Tuesday, May 13, 2014

Harriet Tubman on the Banks of the Choptank River - Harriet Tubman's Eastern Shore of Maryland


Harriet Tubman on the Banks of the Choptank River - Harriet Tubman's Eastern Shore of Maryland
Harriet Tubman on the Banks of the Choptank River in Caroline County Maryland.    This is the route she followed along the Choptank River in Caroline County.   It was not so green when she lead People to freedom she always traveled in winter, to avoid capture from Slave masters.  Tubman told the tale of one journey with a group of fugitive slaves, when morale sank and one man insisted he was going to go back to the plantation. She pointed the gun at his head and said, "You go on or die."  Several days later, he was with the group as they entered Canada.
This is a photoshoped the 360 I portray Harriet Tubman in.


Harriet Tubman on the Banks of the Choptank River - Harriet Tubman’s Eastern Shore of Maryland

On the Banks of the Choptank River - Harriet Tubman's Eastern Shore of Maryland


On the Banks of the Choptank River - Harriet Tubman's Eastern Shore of Maryland>
Harriet Tubman on the Banks of the Choptank River in Caroline County Maryland.    This is the route she followed along the Choptank River in Caroline County.   It was not so green when she lead People to freedom she always travel in winter, to avoid capture from Slave masters.  Tubman told the tale of one journey with a group of fugitive slaves, when morale sank and one man insisted he was going to go back to the plantation. She pointed the gun at his head and said, "You go on or die."  Several days later, he was with the group as they entered Canada.


On the Banks of the Choptank River - Harriet Tubman’s Eastern Shore of Maryland

Stanley Institute - Harriet Tubman's Eastern Shore of Maryland


Stanley Institute - Harriet Tubman's Eastern Shore of Maryland
Stanley Institute, also known as Rock School, is a historic African American school building located at Cambridge, Dorchester County, Maryland built about 1865. Three original blackboards still occupy their proper locations The building was moved to its present location from a site near Church Creek in 1867. It served as both a church and a school until the erection of the present Rock Methodist Church later in the 19th century. The building is referred to as Rock Elementary or as the Stanley Institute in honor of the first president of the school board, Ezekrial Stanley. Rock Elementary School is significant for the role it played in the education of the African-American children of Cambridge from the mid-nineteenth century until it closed on July 15, 1966.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanley_Institute
http://goo.gl/0e6xk

Stanley Institute - Harriet Tubman’s Eastern Shore of Maryland

Church Creek - Harriet Tubman's Eastern Shore of Maryland


Church Creek - Harriet Tubman's Eastern Shore of Maryland
Ben Ross worked for a ship Builder here in the waterfront town of Church Creek it was a major shipbuilding center during Harriet Tubman’s time. Ben Ross, Harriet’s father, worked in the surrounding woods identifying the best trees for shipbuilding. During Tubman’s lifetime, scores of enslaved people fled from farms and shipyards in this area. Harriet Tubman and her father lived and worked nearby.  Eventually Timber became scarce in the area the ship building has long gone.


Church Creek - Harriet Tubman’s Eastern Shore of Maryland

Woolford Harrisville Road - Harriet Tubman's Eastern Shore of Maryland


Woolford Harrisville Road - Harriet Tubman's Eastern Shore of Maryland
Woolford Harrisville Road Woolford Mace Cemetery Harriet Tubman was probably born nearby on Anthony Thompson’s plantation in 1822. Her father, Ben Ross, was a skilled timber foreman, married to Rit Green, who belonged to Thompson’s young stepson, Edward Brodess. Sometime after Brodessa reached adulthood, he moved Green and five of her children, including baby Araminta (Harriet Tubman) to his farm in Bucktown, but by 1840 Green was back living on Thompson’s farm (currently privately owned), where she and Ross remained until 1847. A large community of enslaved and free black families lived and worked between Harrisville and Whitemarsh Roads, creating an important social world for Tubman and her family.

Woolford Harrisville Road - Harriet Tubman’s Eastern Shore of Maryland

Sandtown Rd. Choptank River - Harriet Tubman's Eastern Shore of Maryland


Sandtown Delaware - Harriet Tubman's Eastern Shore of Maryland
Harriet Tubman crossed over the Maryland Delaware border in to Sandtown Delaware on the Choptank River after following it from her birth home in Dorchester County Md. on her way North to freedom.  Sandtown Delaware is located on the border between Maryland and Delaware in Delaware. Freedom seekers reaching Sandtown still risked recapture, but they were well on their way to freedom.  Until the fugitive Slave Act People were free once they crossed in to Delaware. This is also the Mason Dixon Line between Maryland and Delaware.


Sandtown Rd. Choptank River - Harriet Tubman’s Eastern Shore of Maryland

Sandtown Delaware - Harriet Tubman's Eastern Shore of Maryland



Sandtown Rd. Choptank River - Harriet Tubman's Eastern Shore of Maryland

Harriet Tubman sought refuge here on her way north here in Sandtown.  An Important safe house stop on her way north.   Sandtown Delaware is located on the border between Maryland and Delaware in Delaware. Freedom seekers reaching Sandtown still risked recapture, but they were well on their way to freedom.  Until the fugitive Slave Act People were free once they crossed in to Delaware. 


