin in the county clerk's office as well as a run in with the law due to
754-567: A public fight with one of his brothers. In 1828, he became a Justice of the Peace and served as a magistrate in Southampton County for the first time. In September 1830, less than a year before the outbreak of Turner's rebellion, Gray finally received his license to practice law. In the following month, October, the magistrates certified his qualifications as an attorney, and in December they admitted him to practice in court; Gray then resigned as justice of
812-559: Is mamlaka (المملكة), but in the Quran mul'kan (مُّلْكًا), refers to Heaven, e.g. in 4:54 "Or do they envy mankind for what Allah hath given them of his bounty? but We had already given the people of Abraham the Book and Wisdom, and conferred upon them a great kingdom" and 6:75 "Thus did We show Abraham the kingdom of the heavens and the earth." The variant Maalik (Owner, etmologically similar to Malik (king)) occurs in 1 :4 "[Allah is] The owner of
870-535: Is an everlasting kingdom" in Daniel 3:33 ( Daniel 4:3 in the verse numbering used in Christian Bibles) for example. There are also verses like Exodus 19:6 that show how Israel, as God's chosen people , are considered to be a kingdom, mirroring some Christian interpretations that view God's kingdom as Christendom . "The Hebrew word malkuth [...] refers first to a reign, dominion, or rule and only secondarily to
928-454: Is exceptional in referring to "the kingdom of heaven" in John 3:5, on evidence which Heinrich Meyer describes as "ancient but yet inadequate". Within the non-canonical, yet contemporary Gnostic Gospel of Thomas , Jesus is quoted as saying, "If those who lead you say to you: ‘Look, the kingdom is in the sky!’ then the birds of the sky will precede you. If they say to you: ‘It is in the sea,’ then
986-515: Is the authentic remains of Nat Turner. If the test renders positive results, the family plans to bury his remains next to his descendants. Another skull said to have been Turner's was contributed to the College of Wooster in Ohio upon its incorporation in 1866. When the school's only academic building burned down in 1901, the skull was saved by Dr. H. N. Mateer. Visitors recalled seeing a certificate, signed by
1044-525: The Assumption of Moses and the Sibylline Oracles . In these works, "God's Kingdom is not the new age but the effective manifestation of his rule in all the world so that the eschatological order is established." Along these lines was the more "national" view in which the awaited messiah was seen as a liberator and the founder of a new state of Israel. The Gospel of Luke records Jesus' description of
1102-547: The Day of Judgement ". The term "kingdom of God" appears in the writings of the Baháʼí Faith , including the religious works of Bahá'u'lláh , the founder of the religion, and his son `Abdu'l-Bahá . In the Baháʼí teachings , the kingdom of God is seen both as a state of individual being, and the state of the world. Bahá'u'lláh claimed that the scriptures of the world's religions foretell
1160-523: The "most deadly slave revolt" in United States history. The state militia and local troops quickly suppressed the uprising; between 36 and 120 Black men, women, and children, many of whom were not involved in the revolt, were killed by soldiers and local mobs in retaliation. Turner eluded capture but remained hidden in Southampton County. On October 30, a farmer named Benjamin Phipps discovered Turner hiding in
1218-502: The Confessions, that despite Gray's indirect transcription of Turner's words the source is a largely accurate narrative based on an extensive interview with the rebellion's leader. Although, similar to Greenberg, Tomlins stressed the importance of caution in regard to using the confessions as historical evidence. God%27s Kingdom The concept of the kingship of God appears in all Abrahamic religions , where in some cases
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#17328527419221276-526: The Earth. The Quran also refers to Abraham seeing the "Kingdom of the heavens". Writings of the Baháʼí Faith also use the term "kingdom of God". Zoroastrianism , a possible influence on Abrahamic traditions, includes the concept of a "kingdom of God" or of a divine kingship : In the Gāthās Zoroaster 's thoughts about khšathra as a thing turn mostly to the 'dominion' or 'kingdom' of God, which
1334-550: The History Department at Suffolk University explains in his book why Gray's pamphlet is not as reliable as one may think, cautioning readers to analyze the source with great care. On the other hand, other scholars have extensively analyzed Gray's confession and have deemed it to be an, overall, reliable source. Christopher Tomlins, a professor in the Legal Studies department at UC Berkeley's Law School, mentioned in an essay on
1392-508: The Judge of all" and the notion that all humans will eventually be judged is an essential element of Christian teachings. Building on a number of New Testament passages, the Nicene Creed indicates that the task of judgment is assigned to Jesus. No overall agreement on the theological interpretation of "Kingdom of God" has emerged among scholars. While a number of theological interpretations of
