William Henry Stewart

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William Henry Stewart (Ross)

Also Known As: "Harry"
Birthdate:
Death:
Immediate Family:

Son of Benjamin Ross and Harriet Ross
Husband of Harriet Ann Stewart
Father of William Henry Stewart, Jr.
Brother of John Stewart (Robert Ross); Harriet Tubman; James Stewart (Ben Ross); Mariah Ritty Ross; Moses Ross and 3 others

Occupation: slaves
Managed by: Linda Kathleen Thompson, (c)
Last Updated:

About William Henry Stewart

William Henry "Harry" 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.

Henry Ross (William Henry Stewart) married a free woman named Harriet Ann Parker, the daughter of Isaac and Julia Parker of the Slaughter Creek area.  Harriet Tubman was able to bring Harriet Ann Parker and her two children, William Henry Jr., and John Isaac to Canada. (1)

Sources

  1. http://www.harriettubmanbiography.com/id14.html