Abstract: | On May 17, 1837, the brig Baltimore, with a total of 54 emigrants sailed from Baltimore to Maryland in Liberia, a colony for freed slaves established by the Maryland State Colonization Society, formerly the Maryland branch of the American Colonization Society, on the shores of western Africa at Cape Palmas. This new colony had come to the attention of Emily H. Tubman of Augusta, Georgia, widow of Richard Tubman. In his will, Richard Tubman had left $ 10,000 to free his slaves on the condition that they emigrate from Georgia to West Africa. Accordingly, of the 54 emigrants on the brig Baltimore, 42 were sent out by Mrs. Tubman, and another 4 also came from Georgia. Among the 46 emigrants from Georgia were the paternal grandfather and grandmother of the President of Liberia: William: Shadrach Tubman (or Shadrach Cummings) and Sylvia Tubman. From their marriage came three sons: Alexander, William Shadrach Jr., and Hilary. From Alexander's marriage with Elizabeth Rebecca Barnes is the first of eight children William Vacanarat Shadrach Tubman, born November 29, 1895, in the town of Harper at Cape Palmas, the present President of Liberia. Ref. |