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BIOGRAPHY

Elder

LOTT CART,

LATE MISSIONARY TO AFRICA.

By

J.

B. TAlTIiOB,

Pastor of the Second Baptist Church, Richmond, Va.

W&ii^ an ^ppenflij: on

tije

subject of (jlolonfjatfon,

By

J.

H. B.

LATROBE,

Esq.

President of the Maryland State Colonization Society.

ALTIMORE:
J.

ARMSTRONG & BERRY

W. Woods,
1
print.

H37.

ii

COPY-RIGHT SECURED, ACCORDING TO LAW.

/^
KEVV Y(_ /jPUDLIC LIDrtARY'
tj

/.:.tor,Lencxrndriidj?

v\

Founjations.

y/

CONTENTS.
Preface,
Page 5

Lott Gary's birth

mond vicious
Taught
to read

early history removal to Richcharacter conversion,

.
.

10

interesting circumstances connect11

ed therewith,

Begins preaching
ledge,

makes

great advances in knovt^-

12
abilities for business,
.

Unequalled

13

Purchases his freedom

second
&,c.

marriage
. .

salary
.

ambition to be useful,

.14

His feelings aroused

Africa

for the spiritual condition of

formation of the Richmond Missionary Society,

.....
from

African
15
.

Struggles between worldly advantages and duty,

ib.

Determines

to

remove

to

Africa

correspondence
17

relating thereto,
Is patronized

by the American Colonization Society

and recognized as a missionary by the Baptist

General Convention
Board,

instructions

their
'

Farewell sermon in Richmond, Ordained and set apart, along with Collin Teage, as
missionaries to Africa, and their correspondence
relating thereto,
.
.

....
. .
.

21

23

26,

26

ir

CONTENTS.
Page
for,

Departure

and
.

arrival in, Africa,

.27
32
33

Letter from,

Sickness and

trials

death of

his

wife, and letter

concerning,

Appointed health
Letter from,

officer,

35
36
. .

Opinion of him by the General Agent,

.37
.

Kind

feelings and charities to the emigrants

39
.

His participation in some acts of insubordination,

Letter from,

40 42

Becomes physician

for the

colony

44 46

Interesting letters from,

.
.
.

.^48 Account of native man John, Requested by the American Colonization Society
.

to visit the

United

States,

and

governor, Mr. Ashraun,

....
letter

from the
57
61
.

Disappointed in his

visit,

and

iettei"S

concerning

it,

Resolutions of the Baptist General Convention,

Elected Vice-agent of the colony,

Letters from,

Acting Governor of the colony,

Extracts from his Journal,

....... ....
... ....
...
of,

...

65
66

67, 72

74 75 78
84

Copy

ot

deed with the African kings,

Celebration of the 4th July,

Extracts from his letters,

85
92

His death

further account

Tribute to his

memory by

the

Richmond African

Missionary Society,

summary

of his character,

....

93

95

Appendix

^^

PREFACE.

That

Africa has peculiar claims on the symis

pathies of the Christian world,

beginning

to

be

admitted by
idle
It

many who have

hitherto remained

spectators of her degradation and misery.

well occasion surprise and regret, that

may

these

claims have indeed will

been
it

so

long

disregarded.

Difficult

be to

make

full

amends

for

the injuries she has received from civilized nations,

yet

some atonement may be given by

pouring upon her dark shores the light of divine

truth,

and aiding her to

rise

and occupy that

entitled.

position to

which she

is fairly

VI

PRteFACte.

One

of the most effectual means of elevating

is

the moral condition of Africa,

to be found in

the encouragement of intelligent and pious col-

ored

men

to

locate in different portions of her

wide-spread territory.

Though white men may

and ought

to enter this field, yet the indications

thihs far,

of Providence,

have been

in favor of

making our
ments
in this

colored

brethren the chief instru-

labor of love.

The

author of the following pages has indulged

the hope that in presenting the

memoir of Lott

Gary, he might, in more respects than one, render

service to this important
object.

If

he
a

shall

awaken among the benevolent,

interest

in general,

new

on behalf of Africa, or rouse any of his

colored brethren, in particular, to feel an obligation to labor for

her salvation, he will be amply

preparing this work for the press.
prayer to God, that

compensated
Tt
is

in

his ardent desire, and

Africa

may be

saved

nor

is

he alone
in

in

cher-

ishing these feelings.

Thousands,

every sec*

PREFACE.

Vii

tion of our country, are supplicating the Divine

throne on her behalf.

May

that time speedily-

come, when, her deserts

as the rose.

shall rejoice

and blossom

BIOGRAPHY.

That God
as
well

is

no respecter of persons,
it is

is

a truth

established, as

grateful to the generis

ous mind.

No

complexion or condition

thrown
for
in

beyond the pale of divine benevolence,

Christ Jesus "there
barian,
is

neither Greek, nor Jew, barfree.''

Scythian,

bond nor

While the

rich*s of redeeming love

all,

may be
all

shared alike by

there

is

also a very equitable distribution of

classes of

intellectual

endowments among

men.

Like the pure gold buried amidst baser metals, the

mind, vigorous
in
itself,

may

be allowed by him

who

gives

it

existence to remain undeveloped and

or,

unimproved
stances, he

under most unfavorable circumto action, energies

may wake

which

for

a time have lain dormant, and exhibit to an ad2

10

BIOGRAPHY OF

miring world, the spectacle of intellectual and

moral greatness, unaccompanied by the

wealth, or the polish of etlucation.
hibition
is

tinsel

of

Such an ex

furnished in the subject of this sketch

Lott Gary was born a slave about the year 1780

thirty miles below the, city of

Richmond,

in

the

county of Charles City.

nently pious

His father was an emi

member

of the Baptist denomination

and

his mother, although

unconnected with any

church, gave pleasing evidence that she had pass

ed from death unto

life.

He was

their only child

From

the character which his parents sustained

is left to

no room
Lord.

doubt that they endeavored to

bring him up

in

the fear and admonition of the

Nothing can be learned of

his early history.

Whether
special

in the davs of childhood and vouth, he

intellect, or
realities,
is

exhibited indications of vigorous

seriousness on
eternal

of
not

known. In the year 1804, he was removed from his

native county to the city of Richmond, and

em-

ployed asa commonlaborer

in
lie

the

Shockoe tobacco

warehouse.
dissipated
in

At

that time

had bocome rather

his habits,

being frequently intoxi-

cated, and allowing himself to indulge in profane

swearing.

He became

increasingly vicious for

LOTT CARY.

11

two

or three years after his settlement in

Rich-

mond.

But the reign of iniquity was cut short by

the interposing hand of omnipotent grace.

Havto the
in

ing been led to the discovery of his ruined condition as a rebel against the skies,

he turned

Lord with

full

purpose of heart, and rejoiced

Christ Jesus as the Saviour of sinners.

An

im-

mediate and remarkable change was discovered in

his
life.

He whose

tongue was wont to profane

the

name

of the Most High, was

now taught

to

address him in accents of prayer and praise.

He

was baptized by Elder

the
first

Jolin Courtney, and joined

tlie

Baptist church in

city of

Richmond

in the year 1807.

At this time he was exceedingly ignorant, not knowing even the alphabet. The circumstances
which
led
to

the improvement

of

his

mental

powers were somewhat remarkable.

agent, who, in

They were

doubtless under the superintendence of an invisible

his

wonder working power

great results by

and mercy, designed

to effect

means of

this illiterate slave.

He

often chooses

"the weak things of the world to confound the

things that

are mighty, and

base things of the

world, and things which are despised, hath

God

chosen; yea, and things which are not, to bring

12
to

BIOGRAPHY OF
nought
thinjTS that are, that

no

flesh

should

glory in his presence."

Being a regular attendon

ant on the ministry of Elder Courtney, he heard

his pastor deliver a discourse on one occasion,

the conversation between Christ and Nicodemus,

and became so deeply interested

contained
in

in the rich truths

that portion

of the sacred

pages,
it

that he determined to
for

become

qualified to read

himself.

Accordingly he procured a Testaletters in the

satisfied until

ment, and commenced learning his

chapter referred
to,

nor did he rest

he had accomplished his purpose.

Some

assist-

ance was rendered by young gentlemen, at the

warehouse, and in a short time he was able with
distinctness
to

read the third chapter of John.

He

soon afterwards learned to write.

this period

About

he began to hold meetings

people of Richmond, and to

among

the colored

exhort them
sufficient

to flee the

wrath

to

come.

After a

trial

of his capacity to be useful as a

public speaker, the church encouraged ercise his gifts in preaching the gospel.

him

to

ex-

Not only

did he labor
city of
try.

among

those of his
all

own

color in the

Richmond,

but in

the surrounding coun-

He now

applied himself diligently to the imhis

provement of

mind, and for several years

LOTT CARY.

13

made advances

in

knowledge. His leisure time at

it is

the warehouse was employed in reading, and

said that a gentleman on one occasion taking up

a book which he had

it

left for

a few moments, found

to

be

"Smith's Wealth of Nations."

While

thus engaged in storing his mind with valuable

information, he was kindly assisted by two or three

benevolent individuals,
in his prosperity.

who

took a lively interest

interest in

While an increasing

the

work of preaching
his services

the gospel was cherished,

he became more and more respected, and useful

in

at

the

warehouse.

brother
states

who was
''that

intimately acquainted with him,

his services at the

warehouse were highly

estimated, but of their real value no one except a

dealer in tobacco can form an idea.

Notwith-

standing the hundreds of hogsheads that were

committed

to

his charge, he
it

could produce any

for;

one the instant

was

called

and the ship-

ments were made with a promptness and correctness, such as no person, white or black, has equalled in the

same

situation.

For

this correctness
fre-

and

fidelity,

he was highly esteemed and

quently rewarded
dollar note.

by the merchant with a

allowed, also, to

five

He was

sell for his

14

BIOGRAPHY OF
benefit,

own

many

small

parcels

of

waste

to-

bacco."

In the year 1813, having by rigid economy

accumulated a considerable sum, with the

ance of the merchants
to

assist-

whose

interests

he had

been devoted, he purchased the freedom of himself

and two children,

first

for

8850.

He had

pre-

viously lost his

wife by death, and about the

year 18 15, was married a second time.

He now
left

received a regular salary, which from time to time

was

increased; until the year before he

it

the

warehouse,

amounted

to

$800 per annum. made frequent purown acnumber of twenty-

During

this

period, he also

chases and shipments of tobacco, on his

count: in one instance to the
four hogsheads.

In his history thus

far,

the ennobling influence

of the gospel

is

pre-eminently seen.
fire

Not only

is

he snatched as a brand from the

of perdition,

but his whole moral and intellectual character be-

came most

astonishingly elevated.

He began

to

feel the true dignity of his station, as a

redeemed

sinner, and to be inspired with a holy ambition to

make

his influence beneficially felt in this apostate

world.

Some

time ab^ut the year 1815, he was, to a

LOTT CARY.
great extent, instrumental in awakening
his colored brethren in the city of
lively interest

15

among

Richmond, a

on behalf of the spiritual condition

after the formation

of Africa.

This was shortly

of the Baptist General Convention.

intelligence
his reach;

Missionary

was

at different

times placed within

and

his

own

heart becoming affected

by the miserable condition of the heathen world,

he soon communicated something of
ings to those by
his

own

feel-

whom

he was surrounded.

This
Afri-

resulted in the origination of the

Richmond

can Missionary Society, which

for several years

contributed from one hundred to one hundred and

fifty

dollars for the African mission.

efforts.

But he was
re-

not satisfied with these

The solemn
felt

sponsibility of carrying, in person, the

words of

everlasting

life,

was most deeply

by him. The
and

word of the Lord was

it

like fire in his bones,

could not be resisted.

The

struggle between

worldly advantage, and an imperious sense of duty,

was long and desperate. was comfortably

On

the one hand, he

settled in his native state;

was

the possessor of a small farm, and, high in the

confidence of his employers and the public generally,

was receiving

for his

services a

handsome
af-

salary; beside, he

was the object of universal

16

BIOGRAPHY OF

ection, as a preacher

among

the people of his

own

color; they exercised almost

in

unbounded confidence

him.

On

the other hand, the facilities for labor-

ing in Africa, were far from being numerous; the

climate was sickly, and there was a strong probability that

he would early

fall

a victim to the Afri-

can fever.

But none of these things moved him;

to leave
all,

he was willing

and

to venture all for

Christ, and for the sake of those

who were

perish-

ing for lack of vision, in a far distant land.

When

a ministering brother inquired,

termine to quit a station of so

why he could demuch comfort and

usefulness, to encounter the dangers of an African

climate, and hazard every thing to plant a colony

on a distant heathen shore;

effect: "I

his reply
in this

was

to this

am
I

an African, and

country, how.

ever meritorious
character,
I

my

conduct, and respectable

my

cannot receive the credit due to either.

I

wish to go to a country where

shall

be esti-

mated by
I feel

my

merits, not by

my

complexion; and

bound
to

to labor for

mv

sufiering race."

He

seemed

have imbibed the sentiment of Paul,

and to have great heaviness and continual sorrow

in his heart, for his brethren, his

kinsmen accordhis

ing to the flesh.

When

it

was ascertained by

employers, that he was contemplating a removal

LOTT CART.
to Africa, they offered to raise his salary to
if

17

$1000,
this in.

he would remain

in this

country.
in

But

ducement had no influence

of duty.

changing

his

views

Early

in the

year 1819, the Journal of Messrs.

Mills and Burgess, in their exploring agency for

the

American Colonization

Society, on the coast

of Africa, was published; and, also, several letters

from colored residents

at Sierra

Leone, inviting

the free colored people of the United States to

come and
Teage,
to

join them.

These produced an imCollin

mediate determination in Lott Gary and

remove

to Africa.

The

following exto

tract of a letter, written

by Mr. William Crane

Rev. O. B. Brown, of Washington city

then a

member of the board

of managers of the

A merican
means of

Colonization Society, and also of the board of the

Baptist General Convention-^was the

their becominoj connected with both these bodies.

It is

dated

''Richmond,

March

28th, 1819.
I

"You
who

will

probably recollect, that

introduced

you to two of our colored brethren in this place,

are accustomed to speak in public: one

named

Collin Teage, the other Lott Cary.

