julia walden pine class May 2010 Harriet Tubman was born as a slave in 1820 or 1821. Harriet and her family lived in Maryland. In 1849 Harriet Tubman ran away from the Brodas plantation. Slave hunters looked for harriet. Harriet walked in the water so the slave hunters and dogs could not follow her tracks. She had disguises so people would not recognize her.