Americo-Liberia

We often here of African-American's who are searching for their enslaved ancestors, or perhaps they were looking for an ancestor who was freed after the Civil War. Many times there was not much information about what happened to them either before or after that time.  To those who kept slaves, it wasn't important to document all that information.

While researching what was happening during the south in the early 1800's, I came across a notation about what was called the American Colonization Society (ACS).  The ACS believed that repatriation was preferable to emancipation so they began sending black volunteers to the Pepper Coast to establish a colony of freed American blacks which called themselves Americo-Liberians.  Colonies with names like Mississippi-in-Africa, and the Republic of Maryland were later combined into the Country known as Liberia in 1847.

So if you are out there, looking for your migrant freed ancestors, consider the fact that maybe they left the country.  Maybe they were part of a new country of free men, women and children.  Escape was possible, with the help of societies like the ACS and the people of private organizations who supported them along with American politicians like Henry Clay and James Monroe.

Gain a new perspective with your Adventures in Genealogy....
Michele