Lott Cary
Encyclopedia
Lott Cary (1780 – November 10, 1828) was an African-American Baptist
minister and lay physician
, who was instrumental in the founding of the Colony of Liberia
in Africa
. Born into slavery
, he purchased his freedom. He was one of the first black American missionaries
as well as the first American Baptist missionary to Africa.
, on the estate of Mr. William A. Christian. It soon became apparent that he was exceptionally bright and energetic.
In 1804, his master John Bowry, a Methodist minister, hired Cary out as a young man in Richmond
, about 25 miles away. He was hired out by the year at the Shockoe warehouse. In 1807 Cary joined the First Baptist Church of Richmond
, originally a congregation of both whites and blacks, free and slave. He was baptised by its pastor, John Courtney. Beginning his education by learning to read the Bible
, Cary later attended a small school for slaves. Its twenty young men were taught by Deacon
William Crane. He had come from Newark, New Jersey
in 1812, opened a shoe store and joined the First Baptist Church. Crane's students met three evenings each week to learn reading, writing, arithmetic, and the Bible.
As he became educated, Cary rose from working as a common laborer to become a shipping clerk in a tobacco warehouse along Tobacco Row
. Because of his diligence and valuable work, Cary was often rewarded by his master with five-dollar bills from the money he earned. He was also permitted to collect and sell small bags of waste tobacco for his own profit.
minister. He also studied with doctors while in Liberia and became a lay medical practitioner.
established the American Colonization Society
(ACS), with the goal of enabling former slaves to emigrate to Africa
and establish a colony there. Although most enslaved and free blacks had been born in the United States, often for generations, some members of the ACS saw the goal as a kind of "repatriation
" of blacks to Africa. The Society was supported by a paradoxical coalition of philanthropist
s, members of the clergy
and abolitionists, and slaveholders. Those favoring abolition wanted to free enslaved blacks and provide them with the chance to go to Africa. The slaveholders feared the presence of free blacks in a slave society and wanted to expel them from the South
and the United States.
Cary was among numerous free blacks who became interested in this movement. Most free blacks, however, as native to the United States, wanted no part of expatriation. Like those of European Americans, their roots were in the United States; they simply wanted to enjoy the rights of citizens and free people in the country where they had many ties.
, and the Richmond African Baptist Missionary Society, of which he was a founder, Cary became the first black American missionary
to Africa.
In the new colony of Liberia
, Cary served the leadership as a counselor, physician, and pastor. His second wife died shortly after they arrived in Africa. In 1825, the New York Observer noted that he had, at Cape Mesurado, since lost a third wife, "the daughter of Richard Sampson, from Petersburg, Virginia. He established Providence Baptist Church in Monrovia, and several schools. In 1826, he was elected vice-agent of the ACS.
Early life in the Colony of Liberia was full of danger. Native Africans resisted the colonization and expansion by the American settlers, which resulted in many armed conflicts between them. The colonists were also at risk of attack from slave traders, who would have sold them into slavery.
In August 1828, Cary became acting governor of Liberia. He had been designated the successor by the previous governor, who died. Later that year Cary's role in Liberia was cut short. He died on November 10, 1828, two days after an accident while making bullets. Expecting an attack by slave traders, Cary and other men were making bullet cartridges. An explosion of materials fatally injured Cary and seven of his companions.
Added information from a biography of Lott Carey in the New York Observer of November 5, 1825.
Baptist
Baptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers , and that it must be done by immersion...
minister and lay physician
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
, who was instrumental in the founding of the Colony of Liberia
Liberia
Liberia , officially the Republic of Liberia, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Sierra Leone on the west, Guinea on the north and Côte d'Ivoire on the east. Liberia's coastline is composed of mostly mangrove forests while the more sparsely populated inland consists of forests that open...
in Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
. Born into slavery
Slavery
Slavery is a system under which people are treated as property to be bought and sold, and are forced to work. Slaves can be held against their will from the time of their capture, purchase or birth, and deprived of the right to leave, to refuse to work, or to demand compensation...
, he purchased his freedom. He was one of the first black American missionaries
Missionary
A missionary is a member of a religious group sent into an area to do evangelism or ministries of service, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care and economic development. The word "mission" originates from 1598 when the Jesuits sent members abroad, derived from the Latin...
as well as the first American Baptist missionary to Africa.
