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Mississippi Colonization Society

Privacy Level: Open (White)
Date: 1831 [unknown]
Location: Mississippi, United Statesmap
Surnames/tags: Slavery Black Heritage Mississippi
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American Colonization Society
Emigrants to Liberia

Mississippi Emigrants to Liberia

Mississippi State Colonization Society (MCS)

An extensive discussion of the Mississippi Colonization Society can be found in Chapter IX (pages 203-239) of Charles Sackett Syndor's Slavery in Mississippi. [1]

In June 1831, major planters and slaveholders Stephen Duncan (1787-1867), Isaac Ross (1760-1836), Edward McGehee (1786-1880), John Ker (1789-1850), and educator Jeremiah Chamberlain (1794-1851), president of Oakland College, co-founded the Mississippi Colonization Society.[2] Modeled after the American Colonization Society, the MCS published its Constitution in The Natchez Weekly Courier (Natchez, Mississippi) including its list of Officers, as a Auxiliary to the American Colonization Society. Article 2 stated the Society's objective was to "aid the Parental Institution at Washington, in the colonization of free people of color of the United States, on the coast of Africa."[3]

Contents

Officers

The constitution named the following Officers of the State Colonization Society

Mississippi was the 4th colonization society formed and decided to establish its own colony at or near the mouth of the Sino River in Liberia. In 1836, the MCS purchased territory (confirmed on February 27, 1845) by Joseph J. Roberts, agent of the American Colonization Society and Governor of the commonwealth of Liberia.[4]

"In early 1832, free Afro-Americans held a meeting in Natchez to discuss emigration to Liberia. They collected money to send Gloster Simpson, a Methodist preacher, and Archy Moore to Liberia to investigate the advantages and disadvantages of colonization."[5]

On March 4, 1835, the first group of Mississippi emigrants to go to Liberia were landed at Monrovia: most of them settled in Millsburg. Sailing from New Orleans on the Brig Rover, 71 people embarked, all but two from Mississippi. Two were born free, eighteen bought their freedom, and the others were slaves emancipated by Judge James Green or Mrs. Mary Bullock of Adams County, Mississippi.[5]

In 1838, colonists sent by the MCS built the town of Greenville, named after James Green, one of the first advocates of emancipation.[6]

"On May 9, 1843, seventy-one of the slaves left by Mrs. Margaret Alison Reed, of Mississippi, to Dr. Stephen Duncan and the Rev. Zebulon Butler, embarked at New Orleans in the bark "Renown," chartered by the American Colonization Society, for Liberias (sic). Six others, free persons of color from Mississippi, accompanied them, which (one child a few months old having died on the passage to Norfolk,) with three of the same class from Charleston, made the whole company that sailed from this last port, seventy nine. …This vessel, after landed a part of her cargo, unfortunately wrecked at Cape De Verds with much loss, although the passengers were saved, and ...transferred to the barque, Jane, of Massachusetts. … Intelligence of the arrival of this company at the colony, although for some time expected, has not yet arrived."[7]

"Washington City, 8th March, 1844. The Brig "Lime Rock" sailed from New Orleans for Monrovia and Sinou, Liberia, on the 10th inst. She had on board ninety-two emigrants for the colony; of whom seventy-two were sent out by Dr. S. Duncan and Rev. Z. Butler, of Mississippi; fourteen were from Flemingburg, Ky., liberated by the will of the late Thomas Wallace; and six were from the city of New Orleans."[8]

The Mississippi Colonization Society ceased to exist after the Mississippi legislature enacted a law in 1842 forbidding the manumission of slaves by will.[9]

Continued Emigration

In 1852, freed slave Henry Boatner from Centerville, Mississippi, (who listed his occupation as musician) immigrated to Liberia

The same year, husband and wife, Edward and Susan Bolles from Lafayette County purchased their freedom and immigrated to Liberia

In December, G.J. Vick of Vicksburg emancipated eight slaves, who sailed from New Orleans abroad the Zebra in 1852.

Nancy Jenkins emancipated a family of five, who sailed for Liberia in 1853.

