If there is a book about how the world has evolved so far, slavery can be called the most bitter chapter in it. In the past, most of the people abducted from African countries were enslaved and thus slavery became more prevalent in the United States.
Born in the early 19th century, Harriet Tubman, a slave labourer lived in Maryland, USA, and later escaped from her employer with great effort. Unsatisfied with independence to only her, she opened the door to many more slaves. She has been a guide to the escape of slaves ever since.
Harriet’s date of birth is not specified, but sources say she was born between 1820 and 1825. Born into a slave family in the state of Maryland, she had eight siblings.
Mother
Her mother was Harriet Ritgreen, and she was owned by a woman named Mary Pattison Broadus. Harriet’s father was Ben Ross, and was owned by Anthony Thompson, who later married Broadus. Harriet’s first name was Araminta Harriet Ross and her parents used the nickname ‘Minty’ to refer to her. It is widely believed that Harriet began using her first name, ‘Harriet’, in honour of her mother.
Harriet and her family were constantly subjected to various forms of physical abuse. As a result, she suffered throughout her life, and it was not difficult for anyone who saw the scars on her body to realise how bitter her life was. One day, Harriet was on her way to a store to buy groceries when she saw a slave running away. At the same time, the slave’s superintendent ordered her to stop. However, Harriet refused, and as she tried to leave, the said superintendent threw her a two-pound stone. Since then she has suffered from severe headaches throughout her life.
Her father, Ben, was released from slavery at the age of 45. However, even after his release, he continued to work as an appraiser and clerk under his employer as he had no other choice. Although Ben was free, Harriet’s mother was not free, and the children were in her care, so they were not free either. Despite his release, Ben was unable to exert any influence on behalf of his family.
Married
Harriet was married in 1844 to John Tubman, who had been freed from slavery. By that time, more than half of all Africans living in the state of Maryland had been freed from slavery. It was, therefore, common for some families to have both free and non-free individuals. Not much is known about John and Harriet’s married life, but no information has been revealed about their children.
John, who refused to go with her when she escaped from slavery through the tunnel, remarried and lived in the Maryland area. Harriet married Nelson Davis, a retired soldier in 1869, and in 1874 decided to adopt a girl named Gertie.
She first discovered the tunnel in 1849. After her employer died of an illness, Harriet decided to escape slavery and flee to Pennsylvania. Accordingly, she passed through the tunnel on September 17, 1849, and was accompanied by her two brothers, Harry and Ben. However, Harry and Ben returned to their place of slavery after an announcement was made that a $300 cash reward would be offered to anyone who finds Harriet.
Harriet waited patiently for the two brothers to return home, then she set off for Pennsylvania alone. Harriet, who walked about 90 miles across the subway to Pennsylvania after being freed from slavery, later said that reaching there was a great relief.
Railroad
After that, on 19 occasions, Harriet traveled through the underground railroad and led more than 300 people, including her parents and siblings towards independence.
In 1859, William H. Schmidt, who advocated for the rights of the slave population gave Harriet a portion of the land he owned in New York City. It was a paradise for Harriet and her cousins, all of whom settled there, marking the end of a dark era in their lives. Although Harriet had social recognition, she was never financially strong, so her friends raised funds for her. Harriet and her family received money from the sale of a book about Harriet’s autobiography by Sarah Bradford. Although not financially strong, she was involved in social work and in 1903 donated part of her land to build an American Methodist church. In 1908 the Harriet Tubman Nursing Home was opened.
Shortly afterwards, she died of pneumonia on March 10, 1913, at the age of 90. She is said to have spent the last days of her life suffering severely from the physical abuse she experienced as a child. Her funeral was held with military honours.