Early life and education
In 1780 Lott Cary was born into slavery and humble surroundings in Charles City County, VirginiaCharles City County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 6,926 people, 2,670 households, and 1,975 families residing in the county. The population density was 38 people per square mile . There were 2,895 housing units at an average density of 16 per square mile...
, on the estate of Mr. William A. Christian. It soon became apparent that he was exceptionally bright and energetic.
In 1804, his master John Bowry, a Methodist minister, hired Cary out as a young man in Richmond
Richmond, Virginia
Richmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area...
, about 25 miles away. He was hired out by the year at the Shockoe warehouse. In 1807 Cary joined the First Baptist Church of Richmond
First Baptist Church (Richmond, Virginia)
First Baptist Church is an historic Baptist Church in Richmond, Virginia. Lott Carey and Collin Teague were associated with this church. Established downtown in 1780, it is currently located on the corner of Monument Avenue and The Boulevard. Current Senior Minister is the Rev. Dr...
, originally a congregation of both whites and blacks, free and slave. He was baptised by its pastor, John Courtney. Beginning his education by learning to read the Bible
Bible
The Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
, Cary later attended a small school for slaves. Its twenty young men were taught by Deacon
Deacon
Deacon is a ministry in the Christian Church that is generally associated with service of some kind, but which varies among theological and denominational traditions...
William Crane. He had come from Newark, New Jersey
Newark, New Jersey
Newark is the largest city in the American state of New Jersey, and the seat of Essex County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Newark had a population of 277,140, maintaining its status as the largest municipality in New Jersey. It is the 68th largest city in the U.S...
in 1812, opened a shoe store and joined the First Baptist Church. Crane's students met three evenings each week to learn reading, writing, arithmetic, and the Bible.
As he became educated, Cary rose from working as a common laborer to become a shipping clerk in a tobacco warehouse along Tobacco Row
Tobacco Row
Tobacco Row is a collection of tobacco warehouses and cigarette factories in Richmond, Virginia adjacent to the James River and Kanawha Canal near its eastern terminus at the head of navigation of the James River.-History:...
. Because of his diligence and valuable work, Cary was often rewarded by his master with five-dollar bills from the money he earned. He was also permitted to collect and sell small bags of waste tobacco for his own profit.
Freedom and career
In 1813, his first wife died. With money he had earned, in 1813 Cary purchased his own freedom and that of his two children for $850. As a free man, he continued to be both industrious and frugal. He and his family stayed in Richmond; jobs were available and there was a growing free black community. In 1813 Cary became an official BaptistBaptist
Baptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers , and that it must be done by immersion...
minister. He also studied with doctors while in Liberia and became a lay medical practitioner.
American Colonization Society
In the early 19th century, about 2 million African-Americans lived in the United States, of whom 200,000 were free persons. In 1816, Robert FinleyRobert Finley
Robert Finley was briefly the president of the University of Georgia. Finley was born in Princeton, New Jersey, and graduated from College of New Jersey at the age of 15.-Early life:Finley was born to James Finley and Ann Angrest, James was born 1737 in Glasgow, Scotland where he...
established the American Colonization Society
American Colonization Society
The American Colonization Society , founded in 1816, was the primary vehicle to support the "return" of free African Americans to what was considered greater freedom in Africa. It helped to found the colony of Liberia in 1821–22 as a place for freedmen...
(ACS), with the goal of enabling former slaves to emigrate to Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
and establish a colony there. Although most enslaved and free blacks had been born in the United States, often for generations, some members of the ACS saw the goal as a kind of "repatriation
Repatriation
Repatriation is the process of returning a person back to one's place of origin or citizenship. This includes the process of returning refugees or soldiers to their place of origin following a war...
" of blacks to Africa. The Society was supported by a paradoxical coalition of philanthropist
Philanthropist
A philanthropist is someone who engages in philanthropy; that is, someone who donates his or her time, money, and/or reputation to charitable causes...
s, members of the clergy
Clergy
Clergy is the generic term used to describe the formal religious leadership within a given religion. A clergyman, churchman or cleric is a member of the clergy, especially one who is a priest, preacher, pastor, or other religious professional....
and abolitionists, and slaveholders. Those favoring abolition wanted to free enslaved blacks and provide them with the chance to go to Africa. The slaveholders feared the presence of free blacks in a slave society and wanted to expel them from the South
Southern United States
The Southern United States—commonly referred to as the American South, Dixie, or simply the South—constitutes a large distinctive area in the southeastern and south-central United States...
and the United States.
