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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