Hold Steady On
Time seems to have stood still along the back roads of Dorchester County on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. Quiet and undisturbed, in many ways almost untouched by the hustle and bustle so common on the Western Shore, the rhythm of life continues here much the same as it did over 150 years ago when young Harriet Tubman toiled in the marshes, woods, and fields of her birthplace and dreamed of freedom.
On a drizzly spring day in April, I had an opportunity to join a small group of women and take a driving tour along part of the Harriet Tubman Byway. Although I had read about Harriet Tubman while homeschooling my children, I learned more about this courageous woman who experienced freedom for herself and for many others by holding steady on to the Lord, Who did indeed see her through.
On a drizzly spring day in April, I had an opportunity to join a small group of women and take a driving tour along part of the Harriet Tubman Byway. Although I had read about Harriet Tubman while homeschooling my children, I learned more about this courageous woman who experienced freedom for herself and for many others by holding steady on to the Lord, Who did indeed see her through.
Brodess Farm, Bucktown, MD
Harriet Tubman was born a slave around 1820 near Bucktown, Maryland. Her parents named her Araminta, and she was called "Minty." Minty was one of nine children born to Rit Green and Ben Ross. She "grew up like a neglected weed - ignorant of liberty, having no experience of it." Hired out at the tender of age of 5, Minty was separated from her mother time and time again, forced to work under cruel conditions until her health broke, then returned to her mother who would nurse Minty back to health. But in her weakness, she found strength.
By age 12 she toiled in the fields, and later she chopped timber destined for the shipyards of Baltimore with her father, who taught her much about navigating the waterways and landscape of the Eastern Shore. Although Harriet was only five feet tall, she was physically strong and could work as hard and steady as a man. Throughout her life, she worked and saved money, which enabled her to help others. And as her physical strength grew, so did her spiritual faith. “..and I prayed to God to make me strong and able to fight, and that’s what I’ve always prayed for ever since.”
By age 12 she toiled in the fields, and later she chopped timber destined for the shipyards of Baltimore with her father, who taught her much about navigating the waterways and landscape of the Eastern Shore. Although Harriet was only five feet tall, she was physically strong and could work as hard and steady as a man. Throughout her life, she worked and saved money, which enabled her to help others. And as her physical strength grew, so did her spiritual faith. “..and I prayed to God to make me strong and able to fight, and that’s what I’ve always prayed for ever since.”
Bucktown Village Store
At some point during this time, a serious injury occurred in a local store, which had a profound and life long effect on Harriet. She was hit in the head with a heavy iron weight thrown by an irate overseer who was trying to stop a fugitive slave who had run into the store. The overseer insisted that Harriet help, but she refused. The overseer threw the weight, which struck her in the head. Severely injured, the weight broke her skull. Although Harriet recovered in time, the effects of the injury caused her a lifetime of severe headaches, periodic fits of unconsciousness, and vivid dreams. Despite this debilitating weakness, her faith deepened as she found comfort and strength in God.
The Bucktown Village Store is located at a crossroads on the Harriet Tubman Byway at the edge of the Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge, a protected 28,000 acre tidal wetland area. The 19th century old store was closed when we arrived, but we lingered for a while, peeked through the windows, and enjoyed the charming scenery of green fields, ancient oak trees, and the peaceful view of a quiet pond.
Bucktown Village Store
In 1844, Minty married John Tubman, a free man. Whether he was a former slave is not known. At that time, over half the population of African Americans on the Eastern Shore were free, including Harriet's father who was released from slavery but continued to work for his former owner. As the threat of being sold further south increased, Harriet's resolve to be free strengthened. She changed her name from Minty Ross to Harriet Tubman, and in 1849 made her escape. Traveling at night with the North Star as her guide, she was aided by Quakers and other anti-slavery sympathizers along the Underground Railroad, which was a loose network of people who helped fugitive slaves by providing food, transportation, and shelter as they traveled secret routes to the northern free states. Eventually Harriet reached Philadelphia where she found work, saved money, and planned to bring the rest of her family north to freedom.
Mural in the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad State Park Visitor Center
Also located within the Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge, not many miles from the Bucktown Village Store, is the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Visitor Center. The center opened in March 2017, just a few weeks before that drizzly day I visited in April. Exhibits throughout the center highlight the life of Harriet Tubman. The architecture of the four part building evokes the journey she and other fugitive slaves took as they journeyed from the darkness of slavery in the South to the light of freedom in the North.