Ever since

18

BIOGRAPHY OF

the missionary subject has been so

in this country, these

much

agitated

two brethren, associated with

many
and
1

others, have been wishing they could, in

some way,

aid their

unhappy kindred

in

Africa;

suppose you have

heard of their having

for this sole purpose.

formed a missionary society

Some They

letters published in

No. VI. of the Lumieffectually.

nary, have
are

served to

awaken them
to

now determined
will
it

go themselves

to
in

Africa; and the only questions with them are,

what way

be best for

them

to

proceed? and
to

what previous steps are

requisite

be taken?

They
study
ties,

think
first.

it

necessary to spend some time in

both possess industry and abili-

They
as,

such

with the blessing of Providence,

rich.
It is but

would soon make them

two or three

years since either of them enjoyed their freedom;

and both have paid large sums

for their families.

They now
to

possess but

little,

except a zealous wish

go and do what they can.

little

Brother Lott has a

wife and several

little

children.

He

has a place a

below Richmond, that cost him $1500, but

will probably not sell for

more than $1000,

at this

time.

Brother Collin has a wife, a son of fourteen

years of age, and a daughter of eleven, for

whom

he has paid $1300, and has scarcely any thing

LOTT CARY.
left.

19

Both

their wives are Baptists; their children,

amiable and docile, have been to school considerably; and

service.
I

hope,

if

they go, will likewise be of

Collin

is

a saddler and harness maker.

He had no

early education.

The

little

that he

has gained, has been by chance and piece-meal.

He has judgment, and

ation as almost

as

much keenness

of penetra-

any man.

He

can read, though

he

is

not a good reader, and can write so as to out a letter.

make

The

little

knowledofe he has

of figures, has been gained by

tions in business.

common

calcula-

Lott was brought up on a farm;

and for a number of years has been chief manager

among

the laborers in the largest tobacco

warehouse

in this city.

He

has charge of re-

ceiving, marking, and shipping tobacco; and the

circumstance that he receives $700 a-year wages

may help you to form an estimate of the man. He reads better than Collin, and is, in every They have been trying respect, abetter scholar.
to

preach about ten or eleven years, and are both

''They would be glad to receive the patronage

about forty years of age.

of some public body, and wish advice

ceed.
I

how

to pro-

had thought of addressing the Correstheir behalf, for the patron-

ponding Secretary on

20

BIOGRAPHY OF

age of the American Baptist Mission Society; but

again thought,
that

the Colonization

Society
their

might be pleased with taking them under

care,

and that their mission might bear a more

this society

imposing aspect under the auspices of

than
it

would with the Baptists alone. But should

they
feel themselves attached to the mis-

they go under the Colonization Society,

would

still

sion cause,

and would wish some connexion with

the general board.

We

are

desirous of your
little

thoughts upon the subject.

In a

time they
to Sierra

can be ready
Leone, but
their

to engage.

They would go
to
I

will

submit that
It

the decision

of

patrons.

would,

suppose, be some-

where between the

Their object
is

tropics, on the

western coast.

to carry the tidings of salvation to

the benighted Africans.

their color will be
fulness.
I

They wish

to

be where

no disparagement

to their usex\frican

suppose

the funds of our

Mission Society here, after their next meeting,

on Monday
six

after Easter, will

probably amount to
believe the society

hundred

dollars, wliich

will be willing to appropriate to the aid of their

brethren, should they go.

Brother Bryce

will

also write to you on this subject."

On

the

presentation of this

letter,

they were

LOTT CARY.
immediately received as emigrants by the board of the Colonization Society, and at the meeting of the board of the Baptist General Convention, in
April, they were both recognized as their missionaries; a variety of obstacles,

however, prevented
1821.

their departure

till

January,

The year

1820 was devoted

to study with

a view to their
foliowino- brief

future usefulness in Africa.

The

extract from the instructions of the board of the

convention, deserves a place here.

''Philadelphia, Jan. 6, 1821.

"The board
States, to

of managers of the General Con-

vention of the Baptist denomination in the United

their colored brethren

Collin

Teage
have
to

and Lott Gary, present the assurance of their

sincere and
affectionate

esteem.

They

heard with pleasure,

sail

that,

by a vessel about

from Norfolk to the coast of Africa, an

is

opportunity

presented for accomplishing those

benevolent desires which, for

many months
At
the

past,

you have been

in a country

led to entertain.

same

time,

they possess a deep anxiety for your preservation,

where so many colonists have recently

found a grave.

They most

fervently

you

to

the gracious protection of that

commend God in

22

BIOGRAPHY OF
is,

whose hand your breath

your ways.

and whose are

It

all

May you make

the Lord your refuge,

is

even the Most High

source of

youi- habitation.

a be

much encouragement,

that

you

will

able to collect useful information from the expe-

rience of your predecessors; and

it is

hoped

that,

by the advice of your brethren

who have

already
will

reached the shores of your forefathers, you

be enabled to adopt the most prudent measures

for the health
lies.

and

safety of yourselves and fami-

"The board

earnestly

recommend, what they

cheerfully anticipate, that your conduct before

your fellow passengers on the ocean, be pious and

exemplary.

Endeavor

to

secure their good will

all,

by every

office

of kindness; and, above

cherish

and discover a solemn concern

ing salvation.

for their everlast-

Arrived

in

Africa, you will find

much

that will require patience, and prudence,

and mutual counsel.

prejudices, that have

You

will

have

to

bear with

descended on the minds of

truths of the gos-

the inhabitants, after having been cherished for

ages, and to
instil

the sacred

pel with

meekness and wisdom.

shall

While your
the doc-

conduct

be without blame, the board advise

you, in your ministry, to dwell

much on

LOTT CARY.
trine of the

23

cross, a

doctrine which has been

found in every age of the church of Christ, the

power of God.

"They pray
Christ

that the

grace of our Lord Jesus

with
the

sail or settle with you; and that American Colonization Society, and all its

may be all who

with you, with your famiUes, and

sister institutions,

may

be rendered instrumental

in diffusing literary,
light,

economical, and evangelical

to the

from the Mediterranean

Cape of Good

Hope, and from the

Indian Ocean.

x\tlantic to the

Red Sea and

"By

order of the board,

Wm. Staughton,
Within a few days
letter,

Cor. Sec'y."

after the reception of this

for the field of

an opportunity of sailing

their labors occurred.

Elder Cary delivered a

farewell

sermom

in the meeting house of the

First Baptist church,

season.

Richmond.

It

was a melting
of them sor-

His auditors hung with intense earnest-

ness upon his parting words,

many

rowing that they should see

his face no

more.
32.

His discourse was founded on Romans

viii,

"He

that spared not his

for us all,

own

Son, but delivered

also,

him up

how

shall

he not with him

24
freely give us
all

BIOGRAPHY OF
things."

His sermon was well

arranged throughout, was entirely clear of the

senseless rant too

ored preachers.

common with many pious colHe spoke with a deep sense of

the weighty character he had assumed

and

en-

larged particularly, with amazing pathos on th3

freeness of the salvation disclosed in his text.

He

urged as an example worthy the imitation of men,

the amazincj love of

God

in

not withholding his

own

Son,

when
to

a race of miserable sinners

were

exposed
dwelt

the-

curse of his violated law, and

much on

the disinterested and immeasura-

ble sacrifice
It is to

which the Father of spirits had made.

be regretted that portions of this discourse

it

could not have been preserved, as

those

is

said

by

who were

present, that

it

contained

many
about

touches of the true sublime.

In the close of his

sermon he remarked
to leave you,
I

in substance:

"I

am

and expect

to see

your faces no more.

long to preach to the poor Africans the

way of
befall

life

and salvation.
I

don't

know what may

me, whether

may

find

a grave in the ocean, or

among

the

savage men, or more nor

savage wild

beasts on the coast of Africa;

what may become of me.

and
I

I feel it

am 1 anxious my duty to go,

those

very much

fear,

that

many of

who

LOTT CARY.
preach the gospel
in this country, will blush

25

when

the Saviour calls them to give an account of their

labors in his cause, and tells them,
'I

commanded
thrilling

you

to

go into

all

the world, and preach the gospel

the

to every creature;' and with

most

emphasis, looking round on his audience, he exclaimed, the Saviour

may

ask,

where have you

been? where have you been? what have you been

doing? have you endeavored to the utmost of your
ability to
fulfil

the

commands

gave you? or have

and your own

you sought your own

ease, regardless of

gratification,

my

commands?''
for
in

Collin Teage,

who was

many years
preaching,
in

fre-

quently associated with him

and

about Richmond, and whose opinion

may

deserve

some weight, was

preacher he was

in the

habit of saying soberly,

that he considered his brother Cary, the greatest

in the

habit of hearing.

They

were both publicly ordained and

set apart as mis-

sionaries to Africa, in the First Baptist church in

Richmond, of which church they were both members.

few days before he sailed he wrote,

in

conjunction with Elder Collin Teage, to the cor-

responding secretary of the board, as follows:

3*

26

BIOGRAPHY OF
^^Richmond^ January llth, 1821.

"Rev. and dear

sir,

We
much
to

have no other way

to express

our gratifeel

tude to the board but through you.

rejoiced that

We

very

we have now
upon

to

communicate

you, that our long beclouded prospect of getus.

ting to Africa, has opened

We

expect

to leave here with our families to-morrow mornino^

on our way

to Norfolk, there to

remain but a very

sails for

few days, before we shall hoist our

Africa

in the brig Nautilus, with our bibles,

sils,

and our uten-

and our hopes

in

God our
to

Saviour.
will

"But we must not omit

beg that the board

receive our thanks for the assistance

we have

re-

ceived from them, and particularly for the

very

kind letters

we have

received from you this day;

and we are happy

to inform

them

that

through

their favor, and the kindness and assistance of our

friends here,

we

think

we

are supplied with what

may
more

be necessary for our comfort for some time,

especially, as

we understand,
at

that provisions
to write

are supplied by government.

to

We expect
for

you when we arrive

our destined

place, and

will always be grateful to

you

any communica-

LOTT CARY.
tions

27

you

may

send us.

Yours, in the bonds of

the gospel,

LoTT Gary,
Collin Teage."
"Rev. Dr. Staughton."

On

the 23rd of January, with his companions,

in the

he sailed

Nautilus for the coast of Africa.

to

In bidding farewell

his

beloved friends the

ten-

morning he

left

Richmond, he manifested a

derness of spirit united with a dignity of manner,

becoming one who was

aijout to take

to sustain the character

of a missionary of the cross.

The

step he

was

was not

to

promote his own aggran-

dizement; nor was he influenced by some sudden

impulse of feeling.

He

had counted the cost*

He

actually

made a

sacrifice of all his worldly posto

sessions,

and was prepared

meet even bonds and

heart.

death, in carrying out the purpose of his

All this

he indicated when he gave the parting

hand

to those he

was no more
an

to behold this side

in the

the grave.
spectacle

There was a moral sublimity

left

which

impression

on some
their

hearts never to be erased.

They reached

destination after a passage of forty-four days

the

following letter addressed to Dr. Staughton refers

28
to their safe

BIOGRAPHY OF
arrival

and

the

prospects of the

mission.

''Free Town,

March

l^th, 1821.

"Rev. and dear sir,

I

am happy

that an

opportunity

is

now

af-

forded, to inform the board through you, that

all

we

arrived safe in Africa.

We

had a long passage

pre-

of forty-four days, yet

we were wonderfully

served by the great ruler of the winds and seas.

Our
as

captain informed us that he was never so long

1

out with less apparent danger.

suppose

we had
deaths,

much

sea sickness as

common, but no
old,

except a child about a year

child of Mrs. Coker.
ship's
It is

the youngest
to see

not

common

crew as orderly during a long passage, as

those on board of the brig Nautilus.

You must

know, that any captain having on board, men,

women, and
ter;

children, has a great deal to encoun-

and unless he has the fear of God or his own

the
too

credit at heart, he will follow

common
men

habits
tain

among seamen.
his

But notwithstanding caplost,

I

Blair had

bcckets
in his

and the

women, and children

from
his lips,
I

way,

must say, that

never heard one word of profane

swearing during the passage.

He

often received

LOTT CARY.
things
tain, I
I

29

more

like

a Christian than a seafaring capwill

hope the board

pray tor him.

atn truly sorry that the hopes of the board,

to

cannot be realized, as
for,

our missionary labors,

as

it

pleased you to have us connected with

the Colonization Society, and the agents of the

society upon their arrival here, finding their pros-

pects of getting lands very gloomy, so

that they

much

so,

disowned us as

colonists;

and the govern-

ment's agent had captured Africans, for

whom

he was bound, by the laws of the United States,

to

procure a place, in order to settle them, or until

there can be a

more permanent settlement obme-

tained, the agent received us as laborers and

chanics, to be settled with them, in order to

preparation for the reception of others;

make we are

therefore bound to the government's agent.

He

has rented a farm, and put us on

cultivate
it

it,

and we must

for our support, and for the support of

these Africans; and pay as

can.

much

of the rent as

we

And
I
it

as this obligation will last

until lands

are purchased by the agents of the Colonization

Society,

am

greatly afraid

it

will not

end soon;

and

until

does end, our mission labors will be

very few.

Jesus Christ our Saviour when he

came

on his mission into this world, was often found

30
with a broad axe

BIOGRAPHY OF
in his

hand; and

believe a good

many corn

field

missionaries would be a great

is

blessing to this country, that

if

they were not

confined to the field by the law and by necessity.

We

are bound by both.

converse very freely

it

with you on this subject, because with me,

is

very important one, and because of the interest

which the board has taken

sufl'ers for

in this mission.

Africa

gospel truth, and she will suffer, until

missionaries can

be sent, and settled in different

parts of her continent.

"I have not been able to write any information

relative to the state of the country,

which can be

of

much

use to the board.

in the

intend taking a small

excursion

country, but cannot promise

when
wife

that will be, as the rains will set in soon,

is sick,

my
1

and we are desirous

to get

a small crop on
pre-

the way, as early as possible.

These things

sume home

will be a sufficient preventive to

for six

my

leaving

months

to

come.

however have

the promise of
far as the
I

some

friends to take
I

me down

as

Bagroo, as soon as

believe that just over on the

am ready to go. BuUom side is a

among
is

beautiful field for miss onary labors,

the

Mandingoes, and that labors might be extended

at once
to advantage,

because there

a regular

LOTT CARY.

31

trade carried on with the natives of that country,

and the people of

this place.

