During 1820, a girl named Araminta Ross (Harriet Ross) was born a slave in Dorchester County, Maryland. She lived with her parents and siblings who were also slaves. Araminta started working when she was six as a house cleaner and caretaker for white children. She was auctioned off to different masters, each of which were cruel and abusive. By the time she was thirteen, she was sent to the field to work and haul logs. While she was working there, she suffered a serious head injury that caused pressure on her brain and would affect her for the rest of her life. This pressure gave her the appearance of being stupid and half-witted. Quite on the contrary, however, her brain was always full of busy thoughts. In 1840, Araminta's