The Ross family is a significant black heritage in America. Their lineage dates back many centuries ago during the slave trade.
Linah Ross was born in 1808 in Dorchester, Maryland, United States. Her mother, Harriet Green, was 13 years old, and her father, Benjamin Ross, was 18. When Linah Ross was 13 years old, her younger sister, Harriet Tubman, was born. They coexisted on the Maryland tobacco plantation like any other slave family until Linah was abruptly sent South at auction. Harriet Tubman was ten years old then.
About 1822, Harkness Jolley and Linah Ross married in Dorchester, United States. They have two daughters, Kessiah Jolley and Harriet Jolley.
Lina Ross Siblings
Linah was the eldest of nine siblings, including Harriet Tubman. The other seven siblings are; Mariah Ritty Ross, Soph Ross, John Isaac Robert, Benjamin James Ross Stewart, Racheal, William Henry Ross Stewart, and Moses Ross.
Linah Ross and her siblings passed away a very long time ago.
Linah Ross’s Childhood Life on The Plantation
Plantation life was extremely difficult for slaves. Slaves had little to no time or money to spend on themselves because they worked from sunrise to sunset, six days a week. Life wasn’t easy. Nonetheless, most slaves’ spirits remained unbreakable in some way.
Some property owners do take better care of their slaves than others. Yet, it was uncommon for an owner to treat his slaves with genuine warmth or understanding, especially in the Deep South, where Linah was transferred.
A slave lady may be assigned to any of several occupations on a plantation. She could dress those on the plantation if she had the ability to sew. As midwives, slaves helped deliver babies and raised both black and white children. Linah was a good cook. She was in charge of preparing meals for the plantation owner’s household. Although Linah would feel fortunate to work as a “house slave,” these responsibilities would leave her with little free time to raise her own family.
Linah would have opposed the Fugitive Slave Act if she were still alive in 1850 because it made it more difficult for her people to achieve freedom.
Linah Ross’s Younger Sister, Harriet Tubman
Harriet Tubman, born Araminta Ross, lived from March 1822 to March 10, 1913. She was a social activist and abolitionist from the United States.
After escaping from the chattel slave, Tubman embarked on 13 trips to free about 70 other slaves, including her family and friends. She utilized the Underground Railroad, a system of antislavery activists and safe homes. Harriet Tubman yearned fervently to find her missing sister on her risky rescue missions. Yet, there was little hope of ever locating Linah since she had been sold and moved to the Deep South. The first relative Hatt could assist in escaping slavery was Kessiah, the daughter of Linah.
Harriet Tubman worked as an armed scout and spy for the Union Army during the American Civil War. Later in life, she became active in the fight for women’s suffrage.
