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Harriet was born
She was born into Dorchester County, Maryland with the name Araminta Ross. All of her childhood was spent as a slave. She was raised under harsh conditions, being subjected to whippings even at such a young age. Most of her time was spent with her grandmother though as she was to old for slave labor. Math.buffalo.edu. www.math.buffalo.edu/~sww/0history/hwny-tubman.html. -
Married
She got married to John Tubman, a free African American. She feared that she would be sold and her marriage would be broken apart so she wanted to escape to the north. He did not share the same views though. He thought they would be fine and it was not necessary to go north. He told Harriet that if she ran away he would tell her master. Math.buffalo.edu. www.math.buffalo.edu/~sww/0history/hwny-tubman.html. -
Harriet escapes
Tubman ran away to a white abolitionist house where she then was directed to more safe houses. After some help from more white abolitionists she was able to cross the Mason-Dixon line and head to Philadelphia. She got a job and saved her money so she could help more slaves escape. Math.buffalo.edu. www.math.buffalo.edu/~sww/0history/hwny-tubman.html. -
Conductor status
While working at her new job Tubman met William Still, who was one of the busiest station masters. Still told her abut the Underground Railroad and she was immediately intrigued. With the assitance from Still, Tubman made her first rescue and later was made an official conductor of the Underground Railroad. This meant she knew all the paths and took an oath of silence. Math.buffalo.edu. www.math.buffalo.edu/~sww/0history/hwny-tubman.html. -
Finding John
In her 3rd trip to the south she went to go rescue her husband, but he had married another woman and would not leave. She went back to the north without her husband. Math.buffalo.edu. www.math.buffalo.edu/~sww/0history/hwny-tubman.html. -
Most Daring Rescue
Tubman took her most daring rescue to the South in 1857. She bought a train ticket and traveled in broad daylight even with a bounty on her head. She was successful in her mission and freed her elderly father and mother. Math.buffalo.edu. www.math.buffalo.edu/~sww/0history/hwny-tubman.html. -
The end
By 1860 she had served as a conductor for ten years. She had rescued over 300 people and took 19 trips to the south. For Tubmans safety though, her friends took her to Canada to live freely for the rest of her life. Math.buffalo.edu. www.math.buffalo.edu/~sww/0history/hwny-tubman.html. -
The war begins
Tubman could not stay away and returned to the U.S. from Canada as the Cilvil War started. She enlisted for the Union army and became a "contraband" nurse in a hospital in South Carolina.(Contraband were slaves the Union army rescued). Most of her patients were starved and sick from exposure. She helped them regain their strength and even helped them get jobs. Math.buffalo.edu. www.math.buffalo.edu/~sww/0history/hwny-tubman.html. -
Marriage #2
In the summer of 1869 she became a scout, which meant she spied on the south and looked for any slaves who might want to join the army. As she was guiding a group of slaves to South Carolina she met Nelson Davis and they were married for 19 years until he passed away. Math.buffalo.edu. www.math.buffalo.edu/~sww/0history/hwny-tubman.html. -
Her death
Before she died, she gave her home for the elderly to the Methodist Episcopal Zion Church. Tubman was buried with military rites in Fort Hill Cemetery. After he death she received many awards for her efforts. The Harriet Tubman Plaque, remains on display at the entrance of the Cayuga County Court House to this day. Math.buffalo.edu. www.math.buffalo.edu/~sww/0history/hwny-tubman.html.
