The Ben Ross Homeplace

The Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) supports transportation related archaeology projects that benefit the traveling public and descendant communities.

In the fall of 2020, the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) partnered with the Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge to locate the archaeological remains of Ben Ross’ home. Ross was the father of Harriet Tubman. He was enslaved by Anthony Thompson on a large farm on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, south of Cambridge. Historical documents mention the approximate location of Ross' cabin and the ten acres he lived upon after Thompson’s death.  

Using archaeological survey methods and clues from old deeds, MDOT archaeologists found and excavated Ross’ homeplace. They worked in the wet conditions for four years, often struggling to keep the water out of their holes from sea level rise. During the dig, they gave tours and presentations to the community. Some family descendants visited the site and participated in the dig. 

The hundreds of artifacts collected from the site will be curated at the Maryland Archaeology Conservation Laboratory and can be loaned to museums for exhibits. The archaeologists continue to share the findings of Ross' home in presentations, publications, and through initiatives like this virtual museum. Here, the visitor can learn about the archaeology site, the material culture of Native People, and the artifacts left behind by Ross and his family. 

The Ben Ross Homeplace is an archaeological site located within the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge in Dorchester County, Maryland. Historical research and archaeological surveys have led MDOT archaeologists to conclude this site was the home of Ben Ross, the father of Harriet Tubman.

During the late 18th century, Anthony Thompson, one of the wealthiest men in Dorchester County, settled here and eventually acquired around 1,000 acres of land.  ¹   He used enslaved and free labor to harvest timber, raise livestock, and manage grain crops. In the early 1800s, he partnered with neighboring landowners and invested in the improvement of Harrisville Road to accommodate the transport of lumber and goods to Indian Landing. He also supported the building of Stewart's Canal, a waterway that linked the Blackwater River to northern markets, including Baltimore.  ²   

Among Thompson's enslaved labor force was Ben Ross. Ross worked primarily as a timber foreman, supervising the cutting of trees by other enslaved and free laborers. He may have also worked on the construction of Stewart's Canal. ⁴  

When Thompson remarried in 1803, his new wife, Mary Pattison Brodess, brought enslaved people, including Rit Green, to live with her on Thompson's property. ⁵  The joining of the Thompson and Brodess families resulted in the serendipitous union of Ben Ross and Rit Green in 1808. ⁶  The couple would go on to have 9 children including Araminta "Minty" Ross who would later marry and take on the name "Harriet Tubman". ⁷  

Shortly after Tubman's birth, around 1822, Thompson's stepson, Edward Brodess, left his farm and settled on Brodess family property in Bucktown. At this time, he brought the enslaved people he inherited from his mother, Mary Pattison Brodess, to the new farm, including Rit Green and her children. Ben Ross, still enslaved by Thompson, remained in the forested wetlands along the Blackwater River, several miles west of Rit and their children on the Brodess property in Bucktown. ⁸  

When Thompson passed in 1836, his Will manumitted Ross five years after his death. In addition, Thompson allowed Ross to live upon ten acres and use the wood on the farm to support himself. Thompson's Will places Ross' home along Harrisville Road.   

The unusual gesture of allowing Ross to remain at his home was likely a way for the Thompson family to continue to generate income through Ross' supervision of logging and operations at the Indian Landing after his manumission.

Historical documents gave archaeologists clues on where to look for Ross' home. One land deed referenced his place below the fields on the road down to the Blackwater River. These details provided archaeologists a search area. Being down by the landing allowed Ross to supervise the transport of timber.

Around the time of Thompson's death, Tubman returned to work in Madison for the Stewart family driving oxen in their fields, loading cargo on ships, and cutting and hauling timber. ¹² It's possible Rit Green, along with several of her children, returned to live with Ben Ross. ¹³ The 1840 U.S. federal census lists Ben Ross' household with one male aged 0-10, two males aged 10-24, one male aged 36-55, one female aged, 24-35, and one female aged 36-55. The young males were likely his sons Henry, Ben, and Moses while the women were likely his wife Rit Green, and one of his daughters, either Minty (later, Tubman) or Soph. ¹⁴ Additionally, Tubman stated during her tenure working for the Stewarts she lived "much with her father and mother". ¹⁵  Here, Tubman learned how to navigate the wetlands of Maryland's Eastern Shore, a skill that helped her repeatedly navigate herself and others north to freedom.