Sandtown Delaware - Harriet Tubman’s Eastern Shore of Maryland

Tobacco Stick Maryland now Madison - Harriet Tubman's Eastern Shore of Maryland





Tobacco Stick Maryland now Madison
Teenaged Harriet was hired out to John T. Stewart, who owned farms, businesses here, and a shipyard here in Tobacco Stick Maryland now Madison, Md. Her father, Ben Ross, also worked for Stewart after he was freed in 1840.  It was near here that Harriet met and married freeman John Tubman in 1844.In December 1854 Harriet Tubman sent a coded letter to Jacob Jackson, a free black farmer who lived west of Madison.   The postmaster read the letter and confronted Jackson, and he denied understanding what it meant. Soon, however, Jackson notified Tubman’s three brothers of her plans to lead them north from their parent’s home at Poplar Neck in Caroline County.
A large community of enslaved african americans families lived and worked between Harrisville Whitemarsh Roads, creating an important social world for Harriet Tubman and her family.

Tobacco Stick Maryland now Madison - Harriet Tubman’s Eastern Shore of Maryland

Stewarts Canal 2 - Harriet Tubman's Eastern Shore of Maryland



Stewarts Canal 
Around 1850, John Stewart had his slaves, along with some free laborers, build a canal from the woods to his mill near the Bay to transport lumber there more quickly.  Free and enslaved African American People dug this canal by hand.  It was dug between 1810 and 1830.
Harriet Tubman worked here with her father Ben Ross and dug this canal. She Learned important skills that would later become useful during her trips back to the Eastern Shore and in South Carolina as a union spy and scout in the Combahee River Raid near Beaufort SC.
I got chased back to my car by horseflies, after this shot. Imagine how difficult it was to work in the Horse Fly snake and Snapping turtle infested marsh

Stewarts Canal 2 - Harriet Tubman’s Eastern Shore of Maryland

Stewarts Canal - Harriet Tubman's Eastern Shore of Maryland




Around 1850, John Stewart had his slaves, along with some free laborers, build a canal from the woods to his mill near the Bay to transport lumber there more quickly.  Free and enslaved African American People dug this canal by hand.  It was dug between 1810 and 1830.
Harriet Tubman worked here with her father Ben Ross and dug this canal. She Learned important skills that would later become useful during her trips back to the Eastern Shore and in South Carolina as a union spy and scout in the Combahee River Raid near Beaufort SC.
When I walked down to photograph this Pano a snake swam right at me.  Black head horseflies, green head horseflies and red head horseflies (from the Blood when they bite you) attacked me as well. And it’s only may. This is a horribly buggy, snake infested, and worst of all are the snapper turtles that will bite a hand off everywhere .

Stewarts Canal - Harriet Tubman’s Eastern Shore of Maryland in usa

Bestpitch Ferry Bridge 2 - Harriet Tubman's Eastern Shore of Maryland



Bestpitch Ferry Bridge 2 - Harriet Tubman's Eastern Shore of Maryland
“Marshland Secrets to Escape” 
View 2
This historic wooden bridge over the Transquaking River provides a view of Dorchester County marshlands. In this countryside, knowledgeable local people could hide for days, even weeks, and follow the waterways north toward Caroline County and freedom. Bestpitch Ferry Bridge is located at the site of a former ferry.
The Blackwater and Transquaking Rivers and their estuaries provided opportunities for local residents to hunt, fish and gather food for survival. Abundant fish and fowl live and breed in these waters, and many small and larger animals, including muskrats, rabbits, squirrels and deer live in nearby marshes and woods. Nuts, berries and a variety of roots and herbs round out the possible food and medicinal supplements available to 19th century residents. 
Waterways were also home to many free and enslaved African-American watermen

Bestpitch Ferry Bridge 2 - Harriet Tubman’s Eastern Shore of Maryland

Madison Md - Harriet Tubman's Eastern Shore of Maryland



Tobacco Stick Maryland now Madison
Harriet Tubman was born on a farm just south of here.  There are claims that she was born in Madison, but those claims are inaccurate she was born on a Farm 2 Miles south. Harriet Tubman, was probably born in February or early March on Anthony Thompson’s plantation in the Peters Neck District, south of Madison, near the Blackwater River.  Close but not quite in Madison.


