According to his autobiography, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, Douglass was born in Tuckahoe, near Hillsborough, about 12 miles from Easton in Talbot County, Maryland. His remarkable life started in Aaron Anthony’s Holmes Hill Farm which provided young slaves to the Wye House plantation owned by Edward Lloyd. Generations of Lloyds had built up a considerable fortune since the seventeenth century to be considered one of the most influential and richest families in the state of Maryland.
Frederick Douglass lived in Holmes Hill Farm under the care of his grandmother, Betsey Bailey, who also cared for other young children. His mother, Harriet Bailey, worked twelve miles away in another plantation and only saw Frederick a few times during his life. Douglass lived seven or eight years in Holmes Hill Farm until he was old enough to live in the main plantation, Wye plantation.
Holmes Hill Farm vanished long ago but a marker was erected by the State Roads Commission near the site of his birth. The marker is on Easton Denton Road or Maryland Route 328 prior to the Tuckahoe Creek Bridge which was dedicated to him. His actual birthplace is nearly 4 miles from the historical marker.
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Marker of Douglass’ birth on Maryland Route 328. Click on image to enlarge.
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Tuckahoe Creek Bridge dedicated to Douglass, located near birthplace marker.
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