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Thomas Elliott and Ann Marie Stewart Elliott House

Thomas Elliott and Ann Marie Stewart Elliott, married in 1864, represent two important Underground Railroad families and stories. Ann Marie Stewart was likely a niece of Harriet Tubman. Thomas Elliott was born into slavery in Dorchester County, Maryland. In 1857, Elliott escaped with seven others using instructions given to them by Harriet Tubman. With a price of $3000.00 on their heads, they were betrayed into the hands of the sheriff of Dover, Delaware. They escaped by throwing hot coals into the sheriff’s own apartment, jumping out of a twelve-foot high window and leaping over a wall. They made their way to Thomas Garrett in Wilmington, Del., who sent them to William Still in Philadelphia. This dramatic escape story earned them the nickname of the “Dover Eight.” Elliott later joined John Brown in St. Catharine’s, Ontario, but did not go to Harper’s Ferry. This house, built in 1868, is also important as a likely example of an African American vernacular architecture form, based conceptually on twelve-foot measurements rather than the 16-18 foot widths more common to Anglo-American vernacular buildings.

Visitor Information: Currently not open to public.

Location: 31 Richardson Avenue, Auburn, Cayuga, 13021

National Park Unit: No

Ownership: Rebecca Moshaty

Location Type: Site

Freedom Seekers: Harriet Tubman