Maryland Colonization Society

Date: [unknown] [unknown]
Location: [unknown]
Surnames/tags: black_heritage Liberia

American Colonization Society

Emigrants to Liberia

Introduction

The Maryland Colonization Society (MCS) was formed in 1817 as an auxiliary of the American Colonization Society with the purpose of sending free blacks back to Africa. It was led by Charles Carroll (1737-1832) one of the largest slave owner in the colonies. Although he supported the gradual abolition of slavery, he did not free his own slaves.

Also leading the experiment was Margaret Sprigg Mercer (1791-1846). The Schooner Margaret Mercer was named for her. She freed the slaves she inherited from her father on condition they emigrate to Liberia. ^[1]

Between 1821 and 1834 ships sailed from various ports along the eastern seaboard of the United States. In 1834, the MCS founded a territory in West Africa and sent free and formerly enslaved blacks to this territory.

Table of Emigrants
Showing the number of Emigrants sent to Liberia by the Maryland Colonization Society in the several expeditions from 1820 to 1851, inclusive.^[2]

No.	Name of Vessels	Date of Sailing	Year	Maryland
1	Ship Elizabeth's Company	February	1820	. 2
2	Brig Nautilus	February	1821	. 8
3	Brig Strong	Junee	1822	. 25
4	Ship Oswego	March	1823	. 24
5	Schooner Fidelity’s Company	June	1823	. 4
9	Ship Indian Chief	February	1826	. 12
10	Brig Doris’s Company	February	1827	. 12
11	Brig Doris	November	1827	. 65
13	Brig Nautilus	January	1828	. 12
14	Ship Harriet’s Company	January	1829	. 17
16	Brig Montgomery's company	April	1830	. 7
17	Ship Carolinian’s company	November	1830	. 9
19	Schooner Reaper	January	1831	. 6
20	Brig Criterion	July	1831	. 6
21	Schooner Orion	October	1831	. 31
26	Ship Jupiter	November	1832	. 1
28	Ship Lafayette	December	1832	. 144
32	Schooner Margaret Mercer	--	1833	. 1
34	Brig Argus	December	1833	. 12
35	Ship Ninus	October	1834	. 16
36	Brig Rover	March	1835	. 1
88	Liberia Packet	July	1851	. 44
91	Liberia Packet	December	1851	. 30
		Recap:		. 489

In 1834 the MCS founded the black colony "Maryland in Liberia" on the West African coast which was incorporated into the Republic of Liberia in 1857. Active colonization efforts ended after the Civil War, and the MCS finally disbanded in 1902.^[3]

Sources

1. ↑ Margaret Mercer
2. ↑ Thirty-fifth annual report of the American Colonization Society, with the proceedings of the Board of Directors and of the Society, and the addresses delivered at the annual meeting, January 20, 1852 : to which is added an appendix, containing information about going to Liberia ; things which every emigrant ought to know ; Messrs. Fuller and Janifer's report; and a table of emigrants Source: Vanderbilt University Stable URL: https://www.jstor.org/stable/community.28520824
3. ↑ Wikipedia: Maryland State Colonization Society

• Maryland State Colonization Society Case Studies