Harriet Tubman: A Love Story Amidst a Life of Courage

Harriet Tubman, a name synonymous with bravery and freedom, is celebrated for her remarkable role as a conductor on the Underground Railroad. Her story is often told with emphasis on her audacious rescue missions that led hundreds of enslaved people to freedom. Amidst these tales of heroism, it is easy for her personal life, specifically her marital history, to be overshadowed. Yet, Harriet Tubman, the fearless liberator, was also Harriet Tubman, the wife and partner. So, was Harriet Tubman married? The answer is yes, and her relationships provide an illuminating perspective into her life beyond her public legacy.

Harriet Tubman’s first marriage was to John Tubman, a free black man, in 1844. Harriet, whose maiden name was Araminta Ross, was still enslaved at the time of their marriage, and this union was what was known as a “brooding marriage.” This meant that Harriet's status as an enslaved woman overshadowed John's free status, rendering any potential children from this union as enslaved as well.

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During their marriage, Harriet changed her first name from Araminta to Harriet, likely as a tribute to her mother, Harriet Green. Their marriage, conducted under the deeply unjust conditions of a society split between enslavement and freedom, was fraught with difficulty.

One of the most poignant parts of their story comes in 1849 when Harriet decided to escape from enslavement. According to several accounts, John did not share Harriet’s dream of moving north and living as a free person. Some historians speculate that he may have feared the consequences he would face if Harriet was caught attempting to escape.

Others suggest that, as a free man, he may not have felt the urgency that Harriet felt regarding escape. Whatever the case, when Harriet fled for her freedom, she had to make the painful choice to leave John behind. After her escape, she returned to Maryland in hopes of bringing him to the North, but found that he had remarried and was unwilling to leave.

Years after her devastating discovery, after the turmoil of the Civil War and after her time as a Union spy, nurse, and cook, Harriet settled in Auburn, New York. It was here, in a town that became a haven for many formerly enslaved people and prominent abolitionists, that Harriet found love again. In 1869, she married Nelson Davis, a man nearly 20 years her junior, who had served in the United States Colored Infantry during the Civil War. They had met during the war when Harriet was working as a nurse and Davis was a patient. Despite their age difference, the bond between them was strong, and they spent over 20 years together until Davis's death in 1888. Their marriage was marked by deep affection and mutual respect. In 1874, they adopted a daughter, Gertie, further solidifying their family unit.

In letters and documents from this period of her life, we catch glimpses of Harriet as a devoted wife and mother. While her public life was defined by her courage and relentless pursuit of justice, her private life was also marked by love, family, and commitment. In her time with Davis, she found not just a partner, but a confidant and supporter in her continued work for the rights of black Americans and women.

So, yes, Harriet Tubman was married—twice, in fact. Each of her marriages tells us something different about her life and the times in which she lived. Her first marriage, to John Tubman, speaks to the gut-wrenching choices that enslaved individuals had to make regarding family and freedom. Her second marriage, to Nelson Davis, shows us a different side of Harriet—a woman finding personal happiness amidst her tireless fight for the freedom and welfare of others.

In conclusion, Harriet Tubman’s marital life offers an intimate look at this iconic figure. Her marriages, set against the backdrop of a life spent fighting against the inhumane institution of slavery, humanize her in a profound way. They remind us that behind the towering figure of Harriet Tubman, the liberator, was also Harriet Tubman, the woman, who navigated love, loss, and partnership in extraordinarily challenging circumstances.