1450-630: The Kingdom of God in his letter to the church in Rome: "For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit." The Kingdom of God (and its possibly equivalent form Kingdom of Heaven in the Gospel of Matthew ) is one of the key elements of the teachings of Jesus in the New Testament . Drawing on Old Testament teachings, the Christian characterization of
1508-539: The Kingdom of God, "The kingdom of God does not come with observation; neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you." In the Synoptic Gospels , Jesus speaks frequently of God's kingdom. However within the New Testament , nowhere does Jesus appear to clearly define the concept. Within the Synoptic Gospel accounts, the assumption appears to have been made that, "this
1566-682: The Spirit communicating through a religious language and scripture along with the visions of the Holy Ghost . By the spring of 1828, Turner was convinced that he "was ordained for some great purpose in the hands of the Almighty". Turner said he "heard a loud noise in the heavens" while working in Moore's fields on May 12th "and the Spirit instantly appeared to me and said the Serpent was loosened, and Christ had laid down
1624-578: The Throne of God, The Throne of David , The Throne of Glory, The Throne of Grace and many more. The New Testament continues Jewish identification of heaven itself as the "throne of God", but also locates the throne of God as "in heaven" and having a second subordinate seat at the Right Hand of God for the Session of Christ . The term "kingdom of God" does not occur in the Quran. The modern Arabic word for kingdom
1682-459: The anti-Kingdom that characterized his social-historical context." During the 1820s, Turner was motivated by strong convictions, at least partly inspired by his religious beliefs, to organize his fellow slaves against enslavement. His deep spiritual commitment served as a significant influence on slaves within the surrounding plantations in Virginia. After Turner viewed the solar eclipse in 1831, he
1740-403: The background of his father, who was believed to have escaped from slavery when Turner was a child. However, Turner grew up "much attached to his grandmother". Turner learned how to read and write at a young age. He was identified as having "natural intelligence and quickness of apprehension, surpassed by few". He grew up deeply religious and was often seen fasting, praying, or immersed in reading
1798-412: The factual details of the uprising. He partook in a military observation of the murders committed by the participants of the rebellion and, during the observation, found a survivor, a 12-year-old girl who recounted her experiences of the rebellion. Before Gray had opportunity to interview Turner, he extensively researched the rebellion, including interviewing several other captured slaves who took part in
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1856-494: The fishes will precede you. Rather, the kingdom is inside of you and outside of you. When you come to know yourselves, then you will be known, and you will realize that you are the children of the living Father." This same Gospel of Thomas further describes Jesus as implying that the Kingdom of God is already present, saying, "The kingdom of the Father is spread out upon the earth, and people do not see it.” The Apostle Paul described
1914-551: The gospel is the good news about the Kingdom of God. The term pertains to the kingship of Christ over all creation. The phrase "Kingdom of heaven" appears in Matthew's gospel due primarily to Jewish sensibilities about uttering the "name" (God). Jesus did not teach the kingdom of God per se so much as the return of that kingdom. The notion of God's kingdom (as it had been under Moses ) returning became an agitation in "knaan," modern Israel, Palestine, and Lebanon , 60 years before Jesus
1972-402: The greatest confidence" in him. An 1831 reward notice described Turner as: 5 feet 6 or 8 inches [168–173 cm] high, weighs between 150 and 160 pounds [68–73 kg], rather "bright" [light-colored] complexion, but not a mulatto, broad shoulders, larger flat nose, large eyes, broad flat feet, rather knockneed [ sic ], walks brisk and active, hair on the top of the head very thin, no beard, except on
2030-434: The kingdoms of God and Heaven: "Most commentators presume that these terms are synonymous. However, Matthew uses Kingdom of Heaven 33 times, but also uses Kingdom of God five times, even in adjacent verses, which indicates that these are not synonymous: he is using a more denotative term." Kingdom of God is translated to Latin as Regnum Dei and Kingdom of Heaven as Regnum caelorum . The Old Testament refers to "God
