Harriet Tubman
Araminta Ross, also known as Harriet Tubman, was one of the most famous conductors on the Underground Railroad. Born into slavery to in Maryland 1820, Harriet’s life as a child is not well known, other than as a young teenager she was hit in the head with a two pound weight by the man observing her that day, sending her into a deep sleep. Around 1844 she married a free African American, John Tubman, and eventually changed her first name in honor of her mother. In 1849, Harriet escaped her life as a slave and found work in Philadelphia.
After she saved up enough money, Harriet made an estimated nineteen trips back to the south. Her first trip was back to Maryland for her sister and two nieces and this was only the beginning of her life as a conductor. She later would save over three hundred slaves including her brother and seventy year old parents. She went back for her husband, but left him when she found him with a new wife (pbs.org). She is idolized by many, but they do not know all of the precautions she took.
After making at least nineteen trip to the south to help slaves, Harriet Tubman had a very effective method. She left on Saturday nights, this allowed her to get the slaves back up to the north by Monday, the day the papers ran. During the first leg of the trip she used the master’s horse and buggy to try and get as far away from the slave’s house as quickly as possible (pbs.org). After the first leg they walked, and if needed they went farther south to avoid possible slave hunters. During these trips, Tubman often carried drugs and a gun, she used the drugs to keep loud or crying babies quiet and the gun in case of slave hunters or people who would not cooperate. When asked about her gun Harriet Tubman commonly replied with, “You’ll be free or die,” to prove that she was serious with what she was doing.
Having the life of a conductor on the Underground Railroad was very risky and usually came with being a fugitive. By 1856, there was a $40,000 reward for whoever turned in Harriet Tubman. There were many “Wanted” signs posted with Harriet’s face on them, but they all stated that she was illiterate and under educated. When asked if it was her face on these sign she would tell them it could not possibly be her because she is literate and would read to them. Not all of Harriet Tubman’s life was as a conductor on the Underground Railroad.
Later in Tubman’s life she did other great things. During the Civil War she was a Union cook, a nurse, and a spy. After the war she eventually settled in Auburn, New York and lived the rest of her long life. Harriet Tubman eventually died in Auburn, New York in 1913 at the age of ninety three years old.
Araminta Ross, also known as Harriet Tubman, was one of the most famous conductors on the Underground Railroad. Born into slavery to in Maryland 1820, Harriet’s life as a child is not well known, other than as a young teenager she was hit in the head with a two pound weight by the man observing her that day, sending her into a deep sleep. Around 1844 she married a free African American, John Tubman, and eventually changed her first name in honor of her mother. In 1849, Harriet escaped her life as a slave and found work in Philadelphia.
After she saved up enough money, Harriet made an estimated nineteen trips back to the south. Her first trip was back to Maryland for her sister and two nieces and this was only the beginning of her life as a conductor. She later would save over three hundred slaves including her brother and seventy year old parents. She went back for her husband, but left him when she found him with a new wife (pbs.org). She is idolized by many, but they do not know all of the precautions she took.
After making at least nineteen trip to the south to help slaves, Harriet Tubman had a very effective method. She left on Saturday nights, this allowed her to get the slaves back up to the north by Monday, the day the papers ran. During the first leg of the trip she used the master’s horse and buggy to try and get as far away from the slave’s house as quickly as possible (pbs.org). After the first leg they walked, and if needed they went farther south to avoid possible slave hunters. During these trips, Tubman often carried drugs and a gun, she used the drugs to keep loud or crying babies quiet and the gun in case of slave hunters or people who would not cooperate. When asked about her gun Harriet Tubman commonly replied with, “You’ll be free or die,” to prove that she was serious with what she was doing.
Having the life of a conductor on the Underground Railroad was very risky and usually came with being a fugitive. By 1856, there was a $40,000 reward for whoever turned in Harriet Tubman. There were many “Wanted” signs posted with Harriet’s face on them, but they all stated that she was illiterate and under educated. When asked if it was her face on these sign she would tell them it could not possibly be her because she is literate and would read to them. Not all of Harriet Tubman’s life was as a conductor on the Underground Railroad.
Later in Tubman’s life she did other great things. During the Civil War she was a Union cook, a nurse, and a spy. After the war she eventually settled in Auburn, New York and lived the rest of her long life. Harriet Tubman eventually died in Auburn, New York in 1913 at the age of ninety three years old.