They have

not only

acquired some knowledge of the English language,

but some of their habits also: and as they are

dependant on

this place for trade,

any traveller or
safe,

any

settler

among

tliem,

would be perfectly

so long as they fear that the injuring of the mis-

sionary or settler would have a tendency to interrupt their trade with this place.
therefore, settled

missionary,

among

them, would have every

means

in his hands,

and would have a right, under

expect a rapid spread of
that a subject of so

the blessing of God, to

gospel truth.

It is

strange

much

importance, and which appears to be so

practicable, should be so

much

neglected.

If

you

intend doing any

thing for Africa you must not

wait for the Colonization Society, nor for govern-

ment, for neither of these are

in

search of misif it

sionary ground, but of colonizing grounds;

should not sow missionary seeds, you cannot ex-

pect a missionary crop.

And, moreover,

all

of us

who

are connected with the agents,

who

are under
to their

public instructions,

must be conformed

laws whether they militate against

operations or not.

missionary

"I have been wonderfully blessed, as to

my

32

BIOGRAPHY OF
had a day's sickness since

health: for I have not

1 left

America.

But

my

wife \e{t

America
it is

sickf

she has not had her health since, and

doubtful with me,

very

how her
all

sickness will terminate.>

Please,
sir,

My

children

are

very well.

to

make my

respects to the board.

left

"Before we

the United States,

we formed

ourselves into a church, consisting of seven

bers.

memit

We

adopted the constitution of the San-

som
is,

street church.

This

little

body, small as

has appointed Lord's day, 22d, to commune.'*

This

letter

was written a^hort time subsequent

on the coast of Africa.

to his arrival
riod, the

At

this pe-

American Colonization Society possessed

were authorised
purchase the

no territory; andalthough their agents, who sailed

in the Nautilus,
to

most

eligible

site,

and commence a settlement

immediately, they

were unsuccessful

until

the

close of the year 1821.

permanent location

as at length
in

made

at

Cape Montserado, some time

During
tliese

the

year

1822.

intervening

months, Lott Gary, with the other colonists, re-

mained
to

at Sierra

Leone.

Here he was subjected

Before he
left

many

severe

trials.
all

America,
outfit.

he had expended

his

property in the

The

Baptist Board of Missions, beside one hundred

LOTT GARY.
dollars for books, appropriated
lars for the use of Collin

33

two hundred
himself.

dol-

Teage and

This

sum was soon exhausted during

ness and trials they experienced.
necessities

the severe sick-

Such were

his

while at Sierra Leone, that he was

to

compelled

learn the coopering, business, and

make

tubs, buckets, &;c.

which he

sold at Free-

town, for the support of his family. But, as a minister of

Jesus Christ, he was not inactive.

useful

He

was not only

among

the colonists, but suc-

ceeded in establishing a mission among the Mandingoes, a tribe to which he alludes in the fore-

going
done.

letter.

Here

it

is

hoped some good was

The

severest affliction through which he

his stay at the

was brought, during

ment, was the
health
illness

English

settle-

and death of his wife.

left

Her

was

delicate

when they
at

America, and

she continued to decline, until she was removed to

a better world.

She died

Fourah bay.

Con-

cerning her

last

moments, he writes

in the follow-

ing most affecting strain:

"During her
less there
I

illness, (as I

had concluded that un-

was

a very great change, she would die,)

endeavored

to

keep her mind up, by frequent conI

versation

on divine things.

often

questioned
I

her about the state of her mind; but 4

always

34

BIOGRAPHY OF

found her steadfast on the rock Christ.

before she died, (in the afternoon,) she called

to her

The day me
die;
I

bed side, and said that she should

it

said to her,

is

not hard

work

for the child

is

of

God
him.

to die,
I

when Jesus
her

Christ, his Son,

with

asked

respecting the state of her

mind, or where was her confidence; she calmly

replied,
it

is

in

Jesus Christ, and then repeated,

"I

am

not afraid to trust

I

my

Master;

am

not

afraid to die.''

observed to her, that the few

years

we had been together, had been spent in love and peace, and now I am about to sustain the
greatest loss
I

can sustain

in

this world,

except

my own
account:

soul; but yet

for,

do not be unhappy on

my

seeing the afflictions which you have

already gone through, and believing you will be

freed from

them

all

freely give

you up

into

the hands of your best beloved. And, by this time,

we

both were in a flood of tears, which shortened

our conversation.

She

left

the world with

uncom-

mon

serenity.

few minutes before she died,

three chil-

she lay very

much composed, and my

dren were in the room, as usual: she requested

them
but
to

to retire,

and shut the door, which they

did;

my

oldest daughter, Fanny, being very anxious

know

the

meaning of it, returned

in

a few min-

LOTT CARY.
utes,

35

and found her without a struggle or a groan,

last in

breathing her

the

arms of death, and

fell

peaceably asleep in the arms of Jesus

before our

daughter could get information

ple."

to

any of the peo-

Though he had
believe

the most abundant reason to

that she slept in Jesus, and

was happily
sin,

removed from a world of vexation and

brighter and holier climes;
still,

to

the separation

was most

painfully

felt.

In a land of strangers,

with a family of children growing up around him,

he seemed indeed
and consolations.
tained, he

to

be bereft of earthly supports

not been divinely sus-

Had he

must have sunk beneath the pressure of

.

calamities so numerous and heavy

ever,

The Lord how,

was

his portion,

and he could rejoice

at

in

him.

When a purchase
serado,

had been made

Cape Mont-

some time during

the year 1822, he re-

moved
little

thither with his family, and

became one

of the most spirited and active members of that

community.

He

was, in the earliest organ-

ization of the colony, appointed health officer

and

government inspector.

Here a new
heavier
trials

field

of action

was opened, and

found
in

still

awaited him.

In assisting to form the colony at the Cape, he

it

a most exposed condition, with tribes

36

BIOGRAPHY OF

of hostile savages, seeking the earhest opportunity

to exterminate

the settlers.
in the

He now saw

it

ne-

cessary to throw

whole weight of

his influ-

ence and example,

to sustain the infant colony.

is to

To
to

him, more than any other man,

its

be attri-

buted

salvation.

Fear seems not

for a

moment

have entered his bosom, nor did he utter a

to return.

single sentiment expressive of desire

On

the contrary, his spirits were buoyant with a

to

hope amounting almost

assurance, that

God
all

would prosper the work of his hands.

times he was cheerful, and happy.

At

Even amid

the

most perilous season

he thus writes

in the history

of the colony,

to a friend in

America, describing

Cape Montserado:
has the best water,
the coast of Africa.
days.

"It

is

a delightful spot, and be found on

all

I believe, to

Here

expect to spend

my

You

will be pleased to let as

this, as

many

of the

brethren see

you can.
until

"My
time

health has been very good,

I

some

in last April.

was taken the second day

days, but

of the palaver with the fever, which continued

very severe
lost

for

about

five

have not

a day's work since that time.

If you think

of coming out, you need not fear, for you will

find as fine

a spot as ever your eyes beheld; the

lOTT CARY.
best
for
fish that
I

37
It is certainly

ever saw.

beautiful

place.

You can

see as far as the organ

of vision will allow, over the face of the country,

on one

side,

and on the other, to the sea.

all

"My
tell

love to
to

the brethren and friends, and

at all times in their

them

remember me

prayers, and pardon

personally, for
I

me

for not writing to

them
is

have not time; our work

walls of Jerusalem.
all

al-

most

like building the

We

have to carry our axes

all

day, and our muskets

night,

can write no more at present, only

wishing that your souls

may

prosper in the Lord.

My

love to

all.

have never turned

my

face

towards America as yet.

protect

Farewell, the

Lord

you and

yours.''
life,

In giving a short sketch of his

the general

agent of the American Colonization Society furnishes a tribute of praise

to

his conduct

on this

trying occasion, which was, no doubt, richly merited.

He

says,

"On

his arrival in Africa, he

saw

before

him a wide and

His

interesting field,

demand-

ing various and energetic talents, and the most

devoted piety.

intellectual ability, firmness

of purpose, unbending integrity, correct judg-

ment, and disinterested benevolence, soon placed

him

in

a conspicuous

station,

and gave him wide

4#

38

BIOGRAPHY OF
dif-

and commanding influence. Though naturally

fident

and

retirincr, his

worth was

too evident, to
It is

allow of his continuance in obscurity.

well
in

known

that great difficulties

were encountered

founding a settlement at Cape Montserado.

appalling were the circumstances of the
tlers, that

So

first set-

soon after they had taken possession of

it

the Cape,
to

was proposed

tliat

they should remove

of Mr. Gary
to

Sierra Leone.

The

resolution

was
and

not to be shaken;
his decision

he determined
effect
in

stay,

had great

persuading

others to imitate his example.

During the war

with the native tribes, in

November and Decemand vigorous supthat

ber, 1822, he proved to be one of the bravest of

men, and

lent his well directed,

port to the measures of Mr.

Ashmun, during
to

memorable defence of the colony. It was that Mr. Ashmun was principally indebted
ony, at a

him

for as-

sistance in rallying the broken forces of the col-

moment when

fifteen

hundred of the

exasperated natives were rushmg on to exterminate the settlement.

In one of his letters he

compares the
Montserado

little

exposed company on Cape

Jews, who,
in

at that time, to the

in re-

building their city, 'grasped a

weapon

one hand,

while they labored with the other;' but adds, em-

LOTT CARY.
phatically,
'there never has been

39
an hour, or a

minute, no, not even

when
I

the balls were flying

around
in

my

head,
''

when

could wish myself again

America.'

At

this early period

of the colony, the emigrants

were peculiarly exposed; the want of adequate

medical attentions, and
supplies, subjected

the scantiness of their

to severe

them

and complicat-

ed sufferings.
ings,
in his

To

relieve, if possible, these sufferall

Mr. Cary availed himself of

information
cli-

power, concerning the diseases of the

mate,
assist

made
the

liberal sacrifices of his

property to

poor and distressed, and devoted his

to the destitute, the sick,

time almost exclusively

and the
It

afflicted.

becomes the duty of the bioorapher

circumstance \\hichis here stated
to

to

menthe

tion a

in

language of the individual reSerred

above:

"He was one

to

of those

who appeared

at that time

have

lost

confidence in the Society, and

who

ventured to throw off those restraints of authority,

which, though severe, were deemed

absolutely

necessary for the general safety of the settlers.

In the ninth chapter of the memoir of Mr. Ash-

mun, we have given some account of the origin

and
progress of that
spirit

of insubordination,

40 which
finally

BIOGRAPHY OP
resulted in an abduction, by a few
stores, in

individuals, of a portion of the public

open violation of the laws. Mr. Gary had no small

influence and share in
this seditious proceeding.

In communicating the account of this disturbance

to the board,

Mr. Ashmun remarks, 'The services

in

rendered

by Lott Gary

the colony,

who

has,

with very few (and those recent) exceptions done

honor

to the selection of the Baptist

Missionary
to

Society, under

whose auspices he was sent out

Africa, entitle his agency in this affair, to the

most

indulgent construction

it

will

bear.

The hand
it

which records the lawless transaction, would Ions

since have been cold in the orave, had
for the

not been
this

unwearied and painful attentions of

individual, rendered at
tion,

all hours, of every descripand continued for several months.' "

The mutinous proceedings

is

to

which allusion
criti-

here made, were the result of peculiarly

cal circumstances.

He was

compelled,

to

some

extent, to act the part of a mediator

between the

exasperated colonists,
injured,

who and Mr. Ashmun,

considered themselves
the governor.

While,

for the moment, he might seem

ly,

to act injudicious-

he possessed too much noble and generous

feeling to be gnihy of a dishonorable act.

More-

LOTT GARY.

41

over, the accounts of these transactions, as far as

we have
the

seen them, have come from only one of

parties concerned.

We

have heard from a

source to be relied on, that Mr. Gary justified,

generally, the course he had pursued

and while
memory
if

we

cherish the highest regard for the

of

the excellent Ashmuii, as well as for Mr. Gurley, his biographer,

we

feel

assured that
it

Mr.

Gary's statement could

very
affair.

now be obtained,
complexion

would
Rich-

much

vary the

of the whole
in

During Mr. Gary's residence

mond, his character, among the most respectable merchants of the city, was entirely above suspi-

And he had given ample proof, as Mr. Ashmun declared, that he cherished the most arcion.

dent devotion to the colony, and would sooner

have sacrificed
l^rests.

life itself

than jeopardized

its in-

As soon

as

Mr.

Ashmun had

issued a

circular,

addressed to the colonists, Lott Gary

his pledge to aid in sus-

came forward and gave

ty of the laws.

taining the authority of the agent and the majes-

Notwithstanding the unsettled

state of the col-

ony, and the active part he was compelled

take in
its

to

general interests, he never forgot the

appropriate duties of the minister and mission-

42
ary.

BIOGRAPHY OF

He

labored to promote the spiritual interest

of the church at Monrovia, and to give instruction in the rudiments of the gospel to the re-cap-

tured Africans
ships,

who had been

letter,

taken from the slave

and placed
following

for protection in the colony.

The

written about this time to

Mr. Wm.

Crane, (who, from the

commencement
and the de-

of his ministry, had

been his principal adviser

and friend,)

will indicate his spirit,

gree of success which had thus far followed his

labors.

^^

Monrovia, August IQth, 1823.

"Dear
1

brother,

have just time

to let

you know that

am

well,

by the Cyane, as she leaves here

1

this even-

ing.

wrote

to

you by the

Fidelity.

Our Sun-

day school, and missionary school, both go on

and
as
it

prosper: although our

number
to

is

not as great

has been.

*'l

have made a

visit

up

Grand Cape Mount;

in

and, while there,

lost

no time

endeavoring to

determine

what was the prospect of getting a

school on the
desirous that
1

way among them.

shall establish

They

are very
I

a school there.

LOTT CARY.
think, if the board*
year, after that time
will
it

43

support a school one

may be conducted with

all
I

very

little

expense: and

am

waiting for

is

books, and the opinion of the board on the subject.

Please lose no time in getting books sent

field for

on

for this object, for that is the largest

labor on this part of the coast.

^

heart

is

set fully

on the
is

field there.

There
I

Any man, whose work, may find a rich young man here that
I

promises well; him

it

expect to send up after

get

established.

Our
of

little
I

church has been wonderfully blessed

baptized two yesterday; one the Sunthat.

late.

day before; and three the Sunday before

If the

Board of Missions ever intend

is

to

send a

missionary to Africa, now

the time, and

Grand
letter;

Cape Mount
and he has
that
I

is

the place.

have the king's

my

promise for a teacher.

