Harriet Tubman’s Children, Daughter: Who Is Gertie Davis? Family, Harriet Tubman is a well-known figure in American history, as she was an abolitionist, activist, and humanitarian who helped free hundreds of enslaved people through the Underground Railroad. However, not many people know about her family, particularly her daughter, Gertie Davis. In this article, we will explore who Gertie Davis was and her relationship to Harriet Tubman.
Gertie Davis was the adoptive daughter of Harriet Tubman and her second husband, Nelson Davis. She was adopted in 1874 after Harriet and Nelson got married in 1869. Harriet’s first husband, John, stayed in Maryland instead of following his wife north, later remarrying. Gertie was born in 1874, and she was raised by Harriet and Nelson as their own child.
Despite being born into slavery, Gertie was fortunate enough to have Harriet as her mother. Harriet was a strong and influential woman who instilled her values of freedom and equality into her daughter. Gertie grew up to be a remarkable woman who made significant contributions to the Civil Rights Movement in the United States. In the following sections, we will delve deeper into who Gertie Davis was and her relationship with Harriet Tubman.
Harriet Tubman’s Family Background
Harriet Tubman was born into slavery in Maryland in the early 1820s. She was one of nine children born to Harriet Green and Benjamin Ross. Her parents were enslaved, and Tubman was raised in a world where she and her family were considered property. Despite this, family was incredibly important to Tubman, and she maintained strong ties with her relatives throughout her life.
The Importance of Family in Tubman’s Life
Tubman’s family was a source of strength and support for her throughout her life. As a child, she was close to her mother and father, and she cherished the time she spent with her siblings. Even after she escaped slavery and became a conductor on the Underground Railroad, Tubman remained connected to her family. She helped many of her relatives escape slavery and often brought them to live with her in the North.
Tubman’s Marriages and Family Ties
Tubman was married twice in her life. Her first husband was John Tubman, a free black man she married in 1844. The couple was married for five years before John remarried. In 1869, Tubman married Nelson Davis, a Civil War veteran. The couple remained married until Davis’s death in 1888. Tubman did not have any children with either of her husbands.
Tubman’s family ties extended beyond her immediate family. She was close to her brothers and sisters, as well as her nieces and nephews. She also had a close relationship with her great-niece, Margaret Stewart. Stewart was the daughter of Tubman’s niece, and Tubman helped raise her. Stewart later became an important figure in the suffrage movement, following in her great-aunt’s footsteps as an advocate for women’s rights.
Overall, family was a crucial part of Tubman’s life. Despite the challenges she faced as a slave and as a black woman in the 19th century, she remained connected to her relatives and worked tirelessly to help them gain their freedom.
Gertie Davis: Harriet Tubman’s Adopted Daughter
Adoption and Relationship with Tubman
Gertie Davis was born in 1874 and was the adopted daughter of Harriet Tubman and her second husband, Nelson Davis. Gertie was adopted after Harriet and Nelson got married in 1869. Harriet’s first husband, John, stayed in Maryland instead of following his wife north, later remarrying.
Harriet Tubman was a legendary figure in the abolitionist movement, known for her work as a “conductor” on the Underground Railroad, helping slaves escape to freedom. She was also a nurse, spy, and suffragist. Harriet and Nelson lived on a 7-acre farm in Auburn, New York that she had purchased in 1859 from William H. Seward, future secretary of state to Abraham Lincoln.
Gertie was one of nine children born to Harriet “Rit” Green and Ben Ross, who were both enslaved by different owners. Rit was owned by Mary Pattison Brodess, while Ben was owned by Anthony Thompson. Rit and Ben were married around 1808 and lived together until 1823 or 1824, when Rit and their children moved to the Brodess farm.
Gertie Davis’s Life and Legacy
Gertie Davis was a very poor and uneducated woman, and it is unlikely that she had children of her own. She lived with Harriet Tubman and Nelson Davis on their farm in Auburn, New York, until she was married. Gertie was married to a man named John Bowley, who was a farmer.
Gertie Davis passed away in 1942, and little is known about her life after she left the Tubman-Davis household. She is remembered as the adopted daughter of an American abolitionist and political activist, Harriet Tubman, and war veteran, Nelson Charles Davis.
Gertie Davis’s legacy is closely tied to that of Harriet Tubman, and her story serves as a reminder of the importance of adoption and family ties in the face of adversity.
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