2088-549: The natural world as a backdrop in front of which he placed signs and omens ." Breen further states that Nat Turner claimed he possessed a gift of prophecy and that he could interpret these divine revelations. Turner often conducted religious services, preaching the Bible to his fellow slaves, who dubbed him "The Prophet". In addition to Blacks, Turner garnered some White followers such as Ethelred T. Brantley, whom Turner baptized after convincing him to "cease from his wickedness". When he
2146-402: The neighborhood slaves. Additionally, Gray transcribed Turner's confession as well as an account of Turner's motives and actions during the rebellion. Once Gray's transcription was complete, he self-published Turner's confession as a pamphlet in November 1831, titled The Confessions of Nat Turner. Today, in large measure because of The Confessions , Gray is widely considered to have been
2204-417: The peace. Although Thomas Gray is commonly thought of as Nat Turner's lawyer, James Strange French is the person listed in official records as Turner's attorney. However, neither man actually served: the court assigned William C. Parker to represent Turner. In 1831, for ten weeks following Turner's rebellion, Gray took it upon himself to research the events of the revolt, completely immersing himself in
2262-487: The realm over which a reign is exercised. [...] When malkuth is used of God, it almost always refers to his authority or to his rule as the heavenly King." The "enthronement psalms" ( Psalms 45 , 93 , 96 , 97–99 ) provide a background for this view with the exclamation "The Lord is King". 1 Kings 22:19 , Isaiah 6 , Ezekiel 1 and Daniel 7:9 all speak of the Throne of God , although some philosophers such as Saadia Gaon and Maimonides interpreted such mention of
2320-560: The rebellion days after his son was used as collateral. After the rebellion, the authorities beat and tortured Cherry Turner in hopes of finding her husband. On September 26, 1831, the Richmond Constitutional Whig published a story about the raiding of Reese plantation stating that, "some papers [were] given up by his wife, under the lash." Thomas Ruffin Gray Thomas Ruffin Gray (1800 – died after 1834)
2378-589: The relationship between God and humanity inherently involves the notion of the "Kingship of God". Most of the uses of the Greek word, basileia (kingdom), in the New Testament involve Kingdom of God (or Kingdom of Heaven). Matthew is likely to have instead used the term heaven because the background of his Jewish audience imposed restrictions on the frequent use of the name of God . However, Dr. Chuck Missler asserts that Matthew intentionally differentiated between
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2436-461: The stories of the Bible. Benjamin Turner died in 1810, and his son Samuel inherited Nat. When he was 21, Nat Turner escaped from Samuel Turner; but he returned a month later, after becoming delirious from hunger and receiving a vision that told him to "return to the service of my earthly master". In 1830, Joseph Travis purchased Turner; Turner later recalled that Travis was "a kind master" who "placed
2494-401: The term Kingdom of God have appeared in its eschatological context, e.g. apocalyptic , realized or Inaugurated eschatologies, no consensus has emerged among scholars. R. T. France points out that while the concept of "Kingdom of God" has an intuitive meaning to lay Christians, there is hardly any agreement among scholars about its meaning in the New Testament. Some scholars see it as
2552-469: The terms kingdom of God and kingdom of Heaven are also used. The notion of God 's kingship goes back to the Hebrew Bible , which refers to "his kingdom" but does not include the term "Kingdom of God". The "Kingdom of God" and its equivalent form "Kingdom of Heaven" in the Gospel of Matthew is one of the key elements of the teachings of Jesus in the New Testament . The Gospel of Mark indicates that
2610-462: The upper lip and the top of the chin, a scar on one of his temples, also one on the back of his neck, a large knot on one of the bones of his right arm, near the wrist, produced by a blow. Turner was deeply religious and was often seen fasting, praying, or immersed in reading the stories of the Bible. He had visions that he interpreted as messages from God, and which influenced his life. The historian Patrick Breen stated, "Nat Turner thought that God used
2668-408: The uprising and gaining the help of several other legal professionals in this endeavor. One of the professionals Gray worked with was Theodore Trezevant, and together they worked to compile a list of victims. Many errors were made, sometimes accidentally placing survivors in the list of the dead. In the end, there were four revisions over the course of four months, though the number of victims remained
2726-414: The yoke he had borne for the sins of men, and that I should take it on and fight against the Serpent, for the time was fast approaching when the first should be last and the last should be first". Historian and theologian Joseph Dreis says, "In connecting this vision to the motivation for his rebellion, Turner makes it clear that he sees himself as participating in the confrontation between God's Kingdom and