He knows
perform
to
it.

look to you to enable

me
I

to

May
to

the Lord protect us both.

hope

come

your next annual meeting.

Yours,

LoTT Gary."
There are no materials on hand
formation concerning the
efiJjrts

furnishino-

in-

of Elder Gary

He alludes here to the Board of the Richmond African Baptist Missionary Society, of which Mr. C. was
Cor. Sec'y.

44

BIOGRAPHY OF
year 1824.

in the mission field during the

But

the providence of

him, about

this

God seems to have opened for time, a new sphere of usefulness.

Although
sick
in

He became
many

the physician of the colony.

to

he had previously administered

instances, yet

the

now he became

their only de-

pendance.

On

the 13tli of Feb. 1824, the ship

Cyrus arrived from the United States with one

hundred and

five

emigrants, in good health. But,

all

within four weeks,

were smitten with disease.

^Astonishing," says Mr.

Ashmun,
all

"that

in

this

atmosphere there should exist causes, so universal

in their operation, as,

amongst

the varieties of
in

age, sex, and habit, not to leave one

the whole

number without
weeks."
It

disease, and that in less than four

said, in this deplorable state of

was

things, that the only individual

who

could act the

part of a physician, was Lott Gary,

whose

skill

resulted entirely from his good sense, observation,

and experience.
of the
tific

He

had gained much knowledge

medicine, from scienat various times, vis-

human frame and of practitioners, who had,

ited the colony.

His attentions were rendered

successful in the restoration of almost the

whole

number.

During

this

summer, the agent of (he Ameri-

LOTT CARY.
can Colonization Society, made a
visit to

45
Liberia,

and, as he says, "enjoyed, during the few days he

remained there, frequent interviews with Mr. Gary. He appeared to welcome the return of Mr.

Ashmun

at that time.

He

entered most cordially

into the views of the agents in regard to the es-

tablishment of a
readily
it

new form

of government.

He

comprehended the principles upon which was organized, and entirely approved of them. Seldom has the writer met with an individual of
a more active or reflecting mind.
to realize the greatness of the

He appeared
in

work

which he

had engaged, and

spirit

to

be

animated by a noble

of zeal and resolution in the cause of his

afflicted

and perishing brethren.

His services as

physician were invaluable, and were then, and for a long time afterwards, rendered without hope of
reward.''

The

following letters, addressed to Mr. William

Crane, are highly interesting.

They

exhibit the

spirit of their author, in connection with his mis-

sionary labors.
larized by the
ties

His heart did not become secu-

numerous and pressing worldly duin his

devolving on him

endeavors to sustain
its

the colony and to promote

prosperity.

The

cause of his divine Master, and the eternal welfare 5

46

BIOGIIAPIIY OF
all

of his fellow men, were at

times objects of

paramount importance.

''Monrovia^ [Africa,) Jan. I6th, 1825.

"Dear brother,
I

am

glad

that an opportunity
lines,
I

is

afforded to

hand you a few

in

which
hope,

leave

me and mine
you enjoyI

good health; and,

may

find

ing the blessings of a favorable Providence.

have not much (but

still

something,
I

think) worth
last,

communicating.

Since

wrote you

the
T

Lord has
converts;

in

mercy

visited the settlement,

and

have had the happiness to baptize nine hopeful

besides,

number have

joined

the

Methodists.

The

natives are

more and more

awaken.

friendly; their confidencebegins to

They

see that
tilities

it is

our wish to do them good, and hosI

have ceased with them.

have daily ap-

plications to receive their children, and have ven-

tured to take three small

boys; to find clothes,

and pay

for their attendance at the

day school

two from Grand Cape Mount, and one from Little

Bassa; the two former are very promising, but the other
is
I

slow to learn, yet a fine

boy.

Two

of

them,

was obliged

to send

home, ten days ago,

LOTT GARY.
in

47

consequence of sores, which they had; but they

return as soon as they are cured;

will

and, in

order to establish

my

confidence in their return-

ing, they refused to take their clothes with them.

Our Sunday school that the Lord will

still

goes on, with some hopes

it

ultimately bless

to the

good

of numbers of the untutored tribes.

The

natives

attend our Lord's day worship, quite regularly.

We
got

have commenced bringing out our timbers

meeting house, and have
the large timbers on the ground, but
shingles, nails,

for the building of our

all

we

shall

want boards, which you

window

glass,

&;c. of

will please to collect

what you
respects to

can, and send out.

Please

make my
same

the board, and accept of the

for yourself

and family.
"1

am

yours, very dearly,

LoTT Gary."

"Monrovia, (Liberia,) Africa, April Ath, 1825.

"Very dear
I

brother,

have a short, but very interesting communi-

caton to

make

to you.

The

13tb of March, be-

ing the Lord's day, was blessed to us as a day of

good news from a

far country.

[It

was on

this

48

BIOGRAPHY OF

day that the Hunter arrived, with sixty colonists

from America.]

Early

in tiie

morning, the church

met

to

hear the relation of a poor heathen,

believe that God,
sins.

who

was

led to

for Christ's sake, had

is

pardoned his
all

His name

John

he came
who
be-

the

way from Grand Cape Mount,

down
to

about eighty

miles,

Cape Messurado,

to be baptized,

having heard that here was a people

lieved in Christ, and practised baptism.

He

stated

that about three years ago, he had spent three or

four months in Sierra Leone, being sent there by

his father, to learn English.

During

his contin-

uance there, he got about three months' schooling;

and

it

was

so ordered, that he
it

portunity to go to church, and

to direct

made an oppleased the Lord

following
is

some word from

the

mouth of old Hector

Peters, to his idolatrous heart.

his

The

own relation, without being asked any ques'When me bin Sa'Lone me see all man tions: go to church house me go too me be very bad man too. Suppose a man can cus (curse) me me can cus 'im too suppose a man can fight

me

me

can fight 'im

too.

Well,

me go
his

to

church

house

the

man
go
to

speak, and one word catch

my

heart, (at the

breast)

same time laying

hand on his

my home

my

heart be very

LOTT OABY.
heavy, and trouble
fear

49
time come,

me

too

nijrht

me
to

me

can't

go

to

my

bed for sleep,

tell

my

heart

trouble

me
fall

so

something

me, go, pray

God; me
bad,
I

down

to pray: no,
I

my
I

heart be too
die

can't pray
I die

suppose

think so
to
hell

go

go me be

now

very bad

man

pass

all,

pass

all

turror (other)

me soon I die me this time me can't cus 'im no more supme can't fight 'im no more pose man fight me all day, all all the time my heart trouble me night me can't sleep by and by my heart grow too big, and heavy think to night me die my heart so big me fall down this time now mQ me say, Lord, have massy then light can pray ome in my heart make me glad make me make me light -make nie love the Son of God
be angry with

man God suppose man cus

love every body.'

"This

is

his

own

relation, without being

I

asked
to give

any questions, and

be strong

have no time now,

you either the questions or answers.

peared
to
in

He

ap-

the faith of the Son of God.

He

received his impressions about

three years

ago, at Sierra Leone

the knowledge

and

while there, he got

three

of his letters after about

months advantage of schooling,

5^

his relations called

50

BIOGRAPHY OF

him from Sierra Leone to Grand Cape Mount where he now lives. He however took along with him a spelling book, and he continued praying,
and trying
the
trip to
spell

and,

providentially, one of

men

belonging to our settlement, went on a

in

up there

a boat, the boat got

lost,

and he
fell

himself carried ashore by the waves, and

the hands of this native man, John

into

who treated
all

him with a great

deal of hospitality; and

for,

he

charged or asked him

was a Testament, which

him.
if

he fortunately had, and gave

seem,
in the

It

would

course of events, as

he was sent

there on purpose to carry the word of God, to

this

man.

Since that time, which has been about

to

a year ago, he learnt

read the bible without

Spirit of

any teacher, except the

God.

He

has

learnt to read middling correctly, and he has read

and meditated on the different subjects of

until

religion,

he found

it

was

his

duty

to

be baptized,

when he came down

pose, and

to

our place for that purI

gave the relation which

I

have given
1,

you above.

must now say, what was

But
I

that

could withstand God?

for

thought,

in

order
it

a more public notice of his baptism,

it

was

best to postpone

to the next

Lord's day, which

was the

20th, and

was a day which should ever

LOTT GARY.
be remembered at Cape Messurado.
ing, the native

51
In the morn-

Sunday school met, and your valua-

ble

present of clothes, books, &lc. were opened

laid

and

before the children, with tears of grati-

tude to God, and thanks to you.

Our

teachers

and assistants

set to,

and

in

a few minutes the

face and appearance of our school

was changed

having eighteen boys neatly dressed, and wearing

every appearance of civilized and improved children.

When we

turned out our school, and marched

streets,

them through our

it

and returned to church,

appeared to

me

as if the restoration and salva-

tion of this ruined

and degraded people had comin the

menced. After preaching,

tized the native
in

morning,

bap-

the

afternoon,

man John; and after preaching we had the honor to break

bread in the house of God, with our newly arrived brethren from America, and our newly baptized brother.
it

need not

tell

you, for you

was a day of joy and gladness.

know The church

suit

made up

a contribution, and neatly dressed our

heathen brother John, gave him an extra

clothes, gave
to

of

him fourteen
also gave

bars,

(a bar

is

equal

seventy-five cents,) and

he went on his way

rejoicing.

We

him

three bibles, and

two hymn books.

52
Dear brothor

BIOGRAPHY OF

fell

the board [the board of the

Richmond African Missionary Society; of which, when it was established in 1814, and till he went
to Africa,

he was a most prominent member] to

in

be strong in the Lord, and

mi<Tht: for the

the power of his

work

is

going on here and prospers

in his hands; that the

Sunday school promises a

great and everlasting blessing to Africa; and on

the next Lord's day there will be a discourse on the subject of missions, with a view to get on foot,
if possible,

a regular school for the instruction of

Tell them they have
for

native children.

my

grateful

acknowledgments

the

liberal appropriations

which they have made, which have been

and duly applied by brother
to
J.

well

Lewis.

send on

you several

curiosities for the

benefit of the

board of the Richmond African Baptist Mission

Society.

The

health of the settlement

is

much

as

common.
nails,
is

Improvements would have been very

have prolumber, &c.

great, provided the inhabitants could

cured
indeed,

Our meeting house,

still,

obliged to remain entirely

for the

want of these things.

"Very

respectfully, yours,

LoTT Gary.'*

LOTT CARY.

53

LETTER TO THE BOARD.

^^Monrovia, {Liberia,) Africa, June 15th, 1825.

"Very dear
I

patrons,

know
to

that

it

will

be a source of

much

grati-

fication

you

to hear, that

on the 18th day of

April, 1825,

we

established a missionary school

for native children.

We

began with 21, and have

increased since up to the

number of
was no

32; and as

knew
had

it

to be the great object

which the society

risk in fur-

in view, I felt that there

nishing them with a suit of clothes, each.

the credit of the board,
I

Upon
the

purchased 165 yards

of

domestic, of
will

brother J. Lewis, which

board

please to pay to his order.

in

We
two

teach
in the

from eleven

the morning,

until

afternoon, that being as

at present.

much time
from the

as I can spare
list,

You
will

will see

that

Grand

Cape Mount
ment.
to send
I

soon be a
is

field for

missionary-

labor, as that nation

most anxious

for

improvein

wrote
five

to the king,

some time

Maiy,

me

or six girls to school; and have

since received an answer, informing

me

that their

mothers, and

all,

were

in the

Grigory bush, and

their girls with

them, of course, and when they

returned

should have them.

According

to their

54

BIOGRAPHY OF
I

custom, they have to remain six months.

intend

writing to him again on the suhject, and as soon

as in the judgment of the board, they can support

such an establishment, to get up a school there.

To

furnish clothes and books, for the children,

is

and support a teacher,

have
to do.
I

what the board would

think that after one or two years,

such an establishment would be of no expense to

the board; but that they would very gladly support a school

themselves.

wish

the

board

would deliberate on the subject, and write by the

first

opportunity, as
I

expect to go up the next

in get-

dry season; and

ting on the

probably might succeed

way such a school; and appoint some one of our young men to take charge of it. The
assortment of books, which have been hitherto
sent out, has not been adapted to the nature of

our infant schools, as

we found
the
first

but very few of

principles.

them

that contained

You

will please to improve our supply of school books,

such as the American, or Webster's spelling book.

I

have some hope of meeting you

meetinir, if the

in

your next
are told

annual

Lord

will.

We

to expect great things, and attempt great things.

You must know,

that

it is

a source of

solation to me, to hear the

word of

much conGod read by

LOTT CARY.
those native sons of

5&
a few months ago

Ham, who

were howling

in the devil's bush.

May

the

Lord

direct and protect you in all your movements.

Amen.
"Yours,
dz;c.

LoTT Caey."

LETTER TO MR. CRANE.

'^Monrovia, [Liberia.) Africa, June 15, 1825.

"Dear

sir,

The

arrival of the Fidelity, gives

me
I

an ophope,
inter-

portunity to hand you a few lines, which,

may
that

find

you

in

good health. Nothing very

I

esting has taken place since

wrote you

last,

only

among

the

last

emigrants that came out,

there has been

some considerable sickness and

death, the precise account I cannot give at this

time.
I

do believe, that the sickness on new

in

comers hitherto has been greatly increased

the year

consequence of the very unfavorable season of

in

which they leave America.

You
to

know

that they

have long been accustomed

for the

have their system prepared

summer

heat;

but to leave in the winter, and be suddenly in-

troduced into a

warm

climate,

it is

natural to con-

clude that they will be sooner attacked, and that

56
it

BIOGRAPHY OF
more
I

will generally terminate

seriously.

Send

them

out in the

fall,

and

think that the sick-

ness will be very light, and, in

tions, altogether avoided.

some

constituin-

Please to use your

1

fluence to have a physician sent out, as

must, of
It ocI

necessity, quit the practice of medicine.

casions a greater consumption of time than

possibly afford.

can

We

begin

now

to get
1

on with our

farms and buildings middling well.

mising
little

have a pro-

crop of rice and cnssada, and have

planted about 180 coffee trees this

week a

part of

which,

expect, will produce the next season, as

they are

now

in

bloom.

think,

sir,

that in a

very few years, we shall send you coffee of a

better quality
into

than you have ever seen brought

your market.

We

find that the trees, of

two

species,

abound

in great quantities

on the capes,

both of the large and small green coffee, of which

I will

send you a specimen by the

first

opportu-

nity.

