Harriet raised money for more Underground Railroad rescues by working as a cook and a domestic in private homes and hotels in the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Cape May, New Jersey, areas.
Harriet returned to Bucktown to bring her husband north so they could be together in freedom, but found he had married another, so she rescued a small group instead.
1852
While maintaining a home base in St. Catharines, Ontario, Harriet began making several trips into slave-holding areas to conduct people north to St. Catharines. Her route took her near Albany, Syracuse, Auburn, Rochester, then over the railroad bridge and on to St. Catharines.
1854
Using the extended break created by the celebration of Christmas, Harriet conducted three of her brothers out of Bucktown. They briefly visited with Ben and Rit in Caroline County and were assisted by the abolitionists Thomas Garrett (Wilmington, Delaware) and William Still (Pennsylvania).
1855
Ben purchased Rit’s freedom from Eliza Brodess.
1857
Due to being accused of helping people escape, Ben and Rit were conducted to St. Catharines and lived there for at least two years before moving to Auburn, New York. Harriet was again assisted by abolitionists Thomas Garrett and William Still.
1858
Harriet met John Brown in southern Ontario and agreed to recruit supporters for his cause — a fight to end slavery.
1859
Harriet worked with U.S. Senator William Henry Seward to purchase a house on seven acres of land in Auburn, New York.
On October 16, John Brown led a group of 21 men on a raid against Harpers Ferry, West Virginia. Unfortunately, the raid failed, and the men were captured.
Harriet was too ill to assist John Brown, and his famous raid took place without her active involvement.
1860
Harriet brought out seven freedom seekers, including a baby, from Maryland.
Harriet participated in a women’s rights convention in Boston.
Harriet rescued Charles Nalle in Troy, New York, in broad daylight as he was about to be sent to Virginia to be charged with being a runaway slave.
1861
The American Civil War began on April 12, with the Confederates firing on Fort Sumter in Charleston, South Carolina.
1862
Harriet was asked to help the many “contrabands” (enslaved Africans who escaped to the Union side) in Hilton Head, South Carolina, by Governor John Andrews of Massachusetts.
Harriet acted as a scout and spy for the Union forces as ordered by General Stevens.
1863
The Emancipation Proclamation, co-authored by William Seward, was issued on January 1.
Harriet planned, and successfully carried out, a rescue mission on the Combahee River, South Carolina, which freed over seven hundred formerly enslaved Africans.
Franklin B. Sanborn wrote the first published biographical sketch of Harriet Tubman in his anti-slavery newspaper, The Commonwealth.
Harriet began serving as a Union nurse, cook, spy, and scout in South Carolina, Virginia, and Florida. She continued in this position until 1865.
1865
Harriet nursed sick and wounded soldiers at Fortress Monroe.
Harriet was injured aboard a train when thrown into the baggage compartment by a bigoted conductor who disbelieved she was given a seat. The seat was given to Harriet as part of her payment for her duties at Fortress Monroe, and she was attempting to travel to Auburn, New York.
1867
John Tubman was killed by Rob Vincent in Dorchester County.
1868
Harriet submitted her claim for three years of military services and for her role leading the raid on the Combahee. Her claim was rejected at the time, but paid later.
1869
Harriet married Nelson Davis in Auburn, New York.
Sarah H. Bradford’s biography, Scenes in the Life of Harriet Tubman, was published.
1871
Benjamin Ross, Harriet’s father, died.
1873
Two men took advantage of Harriet’s generosity by swindling her out of some gold and assaulting her.
1880
Rit Green, Harriet’s mother, died.
1886
Sarah H. Bradford’s second biography, Harriet Tubman: The Moses of Her People, was published.
1888
Nelson Davis died and was buried at Fort Hill Cemetery, Auburn, New York.
1896
Harriet purchased 26 acres, including several buildings, adjoining her property to create a home for the aged.
Harriet Tubman was the oldest woman to attend the National Association of Colored Women in Washington, D.C.
1903
Harriet deeded her Auburn property to the AME Zion Church to continue as the Harriet Tubman Home for Aged and Indigent Negroes.
1913
Harriet Tubman died in Auburn, New York, after her years as an enslaved person, a conductor on the Underground Railroad, and a nurse, scout, cook, and spy for the Union Forces during the American Civil War. She was buried at Fort Hill Cemetery, Auburn, New York.
Canada and the World
Circa 1604
Mathieu Da Costa was the first named African, a free person, to arrive in Canada. He was an interpreter for Samuel de Champlain and facilitated communication between the indigenous peoples and Europeans.
1619
The first group of enslaved Africans reached British North America, landing at Jamestown.
1628
Olivier Le Jeune, a child of about 6–8 years of age owned by David Kirke, was the first enslaved African to arrive in Canada. After being sold to a Catholic cleric, Father Paul Le Jeune, and being baptized, he was named Le Jeune, but remained a slave.
1665
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