Harriet Tubman 1820-1913

Harriet Tubman was born either in 1820 or 1821. Her parents were Harriet Green and Ben Ross, but they belonged to Mas Brodas' who owned a plantation in Bucktown, Maryland. She was originally named Araminta or ‘Minty’ for short, and she grew up with 11 brothers and sisters. When she was 6 years old she was hired out by her master to work for a woman called Miss Susan'. Miss Susan later returned her to the Brodas plantation where she was sent to the fields. She was soon hired out again, this time to James Cooke. She married John Tubman, a free black man. In 1849, after her master died she discovered that she was to be sold to the deep south and ran away to Philadelphia and onto Ontario.

(On reaching free soil as a fugitive slave)

“I looked at my hands, to see if I was the same person now I was free. There was such a glory over everything, the sun came like gold through the trees, and over the fields, and I felt like I was in heaven....

I had crossed the line of which I had so long been dreaming. I was free; but there was no one to welcome me to the land of freedom, I was a stranger in a strange land, and my home after all was down in the old cabin quarter, with the old folks, and my brothers and sisters. But to this solemn resolution I came; I was free, and they should be free also; I would make a home for them in the North, and the Lord helping me, I would bring them all there. Oh, how I prayed then, lying all alone on the cold, damp ground; "Oh, dear Lord,” I said, “I ain't got no friend but you. Come to my help, Lord, for I'm in trouble!””

Over a 10-year period she made approx 19 trips to the South to lead slaves to through the Underground Railroad to Canada. She eluded the slave catchers and their bloodhounds, and endured attacks and beatings, persisting in her mission despite a $40,000 reward offered by slave holders for her capture dead or alive. She became one of the most active conductors on the underground railroad by 1857 she freed all members of her own family including her parents by then over 70 years old.

Harriet spoke at numerous conventions and meetings.

During the civil war she nursed numerous soldiers and educated newly freed slaves.

After she worked for the welfare of the emancipated slaves, establishing schools in N Carolina. She was a delegate to the first convention of the national federation of Afro-American women in 1896. Her talk – “More homes for our aged”

Bought 25 acres near her home in Auburn NY and established Harriet Tubman Home for Indigent aged Negroes. She died in poverty.

The Underground Railroad is the name given to the system of escape that the slaves used. Helpers like Harriet were called conductors and they took the slaves between various safe houses/ places (stations) until they reached a free state or Canada. Others there would help them find work

Source: Sarah H Bradford: Scenes in the life of Harriet Tubman.