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Harriet Tubman shortly before her death in 1913.

Courtesy Cayuga County Historian’s Office, Auburn, NewYork.

The once strong and active Harriet became confined to a wheelchair because of the severity of her rheumatism and the frequency of her sleeping spells. She contracted pneumonia and died on March 10, 1913. She was buried at Fort Hill Cemetery with her medal from Queen Victoria. A marble headstone was contributed by the National Association of Colored Women, and Civil War veterans fired a volley over her grave as a tribute to her military service. One year later a posthumous honour was given to her by the city of Auburn in the form of a plaque at the Cayuga County Courthouse.

Listed on her death certificate were her living heirs and relatives, including many Stewarts in Auburn, a Robinson in Buffalo, and these Canadian relatives:

 Mary Stewart: a niece who resided in St. Catharines.

 Gertrude Thompson: a niece who resided in St. Catharines.

 Amanda Gales: a niece who resided in St. Catharines.

 Carrie Barnes: a niece who resided in Cayuga, Ontario.

 Mary Young: a niece who resided in St. Catharines.

As an additional act of respect, the citizens of Auburn unveiled a plaque on the Cayuga Courthouse dedicated to Harriet Tubman on July 12, 1914, while a tribute was delivered by Booker T. Washington. The Auburn plaque said:

IN MEMORY OF

HARRIET TUBMAN

BORN A SLAVE IN MARYLAND ABOUT 1821

DIED IN AUBUN, N.Y. MARCH 10th, 1913

CALLED THE 'MOSES' OF HER PEOPLE DURING THE CIVIL WAR, WITH RARE COURAGE SHE LED OVER THREE HUNDRED NEGROES UP FROM SLAVERY TO FREEDOM, AND RENDERED INVALUABLE SERVICE AS A NURSE AND SPY.

WITH IMPLICIT TRUST IN GOD SHE BRAVED EVERY DANGER AND OVERCAME EVERY OBSTACLE, WITHAL SHE POSSESSED EXTRAORDINARY FORESIGHT AND JUDGEMENT SO THAT SHE TRUTHFULLY SAID—

“ON MY UNDERGROUND RAILROAD I NEBBER RUN MY TRAIN OFF DE TRACK AND I NEBBER LOS' A PASSENGER.”

~

THIS TABLET IS ERECTED BY THE CITIZENS OF AUBURN

1914

In Bucktown, Dorchester County, Maryland, a historical sign marks the spot where Harriet received her head injury long ago — the site of the Bucktown store. In 1944, a Second World War Liberty ship was christened the SS Harriet Tubman by Eleanor Roosevelt as a further honour to the descendants and supporters of Harriet Tubman. In 1978, the U.S. Postal Service issued its first stamp in the Black Heritage USA Series commemorating Harriet Tubman.

The Province of Ontario erected an historical plaque dedicated to Harriet Tubman on the grounds of the St. Catharines branch of the British Methodist Episcopal Church of Canada in July 1993. This writer was honoured to have been the keynote speaker on this occasion and has participated in all Tubman commemorations since that time. This would include anniversaries, special occasions, and the most recent honour for the Canadian home of Harriet Tubman, the national historic commemoration of Salem Chapel, British Methodist Episcopal Church in St. Catharines as a national historic site by the Government of Canada in May 2011. In ceremonies leading up to the unveiling, government officials, descendants of Freedom Seekers, and relatives of Harriet Tubman joined together to celebrate her achievements and her legacy of inspiration. Work is now being done to have a Canadian Commemorative Stamp issued in honour of Harriet Tubman. The American Presidential Medal of Freedom is also being sought by her supporters.

The Harriet Tubman monument in Boston.

Photograph courtesy Gregory Matthews.

Harriet Tubman’s dedication, commitment, and courage, her ability to “keep on going,” no matter what the obstacles, and her genuine concern for others show her to be a woman who made a difference — to blacks, to abolitionists, and to North American history. Her example compelled others to forge their own freedom train or assert themselves in dynamic ways, because if this woman could succeed, many felt that they could too.

The following priceless narrative was provided by a Canadian descendant of Harriet Tubman. It was kept safely among her family’s personal collection since it is the freedom story of their ancestors. If you map out the route, you will note that it was not direct to the shortest entry point into Ontario from West Virginia, adding to the duration and the stress involved in the escape. It is possible that routes were blocked, or that the freedom seekers needed to travel in the opposite direction to throw off suspicion that they were headed to Canada. You will note the strong motivation of the individuals to be together, to seek each other out, and to live in freedom no matter the cost.

The Underground Railroad escape story of Lucy Canada (born: July 10, 1813) and Steven Street, as told by their daughter Henrietta Street (a Canadian Tubman connection).

My mother was born in Parkers Burgh, W.V. in 1813. Her Father’s name was Arion Keneday and her Mother’s name was Milla Canada. Mother had Two Brothers and One Sister, her name was Melinda, Brothers were, William and George. Their owners name was Barnes Beckwith, he being the son of an English Gentleman, by the name of Sir Jonathon Beckwith, broken down by sporting with horses, hounds and cards, and the old man kept a lot of hounds at that time. Mother often said that they were not treated like slaves, but she could not bear the thought of not belonging to herself, especially we Three Children. Our names were, as follows: Henrietta Street, Ellen Elizabeth and Andrew Clarke. Clarke was a favored young “Doctor” of the young ladies. The lady was Miss Jane Beckwith, Miss Mary and Mandy and Penelope Beckwith and Two sons, Barnes and Albert, they were all very kind, but that did not suffice. Father belonged to another man, Billy Neil. I have heard him name two or three different ones, Jonas Lewis and Frank Keene, his home (that was Father’s home) was about seven miles from Mother’s. His master was about to sell him when he ran away, travelling under the name of Frank Hammond, fought his way out of the hands of the oppressor and fled to the Land of Freedom, landing in Canada, at Windsor. Father left his Master’s about six weeks before Mother and three children followed him, her two Brothers and a fellow servant named Nero Bansom, he being so white in complexion that he would venture out to the near by houses to seek aid while we lay in a hiding place while he found friends until we arrived at Astibula. There we got on board a schooner and landed at Point Albino, settled in the neighbourhood of Bertie, then Mother advertised for Father and he came at once. Her Brother George came with her and saw her settled but William went to Malden. In a short time we moved near St. Catharines on a farm of one Peter Smith. There they were converted and baptized by Elder Christian of Toronto and became members of the Zion Church in St. Catharines, so in time they moved to Grand River with the intention of making a home there. And here they found the same God that had brought them from the land of bondage and in that humble cabin they erected an altar to the Almighty God to whom they served with Four others, John Taylor, Rosana Allan, Robert Bailey and Kisie Allan. Then at the age of Nineteen, Mother and Father were married, he was Twenty-six years old.

— From the personal collection of Betty Browne, a Canadian descendant of Harriet Tubman