Harriet Ross Tubman was born a slave in Dorchester County Maryland, in 1820(or 1821 depending on the source.) There were no records kept about the date of birth of children born into slavery, so there are many guesses that have been listed. She was born with the name Aramita Ross, but her mother’s name, Harriet, became her name as she got older. Before the age of five she was put to work in the house on a plantation, but when she got older she was hired out as a field laborer. When she turned about 11 years old she began to wear Bandanas, as was the custom on plantations, and people started to call her Harriet.1 When she wa