As many people know, Harriet Tubman was one of the most widely known leaders of The Underground Railroad. In her time working on The Underground Railroad, Harriet rescued over 300 slaves, making her an extraordinary heroine. Harriet was lucky to have a small amount of family members on the same plantation as her. She was a hard worker until she had a brick thrown at her head by a slave overseer when she was a young girl. When Harriet was older, she was allowed to work for pay on another plantation for the price of one dollar a week to her original master; yet, Harriet was not going to accept the life of a slave.
She could not buy her freedom papers as her request was denied, so she decided to escape. After successfully escaping the perils of slavery, she decided to help others make the treacherous journey to freedom. Araminta Harriet Ross was born in March of the year 1822 to Harriet Green Ross and Ben Ross in Dorchester County, Maryland; however, she was one of nine children! Araminta eventually started calling herself Harriet, her middle name which is also her mother’s name. Harriet’s entire family was on the same plantation, except her sister, “Tilly” Ross, who was sadly sold off.
Harriet Green Ross, the famous abolitionist’s mother, was extremely religious and her children followed in her footsteps. Harriet Tubman was religious from an extremely young age as she would pray to God every day and night. Yet one dreadful night, Harriet prayed for the death of her master. She repeated this day and night until one night, the master passed away. Harriet was frightened thinking she was reason for his passing, and she asked for forgiveness while vowing to do anything her God commanded. Harriet’s loyalty to prayer and religion followed her throughout her life.
The day was like any other as Harriet did her normal tasks working the plantation, until suddenly she was brutally attacked by a slave overseer! He suspected Harriet and her friend were planning to run away. The man threw a heavy object at the defenseless girl’s head, many historians believe it was a brick. The hit was so forceful; it knocked Harriet to the ground sending her into a comatose like state. When her owner heard of what the slaver watcher had done, he fired the man immediately and gave Harriet time to heal; however, he tried to sell her while he was in her injured state as she was of no use to him.
No man wanted an injured slave, therefore Harriet would not be sold. She eventually recovered, but would fall into “sleeping spells” that could last anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours. These dangerous spells would burden Harriet for the rest of her life. She was left with a large scar on her face making as well that made her easy to detect when she was a fugitive. Harriet decided she would not live her entire life as a slave, so she started saving money to buy her freedom. After a while, she had enough money to purchase her freedom papers!
Sadly, her request was denied and she was publicly embarrassed as punishment. Harriet had been washing clothing for a Quaker woman in Bucktown, Maryland for quite a while. The lady was extremely generous to Harriet, and told her about The Underground Railroad. The woman told her all the details of where to go and who to meet. With her help, Harriet would become a free woman; however, Harriet had to make the dangerous trip to Philadelphia alone. There were many risks as she could become injured or fall into a sleeping spell with no one around to help her!
Harriet Tubman did in fact suffer from a sleeping spell while making her journey, luckily she woke up as the slave hunters were approaching and was able to escape into the river. After many hard days and nights of travel, Harriet Tubman reached Philadelphia. Harriet Tubman was one of the most vastly known workers of The Underground Railroad in history. She saved over 300 slaves, making her a heroine. Harriet was lucky to have some family members on the same plantation as her while growing up as many slaves did not have that luxury.
Harriet Ross Tubman was a hard worker until she had a brick thrown at her head by a slave overseer, this caused permanent brain damage that would affect her for the rest of her life. When Harriet was older, she was allowed to work for pay on another plantation for the price of one dollar a week to her original master; yet, Harriet was not going to accept the life of a slave forever. She could not buy her freedom papers as her request was denied, so she decided to go north where slavery was not allowed. After fulfilling her dream of becoming a free woman, she vowed to help others achieve the same.