Frederick baily was born a slave in february 1818 on holmes hill farm, near the town of easton on marylands eastern shore. the farm was part of an estate owned by aaron anthony, who also managed the plantations of edward lloyd v, one of the wealthiest men in maryland. the main lloyd plantation was near the eastern side of chesapeake bay, 12 miles from holmes hill farm, in a home anthony had built near the lloyd mansion, was where fredericks first master lived.

fredericks mother, harriet baily, worked the cornfields surrounding holmes hill. he knew little of his father except that the man was white. as a child, he had heard rumors that the master, aaron anthony, had sired him. because harriet baily was required to work long hours in the fields, frederick had been sent to live with his grandmother, betsey baily. betsy baily lived in a cabin a short distance from holmes hill farm. her job was to look after harriets children until they were old enough to work. fredericks moth...