2784-542: Was James Strange French . Before his execution, he told his story to attorney Thomas R. Grey , who published The Confessions of Nat Turner in November 1831. James Trezvant served on the jury for Turner's trial. Asked if he regretted what he had done, Turner responded, "Was Christ not crucified?" Turner was hanged on November 11, 1831, in Jerusalem. According to some sources, he was beheaded as an example to frighten other would-be rebels. After his execution, Turner's body
2842-445: Was dissected and flayed , with his skin being used to make souvenir purses. In October 1897, Virginia newspapers ran a story about Nat Turner's skeleton being used as a medical specimen by Dr. H. U. Stephenson of Toana, Virginia . Stephenson acquired the skeleton from a son of Dr. S. B. Kellar; Dr. Kellar claimed to have paid Turner $ 10 for his body while he was in jail. After the execution, Kellar had Turner's bones scraped and hung as
2900-500: Was 21, Nat Turner escaped but returned a month later, after receiving a vision that told him to "return to the service of my earthly master". In 1824, Turner had a second vision while working in the fields for Thomas Moore: "The Saviour was about to lay down the yoke he had borne for the sins of men, and the great day of judgment was at hand". Historian David Allmendinger notes that Turner had ten different supernatural experiences between 1822 and 1828. These included appearances of both
2958-476: Was a both a slaveholder and a planter, a career Gray wished to pursue in his adulthood. Later in life, at the age of 21, Gray inherited 400 acres of land at the Round Hill plantation which kickstarted his tentative career as a planter. Several years later, Gray had built his own house on the property, bringing his property worth up to about $ 500. In 1829, he bought his recently deceased brother's property as well as
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#17328527419223016-501: Was a concept so familiar that it did not require definition." Karen Wenell wrote, "Mark's Gospel provides for us a significant place of transformation for the space of the Kingdom of God, precisely because it can be understood as a kind of birthplace for the Kingdom of God, the beginning of its construction ...". John's Gospel refers to the Kingdom of God in Jesus' dialogue with Nicodemus in chapter 3 . Constantin von Tischendorf 's text
3074-491: Was an American attorney who represented several enslaved people during the trials in the wake of Nat Turner's Rebellion . Though he was not the attorney who represented Nat Turner , instead he interviewed him and wrote The Confessions of Nat Turner . Thomas Ruffin Gray was born in Southampton County, Virginia in the early 1800s. He was the youngest of six children born to Thomas and Anne Cocke Brewer Gray. Gray's father
3132-413: Was born into slavery on October 2, 1800, in Southampton County, Virginia . Southampton County was a rural plantation area with more Black people than White. Benjamin Turner, the man who held Nat and his family as slaves, called the infant Nat in his records. Even when grown, the slave was known simply as Nat; but after the 1831 rebellion, he was widely referred to as Nat Turner. Turner knew little about
3190-466: Was born, and continued to be a force for nearly a hundred years after his death. Drawing on Old Testament teachings, the Christian characterization of the relationship between God and humanity inherently involves the notion of the "Kingship of God". The Quran does not use the term "kingdom of God", but includes the Throne Verse which talks about the throne of God encompassing the heavens and
3248-404: Was certain that God wanted the revolt to commence. Over approximately a decade, Turner built up support for his cause, culminating in an anti-slavery uprising that served as a source of inspiration for later abolitionist organizers and rebels.The four-day rebellion started on August 21, 1831. Nat Turner's Rebellion resulted in the death of 55 White men, women, and children. This is considered
3306-441: Was conceived, it seems, both as heaven itself, thought of as lying just above the visible sky, and as the kingdom of God to come on earth which is also represented by Khšathra - hence, presumably, his standing epithet of vairya 'desirable'; for as Christians pray to God, 'Thy kingdom come ...', so also Zoroastrians long to establish the kingdom of Ahura Mazdā here below. [...] The heavenly aspect of khšathra/Khšathra has plainly
3364-506: Was separated after Samuel Turner died in 1823, when Turner was sold to Thomas Moore and his family were sold to Giles Reese. By 1831, his son was enslaved by Piety Reese and lived on a farm that was near the Travis farm where Turner was enslaved. However, in February 1831, Reese's son John used Turner's son as collateral for a family debt. One historian notes that Turner approached his conspirators for
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