The Sunday school goes on and prospers, we have now on the list forty, but only about
regularly,

thirty-three attend

two of them can

read

in the

New

Testament quite encouragingly,

In

George and John, from Grand Cape Mount.

addition to that,
I

have got under way a regular

with twenty-one, and

day school.

We began

now

LOTT CARY.
have on our
list

57
This
is

thirty-two.

called the

MissionarySchool, because established

,.

in the

name

of the African Missionary Society.

to
all

My

respects

the brethren and friends.

*'Yours5 with respect,

LoTT Cary.**

In the

fall

of 1825, Elder Cary was requested

by the board of the American Colonization Society, to visit the United States.
It

was thought

that he

was well

qualified

to

give such facts as

would strengthen the hands of those who had been

laboring to sustain the colony, and beside, that
his influence
this

among

the free colored population of

to their

country would be favorable

fathers.

migration

to the land of their

On

his intelligence
col-

and judgment, as a representative from the

ony, the board
placed

much reliance. Definite arrangements were made for his departure in the From Mr. Ashmun, Indian Chief, April, 1826.
governor of the colony, were received the warmest
testimonials of moral character and usefulness.

The

following

is

an extract from a

letter ad-

dressed to the board of the Colonization Society.

"The Rev.
Chief,'

Lott Cary, returning by the 'Indian

has, in

my

opinion,

some claims on the

58
justice of the

BIOGRAPHY OF
society, or

government of the U.

States, or both,

which merit consideration. Tiiese

rendered to this colony (the

claims arise out of a long and faithful course of

medical

services,

only such services deserving

if

much

consideration,

since

we except those of Dr. Ayres, and Dr. Peace) the commencement of the settlement in
"Mr. Gary,
it

1820.
is

well

known, came

to

this

country in the capacity of a missionary, from a

society in
lieve,

Richmond, and has ever

in the receipt

since,

be-

been

of a considerable salary
for
in

from the society, appropriated

and sole intention of putting him
devote
his

the express

a situation to

time and labors to the work of the

sacred ministry.
''It is,

perhaps,

known
faithful

to the board, that

in

Mr.
in-

Gary has declined serving

compatible with a
functions;

any

civil

office,

discharge of his sacred

and

it

may

be added, that, although

one of the most diligent and active of men, he

has never had the
to

command

of leisure, or strength,
duties, besides

engage

in

any missionary

the

weekly and occasional services of the congregation.

More than one

half of his time

has been
I

given up to the care of our sick, from the day

LOTT CARY.
landed in Africa to the very
the fact.

59

moment
in

of stating

He

has personally aided,

every

way

that fidelity and benevolence could dictate, in all

the attentions which

all

our sick have in so long

a period received.

His want of science, acquired

by the regular study of medicine, he has gone a

long

way towards supplying by an unwearied

few
regular

diliit

gence, which
necessary,

physicians

think

and fewer

superficial

practitioners,

have the motives

for exercising.

"Several times have these disinterested labors

reduced him

to the

verge of the grave.

The

pre-

sence of other physicians has, instead of affording

relief,

only redoubled the intensity of his labors,

attentions

by changing the ordinary routine of his

to

the

sick, with

the exhibitions of their

own

prescriptions,

"Mr. Gary has hitherto received no compensation, either

from the society or the government,

I

for these services.

need not add, that

it

has not

been

in his

power

to support himself

and family

by any use he could make of the remnants of his time, left him after discharging the amount of
duty already described.

The

missionary board

of Richmond have

fed, clothed,

and supplied the

other wants of himself and family, while devoting

60
his strength

BIOGRAPHY OF
and time
country.
to

your sick colonists, and

Justice seems to

agents

in this

demand

that he should be placed in a situation as an honest

man,

to refund

the whole
not
to

or a part of the

sum

thus engrossed,

say

misapplied, by the

missionary board.
"I bet' leave also to state, that on the 15th of

Feb. 1826,

Gary,

to

came allow him

I

into

an agreement with Mr.

a reasonable compensation for

his medical services, devoted to the then sicken-

ing

company of Boston emigrants.

to

His time
the

from the date of that agreement

present

hour, has been incessantly occupied in attending

upon the

sick.''

To

visit

America, was an object very near

to

the heart of Gary.

He

longed to confer in person

in

with the friends of the mission

other places, and to

Richmond and
energies of

wake

up, by personal repre-

sentations and appeals, the dormant

many
sessed

of his colored brethren

talents
to

who
was

he believed posin

labor

etficiently
It

Africa as

teachers and preachers.

not his desire to

remain, himself,

in

this

country.

No

earthly

consideration would

have

successfully

tempted

him

to

abandon

his

chosen and loved employments

all

in Africa.

To

her he had given himself and

LOTT CARY.
he had, and he could not retrace his
steps.

61

The
him

wish he cherished once more

to see this

country,

and the wish of the colonization board

to see

were not

gratified.

His attentions as physician

could not be dispensed with, and he cheerfully

yielded to the claims of duty.

By

the vessel in

which he expected to

sail

he wrote the following

letters to friends in Virginia.

''Monrovia, April 24, 1826.

*'Dear brother,

Your
ceived.

letters

and

all

the articles you

menre-

tioned, arrived safe, and

I

were very thankfully

last, that

expected, until Friday

the re-

turn of the ship would have enabled

me

to present

personal thanks to you; but the agent was of opinion that

I

had better defer

it

a little longer.

am

of the same opinion,

as the last

emigrants

have not as yet got entirely over the fever, and

my

services cannot be dispensed with

risk;

without
I

very great
shall see

but I hope tbat,

if

if

not before,

you next spring,

the

Lord permit.
last

We
it

dedicated our meeting-house

October;
it

was four wneks from the time we

it

raised

to

the time

was dedicated.

It

is

quite a

com-

fortable house, thirty by twenty feet,

and ceiled

62

BIOGRAPHY OF

inside nearly up to the plates, with a decent pulpit,

and

seats.

feel

very grateful to you for

your
their

services, and to the brethren

liberal

and friends for

contributions.

We
We

may

say, that

*hitherto the

Lord has helped

middlintj; well.

us,'

therefore

we

have gone on
ticular

have no par-

revival at present, but

will, in

still

we

labor in

hope that the Lord

favor Zion.

answer

to prayer, yet

Our

native schools
I

still

go on under

hopeful circumstances.
is

think the slave trade

nearly done in our neighborhood.

The

agent,

with our forces, has released upwards of one hun-

dred and eighty from chains, since the

first

of

October, which has added greatly to our strength.

If the colored people of Virginia do not

think

proper to

come

out, the

Lord

will

bring help to

the colony from

captives are

some other

quarter, for these refor the pro-

ready to fight as hard

tection of the colony, as

any of the

rest of the

inhabitants.

mention these circumstances that

to the

you may look through them

prophecy;
unto God.
i.e.

time foretold in

Ethiopia shall stretch out her hands

We

have very few meetings but that

some

of the native born sons of

to learn to read

Ham

are present,

and they begin

of God.
I

and sing the praises

should think that

among your

large

LOTT CARY.
population of colored people,
selves did not bring
if

63
the love of them-

them

out, the love of

God

would, for here

is

a wide and extensive mission-

ary

field.

"My

respects to

all.

Please

let

the colored

brethren in your church hear this letter read.

Farewell.

""Very respectfully, yours,

In the bond of Christian affection.

LoTT Cary.''
''Monrovia, April 22, 1826.
*'Dear brother,
I

received your letter of the 29th Jan. 1826,

its

and read

contents with

much

interest.

ex-

pected, until yesterday, that the return of the ship

Indian Chief would enable

me
I

to

converse with

you face

to

face,

but

it

is

thought best for the

should not leave at
fifty

good of the

settlement, that

present, as the one

hundred and

persons

brought over by Dr. Peaco have not got over the

fever yet, but
it

has been very favorable with them.

We

have lost only three, the Rev. Mr. Moses Freeman from Baltimore, and two young children;
the rest of that expedition are getting on ^well.

64

BIOGRAPHY OF
expedition from Boston suffered very much,

The

the loss

was greater
rest

in proportion

than

common,

and among the

we have

to

lament the loss

of Mr. Charles L. Force, the printer.

We

feel

truly grateful to the great preserver of the lives

of his people, that in answer to prayer, he has spared the useful

life

of brother Holton.

His case

was an alarming
rapid.

one; but his recovery has been

He

has preached for us once since his

recovery, and perhaps will to-morrow.

He

still

resides with me, and perhaps will, until the agent

completes a room for him."

Thus

it

would appear that Lott Gary's medical

services were indispensable to the welfare of the

colony, since no other

tical

man

possessed such prac-

knowledge of the diseases of the climate,

to their

and the precise remedies adapted

removal.

At one time, during the year 1825, when Mr. Ashmun was reduced to the lowest extremity by
sudden
illness,

he observes:

"The

prescriptions

of our excellent and experienced assistant physician, the

Rev. Lott Gary, under the blessing

af-

of divine Providence, so fir succeeded as to

ford complete relief,

only leaving
state,

me

in a

very

emaciated and enfeebled

the
first

about the end of

week

in

Julv."

LOTT CARY.

65

At the meeting of the board of the Baptist

General Convention, which took place
in

1825,

a report on the African mission was adopted, of

which, evidencing the confidence of the convention, the following is

a part:

"The committee
"1.

reported:
received, through

That intelligence has been

the

medium of brother Crane, of Richmond, by means of a letter from Lott Gary, that the prospects of success are truly animating.
tives, in

The

na-

Liberia, have laid aside the spirit of hos-

tility;

they have become convinced that the colo-

nists are their sincere

and disinterested friends.

he has baptized seve-

Lott Cary informs

ral of the

us, that

Africans,

and that preparations are

making

at

Monrovia, for putting up a Baptist

for the

meeting house;
friends of the
ica.
*'2,

completion of which, he
solicits the aid

humbly, but importunately,

of the

kingdom of

the

Redeemer

in

Amerla-

That your committee contemplate the

and are happy

bors and pious deportment of Lott Carey with entire

satisfaction,

to find

that his

virtuous deportment has secured to him the high

approbation of the American Colonization Society.

"3, That Lott Carey has not only endeavored

66

BIOGRAPHY OF

to render himself useful as a minister of the gospel of Christ, but has

opened a small school,

for

the instruction of the children of the natives, and

has received ample demonstrations of their res-

pect and attachment."

Such

vi'ere

the indefatigable labors of this

man
ser-

of God, and such the varied and important

vices he rendered to the colony, that
it

will

not

be a subject of surprise that he should occupy an

elevated place in the esteem of this growing and

prosperous community.
suitable individual to
all
fill

In the selection of a
the office of vice-agent,

eyes were directed to him.

He was

elected
in

to that office in September, 1826.

No man

the colony was so well qualified to sustain this position, for

he had not only been familiar with

all

the painful changes through which, from the

it

first,

had passed

but he possessed, in an

eminent

degree, the intrepidity, foresight, prudence, and

firmness,

which were

requisite to sustain the gov-

ernment, and secure the welfare of the people.

"In his good sense," says Mr. Gurley, "moral worth, public spirit, courage, resolution, and decision, the colonial

agent had perfect confidence.

He knew

that in times of ditficulty or danger, reeffi-

liance might be placed upon the energy and

ciency of Mr. Gary."

LOTT CARY.

67

The

following letter, addressed to Mr. William

Crane, will give pleasing evidence of his abiding

spirituality

of mind and his deep interest in the

prosperity of the Redeemer's kingdom, amidst his

pressing

official

duties in the colony.

"Monrovia, Dec. 20, 1827.

"Very dear
brother.

The United States sloop of war Ontario on her way to America, having arrived in our harbor
to-day,

and intending
1

to

proceed

in a

few days to

the United States,

nity to send

gladly

embrace the opportuby her.

you a few

lines

As

it

has
ac-

not been
count,

very long since I wrote you a

full

I shall

only at present give a short state-

ment of the most important changes that have

taken place since
event, I

my

last

communication.

One
of,

am

exceedingly glad to inform you

is

the establishment of the school at Big

Town, Grand Cape Mount, on the 10th November. About thirty men were sent, at my request, by the king of Grand Cape Mount, for the purpose of removing brother Revey's books, &c. up, in order to

commence
1

the establishment of our long

talked of school;

and, through the blessing of a

kind Providence

made

the necessary arrange-

68
ments
in

BIOGRAPHY OF
time to set off on the 13th, and reached

there on the 15th, after a rather fatiguing jour-

ney.

We were received very cordially.

him
that I

VVecould

do nothing more that evening than shake the

king's hand, and inform

came on buto

siness of importance, and wished an opportunity

might be afforded on the day following

an interview with
very cheerfully.
his majesty,
1

have

which he granted

accordingly waited on

him

next day, and stated the object of our mission; he

would not give a derisive answer

vened his head
the 17th;

until

he had con-

men, which he did on Saturday

after a few hours' palaver,
it

and

ter-

minated in the unanimous consent of the

all

kinff

and

the

head men, not only

to

permit the establishit

ment of a school, but

I

to protect

to the

uttermost,

then requested them to select a suitable house

the school
it,

for

room, and promised,

I

if

they re,

quired

that

would pay rent

for the

house; but
to pay for

they said that they did not wish

a house.

me

About

five o'clock,

P. M. they inform-

ed me that they had made

and wished

selection of a house
it,

me
I

to

go and examine

which you

may judge
ly

did without delay thirty

feet.
I

it is

room near,

fifteen

by
it

found that notwiththe afternoon

standing

was then

late

in

we

LOTT GARY.
could

6^
it

make arrangements
to

to have worship in
did,

on the ensuing Lord's day, which we

and

had the honor

address a very attentive audience

After service
I

twice, throuf^h brother John.

informed the congresation that

should need their

assistance on the following day in preparing seats,

&c,, and they turned out like men, and performed

more labor by eight o'clock than

have accomplished
in

expected to

the whole day.

sixty children

We

got

seats prepared for about

by four

o'clock, and gave notice that as the school would

be organized on the day following at nine o'clock,

A. M.,

all

persons wishing to have their children

instructed

were requested

and have them entered,

come at that time and the number received

to

was
as

thirty-seven.

read
I

and explained a short

set of regulations
I

which

had drawn up; and,

had

tlie

king and his

head

men

present,

got

them

to sign the articles of

agreement

in the pre-

sence of the whole cono^resation.

