Harriet Tubman Lived Next Door

When I started this blog, one of my first stories was on Penelope Van Princess, my relative who is the only person ever known to survive a scalping by Indians. It has been one of my most popular posts. Since this is Black History Month, I thought you might be interested in reading about one of my other relatives and our family connection to one of the most famous black women of all time, Harriet Tubman. 

This family portrait of Benoni Insley Ives is dated 1861.

When I was growing up we spent summers with my grandparents in New York state. Grandma would serve us tea or lemon-aid on her porch, and tell us stories of our long lost relatives. One of those stories was rather secretive, really only a rumor. The secret? That her grandfather, our Great, Great Grandfather, lived next door to Harriet Tubman and was involved with the Underground Railroad. What a story it was! Grandma had lots of antiques that belonged to this man, and my mind would think up lots of stories with him writing and planning escape routes with Harriet. But, we never really knew any more about Grandma's story. Apparently, her family never told Grandma any details of what happened, or she was too young to know what could have been dangerous details at the time. But, WHAT IF????

 A couple of years ago, we were traveling east through New York State, and I decided to to take a little side trip to Auburn, to investigate this long rumored story myself. We had been studying the Civil War Era, and reading Freedom Train: The Story of Harriet Tubman (which by the way is a great book), and I decided that a visit to Harriet's homestead would bring this story to life. I couldn't stop thinking about Grandpa Ives and his connection to the Underground. Somethings you just accept as truth, some things you just have to KNOW things are true for yourself. This was one of those things.

This is Harriet Tubman's home. It is now a museum, and unfortunately for us it was closed the day that we visited. But, we were fascinated to discover that Harriet's home was just down the street from the church where Grandpa Ives had been a Minister. 

The Seward Mansion in Auburn, NY. Photo courtesy of www.sewardhouse.org.

On the very same street, lived another famous person, President Lincoln's Secretary of State, William Seward. The Seward Mansion made me think of even more possibilities this rumor was true. WHAT IF???

WHAT IF Harriet came through Auburn, NY for the first time during one of her trips to Canada? WHAT IF, she happened to seek shelter in the back of the church where Grandpa Ives was a Minister? WHAT IF, Grandpa Ives found her and helped her? WHAT IF Grandpa Ives worked directly with William Seward, under Abraham Lincoln's direction, to help Harriet be successful in her rescue missions?

It is known that the Seward family was widely opposed to slavery, and that their home was indeed a stop on the Underground Railroad. It is also known that Seward not only helped Harriet Tubman with the Underground Railroad, but the Seward family sold her the land Harriet built her house on down the street. I visited the mansion website, where they have free downloadable unit study materials on the Underground Railroad. These are wonderful study guides! Interestingly enough, the Seward Mansion greatly endorses the recent "Lincoln" movie. I would also greatly recommend it. They do a great job of depicting Lincoln and Seward's relationship.

Seward was nearly murdered in April of 1865, when he was stabbed in the throat while bed ridden from a carriage accident. A conspirator of Lincoln's assassin John Wilkes Booth, named Lewis Powell attempted to kill Seward by stabbing him in the throat. Amazingly enough, Seward recovered to continue his political career, including his influential purchase of Alaska which became known as "Seward's Folly" in 1867. 

The Seward Mansion is open daily for tours in Auburn, New York if you happen to be traveling through the area. I would also recommend visiting the Harriet Tubman house down the street. When you drive by, be sure and take note of the big stone church where Grandpa Ives was Minister. Just think of the possibilities!

WHAT IF???

Linking up today to Trivium Tuesdays.

Designer Mom