Thompson willed his land to his sons, who sold much of it to John D. Parker by the mid 1840s. Ross left his homeplace by 1850 to work under Anthony Thompson Jr. in Caroline County. ¹⁸  The artifacts and historical records indicate Indian Landing was used until at least 1868. ¹⁹  Ross' home appears to have been lived in by someone else for a short period of time after he left.

Archaeologists systematically excavated small holes within their search area. After a two-week survey, they recovered a handful of broken glass and ceramic sherds dating to the 19th century. They returned in the spring and continued to excavate finding additional domestic and structural artifacts (e.g., pottery sherds, nails, brick, and window glass). These artifacts along with the historical documents confirmed the discovery of Ross' homeplace.

These small artifacts were the first ones found to indicate archaeologists were close to the Ben Ross homeplace. The artifacts are small from vehicles and heavy logging equipment treading across the site up through the early 21st century.

Archaeologists dug a series of 5 foot by 5 foot square holes to find evidence of a house and other buildings. These excavations recovered numerous artifacts dating to the first half of the 19th century. In addition, they found post holes for structures and lines of bricks belonging to buildings. 

Click the arrow on the right to see archaeological evidence of buildings.

Ross' home was likely a post in ground structure or a log house set on brick piers. Single family homes for enslaved people often measured 16 feet by 18 feet. ²⁰  The interior likely had one room on the ground floor with an unheated loft above for sleeping and/or storage. ²¹ 

The artifacts below are common kitchen items from the 19th century. Historically, women controlled the kitchen and prepared meals. These domestic artifacts represent activities that were essential in building the social dynamics and relationships that defined the homeplace. ²³  While enslavers provided some household products, such as dishware or buttons, many enslaved people bartered for and purchased goods using money they earned by hiring themselves out. They also secured items through trade and earned money by selling eggs, fish, or produce. ²⁴ 

Vibrantly decorated ceramics reveal the preferences and perhaps even the cultural affiliation of the people who used these vessels. The shape and function of dishware can tell us about their foodways.   Artifacts such as pot-polished animal bones, the remains of copper and cast iron cookware, and bowls suggest they may have cooked one pot meals using wild and domestic animals, broth, and vegetables. Tea cups may have been repurposed as scoops for these soups and stews. ²⁵  

Scroll down to see photographs and 3D models of artifacts from Ben Ross’ home. The links on the left take you to complete examples of the artifacts.

The following artifacts represent personal belongings lost or discarded by people at the Ben Ross Homeplace. These items reflect their identity and status in addition to the chores, tasks, and furnishings needed to construct the sanctuary of home for Ross' household.

Archaeological evidence suggests the site of Ben Ross' homeplace was first used as a campsite by Native People as early as 3,000 years ago during the Early Woodland Period (3,250 to 1,950 years before present). This time is characterized by an increase in long term settlement in coastal areas for fishing, the gathering of marine resources such as oysters, and the rise of farming. ³⁶  Native Peoples first developed ceramic technology at the beginning of the Early Woodland Period to prepare, store, and transport food. ³⁷  Prior to the adoption of ceramic technology they carved soapstone vessels, wove baskets, or crafted animal skin containers for these tasks. ³⁸  Native Peoples in the Chesapeake traded for goods such as stone and copper with groups as far away as the Ohio Valley. ³⁹  The Nause-Waiwash Band of Indians are the descendants of the Algonquin speaking Nanticoke people and still live in the area today. For more information on the Nause-Waiwash Band of Indians today click on the following link below.

Archaeologists learn about these first Marylanders from what they left behind. Centuries before Ben Ross lived here, Native People used this area as a campsite because of its location at the confluence of the Blackwater River and a small creek. This environment offered transportation corridors, fresh water, and a variety of life sustaining plants, fish, and wild game. The presence of pottery sherds tells us Native People processed, transported, and stored foods taken from the fertile area along and within the Blackwater River. Stone flakes and tools crafted from materials such as chert and jasper were gathered locally from small cobbles or traded in from the north and west. ⁴⁰  Copper beads and gorgets (pendants), recovered from other sites near the Blackwater Wildlife Refuge further illustrate these Early Woodland trade networks. ⁴¹  The artifacts below represent Early Woodland Period people's craftsmanship and lifeways.

The Nause-Waiwash have given permission to share the following images of their material culture for educational purposes.

To see more artifacts from the Ben Ross Homeplace visit our Sketchfab page