For twelve
agree

months

think that the school will, of course, be

expensive.

The

present arrangement

is:

to allow brother

Revey twenty

dollars per month,

and

find

him

provisions, washing, &;c.

If these
I

expenses can
that they

be defrayed for

one year,

think

may

be greatly reduced at the expira-

70
tion of that

filOGRAPHY OF
time.
If

you think

it

worth while^
After
best
to

please to lay the subject before the board.

my

return from

Cape Mount

thought

it

relinquish our school operations here, from a conviction that your

little

society could

not

support
at

both: so

we have

to

get on the best

we can
I

present with our

Sunday school alone.

it

do wish

you could so manage

as to procure

forty suits

of clothing for boys and girls.

Surely they can

be raised upon some condition or other: they are

bound

in

the school regulations to clothe their

I

children as soon as practicable, but

that
it

am
the

afraid

will be too long, first, therefore

tell

do your best.

Please to

the board to be strong in

his might, for
it

Lord
if

and the power of

great floodgate
of
is

seems as

the

about

to be

opened upon

this i)art

Africa; one missionary arrived

here in
are
is all

the
four

Ontario and he informs

me

that there

others following close after him.

He

the

way from Germany

theran denomination.
but
this
I

or Switzerland
I

of the

Lu-

do not know what

Christians!
if

to say,

must say,
way! come

American

Look
help

this

way! and help,

tlie

you can-

not come!

Send help for

Lord's sake!

Africa's sons out of the devil's bush into the king-

dom

of God; the harvest

is

already white.

The

LOTT CARY.
heathen
in

71

our vicinity are so very anxious for the

means of
tablish

light that they will

it,

buy

it

beg and,
it
it.

sooner than miss of

this I will

they will steal

To

es-

mention a circumstance which

actually took place in removing our school estab-

lishment up to C. M.
tives
to carry like

had upwards of forty naand they carried

fifty

our baggage,

something

two hundred and

bars; a part

of them went on four days beforehand, and had

every opportunity to commit depredations, but of
all

the goods that

lost

were sent and carried

except
fifteen

there,

nothing was
five

spelling books,
I

of them

we

recovered again.
to find

must say
stealing

that I

was almost pleased

them

books, as they

know

that

you have such a num-

ber of them in America, and that they can, and

no doubt

will,

be supplied upon better terms.

I

am

very much in want of paper. much about my intended visit to America, owing to the bad health of my wife, and my own not
cannot say
if it

being very good; but

prove her health
I

please the

Lord

to

imI

shall not regard

my

own.

send on to you a copy of the missionary's

letter,

and also

a copy of the school grant, given by the

people of Cape Mount.

few days before

72
left for

BIOGRAPHY OF
Cape Mount,
1

baptized the

man George

belonorinor there.

LoTT Gary."

The

next letters to brother Grane, were written

in

a few months subsequently,

which he

refers

to

the sickness of his companion.

third marriage has not been

Mention of hi3
in this
is

made
it

menot

moir, as the precise time

when

occurred

known.

The

following: are extracts

from these
1828.
the board
to

communications.

"Monrovia, March
*'I

5,

did not expect to have

written to
I

by this conveyance, because

visited

expected

have
is

them
of

this spring;

but inevitable circumillness of

I

stances prevented me.

The

my

wife

difficulty

all

others that

cannot get over

she has the consumption of the

kind.
I

inflammatory
the

have used

my

skill

to

uttermost

with her, and availed myself of the advice of

every physician that has

visited

us for several

months

past, but all has

hitherto been in vain; I

have twice attempted

curial course

to carry her through a mer-

of medicine, but have in both init

stances been obliged to stop

now

leave the

event to Providence.
I

received

from our teacher a written com-

LOTT GARY.
munication four days ago.
gress of our school
ent,
in
is

73
states that the proat pres-

He

very

much impeded

consequence of the burial of old king

Peter who has been dead about four years.

interruption
I

This

apprehend

will

continue six or eight

weeks.

requested him to vacate his school and

to

come down
day.

our annual meetinor on Easter Sun-

He

informed

me

that the

Mandingoes are

trying their influence against us to interrupt, and

stop, if possible, the progress of our school; but

the

Lord

trust will not let

them succeed.

If

you could

find a

good young man

to join brother

Revey
it is

it

would be a very great accession; indeed

I

a fine healthy place.

wrote you to try and

procure a number of suits of clothes, of which I

would again remind the board

apply a part of their means

they

will

please
I

to that object.

am

very anxious to have the children

school distinguished from the
after
rest;

who

attend

you

will here-

have but one object

to

keep

in view, that is

the pay and support of the

I

young

brother,

who

think deserves the confidence of the board.

Please to
in

tell

the board that

feel

confident

saying to them, that their labors have hitherto

been blessed; though they are too remote to see

the benefits that have resulted to the inhabitants

7*

74

BIOGRAPHY OF

of these benighted regions, yet they are clearly

perceptible.
.

The most
endeavor

have been able

to do,

has been

to

to

weed

in

the field, and

I

take up ground to be occupied by them, that

have done, as

before informed them; they will

therefore exert all the power and influence they

possess to occupy and plant those

fields:

if
I

they
think

are regularly attended two or three years,

then you will have pleasure without expense.

LoTT Gary."
In the early part of the year 1828, Mr. Ash-

mun

left

Liberia for the United States, having

received

from

his physician

written

opinion

that in this consisted the only hope of restoration

to health.

The

entire

government of the colony

in

devolved on Lott Gary

ernor.
arrano-e
*'I

the absence of the gov-

was enabled," says Mr. Ashmun, "to

Mr.
have
to the minutest particulars;

the concerns of the colony, ^^ith

Gary, even

and

the greatest
will

confidence
in

that his

administration
to the

prove satisfactory

a high degree
the

board, and advantageous to

colony."

Mr-

Gurley
that

in reference to his administration, states, six

"for

months

after the

first

departure of
at

Mr. Ashmun, from the colony, Mr. Gary stood

LOTT GARY.
its

75

head, and conducted hitnself with such energy

to

and wisdom, as
tation,

do honor to his previous repu-

and

fix

the seal upoil his enviable fame.

"On

his death bed

Mr.

Ashmun urged
to

that

Mr.

Cary should be permanently appointed

dence
and

conduct

the affairs of the colony, expressing perfect confiin

his integrity

ability for that great

work."

A
to

new and

highly responsible trust was

now

committed to his hands.

the task.

Nor was

he unequal

His powers of mind and valuable

qualities of heart

seem

to

have been increasingly

the en-

developed
tire

in this

new emergency and with

community under
his

confidence of the board to which he was ac-

countable, and the

govern-

ment; he applied himself diligently

cution of duty.

to the prose-

few extracts from his journal

and
est,

no doubt be read with deep interas they evince his practical good sense, and
letters will

fitness for the station

he occupied.

"The

colonial agent, J.

Ashmun, Esq., went on

26th, 1828, escorted

board the brig Doris,

March

by three companies of the military, and when

taking leave, he delivered a short address, which

was

truly aflfecting; never, I suppose,

were greater

tokens of respect shown by any community on

76

BIOGRAPHY OF
Nearly the whole

taking leave of their head.

(at least' two-thirds,)

of the inhabitants of Monrothis

via,

men, women, and children, were out on

all

occasion, and nearly

tears, and, in
in a

parted from him with

my

opinion, the hope of his return

to

(ew months, alone enabled them

give him
it

up.

He

is

indeed dear to this people, and

will

be a joyful day, when

see him.

we

are again permitted to

He

has

left

a written address, which

civil,

contains valuable admonitions to officers,

military, and
religious.

The

brig sailed on the

27th.

May

she have a prosperous voyage."

''Thursday,
"Feeling, very sensibly,
enter upon the duties of

March

27.

my incompetency to my office, without first

making

all

the officersof the colony well acquaint-

ed with the principal objects which should engage

our attention,
I

invited

them
at

to

meet

at

the

agency house on the 27th,

9 o'clock, which
1

was punctually attended

the instructions
left

to;

and

then read

all

by Mr.

Ashmun

without reI

serve, and requested their co-operation.

that
it

stated

would ho our

first

object to put the jail in

to

complete order; secondly,

have our guns nnd

armaments
the

in

proper state; and thirdly, to get

located

new

settlers

on their lands; as

this

LOTT CARY.

77

was a very important item

This explanation
as by
it

in

my

instructions.
effect;

will, 1 think,

have a good
is

the effective part of the colony

put in

possession of the

most important objects of our

I trust,

present pursuit; and,

through the blessing

of the great ruler of events,

we

shall be able to

realize all the expectations of

Mr. Ashmun, and

render entire satisfaction to the board of managers, if

they can reconcile themselves to

the

necessary expenses,

''March 29.

"From

a note received from Mr. James, dated

Millsburg, I learn that he visited king Boatswain,

and that the new road from Boatswain's

burg, will shortly be commenced.

to Mills-

The head men

this

expect, however, to be paid for opening the road.

Messrs. James and Cook,

who came down

evening, state, that the Millsburg factory will be

ready

in

a few days for the

reception of goods,
early.

and wished consignments might be made

But as
I

had been on the 27th paying

off the kings

towards the Millsburg lands, and found that one

hundred and twenty bars came so

satisfying them,
I

far

short of

thought best
should

to see

them

to-

gether, before

attempt to

make any

consignments to that

plact.''

78
[The following

BIOGRAPHY OF
is

the copy of a deed between

Lett Gary, acting in behalf of the American Colonization Society, on the one part; and the after

mentioned kings, on the other.]

"Know

all

men by

these

presents:

That we,
day of

Old King Peter, and King Governor, King James,

and King Long Peter, do, on
this fourth

April, in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight

hundred and twenty-eight, grant nto Lott Gary,

acting agent of the colony of Liberia,
in

behalf

of the American Colonization Society, to wit:

"All that tract of land on the north side of St.
Paul's river, beginning at king James' line below the establishment called Millsburg Settlement, and

we, the kings as aforesaid, do bargain,

sell,

and

grant, unto the said Lott Gary, acting in behalf

of the American Colonization Society,

aforesaid tract of land, situated
follows:

all

th^

and bounded as
on the south, and

by the

St. Paul's river

thence running an east northeast direction up the

St. Paul's river, as far as he, the said

Lott Gary, or

his successor in the agency, or civil authority of

the colony of Liberia, shall think [)roper to take

up and occupy: and bounded on the west by king

Jimmey's, and running thence a north direction
as far as our power and influence extend.

Wo

LOTT CARY.
do on
this

79

day and

date, grant as aforesaid for the

consideration [here follow the articles to be given

in

payment;] and will forever defend the same

all

against

claims whatsoever.

"In witness whereof

we
y,

set

our hands and

names:

"OLD

KING PETER,

LONG X KING PETER, KING X GOVERNOR,

KING X JAMES.
''Signed in the presence of,

Elijah Johnson,

Frederick James, Daniel George."

''June 18, 1828.

"I found

it

necessary, in order to preserve the

frame of the second floors of the government

house,
to
is

have the
doing.

frame and ceiling painted,

I

which

now

have also been obliged to

to

employ another workman

else leave the

make

the blinds, or

house exposed the present season,

it

as
tract.

refused to do

under the former con-

On

the 13th

visited Millsburg, to ascer-

tain the prospects of that settlement;

and can say

with

propriety,

that

according to the quantity

of land which the settlers have put under culti-

80

BIOGRAPHY OF
a

vation, they will reap

good and

plentiful crop.

The company's crop of rice and cassada is The new settlers at that cially promising.
have done well; having
ceptions, built houses,
lies
all,

espeplace

with two or three exto

sons

render their fami-

comfortable during the season.

They have
I

also each ofthemasmall farm, which

after a few

think

months
I

will

be sufficient to subsist

them.
that

But

find

from a particular examination,

expected, owing to the great

we

shall

be obliged to allow them to draw

I

rations longer than

scarcity of country produce, the cassada being so

nearly

exhausted, that

it is,

and

will be, impossiin,

ble to obtain, until

new crops come

Therefore
think

much

to

aid our provisions, unless by going

into the country.
1

some distance
it

indispen-

sably necessary, in order to keep the settlers to

their farming

improvements,
I

to

continue their
as
I

rations longer than

sider the present too

at first intended;

con-

important a crisis to leave

it

them

to

neglect their improvements, although

to

may

add something

our present expenses.

"The people

at Caldwell, are getting

on better
I

with their farms, than with their houses.

think
I

some of them are very

have assisted them

slow, notwithstanding

in building.

The gun

house,

LOTT CARY.
at Caldwell,
is

81

done; and, at present, preparations

I

are

making

for the fourth of July.

is

think that

settlement, generally,

rapidly advancing in farm-

ing, building, and, I hope, in industry.

Our gun
them

carriages are done; the completion of the iron

work alone prevents

immediately.

us from mounting

all

We have four mounted, and I think

them
all

we

shall

put

in

complete order by the

end of the present week.

"Captain Russel
like a fair
will

be able to give something

state of

account of the

our improve-

ments, as he went with

me

to visit the settlements

on the 13th and 14th, and seemed pleased with

the prospect at Millsburg, Caldwell and the Half-

way Farms.
"Mr. Warner, who has been engaged nearly
the whole of the last twelve months, on business
of negotiating with the native
tribes
to the lee-

ward,

is at

present

down

at

Tippecanoe, the place

which

mentioned in

my former communications,
districts

as being a very important section of country, since

it

would connect our Sesters and Bassa

together.

He

is

not,

however, now engaged in

business of negotiation, but only in business of

trade."

In his letter to the lamented Mr. Ashmun, Mr. 8

82

BIOGRAPHY OF
states-

Cary

"Things are nearly as you

left

them;
is

laost of the

work

that

you

directed to be done,

nearly accomplished.

The

plasterers are

now at
and

work on
lime
I

the

government house, and with what

river,

am

having brought down the

what

shells I

am getting,
in
for

think

we

shall succeed.
jail,

"The gun house

have been done

Monrovia, and the

the
if

some weeks;

mounting

of the guns will be done this week,

permits.

the weather

"The

houses at the Half-way Farms, are done;

the gun house at Caldwell would have been done

at this time,

had not the rain prevented; but

think

it

will be finished in three or four days.

is

The

public farm

doing pretty well.

well.
I

The
it

Mills-

burg farms are doing very

think

would

do you good to see that place at this time.

"The
ered;

missionaries, although
I

they have been

sick, are now,

am happy

to

inform you, recovtheir

and

at present are able to attend to

f

business, and

regard them as entirely out of

danger.

