Archives of Maryland
(Biographical Series)

Cato Butler
MSA SC 5496-51184

Biography:

Cato Butler was a young enslaved boy who was owned by Martha Wilson of Calvert County, Maryland. At the age of six Cato escaped with thirteen enslaved men, women, and children, from the farm of Martha Wilson. The group is said to have left Wilson's farm on the shores of the Chesapeak Bay, October 24,1814. The slaves of Martha Wilson set out in a scow, which was met by a small boat that lead them to a larger British Vessel, that accepted them on board. Following the escape Cato was eventually taken to Nova Scotia where he settled with other enslaved people from the Chesapeake region. 

Martha Wilson later filed a claim to receive compensation for the loss she sustained when her slaves went off with the British. She received $280 per slave, which included Cato Butler.

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