Fourteen emancipated slaves from Columbus and one freed slave, James West from Woodville, sailed aboard the Elvira Owens in December 1856.

Source: Dawn A. Dennis (2018). The Mississippi Colonial Experience in Liberia, 1829-1861, The Racial Ideology of Uplift Suasion. All citing Charles Syndor, Slavery in Mississippi, page 230

Slave Owners

Research Notes

ARCJ = African Repository and Colonial Journal

Need profiles for:

  • Isaac R. Nicholson, [1] died 1844 in Hinds MS. [2]
  • Joseph Johnson, 7th VP. Possibly son of Isaac Johnson (abt.1722-)
  • George Potts, Natchez, 9th VP. Believed to be Rev. George Potts (1802 - 1864), born in Philadelphia PA. Removed to Mississippi about 1823. Second Presbyterian pastor to reside at The Manse in Natchez, MS.
  • B. R. Grayson, Secretary. Possibly Beverly Robinson Grayson (1782-1843) — also known as Beverly R. Grayson — Born in Prince William County, Va., September 3, 1782. Member Mississippi territorial council, 1814. Died in Benton County, Miss., July 29, 1843 (age 60 years, 329 days). Interment at Bethany Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery. Political Graveyard, Find A Grave
  • Wm. L. Chew, Manager - [3] Possibly William L. Chew, a wealthy planter, whose only daughter, Miss Sarah R. Chew, married Spence Monroe Grayson in or near Natchez about 1830. Buried in [4]?

Other Potential Sources:

  • Publications of Miss. Historical Society, Vol. IX, 1906. Captain Isaac Ross and Some of His Descendants. Journal of Mississippi History. 9:166.
  • T. M. Wade Clarion Ledger – Jackson Daily News, Sunday, January 28, 1968, Section F. One Copy available in vert. file.
  • Mississippi Reports 6 (Howard 5), pp. 305-362, and Smedes and Marshall 7, 663-698.
  • Prospect Hill Plantation
  • Prospect Hill

Sources

  1. ↑ Sydnor, C. S. (1933). Slavery in Mississippi. D. Appleton-Century Company, Chapter IX, pp. 203-239. The book is available online at https://archive.org/details/slaveryinmississ00sydn/page/n5/mode/2up.
  2. ↑ Wikipedia reference #1: Sullivan, Jo. M. "Mississippi in Africa: Settlers Among the Kru," Liberian Studies Journal Vol. VIII, No. 2 (1978–1979).
  3. ↑ 1831 Newspaper: "Newspapers.com"
    The Natchez Weekly Courier (Natchez, Mississippi) Fri, Jul 8, 1831, page 5
    Newspapers Clip: 19268274 (accessed 9 February 2024)
  4. ↑ African Repository and Colonial Journal, Vol XXI, No. 7, July 1845, p. 222
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Liberian Studies Journal, Vol. VIII, No. 2, 1978 -1979. Published at the Department of Anthropology, University of Delaware. Mississippi in Africa: Settlers Among The Kru, 1835 -18471, article by Jo M. Sullivan, Boston University, citing "Liberia," AR, VIII, 8 (October, 1832), 249
  6. ↑ Sir Harry Hamilton Johnston. Liberia. With an Appendix on the Flora of Liberia, by Dr. Otto Stapf. Hutchinson & Company, 1906.
  7. ↑ https://www.familysearch.org/library/books/idviewer/410553/68 ARCJ, Vol XX, No. 2, Feb 1844, p. 32
  8. ↑ https://www.familysearch.org/library/books/idviewer/410553/161 ARCJ, Vol XX, No. 4, Apr 1844, p. 127
  9. ↑ Natchez Area Family History Book. "Statehood and Prosperity." Turner Publishing Company, 1 Jan. 2004, n.p.

See also: John Kerr Wikipedia article which references:





Images: 2
Mitchell Map of Liberia Colony (1839)
Mitchell Map of Liberia Colony (1839)
Officers of the MCS
Officers of the MCS
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