"I hope

we

shall

be able to remove

all

the fur-

niture into the

new

house, in two or three weeks."

writes:

June 25th, Mr. Cary

"About

three

o'clock to-day there appeared three vessels

two

LOTT CARY.
brigs and a schooner.

83
stood into

The schooner
in,

the roads, and one of the brigs near

but show-

ed

no colors

until a shot

was

fired

by Captain

Thompson; when she

hoisted Spanish colors, and

All their movements ap-

the schooner the same.

peared so suspicious, that

forces to night.

we

turned out

all
it

our

About eight this evening,

was

reported that they were standing out of our roads;

and

at sunset, that the

schooner had come to an-

chor very near the "All Chance," from Boston;

and that the brig which had passed the cape,

had put about and was standing up, trying

to

double the cape; and that the third vessel (a brig)

was

standino:

down

for the roads.

The
to

first

menall

tioned brig

showed nine ports

I

aside.

From

these circumstances,

thought best

have Fort

Norris Battery manned, which was immediately

done by Captain Johnson,

two volunteer companies around the town, and the

lalso ordered out the

to

make

discoveries

artillery to support the

guns, and protect the beach; which orders were

promptly executed, and we stood

ring the night.

in readiness du-

At daylight the schooner

to

lay at

anchor and appeared

to

be making no preparations
I

communicate with
little

us;

then ordered a shot to

be fired at a

distance from her,

when sha

84

BIOG li A I'll V OF

sent a boat ashore with licr captain, supercargo,

and interpreter.

She reported herself the Joseph,

from Havana, had been three nnonths on the coast trading, but 'not for slaves, had one gun, and
twenty-three men.
triotic brig in

Also, that the brig

was a Pa-

chase of her, and that through fear

she had taken shelter under our guns.

tain

The
I

captold

wished a supply of wood and water; but

I

him
and

knew him

to be

engaged

in the slave trade, to

that,

though we did not pretend

attempt
it,

suppressing this trade,

that
I

we would

not aid

and

allowed him one hour, and one only, to get

out of the reach of our guns.

tual; and,
I

He was

very punc-

believe, before his hour.''

Speaking of the celebration of the fourth of

July, in the colony, under date of the 15th July,

Mr. Gary remarks:

strictly the orders

"The companies observed

I

of the day, which

think were

so arranged as to entitle the officers

who drew

them up

to credit.
I

Upon

the whole,

am

obliged

to say, that

have never seen the American Indespirit

pendence celebrated with so much

and pro-

priety since the existence of the colony; the

guns

being

all

mounted and painted, and previously aradded very mucli

to

ranged

for the purpose,

the

grand salute.

Two

dinners were given, one by

LOTT CARY.
the Independent Volunteer

85

Company, and one by

Mr.

captain Devany."

To
Gary

the secretary of the Society, July 19th,

writes: "I

have the honor

letter,

to

acknowledge

the receipt of your

forwarded by captain

Chase, of Providence;
pository, directed tb

also,

your Report and Reto

Mr. Ashmun, but owing

his absence, they have fallen into

my

hands; and

permit

me

to say, that these

communications are

read with pleasure, and that nothing affords more

joy to the colony, than to hear of the prosperity of

the Colonization Society, and that you have

some

hopes of aid from the general government, which

makes us more desirous

to enlarge our habitation

and extend the borders of the colony.

"I must say from the flattering prospects of

your society,

I feel

myself very

much

at a loss

how

to proceed, in the absence of

Mr. Ashmun,

with regard to making provisions for the reception of a large

to

number of emigrants, which appears

Therefore, after

be indispensably necessary.

receiving your communication, we conceived the

following to be the most safe and prudent course.
First, to

make arrangements

to

have erected at
suffi-

Millsburg, houses to answer as receptacles

cient to shelter from, one hundred and fifty to

two

86
hundred persons.

BIOGRAPHY OF
I

have therefore extended the

duties of Mr. Benson, so as to

1

embrace that

object.

was

led to this course

from the following con-

siderations.

First,

from the productiveness of

the Millsburg lands and the fewness of their inhabitants.

it
I

know

if

Mr.

Ashmun were
all

present,
to

would be a principal object with him

settlement forward with
that for this purpose, he
first

push

that

possible speed,

and

would send the emito that

grants by the
place.
1

two or three expeditions

think that those from the fresh water

rivers, if carried directly after their arrival here,

up

to

Millsburg, would

suffer

very

little

from
of the

change of climate.
land
less
is

Secondly, the

fertility

such a temptation

to the farmer, that un-

he possesses laziness
resist
it;

in its

extreme degree,

he cannot
Thirdly,

he must and will go to work.

it is

important to strengthen that settlepossible attack; and though

ment against any

apprehend no

hostilities

from the

natives, yet

we we

would have each settlement strong enough

pel them.

to re-

"I

am happy

to say, that the health, peace,

I

and

prosperity of the colony,

think

is still

advancing,

and

hope that the board of managers may have

wishes and
expectations realized to their

their

LOTT CARY.
fullest extent,

87
fu-

with regard to the present and

ture prosperity of the colony."

July 17.
to the

"If

could be allowed one suggestion

I

board of managers,

would mention the

importance of having here for the use of the colony, a vessel large enough to run

down

as low as

Cape Palmas.

It

would,

think, be found to save

a very great expense

to the society.

She might

occasionally run up also to Sierra Leone.

"Until

we can

raise crops sufficient to supply a

considerable

number of new comers every year,

will enable us to

such an arrangement as

proceed

farther to the leeward, than

we have ever done,

Indian corn,

in order to procure supplies, will be indispensably

necessary; as there

we can procure
stock.

palm

oil,

and

live

For

these, neither the

slave traders, nor others, give themselves

much.
twenty

Corn can be bought there

cents per
bushel.

for

from

fifteen to

Fifteen or twenty bushels,

I

which

bought of captain Woodbury,

last

have been

using instead of rice, for the

Besides,
it

two months.
and would be
the sup-

can be ground

into meal,
sent.

better than

any that can be

Upon
in

posed inquiry, will not the lands of the colony

produce corn?

they

will

produce

it

abundance;

but, with the quantity of

lands appropriated at

88
present, and

BIOGRAPHY OF
the

means
I

to

cultivate them,

each
lit-

land-holder will,
tle

think, be able to raise but

his

more than may be required by

will

own

famify,

and consequently,

have

little

to dispose of to

new comers.*
"Permit
sals

me

to

inform the board, that propo-

have been made by a number of very res-

pectable citizens in Monrovia, to

commence a

set-

tlement near the head of the Montserado river,

which would be a kind of farming establishment;

which, should
it

be the pleasure of the board to

spirit,

approve, would be followed up with great

and found to contribute largely towards increasing our crops, for the
soil is

very promising."
to

The

following letter

was addressed

the se-

cretary of the American Colonization Society,

under date of

May

7th, 1829:

"There have been

in the state or
left,

no very important changes either

face of the colony, since Mr.

Ashmun

except

by the rapid progress of the farming establishments, and the Half-way

Millsburg.

Farais, Caldwell, and

all

As

I visited

those establishments

during Friday and Saturday, the second and third

of May,
I

am happy

to say, that the prospect for

* It has been resolved by the board of managers to increase the quantity of land allotted to each settler.

LOTT CA1Y.
crops, the

89
tenfold,

present seasoi?,

is

and that

think these settlements will be beyond the reach

ofsuflering, before the close of the present season.

"About

six of the families that

commenced

at

Millsburg, very late in March, are nearly housed,

and some of them have two acres,

land, in order for planting.

at least, of

"I have judged

it

best to help

them a

little,

in

getting their houses erected, and in planting, and

to furnish

them with seeds and

tools,

which they

had
it is

not;

and, as soon as their farms are planted,

to stop altogether issuing

my

intention

ra-

tions to all

who

are able to earn wages, or subsist

themselves, and only feed the poor

women and
them
safe
I

children, in a way, if possible, to get

through the rainy season; before which time,

trust his honor,

Mr. Ashmun,

will return.

As
it

to

the

new

settlers in Caldwell, I

have found

ne-

cessary to

do rather more than for those

at Mills-

burg, as the latter have lands more easy to clear,

and the timber

convenient.

for

erecting their houses,

is

more
which

There are several

in particular,

families,

have made astonishing progress.

Those

sent out
suf-

by colonel B.
ficient,
it

have cleared land

if

they can possibly succeed in getting

planted, to render their families entirely coin-

90
fortable,
I trust,

BIOGRAPHY OF
by the close of the ensuing season; and,
little

with the

help that

am now

giving

them, that they

theii'

will

be comfortably housed on

own lands in two or three weeks.'' The secretary of the American Colonization
fol-

Society, in referring to the missionary spirit by

which Elder Gary was actuated, employs the

lowing language:

"But, amid his multiplied cares

and

efforts for the colony,

he never forgot or nethe

glected to promote the objects of

African

Missionary Society, for which he had long cherished the strongest attachment.
in

His great object

emigrating to Africa, was to extend the power

religion.

and blessings of the Christian

his departure from

Before

Richmond,

a little

church of

about half a dozen members, was formed,*

who

were

to

accompany him.

He became

the pastor

of this church, in Africa, and saw

greatly increased.

its

numbers

Most earnestly

did he seek ac-

cess to the native tribes, and endeavor to instruct

them

in the doctrines

and duties of that religion,

which, in his own case, had proved so powerful

to purify, exalt,

and save.

In

one or two iustances

* The members were L. Czry and wife, Collin Teage and wife, and son Hillary Teage, and Joseph Langford and wife.

LOTT CARY.

91

of hopeful conversion from heathenism, he greatly

rejoiced;

and many of

his latest

and most anxious

thoughts were directed to the establishment of

native schools in the interior.
distant seventy miles

One such

school,

from Monrovia, and of great

promise, was established through his agency, about

a year before his death, and patronised and superintended by him until that mournful event.

On

this subject,

by his

many

valuable

communi-

cations to the missionary board,

'he being dead

yet speaketh' in language which must affect the

heart of every true Christian disciple."

It

now becomes
life

the biographer's painful duty

to

approach the tragic scene, which terminated

and labors of
this useful

the

man.

To

our

weak perceptions, this event seems mysterious. That he should have passed through the midst of
war and
pestilence, unhurt,

and then by a sudden

is to

disaster be hurried out of the world,

us most

unaccountable.

He was

cut

off,

too, in the

midst

of his usefulness, and in the vigor of his days.

But while "clouds and darkness" hang over

providence,
it is

this

a pleasing reflection, that "justice

and judgment are the habitation of God's throne,

mercy and

truth

go before his face."

The

first

intelligence of his

death, was communicated by

92
Dr. Randall,
arrival
in

BIOGRAPHY OF
the following extract:

"On my
find, that

here, I

was much shocked

to

the vice agent, Mr. Gary, had been killed, a few

weeks

before,

by the accidental explosion of guninfluence with his people, both

powder.
as he had

His death was a great loss to our cause,

much

here, and in the United States; an election for

his successor

had taken place."

of this melancholy event,

The circumstances
in the

words of Mr. Gurley, were these:

"The

factory belonging to the colony at Digby, (a few

miles north of Monrovia,) had been robbed by the

natives;

and satisfaction being demanded was

re-

fused.

slave

trader

was allowed

to

land

his

goods in the very house where the goods of the

colony had been deposited, and a
letter of

remon-

strance and warning directed to the slave dealer,

by Mr. Gary, was actually intercepted and destroyed by the natives.

In this state of affairs,

Mr.

Gary considered himself solemnly bound

sert the

to as-

rights and defend the property of the

colony.

He

therefore called out instantly, the

military of the

settlements,
to

and

commenced
to
in-

making arrangements
desist

compel the natives

from their injurious and unprovoked

fringements, upon the territory and

rights of the

LOTT GARY.
colony.

93

November, while Mr. Gary, and several others were engaged

the evening of the 8th of

On

in

making cartridges

in the old

agency house, a

candle appears to have been accidentally upset,

which caught some

loose powder, and almost in-

stantaneously reached

the

entire

ammunition,
in

producing an explosion, which resulted

death of eight persons.

the

Six of these unfortunate

persons survived until the 9th, and Mr. Gary, and

one other, until the 10th."

When

the mournful

news of Lott Gary's death

reached the United States, a deep sensation was

produced among the friends of the Liberian colony, and especially

among many of

his brethren,

who had become

familiar with

his self-denying

toils in a distant land.

The following tribute to the memory of this man of God, is extracted from the proceedings
of the

Richmond African Missionary Society

loss

at

their annual meetincr in 1829.

"The

which has thus been sustained canThis

have been raised up by

not, in our estimation, be easily repaired.

excellent man seems

to

divine Providence for the special purpose of taking

an active part
settlement.

in the

management of

the infant

His discriminating judgment, his

94

BIOGRAPHY OF

honesty of heart, and decision of character, qualified

him eminently

for this service.

But espeis

cially in his relation to

your society
It will

his death

to be sincerely lamented.

be recollected

that he

was the

principal instrument in the origin

its

of this society, and for several years acted as

recording secretary.

little

more than

eight

years ago, he received his appointment, and sailed,

as missionary, in

company with brother Teage,

His exertions

for the land of their forefathers.

as a minister in that land have been of the most

devoted and untiring kind.

tions

In the communica"

which have been received by the board, he

to possess the

seemed
him.

most anxious concern for

the salvation of the perishing multitudes around

Through
to

his instrumentality a considera-

ble church has

been collected together, which

seems
dition.

be in a prosperous and growing con-

Sabbath and

week day schools have

been

instituted for the instruction of native chil-

dren and the children of the colony, which have

proved eminently useful.

We

were looking

for-

ward with confidence

sert should rejoice

to the

summation of our wishes,

more perfect conwhen that moral decall-

and blossom as the rose; but

our expectations, in

God

has seen

fit

to cross

LOTT CARY.

95

ing from his station this laborious missionary.

It

becomes us

to

bow

with submission to the

stroke, and to realize the saying of the apostle,

'how unsearchable are

his

judgments and his

v/ere

ways
truth,
is

past finding out.'

Although we

not

permitted to receive his dying testimony to the

we have

the fullest assurance that our loss

his unspeakable and eternal gain.

In closing this

memoir

it

will not

be doing vio-

lence to truth, to say, that Lott Cary was

the most gifted
priately
ture's

among
Appro-

men

of the present age.

was

it

remarked that "he was one of na-

noblemen."

