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

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.

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