Madison Md - Harriet Tubman’s Eastern Shore of Maryland

Bestpitch Ferry Bridge - Harriet Tubman's Eastern Shore of Maryland



“Marshland Secrets to Escape”
This historic wooden bridge over the Transquaking River provides a view of Dorchester County marshlands. In this countryside, knowledgeable local people could hide for days, even weeks, and follow the waterways north toward Caroline County and freedom. Bestpitch Ferry Bridge is located at the site of a former ferry.
The Blackwater and Transquaking Rivers and their estuaries provided opportunities for local residents to hunt, fish and gather food for survival. Abundant fish and fowl live and breed in these waters, and many small and larger animals, including muskrats, rabbits, squirrels and deer live in nearby marshes and woods. Nuts, berries and a variety of roots and herbs round out the possible food and medicinal supplements available to 19th century residents. 
Waterways were also home to many free and enslaved African-American watermen


Bestpitch Ferry Bridge - Harriet Tubman’s Eastern Shore of Maryland

Harriet Tubman Childhood home


Harriet Tubman Childhood home - Harriet Tubman's Eastern Shore of Maryland
Here was Harriet Tubman's Childhood home, it was know as the Brodess Farm. It was owned by Slave owner Edward Brodess. Her mother Rit Ross worked on the farm as a cook. Harriet tended muskrat traps in the Marshes close by.  She was often separated from her Mother when she was hired out, to others.   Harriet’s brothers, Ben and Robert, recalled the cruel treatment by Edward Brodess. Robert said Edward Brodess “was not fit to own a dog.”
The Brodess Farm was behind this Historical Marker it in now Private Property.

Harriet Tubman Childhood home - Harriet Tubman’s Eastern Shore of Maryland

Friday, May 9, 2014

The Site of Harriet Tubman’s First Act of Defiance View 2


Bucktown Store Closeup Site of Harriet Tubman’s First Act of Defiance - Harriet Tubman's Eastern Shore of Maryland
The Site of Harriet Tubman’s First Act of Defiance
When Harriet Tubman was around 15 years old girl, sometime around 1835.  She was sent to the Bucktown store shown here in this photo.  Here she encountered a slave owned by another family, who had left work in the fields without permission. The overseer, angry,  and demanded that Tubman help stop the young man. She refused, and as the slave ran away, the overseer threw a two-pound weight at him. While standing in the the doorway of this store the weight struck Tubman instead.  She said the weight "broke my skull". She later explained her belief that her hair  which "had never been combed and stood out like a bushel basket" saved her life.   While bleeding and unconscious, Tubman was sent back to her owner's house and laid on the seat of a loom, where she remained without care for two days. She was sent back into the fields , "with blood and sweat rolling down my face until I couldn't see." Her boss said she was "not worth a sixpence" and returned her to Edward Brodess, who tried unsuccessfully to sell her.  She began having seizures and would seemingly fall unconscious, although she claimed to be aware of her surroundings while appearing to be asleep. These episodes were alarming to her family, who were unable to wake her when she fell asleep suddenly and without warning. This condition remained with Tubman  until she underwent an operation on her skull at Boston's Massachusetts General Hospital in the late 1890s. She had received no anesthesia for the procedure, and reportedly chose instead to bite down on a bullet, as she had seen Civil War soldiers do when their limbs were amputated.
 At the time this happen, Bucktown was a busy community with two stores, a shopkeeper’s home, blacksmith,farms, and shipyards on the nearby Transquaking River.

Bucktown Store Closeup Site of Harriet Tubman’s First Act of Defiance - Harriet Tubman’s Eastern Shore of Maryland

The Site of Harriet Tubman’s First Act of Defiance




Bucktown Store Site of Harriet Tubman’s First Act of Defiance - Harriet Tubman's Eastern Shore of Maryland
The Site of Harriet Tubman’s First Act of Defiance
When Harriet Tubman was around 15 years old girl, sometime around 1835.  She was sent to the Bucktown store shown here in this photo.  Here she encountered a slave owned by another family, who had left work in the fields without permission. The overseer, angry,  and demanded that Tubman help stop the young man. She refused, and as the slave ran away, the overseer threw a two-pound weight at him. While standing in the the doorway of this store the weight struck Tubman instead.  She said the weight "broke my skull". She later explained her belief that her hair  which "had never been combed and stood out like a bushel basket" saved her life.   While bleeding and unconscious, Tubman was sent back to her owner's house and laid on the seat of a loom, where she remained without care for two days. She was sent back into the fields , "with blood and sweat rolling down my face until I couldn't see." Her boss said she was "not worth a sixpence" and returned her to Edward Brodess, who tried unsuccessfully to sell her.  She began having seizures and would seemingly fall unconscious, although she claimed to be aware of her surroundings while appearing to be asleep. These episodes were alarming to her family, who were unable to wake her when she fell asleep suddenly and without warning. This condition remained with Tubman  until she underwent an operation on her skull at Boston's Massachusetts General Hospital in the late 1890s. She had received no anesthesia for the procedure, and reportedly chose instead to bite down on a bullet, as she had seen Civil War soldiers do when their limbs were amputated.
 At the time this happen, Bucktown was a busy community with two stores, a shopkeeper’s home, blacksmith,farms, and shipyards on the nearby Transquaking River.
Bucktown Store Site of Harriet Tubman’s First Act of Defiance - Harriet Tubman’s Eastern Shore of Maryland