She Was Determined to Fight Back!

Our ancestors sacrificed everything and fought relentlessly for the freedoms we enjoy today. Long before emancipation was written into law, countless enslaved people and their allies risked their lives to claim the dignity and liberty that every human being deserves. Their determination gave rise to one of the most remarkable freedom networks in American history — the Underground Railroad, a secret system that helped thousands escape bondage in the South and journey toward freedom in the North (Smithsonian Magazine).

This clandestine network, which developed sometime between the mid-18th and early 19th centuries, was operated by a courageous alliance of freedmen, free Black families, and white abolitionists. These conductors and station masters offered food, shelter, and guidance, often at immense personal risk. Every letter delivered, every coded hymn sung, and every hidden route traveled was an act of defiance against one of the cruelest systems in history (National Park Service).

Yet as the Underground Railroad gained strength, plantation owners began to feel its economic impact — losing not only enslaved labor but also the illusion of control. In retaliation, slave catchers and anti-abolitionists created a sinister counterpart: the Reverse Underground Railroad. Disguised as helpers, these predators infiltrated freedom routes to kidnap free or escaped Black people and sell them back into slavery — often for profit or revenge. The system thrived on deception, and for many freedom seekers, it turned their road to liberty into a nightmare (History.com).

Amid this perilous struggle, a fierce and fearless woman named Aunt Polly Jackson emerged as a defender of the defenseless. Her name may not appear in every textbook, but within the oral histories of the Underground Railroad, she remains a symbol of courage and cunning.

Although much about Jackson’s early life remains unknown, what historians do know paints a portrait of extraordinary bravery. After escaping enslavement herself, Jackson found refuge in a settlement called Africa, Ohio, near Ripley — a key stop along the Underground Railroad. The town was home to many formerly enslaved people who were granted land to start new lives. There, Jackson built a small farm, sustaining herself through hard work and resilience (PBS).

But Jackson’s story didn’t end with her escape. Determined to “pay it forward,” she began aiding freedom seekers who passed through her land. Outraged by the increasing violence of the Reverse Underground Railroad, Jackson decided to fight back — literally. Disguising herself as a harmless elderly woman, she armed herself with two unlikely weapons: a butcher knife wrapped in cloth and a kettle of boiling water. She patrolled the routes near her property, ambushing would-be kidnappers and defending the vulnerable with ferocity and wit. According to oral accounts, her unconventional methods earned her a legendary reputation — a lone woman who made slave catchers think twice before approaching travelers near her home.

Her cabin became a safe haven for those fleeing north, offering temporary shelter, food, and crucial information for the next leg of their journey. Jackson’s direct resistance and unwavering courage inspired others to take similar action, and soon, word spread about the mysterious “Aunt Polly” who refused to let fear win. Her defiance reportedly helped deter slave hunters along that section of the Underground Railroad, a small but powerful victory for the cause of freedom (Same Passage; National Underground Railroad Freedom Center).

While Aunt Polly Jackson’s name may not appear in the same breath as Harriet Tubman or Sojourner Truth, her heroism is a vital part of the broader narrative of resistance and empowerment. Her story demonstrates how one person’s determination — armed with nothing more than household tools and an unbreakable spirit — can change the course of history.

Today, her courage stands as a reminder that freedom was not freely given; it was fought for, tooth and nail, by ordinary people who refused to be powerless. Aunt Polly Jackson’s legacy lives on through every story of defiance, every act of resistance, and every step toward justice.

Because of her, we can.