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Lowndes County Georgia 

List of Emigrants to Arthington, Liberia 

By

Eric Dewayne Jackson

Copyright 2003

One hundred and twelve Black men, women, and children emigrated from Lowndes County Georgia to Liberia in 1871 and 1872, just 7 years after

the Civil War. These were families of farmers, craftsmen, and laborers who left Lowndes County looking for a better life, one free of terrorism and racism. When the Union Army withdrew from the region during Reconstruction, the civil unrest was so bad that on June 30, 1869 a local citizen made a

 jaded plea for help in the South Georgia Times (The Valdosta Time’s Predecessor). ” The person stated, “Dead (explicative)s! In this and neighboring

counties. The land is literally strewn with deceased colored gentlemen. Every log has one behind it, ‘clay root’ conceals some half dozen, every

gopher hole is trying to swallow; and has one half way down, every frog pond contains one or more… we need the military. These Ku Klux outrages

must be stopped until the crop is gathered.”

The first group of 63 emigrants was headed by Jefferson Bracewell, a farmer and carpenter who was cited in the 1870 Census as having $6,000 of personal property. Aaron Miller, a farmer that owned 450 acres of land in what is now known as Hahira, Ga., led a second group of 59 people. The two groups

settled in Arthington, Liberia. Liberia was founded by the American Colonization Society and former American slaves in 1822.

The Lowndes County settlers in Liberia prospered for a while then fell upon hard times. Many like Jefferson Bracewell and nearly his entire family died from Malaria while others were killed in conflicts with the local population. Aaron Miller was also one of the ones who died a few years after their arrival. Other settlements met similar fates. However, as the years passed some of these emigrants saw their dreams and ambitions fulfilled. Today descendants of former American slaves only make up 5% of the Liberian population.

 This document was made possible through the help of Renate Kraus Milner of the Lowndes County Historical Society, Dr. Crowley, Professor of History,

Valdosta State University, and last and foremost. Mark David Howard, who wrote a Valdosta State University Masters Thesis.

List of Emigrants for Liberia from Lowndes County

By Barque Edith Rose, From Hampton Roads, Virginia, November 7, 1871

The Edith Rose, Captained by A. Alexander sailed from Hampton, Virginia on Tuesday, November 7, 1871

direct for Monrovia, Liberia. The Emigrants settled in the Liberian town of Arthington.

List of Emigrants for Liberia from Lowndes County

By Barque Jasper, From New York, November 21, 1872

The people traveled to Savannah, direct from their homes in Lowndes County early Saturday Morning on November 16. On the same day they took the

steamer, “San Salvador,” which arrived at New York on the night of the 20^th. The next morning they were transferred by the government steamer “Henry

Smith” to the “Jasper”. The “Jasper” left New York on Thursday November 21, 1872. The “Jasper” arrived at Monrovia on

January 1, 1873 and the emigrants joined there friends and Family in the Liberian town of Arthington.

Source: The African Repository: Vol. XLVII. December, 1871 (No. 12) pg.353-356

 Source: The African Repository: Vol. XLVIII. December, 1872 (No. 12) pg.353-356

Additional source: https://www.valdosta.edu/academics/library/depts/archives-and-special-collections/regional-history/liberia-emigrants.php

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