Archives of Maryland
(Biographical Series)
Mary Ann Simpson (b. circa 1810 - d. ?)
MSA SC 5496-51373
Maryland State Colonization Society Emigrant to Liberia from Charles
County, 1835
Biography:
Mary Ann Simpson and her two children, Edward
and Letty
Ann, were manumitted by Henry B Goodwin of Charles County on January
3, 1835.1, 2 Ambrose
Simpson, Mary Ann's husband, was manumitted around the same time by
George D. Parnham, also of Charles County.3
On June 28, 1835, the Simpsons sailed from Baltimore on the schooner
Harmony, arriving at Cape Palmas, Liberia on August 23, 1835.4, 5
They were also accompanied by Cecilia
Ann Hanson, a thirteen year old girl manunitted by Goodwin, who remained
in their household in Liberia.5, 6 By 1848, the Simpsons had
at least four more children: Margaret (b. circa 1838), Josiah (b. circa
1841), and George (b. circa 1846), and Samuel H. (b. circa 1848).7,
8 Ambrose worked as a rough carpenter and sawyer as well as served
in the colonial government as an elected councilor in 1846 and 1848 9,
10, 11, 12, 13 During the latter year, Ambrose was expelled from
the Episcopal Church for having an affair and an illegitimate child with
Hannah Ireland, a widow.14 Despite his infidelity, Mary Ann
remained with him, as indicated on the 1849 and 1852 censuses.15,
16 By 1853, Ambrose had regained enough stature in the community
to be elected to the constitution framing committee as Maryland in Liberia
was transforming from a colony into an independent republic.17
1. SPECIAL
COLLECTIONS (Papers of the Maryland State Colonization Society), 1817-1902.
Manumission and copies. Film No. M 13249-1. Extracts of manumissions, 1835.
2. SPECIAL
COLLECTIONS (Papers of the Maryland State Colonization) Society, 1817-1902.
Manumission Lists, Film No. M 13248-1, 1832-1834, Lines 995-997.
3. Ibid.
4. SPECIAL
COLLECTIONS (Papers of the Maryland State Colonization Society), Manumission
Lists, 1832-1839, MSA SC 5977, Film Number M 13248-1, Emigrants, Line 269-272.
5. Hall, Richard L. On Afric’s Shore: A History of Maryland in Liberia,
1834-1857. (Baltimore: Maryland Historical Society, 2003), 451.
6. SPECIAL
COLLECTIONS (Papers of the Maryland State Colonization Society), 1817-1902.
Manumission and copies. Film No. M 13249-1. Extracts of manumissions, 1835.
7. SPECIAL
COLLECTIONS (Papers of the Maryland State Colonization Society), Subscribers
Reports Census, 1817-1902, MSA SC 5977, Film Number M 13247-1, 1848 Census
8. SPECIAL
COLLECTIONS (Papers of the Maryland State Colonization Society),
Subscribers Reports Census, 1817-1902, MSA SC 5977, Film Number M 13247-1,
1849 Census.
9. SPECIAL
COLLECTIONS (Papers of the Maryland State Colonization Society), Subscribers
Reports Census, 1817-1902, MSA SC 5977, Film Number M 13247-1, 1837 Census
10. SPECIAL
COLLECTIONS (Papers of the Maryland State Colonization Society0, Subscribers
Reports Census, 1817-1902, MSA SC 5977, Film Number M 13247-1, 1838 Census.
11. SPECIAL
COLLECTIONS (Papers of the Maryland State Colonization Society), Subscribers
Reports Census, 1817-1902, MSA SC 5977, Film Number M 13247-1, 1839 Census.
12. SPECIAL
COLLECTIONS (Papers of the Maryland State Colonization Society), Subscribers
Reports Census, 1817-1902, MSA SC 5977, Film Number M 13247-1, 1840 Census.
13. Hall, 451.
14. Ibid.
15. SPECIAL
COLLECTIONS (Papers of the Maryland State Colonization Society),
Subscribers Reports Census, 1817-1902, MSA SC 5977, Film Number M 13247-1,
1849 Census.
16. SPECIAL
COLLECTIONS (Papers of the Maryland State Colonization Society),
Subscribers Reports Census, 1817-1902, MSA SC 5977, Film Number M 13247-1,
1852 Census, Lines 411-416.
17. Hall, 371-372.
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