Harriet Tubman (born Araminta "Minty" Ross) was born in 1820 or 1822(specific date is unknown due to the lack of records kept for slaves) in Dorchester County, Maryland. She was born a slave.
At the age of 4 or 5 she babysat her brothers while her mother was at work, until she turned 5 or 6 and was considered old enough to work for her new master, James Cook, to learn the trade of weaving. She quickly learned Cook and his wife were cruel. Minty was often beaten and treated like a piece of property rather than a human being. Only when Minty was really ill was she sent back to her mother's master, Elizabeth Brodess. She was next sold to a Miss Susan as a nursemaid and house servant. Miss Susan regularly beat her too. It was as a child that Minty first dreamed of being free. It was also as a child that Minty was first separated from her father.
One day, Miss Susan and her husband were fighting, and there were bowls with lumps of sugar in them. Minty had never tasted sugar, so she quickly ate a lump. Miss Susan saw her and took out her whip. Minty ran out before she could take her first lash. Minty kept running until she reached a pig pen. Minty stayed in the pig pen for days. She finally left of hunger, for the pigs fought her for the food. When she got back to her master's home, Miss Susan didn't beat her, her husband did.
At the age of 4 or 5 she babysat her brothers while her mother was at work, until she turned 5 or 6 and was considered old enough to work for her new master, James Cook, to learn the trade of weaving. She quickly learned Cook and his wife were cruel. Minty was often beaten and treated like a piece of property rather than a human being. Only when Minty was really ill was she sent back to her mother's master, Elizabeth Brodess. She was next sold to a Miss Susan as a nursemaid and house servant. Miss Susan regularly beat her too. It was as a child that Minty first dreamed of being free. It was also as a child that Minty was first separated from her father.
One day, Miss Susan and her husband were fighting, and there were bowls with lumps of sugar in them. Minty had never tasted sugar, so she quickly ate a lump. Miss Susan saw her and took out her whip. Minty ran out before she could take her first lash. Minty kept running until she reached a pig pen. Minty stayed in the pig pen for days. She finally left of hunger, for the pigs fought her for the food. When she got back to her master's home, Miss Susan didn't beat her, her husband did.