𝐒𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 "𝐓𝐨𝐰𝐧-𝐇𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐌𝐞𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠" 𝐚𝐬 𝐇𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐭 𝐓𝐮𝐛𝐦𝐚𝐧:

Araminta Ross also known as Harriet Tubman, Minty,
and Moses

    Hi! My name is Araminta Ross. I was born and raised in Dorchester County, Maryland, close to 1820-1822, to my Mother, Harriet Green Ross, and Father, Benjamin Ross. I say "close to" because we are not sure in which year I was born. My father was a free man, in addition to my mother was an enslaved woman. My mother being a slave caused my eight siblings and myself to be slaves ourselves. Children inherit the status of their mothers at birth. If their mother is a slave, they are also considered slaves. However, if their mother is free, then they are to be free as well. Unfortunately, this wasn't the case for me and my siblings. There was a white man named Edward Brodess who enslaved my family. He didn't allow us to stay together. My siblings and I were separated at a young age and made to work on different farms. Not only were we disconnected from each other, but we were disconnected from our father. At the age of six, Mr. Brodess rented me out to work as a child caretaker, even though I was just a child myself. This work often separated me from my mother and siblings, making me feel distant from them at times.

    At the age of 13, my life drastically changed. For what some may consider daunting, I believe it was significant. While trying to help another slave avoid punishment, I was struck in the head by a two-pound iron weight that fractured my skull. As a result of this harsh injury, I started to experience periodic blackouts or what may be considered "sleeping spells." Since my injury, my owner allowed me to negotiate my farm work with one condition. I paid him a yearly fee of close to $50-$60. From then on, I hired myself out on my terms. These new work assignments opened doors for the exploration of new geographic areas. The responsibilities that were expected of me in this position were specific to

A current photo of Maryland's Eastern Shore

Maryland's Eastern Shore. Through these tasks including; working alongside my father in the timberfields, and with black sailors who traveled regularly, I became familiar with the environment. As a result, my geographical knowledge played a crucial role in my quest for freedom. While working, I met my future husband, John Tubman. John was a free man, which made our relationship more challenging than expected. Although, our relationship was contesting John and I decided to marry in 1844. After we married, I chose to change

Mason-Dixon Line

my name from Araminta to Harriet, after my mother. This is how I came to be known as Harriet Tubman. Around this time, my family's enslaver had gone into debt. I discovered that Brodess's financial troubles were likely to lead to the selling of my brothers, Ben and Henry, and myself. With this news, I knew that I was ready to take on the challenge and hardship of escaping slavery. I was mentally and logically prepared, having developed many skills throughout my life thus far to take on this journey. So, I set my sights on escaping to Philadelphia and crossing the Mason-Dixon line.

    My brothers accompanied me on this journey. But after some time we got word that our family's master widowed wife had started putting up ads about us being missing. My brothers worried and returned to the plantation in fear of being captured and future punishment. This setback didn't stop me and my vision of freedom! I continued my journey alone, guided to Pennsylvania by the stars. With the help of an abolitionist, I traveled from Maryland to Philadelphia. Philadelphia was known for the "Abolitionist Movement" at that time. I was confident that I would find like-minded people with similar beliefs to work alongside. Upon arriving in Philadelphia, I met William Still, an abolitionist and underground railroad

William Still an American Abolitionist
and "The Father of the Underground
Railroad

conductor. Mr. Still taught me a lot about the Underground Railroad, which was a network of routes, safe places, and people that assisted enslaved individuals in the American South to escape to the North in search of freedom. "Conductors" guided the freedom seekers on their journey, while "Station Masters" provided shelter in their homes, churches, or other safe locations. Around 1850 I decided to return to Maryland to free my parents, siblings, and the rest of my family. It hurt me to know that I had reached the freedom land, and they were still having to work in such a harsh atmosphere. In 1850 the Fugitive Slave Act was passed, which allowed fugitive and freed workers in the north to be captured and enslaved. This made my role as an Underground Railroad conductor much harder and forced me to lead enslaved people further north to Canada. But I didn't give up. After my first successful trip, I was granted permission to become an Underground Railroad conductor. After becoming a conductor, I succeed in my second and third trips. In the midst of all of this and my journey of helping others live the life they have dreamed and prayed for, I put my own life on hold. I

Harriet Tubman and first husband
 John Tubman

returned north to bring my husband, John Tubman, back with me so that we could be free together. I came to find John had already remarried and his new wife was pregnant. Supposedly, he thought I was dead. Being the selfless person I am I still offered to take him, his new wife, and their unborn child back north to freedom but they refused. I conducted nearly 19 trips from Maryland to Canada and rescued essentially 300 people and 70 family and friends between 1850-1860. I was being called to capture all over the world for prizes such as $40,000 and rewards that any person would love to have. I told my good friend, Frederick Douglass, "I never ran my train off the track and I never lost a passenger." I don't mean to brag but I was good at my job. So good that both the free and enslaved referred to me as "Moses" for leading my people to freedom, much like Moses in The Bible.

    I finally decided to settle in Auburn, New York. Yet my work still wasn't complete. In 1857, I met abolitionist John Brown. Brown was outspoken in his support 

Abolitionist John Brown

of antislavery and, though unpopular among white southerners, his efforts were largely supported by those in the North. John and I formed a close friendship. We worked together significantly on his plans for the raid on "Harpers Ferry." I was able to provide my geographical expertise and recruited formerly enslaved people to assist in the raid. While planned as a way to steal guns and start a revolt to free enslaved people across the South, the raid ultimately failed. An army unit, led by soon-to-be Confederate General Robert E. Lee, captured my friend and put him on trial for "treason", murder, and inciting a slave rebellion. John was hung shortly thereafter. In April 1861, when the Civil War began over slavery, I saw an opportunity to contribute. I enlisted in the Union Army as a nurse, using natural remedies to care for wounded soldiers. By 1863, I had taken on the role of a scout and organized a group of spies, recruiting enslaved people willing to help the Union. I also helped Colonel James Montgomery coordinate the Combahee River Raid in South Carolina, where we successfully burned down plantations and freed about 750 enslaved people. Many of the freedmen later joined the Union Army. I became the first woman in U.S. history to plan and lead a military raid. While working in the army I met my second husband, Nelson Davis, and later adopted his daughter, Gertie.

Harriet Tubman and her second husband Nelson Davis, alongside
his daughter Gertie Davis, and some other family members

    Looking back on my journey, it's hard to believe everything I've accomplished; from escaping slavery to leading nearly 300 others to freedom through the Underground Railroad, and even serving in the Civil War. I’ve faced countless challenges, from separation from my family to risking my life on dangerous missions, but I never gave up. My desire for freedom, not just for myself but for everyone still enslaved, drove me forward. Today, I stand proud of what I’ve done. Fighting for justice, freedom, and equality. Freedom is everything I ever dreamed of, and I’m grateful to have played a role in helping others achieve it too. My legacy will live on, reminding the world that no matter how difficult the path, freedom is always worth fighting for!