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Birth.
Harriet's ancestors were brought to America in shackles from Africa during the first half of the 18th Century. She was born into slavery on Edward Broda's plantation near Bucktown, Maryland and was the child born to Benjamin Ross and Harriet Greene. Harriet's given name was Aramint. She was born in 1820, but the exact date of her birth is unknown because slaves' birthdates were not recorded. Harriet lived her entire life without knowing the date of her birth. -
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The Life of Harriet Tubman.
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First Time at Work.
At six, Araminta was considered old enough to work. Her master sent her away from home and loaned her out to another plantation. The white couple put her to work weaving and checking muskrat traps. Araminta caught a sickness and was unable to continue so she was sent back home. After recovery, she was a housekeeper and baby-sitter for a white woman. One day, Araminta was setting the table for tea, when she reached for a sugar cube. The woman saw Araminta, beat her, and sent her back home. -
Name Change.
When Araminta turned eleven, she started wearing a bright cotton bandana around her head indicating she was no longer a child. She was also no longer known by her "basket name", Araminta. Instead, she would be called Harriet after her mother. -
Trouble and Injury.
At thirteen years old, Harriet saw a slave being beaten by an overseer for attempting to run away. She ran over to them and tried to defend the bloody and beaten man. The overseer struck her in the head with a two-pound weight and severely damaged her brain. This resulted in recurring narcoleptic seizures, or sleeping spells, that plagued her for the rest of her life. -
Marriage.
At the age of 25, Harriet married John Tubman, a freeman. She gained permission to marry him from her owners and lived with him in his cabin, but she was required to continue working for her master. When Harriet told John of her dreams of one day gaining her freedom, he told her that she would never be free and, if she tried running away, he would turn her in. On one of her first return visits to Maryland, Harriet went to John's cabin in hopes of getting him to go north with her. -
Escape to Freedom.
Harriet Tubman waited until the sky was pitch black outside on the night of her escape. She had packed a small pouch of provisions and said goodbye to her family and friends. She promised she would be safe, smart, and back for them as soon as possible. Once she managed to get off the plantation property, she had to use different tricks and tactics. Harriet "aboarded" the Underground Railroad and "rode" it to freedom! -
Return to Slavery.
Harriet vowed to return to Maryland and help liberate other slaves. She bravely took that chance, because she wanted others to live free just as she was. After traveling the Underground Railroad again, she gathered a group of slaves and led them to freedom. This time she hid, protected, and fed others during the dangerous journey and still managed to bring them safely to freedom. Harriet Tubman made her first of 19 trips back to the South shortly after Congress passed the Fugitive Slave Act. -
Freedom for Family.
Harriet Tubman became a conductor on the Underground Railroad. She carried a gun and promised to use it on anyone who threatened the success of her operations. She was assisted by white and free black abolitionists along the Railroad. In 1857, Harriet finally convinced her parents to join her on her journey even at their old age. Because they were elderly, it did take longer than usual but Harriet didn’t mind. The only she wanted was for her family to be free! -
Tubman and Brown.
In the late 1850’s, Harriet Tubman met a white abolitionist named John Brown. He shared with her his plan to end slavery by launching a massive slave revolt. Harriet approved of his plan and remained one of his greatest defenders after his arrest and execution in 1859. -
Nurse, Scout, and Spy.
Tubman continued her courageous actions during the Civil War. She served as a nurse, scout, and spy for the Union Army. During one military campaign along the Combahee River in South Carolina, she helped free more than 750 slaves. -
Nelson Davis.
While guiding a group of black soldiers in South Carolina, Harriet met Nelson Davis, who was ten years younger than her. After the war, Harriet returned home to Auburn and In 1869, she married Nelson Davis and together they shared a calm, peaceful 19 year marriage until he passed away at their home. -
Date of Death.
When she passed away on March 10, 1913, the nation cried for one of the most beautiful, brave, and strong women that has ever walked this Earth. Although Harriet longed for liberty all her life, when she found it, it did not satisfy her. She wanted everyone to taste the glorious freedom she experienced. She put her own life and freedom on the line time after time to ensure that others would be free as well. Harriet Tubman was a true hero.
