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Birth of Araminta Ross
Araminta “Minty” Ross was supposedly born on January 29 1820. Her mom Harriet “Rit” Green was a slave owned by Mary Pattison Brodess then by her second son Edward. Her dad was Ben Ross who was owned by Anthony Thompson. The owners married, and eventually Ben and Harriet had nine children together in Dorchester County, Maryland. -
Minty's childhood
While Araminta’s mother worked as a cook in “the big house” of the plantation, Minty helped out with other household chores. She also worked in other plantations/ homes. Being physically abused became part of everyday life for Harriet even when she just left a baby was just crying. One of her chores was to set out muskrat traps but from doing this task, she became ill and nursed back to health with help from her mother. With Mary Brodess now dead, Minty was now inherited by Mary’s son Edward. -
Araminta's head injury
When Araminta was twelve or thirteen years old, she was working with an overseer watching her. A slave attempted to run away from the master’s plantation and the overseer told Arminta to hold the slave. Araminta refused, and when the overseer aimed a heavy weight at the slave attempting to run away, the weight hit Araminta instead. This head injury caused Araminta’s skull to break, bleed a lot, and brain problems like seizures, and headaches all throughout her lifetime. -
How Araminta became known as Harriet Tubman
Although the exact date is unknown, in the year 1844 Araminta changed her name to Harriet Tubman. She married John Tubman, a free black man and changed her last name into her husband’s. Araminta then took her mother’s name so her name became Harriet. -
Escaping Slavery
Now owned by Edward Brodess, Harriet worried that she and her siblings were going to be sold to cover his debt. Harriet prayed that she and her siblings wouldn’t be sold. Fortunately, Edward died. Doing her best not to get sold, Harriet invited her two brothers, and her husband to escape with her. Her husband refused to come. Using the North Star as a guide, and the Underground Railroad, only Harriet managed to escape to Pennsylvania because her brothers cowardly went back to the plantation. -
Harriet Returns to the South
Harriet Tubman returned to the South to help free slaves using the Underground Railroad. She assisted her niece, her niece’s husband, and their two children to freedom. Harriet came back for her husband but he refused once again to stay with his new wife Caroline in Dorchester County. -
Harriet's New Home
Harriet Tubman was given $1,200 of land on the outskirts of Auburn, New York. The land was given by an abolitionist U.S. Senator, William H. Seward. Harriet was able to keep this land and she lived on it till she died. -
Beginning of Civil War
In the beginning of the Civil War Harriet Tubman stayed in South Carolina as Florida as a nurse and a cook. Harriet initiated previous slaves to African American soldiers with help from General David Hunter. Harriet helped Colonel James Montgomery by scouting and spying. -
Civil War Ending
After being the first female leader leading an assault, and helped free 700 slaves in the Combahee River Raid, the Civil War ended. Harriet Tubman returned back to Auburn, New York. With everything settling down, Harriet still offered to help free slaves while Abraham Lincoln was president. President Lincoln announced the Emancipation Proclamation which helped abolish slavery in the United States. -
Harriet Tubman Marries Nelson Davis
On March 18, 1869, Harriet Tubman married again to Nelson Davis. They married at the Central Presbyterian Church in Auburn, New York. Nelson Davis was twenty-two years younger than Harriet and together, they adopted a baby girl named Gertie. Sadly in 1888, Nelson Davis died from tuberculosis. -
Harriet Tubman's Death
On March 10, 1913, Harriet Tubman died of pneumonia when she was about 93 years old. By the time Harriet was about to die, she became too fragile to live on her own in her house, so she stayed in Harriet Tubman Home for the Elderly. Her niece, grandniece, and matron of Harriet Tubman Home inherited the land and Harriet’s home when she died. Harriet was buried at Fort Hill Cemetery in Auburn, New York.