Under more

favorable cir-

cumstances, he would have been on a level with

the most intellectual and honored of his race.

He

possessed a mind of no ordinary grade.

his

This

was evinced from the period of at the warehouse in Richmond,

as presiding officer in
the

employment
elevation

to his

colony of

Liberia.

There was a clearness and vigor of thought enabling him to combine and compare ideas, and
to

reach with ease, the best and most rational

If opportunity had allowed, he would
in

conclusion.

have excelled
will

mathematical knowledge.

It

be remembered by the reader that the merilife

dian of

was nearly reached before he became

96

BIOGRAPHY OP

acquainted with the alphabet of his

own

lan-

guage.

It

As a speaker he was interesting and instructive. was stated by one who knew him well and
in the

sometimes heard him

that
in

city of

Richmond,

"preaching, nQtwithstanding his gram-

matical inaccuracies, he was often truly eloquent.

He
and

had derived almost nothing from the schools,

his

manner was of course unpolished, but

all

his

ideas would sometimes burst upon you in

native

their

solemnity, and

awaken deeper
less

feelings
dis-

than the
courses.''
tions

most polished, but

original

His sermons were not merely ebullifull

of zeal without knowledge; they were

of sentiment.
think,

He was

himself accustomed to

and

in

simplicity and godly sincerity he

truth.

gave utterance to the

to the

Aiany testimonials
might be furnished.

power of

his address

Baptist minister of intelligence

who heard

his

farewell address

was almost overpowered by the

it

violence of feelings which

occasioned.

He

af-

terwards stated that he believed he had never

list-

ened
tion

to

such a discourse.
with
the
I

minister of distinc-

connected

Presbyterian church,

stated "a sermon which

heard from Mr. Gary

shortly before he sailed for Africa,

was the

best

LOTT CARY.
extemporaneous discourse
tained
1

97
It

ever heard.

con-

more original and impressive thoughts, some

of which are distinct in

my memory

and never can

be forgotten."

One

of the chief excellencies of his character,

consisted in his unbending integrity.

He aimed
the benev-

most conscientiously

to

discharge his duty, what-

ever might be the consequences.

And

olence of his heart continually inclined him to

seek happiness

in dispensing

good toothers.

His

labors as a missionary, in Africa, were performed

for the

most part gratuitously, as the funds appro-

priated

by the African Missionary Society of

compensating teachers, and

Richmond, and the board of the general convention

were employed

in

otherwise supporting the schools.

We

see

him

when almost
visiting

all

around are either sick or dying,

to

from house

house, not only adminis-

tering consolation as a servant of Christ, but in

the character of physician and nurse.

vices too,

These

ser-

were performed without the prospect of

compensation.
In his death the colony, and Africa herself,
lost

a devoted friend.

His

memory

doubtless will

long be revered by the Liberians, and generations

yet UQborn will have reason to call

him

blessed.

9*

APPENDIX.

A BRIEF

ACCOUNT OF AFRICAN COLONIZATION.

in the history of this coun-

At
try,

an early period

and while the several states were then colo-

nies of the king of Great Britain, a vessel load-

ed with slaves came

to Virginia.

The

scarcity

of labor induced the planters to purchase them,

and the purchase being found to be profitable, the

importation of slaves from Africa increased, until
slavery

became one of

the institutions of the land.

After the

war of

the revolution, and

when

the

{^'present constitution of the United States went into

operation, in the year 1789, that instrument provided, in effect, that the importation of slaves into
this

country should not be permitted after the

Still later,

year 1808.

the Congress of the Uni-

ted States have passed laws declaring the slavetrade to be piracy; holding, in other words, those

engaged

in

it

to be

enemies of the human race,

all
/<

whom

it is

the duty of
-
;

men

to

take and de-

"^^

i.'"^

ICjlP

APPENDIX.
Notwithstanding
this, the slave-trade

stroy.

beso
into

tween Africa and America

long, that

had continued

immense numbers were brought

the United States, the descendants of

whom we
still

see every day around us.

Many

of these people

are free, but the greater portion of them are

held in slavery.
fortunate

Their condition here

is

is

an un-

one, and

regretted by

all

who have

the true happiness of their fellow beings, or the

good of their country,

slaves

at heart.

Those who are

themselves.

work

for

others and

not for

They

look upon their children, as they grow up,

All

with the knowledge that they too are slaves.

the roads to wealth are closed to them; and though

they are taken care

that
is

of,

and clothed, and

fed,

yet

the

sum of

their expectations.
it is

Those

who

are free, labor,

true,

and may acquire

the avenues to

property, for themselves; but

all

distinction are closed against them.

They have
in ad-

no voice

in

making the laws by which they are

governed, and cannot hope to participate

ministering them.
judice, arising

The cause

of this

is

the pre-

from the difference of color between

population of the country,
are

them and
and their

the white

origin.

There

some who pretend

to

say, that the prejudice against the

is

colored race
that

unjust,

and that

it

will

wear away; and

APPENDIX.
the white and colored races will live in

101

America

as one people, marrying together, and dividing

power and
sincere,

place.
idle

These persons, when they are

and mischievous visionaries;
against the

are

who

reason against the experience of ages, and

all

against

the facts of history, and

observations of every day.

They

are

laboring
are not

under an unfortunate error.

sincere, are bad

Those who

men, with

evil designs,

and

who
dis-

would rejoice
order.
It is

in the prevalence of strife

and

now many

years since slavery was

if

introduced into this country, and, at this day,

there
is

one fact connected with our history and

it is

condition more certain than another,

this

That

the 'presence of the colored race in the Uni-

ted States is an evil, whether considered with ref-

erence to themselves

or to the white population;

and

that the best interests of both indicate the ne-

of a separation; and that slavery, which all admit to be injurious to the true happiness and
cessity

permanent prosperity of the country, where it exists, and deplorable to the slave, can only he
abated by emigration accompanying emancipation.

To

argue these points would far exceed

limits;

our present

we

state

them as the firm

convictions of the great body of the coionizationists.

102

APPENDIX.
of providing a place to which the

With a view
free

people of color of the United States might

emigrate, together with such emancipated slaves

as might desire to do

so,

and where they could

lay the foundations of a free government, ad-

ministered by themselves, the American Colonization Society was formed

in

the year 1816, at

the immediate suggestion of the RevVl Robert

Finley of

New

Jersey.

The

subject of coloniz-

ing the free people of color had been entertained

by many wise and benevolent men,

fore,

for years be-

and several

places

had

been

proposed.

Africa was, however, finally adopted, as the most

appropriate, for reasons
that
at

once suggest

themselves.

In the

first

place, the colored people

of the United States came from thence originally;

and

in

the next, by restoring

them

to this

continent, not only would the immediate purposes

of colonization be accomplished, but colonization

would become the means of

tianizing an

civilizing

and chris-

immense

people,

who

otherwise ap-

peared to be beyond the pale of these great

blessings.

In 1818, the Rev. Messrs. Samuel J. Mills and

Ebenezer

Bur<);ess visited the coast of Africa to

site for a

acquire information as to the proper

colony.

On

their

return

to

the United States,

APPENDIX.

103

Mr.

.Mills died.

In February, 1820, the ship

Elizabeth sailed from

New York
for the

with the Rev'd

Samuel Bacon, agent

United States, John

p. Bankson, assistant agent, and Dr. Samuel A.

Crozer, agent of the American Colonization Society.

Congress had passed a law

for the restor-

ation to their

own country

of Africans recaptured

from the slave ships, and the agents of the gov-

ernment and the American Colonization Society

united for the purpose of establishing a settle-

ment

for their respective objects.

Along with
island,

the agents, were eighty-eight colored emigrants.

The
here

site

first

selected

was Sherbro

'

and

the expedition

by the Elizabeth

landed.

The

selection proved most unfortunate, and the

three agents and twenty-four of the emigrants

died in a few weeks.

As might have been

in the

an-

ticipated, this greatly discouraged the friends of

the undertaking.
ever,

Early

year 1821, howto

the

brig

Nautilus conveyed

Africa agents

Messrs. J. B.

Winn and Ephraim Bacon,

of the United States, and the Rev'd Joseph R.

Andrus, principal, and Mr. Christian Wiltberger,

assistant, agents of

the

American Colonization
In

Society, with a small

this vessel, the

number of emigrants.

Rev'd Lett Cary, the subject of

the preceding memoir, took passage as an emi-

104
grant.

APPENDIX.

The emigrants by

this expedition

were

settled, for the

time being, at Foura Bay, where

they were joined by the remnant of the expedition

by the Elizabeth, from Sherbro Island.

to

Mr.

and Mrs. Bacon returned

the United States

before long; and Mr. Andrus and Mr. and Mrs.

Winn were
tyrs
to

soon after added to the

list

of mar-

the cause of Africa.

Mr. Wiltberger
he continued
to

was now chief agent, which

office

discharge until the arrival of Dr. Eli Ayres,

who

had received the appointment from the Board of Managers.

In

December, 1821, the United

States schooner Alligator arrived at Sierra Leone,

and her commander, Robert F. Stockton, Esq. ac-

companying Dr. Ayres

to

Cape Mesurado, a pur-

chase of a small island in the mouth of the Mesurado river, and a valuable tract of land, including the Cape
itself,

was

effected.

Hither the

emigrants were removed, and took up their abode

on the
island.

Sickness again assailed

it

them,

and at one time

project,

was proposed
to

to

abandon the

and

return

Sierra

Leone.

They
United
infant

nobly refused to do
agents having
left

this,

however, and, the two

them

to return to the

States, the emigrants

remained

at

their

settlement, under the

temporary government of

one of their number, Elijah Johnson.

On

the

APPENDIX.

105

20th June, 1822, the Rev. Jehudi Ashmun, a

name now

forever nobly identified with Africa

in the

and colonization, sailed from Baltimore

and

brig Strong, with fifteen recaptured Africans and

thirty-five

colonists;

and on the 9th of Au-

gust following, landed at Cape Mesurado.

The

whole number of the emigrants, including those

carried out by the Strong, amounted to but one

hundred and

thirty,

thirty-five

of

whom were
at

capable of bearing arms.

Mr. Ashmun

once

devoted himself to placing the colony

in a state

of defence, which was called for by a threatened

attack from the natives.

He

had scarcely suc-

ceeded in doing
the 11th

this,

before he

was

assaulted,

on

November, by a

force of from six to

nine

hundred men.

These were repulsed with

great loss on the part of the natives, and with

the loss of fifteen killed, wounded, and missing

on the part of the colonists, several of

whom
re-

were women and children.

victory to

On

the

80th No-

vember, the attack was renewed, and again

sulted
in

the colonists.

period,
said to

the colony at

From this Cape Mesurado may be

have dated

its

permanent establishment,

and has continued, under the administration of

Ashmun and
bers and

his successors, to increase in

num-

prosperity,

and

to

spread

its

settle-

10

106

APPENDIX.

ments, until Caldwell, Millsburg, Edina,

New

Georgia, and the Junk settlement, have been

added

to

Monrovia.

The towns

here enumerated

have been mainly founded by the inhabitants of

Monrovia

in the first instance,

and have been

in-

creased from time to time, by emigration from

the United States.

Their population

is

now up-

wards of three thousand, whose chief reliance

for support heretofore has

been on trade with the

natives and with vessels visiting the coast.

In 1830, the state of Maryland appropriated

$200,000
limits,

to the colonization

cause within her

own

and the Orion and the Lafayette sailed with

to

emigrants from Baltimore

Cape Mesurado.

Circumstances connected with the expedition by

the last

named

vessel,

induced the Maryland State

Colonization Society, which had for some time

acted upon the principle of appropriating
to
its

funds

the use of

Maryland emigrants,

to separate
for

from the parent society, and to found a colony

itself;

and accordingly, the brig Ann

in

sailod

from

Baltimore

December, 1833, and

in

ihe

month
first

of February, Dr. Hall, who went out as (ho

governor, succeeded in purchasing Cape Palmas

and the surrounding country, and established there

the town of Harper, the
land in Liberia.
first

settlement of Mary-

Prosperity has thus far attended

APPENDIX.

107

the Maryland colony in an extraordinary degree.

The who

population

is

about two hundred and

fifty,

devote themselves exclusively to agricultural

The present agent is John B. Russwurm who has been appointed permanently, and who is a man of color. The system pursued by the Mapursuits.

ryland society

is

that of independent state action,

its

which

it

contends, and ur^es

is

experience as

proving,
lic

best adapted to the condition of pub-

feeling in the United States on the subject of

slavery,

and best calculated

to

promote the ends

of colonization.

About
founded
vania and

the
its

same time

that the

Maryland society
from the Maryin their

colony, the state societies of Pennsyl-

New York,

which

differ

land society in their

mode

of action, only

nominal dependence on the American Colonization

Society, established a settlement at Bassa

Cove, and relying upon the hope and belief that

their

own

dispositions towards the natives

would

be reciprocated, determined not to

igrants.

arm

the

em-

Quarrels however, as was to have been

expected, took place between the settlers and natives; blood

was drawn; and the neighboring chief,

attacking the defenceless settlement, killed

many

of

its

people, and drove the remnant to take refat

uge with their neighbors

Edina.

Unappalled

108
by
this

^APPENDIX.
distressing occurrence, the
societies of

Pennsylvania and

New

York, with noble energy,

re-established their settlement

ple,

armed

their peore-

and a happy and thriving community now

their

wards
labors.

most praiseworthy and disinterested

their late excellent agent,

To

Thomas
res-

Buchanan, Esq., much of the success of the

tored settlement
is

to be attributed.

The

state societies of Mississippi

and Louisi-

ana have purchased a territory and are about

founding a settlement
at the

mouth of Sinou

river;

and the

state

society of Virginia will probably,

ere long, follow their example.

Colonization has become an authentic design.
It is
It
is

admitted

now on

all

hands

to

be practicable.
It
evil.

one of the noblest charities of the age.

frees one country from a stain

It restores to

and a crying
its

another the descendants of

chil-

dren, rich in the glorious treasures of Christianity

and

civilization

nor can
it,

the success that has, in

for,

the main attended

be better accounted

when

compared with the early settlement of this country,

than by using the words of the founder of the society, the

Rev. Robert Finley

who

replied to all

the ridicule that

advocated

it,

by saying, "I know

was heaped upon him while he this scheme is

from God."

*-.

*.

>x

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e

ih/^iOt/

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NOV 1 9 1259