Inside the entrance of the Visitor Center, a life size bronze bust of Harriet Tubman sits atop a unique pedestal carved from the wood of a 460 year old white oak tree and wood from a cedar tree, which represent her life in the state of Maryland, particularly in the woods and fields of Dorchester County. I was struck by how small in stature Harriet was, especially in light of the undaunted courage she displayed throughout her lifetime.
Bust of Harriet Tubman
By the end of the year in 1849, Harriet was free, but her freedom was incomplete. She was lonesome for her family. She longed to bring her loved ones to freedom and during the next decade, Harriet successfully returned multiple times to the Eastern Shore liberating over 70 people, including her parents and other family members. Through her instructions, dozens of other fugitives made their way successfully to freedom, as well. Her knowledge of the waterways and landscape of the Eastern Shore contributed to her success. Near the end of her life she said, “I was the conductor of the Underground Railroad for eight years, and I can say what most conductors can’t say — I never ran my train off the track and I never lost a passenger.”
Harriet Tubman exhibit at the UGRR Visitor Center
The freedom of African Americans in the northern states became more precarious after the passage of the Fugitive Slave Act in 1850, so the Underground Railroad route was extended into Canada. Harriet and her family settled in St. Catharines, Ontario for a while, but eventually moved to Auburn, New York where Harriet bought 7 acres of land. But her quest to liberate the enslaved continued as the United States fractured into Civil War.
In 1861 Harriet Tubman served the Union Army in many ways. She supported a Massachusetts troop in Virginia as a cook, nurse, and laundress. Because I am a soap maker, I find it highly probable that Harriet, when she worked as a laundress, knew the labor intensive soap making process used during that time period and made soap. In 1862 Harriet worked as a nurse in a freedman's hospital in South Carolina. In 1863 she was the commander of a group of espionage scouts and reported directly to the generals in charge. More than 750 slaves were liberated in the Combahee River Raid when Harriet led a troop of black Union soldiers on a surprise raid of several rice plantations near the river. Many of these freed slaves joined the Union Army. This astonishing woman was the first woman in the United States to lead a successful military operation.
Harriet Tubman continued to serve the Union Army and returned to her home in Auburn, New York after the war ended. She later remarried, actively supported the women's suffrage movement, and built a home for the elderly on property she had acquired near her home.
In 1861 Harriet Tubman served the Union Army in many ways. She supported a Massachusetts troop in Virginia as a cook, nurse, and laundress. Because I am a soap maker, I find it highly probable that Harriet, when she worked as a laundress, knew the labor intensive soap making process used during that time period and made soap. In 1862 Harriet worked as a nurse in a freedman's hospital in South Carolina. In 1863 she was the commander of a group of espionage scouts and reported directly to the generals in charge. More than 750 slaves were liberated in the Combahee River Raid when Harriet led a troop of black Union soldiers on a surprise raid of several rice plantations near the river. Many of these freed slaves joined the Union Army. This astonishing woman was the first woman in the United States to lead a successful military operation.
Harriet Tubman continued to serve the Union Army and returned to her home in Auburn, New York after the war ended. She later remarried, actively supported the women's suffrage movement, and built a home for the elderly on property she had acquired near her home.
Mural at the Harriet Tubman Museum
This quilt made by local quilters hangs in the Harriet Tubman Museum Another stop on the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Byway is the Harriet Tubman Museum in Cambridge, Maryland. Located in a quaint storefront, this community organization is run by volunteers dedicated to preserving the memory of Harriet Tubman. It was our last stop that day before we headed back to the Western Shore.
Although she was once a fugitive slave, today the legacy of Harriet Tubman is celebrated and preserved in Dorchester County. Her legacy will be honored further when her portrait graces the redesigned United States twenty dollar bill.
Although she was once a fugitive slave, today the legacy of Harriet Tubman is celebrated and preserved in Dorchester County. Her legacy will be honored further when her portrait graces the redesigned United States twenty dollar bill.
Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Visitor Center
After Harriet's initial escape from slavery on the Eastern Shore of Maryland in 1849, a reward was offered for her return. And she did return, again and again leading others to freedom. She did so without any financial reward. She knew her reward would come from holding steady on to God.
I was inspired by this extraordinary woman who overcame many daunting circumstances by holding steady on to the One who gave her true freedom. If you enjoyed this short biography of Harriet Tubman, please leave me a comment below. Oh, and click on the photos and highlighted links for more info about them. Thanks for stopping by!
~Debbie
~Debbie