Cary was among numerous free blacks who became interested in this movement. Most free blacks, however, as native to the United States, wanted no part of expatriation. Like those of European Americans, their roots were in the United States; they simply wanted to enjoy the rights of citizens and free people in the country where they had many ties.
Colony of Liberia
By 1821, Cary had accumulated a sum to pay his own expenses as a member of the colony sent to the African coast. In cooperation with the First Baptist Church of Richmond, the American Baptist Foreign Missions SocietyAmerican Baptist Missionary Union
American Baptist Missionary Union is an international Protestant Christian missionary society founded in 1814 in the United States...
, and the Richmond African Baptist Missionary Society, of which he was a founder, Cary became the first black American missionary
Missionary
A missionary is a member of a religious group sent into an area to do evangelism or ministries of service, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care and economic development. The word "mission" originates from 1598 when the Jesuits sent members abroad, derived from the Latin...
to Africa.
In the new colony of Liberia
Liberia
Liberia , officially the Republic of Liberia, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Sierra Leone on the west, Guinea on the north and Côte d'Ivoire on the east. Liberia's coastline is composed of mostly mangrove forests while the more sparsely populated inland consists of forests that open...
, Cary served the leadership as a counselor, physician, and pastor. His second wife died shortly after they arrived in Africa. In 1825, the New York Observer noted that he had, at Cape Mesurado, since lost a third wife, "the daughter of Richard Sampson, from Petersburg, Virginia. He established Providence Baptist Church in Monrovia, and several schools. In 1826, he was elected vice-agent of the ACS.
Early life in the Colony of Liberia was full of danger. Native Africans resisted the colonization and expansion by the American settlers, which resulted in many armed conflicts between them. The colonists were also at risk of attack from slave traders, who would have sold them into slavery.
In August 1828, Cary became acting governor of Liberia. He had been designated the successor by the previous governor, who died. Later that year Cary's role in Liberia was cut short. He died on November 10, 1828, two days after an accident while making bullets. Expecting an attack by slave traders, Cary and other men were making bullet cartridges. An explosion of materials fatally injured Cary and seven of his companions.
Legacy and honors
The remarkable story of Lott Cary has been inspiration for United States and Liberian school children. Despite starting life as a common slave in a rural county with few apparent opportunities, Cary became educated and industrious, bought his own freedom, became both a minister and a physician, and helped found a new nation.- His mission and memory have been kept alive through the work of the Lott Carey Foreign Mission ConventionLott Carey Foreign Mission ConventionThe Lott Carey Foreign Mission Convention was a movement by African American Baptist from the National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc. who wanted to see more missions to Africa in the 1890s. The group eventually separated from the 'Mother Church' in 1897 because of disputes concerning the mission...
, based in Washington, DC.
- In RichmondRichmond, VirginiaRichmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area...
, VirginiaVirginiaThe Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
: Cary Street, and the Carytown shopping district.
- Providence Baptist Church in Monrovia, Liberia celebrated its 175th anniversary in 2001.
- Lott Cary Road in Charles City County was named in his honor.
- The Lott Cary House is a designated state historical landmark. It is used as a private residence. Virginia historical marker, V27-Lott Cary Birthplace, notes the site at the intersection of Virginia State Highways 155 and 602. While little is left of the original 18th century house, and it appears the original is more likely Bowry's plantation house than a slave quarter home where Cary would have been born, the site is important as a landmark of the man and his achievements.
- The Board of Supervisors of neighboring James City County, VirginiaJames City County, VirginiaJames City County is a county located on the Virginia Peninsula in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of the Commonwealth of Virginia, a state of the United States. Its population was 67,009 , and it is often associated with Williamsburg, an independent city, and Jamestown which is within the...
declared March 21, 2001, to be "Lott Cary Day" in his honor.
External links
- Ralph Randolph Gurley, "Sketch of the Life of Lott Cary", in Life of Jehudi Ashmun, Late Colonial Agent in Liberia. With An Appendix, Containing Extracts from his Journal and Other Writings; 1835, online at Documenting the South, University of North Carolina
- Liberia - "Liberia", Catholic Encyclopedia (1907)
- "History of Liberia", History of Nations
Added information from a biography of Lott Carey in the New York Observer of November 5, 1825.