James Stewart (Ben Ross)

Ben Ross is one of the brothers of Harriet Tubman. Tubman and her brothers, Ben and Henry, escaped from slavery on September 17, 1849. Tubman had been hired out to Dr. Anthony Thompson, who owned a large plantation in an area called Poplar Neck in neighboring Caroline County; it is likely her brothers labored for Thompson as well. Because the slaves were hired out to another household, Eliza Brodess probably did not recognize their absence as an escape attempt for some time. Two weeks later, she posted a runaway notice in the Cambridge Democrat, offering a reward of up to 100 dollars for each slave returned. Once they had left, Tubman's brothers had second thoughts. Ben may have just become a father. The two men went back, forcing Tubman to return with them.

For 11 years Tubman returned again and again to the Eastern Shore of Maryland, rescuing some 70 slaves in 13 expeditions, including her three other brothers, Henry, Ben, and Robert, their wives and some of their children.

Ben Ross (James Stewart) married Jane Kane, who was enslaved by Horatio Jones, a neighbor of the Thompson's at Button's Neck in Dorchester County. Jane changed her name to Catherine Kane. (1)

Sources

1. http://www.harriettubmanbiography.com/id14.html (dead link Aug 2014)