Ann Plato - Early Years

Early Years

Ann Plato was born around 1820 or 1824 in Hartford, Connecticut, and was most likely the eldest daughter of Henry and Deborah Plato. In the 1828 Hartford City Directory, Henry Plato was listed as a laborer and Debroah Plato was listed as a seamstress, living at 23 Elm Street. Her father was a farmer, and she had one sister, as well as a brother who died young. Like many people of color who lived in America during the 1800s, there exists very little information about her. Most of what is known about her comes from the introduction of her book, written by Reverend James W. C. Pennington, pastor of the Colored Congregational Church of Hartford and the first black man to attend classes at Yale University. Pennington was an important influence on Plato's educator. In her book's introduction, Pennington wrote of Plato: "My authoress is a colored lady, a member of my church, of pleasing piety and modest worth."