THE AFRO-AMERICAN INVITED TO THE ISLAND OF HISPANIOLA President JEAN P. BOYER, on the 23rd of August 1823 sent the Ambassador Granville to contact the president of the USA to let afro americans come to this Island. Giving them equal rights, land for agriculture, and they will give moral custom to the people here. (Republica Dominicana) The president of the USA sent the Ambassador Granvilel to Bishop RICHARD ALLEN1of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, and the 'Bethel' church he spoke to the people and they agreed. Arguments were made they got inscribed and in 1824 in different boats and different groups they came to Haiti, Santo Domingo, Puerto Plata and Samana. From different parts of the USA they gathered in Philidelphia and all the groups let out from Philadelphia. I will tell you about the group that arrived at Samana in November and December of 1824. When they arrived: The spanish and french people that lived here(Samana) demonstrated love and kindness to them and helped them to the best of their ablility. They (Dominicanos) gave them(Former Slaves) land according to the # of their family. There were 333 sir names of the originaal name and one, was JOE PRICHT, they organized their families and began to work agriculture. They wer given the land near the River Saint John, Northwest. Los Algarrobos, Honoduras, Monte Rajos " Mont Rush", Dosue " they took the most of the land from the french people and gave it to the american people, they planted short crops to abe able to survive. Among the group were men of different trades. They had men who were nautiche( Nautical) and many of them had big boat ejm(Engines). The VANDERHOST, JOHNSON etc. They sailed all over the Carribean Islands, sellings vegetables and other fruits, honey, oil casada. They grew plants of cocoa( Coconut) in that time. It had a good price, so they cultivated the most of their land as cocao(Coconut) field. They raised cattles and pigs and they propsered. They built good houses in the town and the country. Many of their fathers sent their children back to the USA, to different Universities. They paid the University fees with monies made from selling harvested crops. They felt happy to be able to give their children education.

Aquair Muhammad (in the back), stands with offspring of the freed English speaking African-American who came from Philadelphia in 1824. photo by Michael Bracey

The group that came to Samana was the first to bring a Protestant Pastor to this part of the Island(East). When they came as Christian people, they formed their congregation. The First Pastor was called Isasc Miller4. The founders were as follows: 1--Isaac Miller 2--Peter Vanderhouse 3--Jacob James 4--Jeremia James 5--Jackson Willmore 6--Wesley Barret 7--Helen Barrett 8--Sarah Shepherd 9--John Forchue 10-Caroline Miller They worship the lord with songs of praise and prayer. The native people had to admire the Americans as they call them at that time to help them organize their families. Everyday early in the morning they made their family altar with songs and prayer. On sunday morning all the family got ready to go to church. They had this church in the town and in different parts of the country and rural districts. They had church schools and and 'Praid'( paid) their teachers (so) the most of their children learned music. They had different kinds of plays for the children of their neighborhood. They worship the lord with songs of praise and prayer. The native people had to admire the Americans as they call them at that time to help them organize their families. Everyday early in the morning they made their family altar with songs and prayer. On sunday morning all the family got ready to go to church. They had this church in the town and in different parts of the country and rural districts. They had church schools and and 'Praid'( paid) their teachers (so) the most of their children learned music. They had different kinds of plays for the children of their neighborhood. Pastor Isaac Miller went to visit the group of Haiti. (There he died) their death so praise him. Then the group of Samana remained with out a pastor. The group kept on with the local preachers, the Wesleyan Methodis from 'toksailem' took over the group of puerto plata, so they sent them a pastor. They told them about these Christian people here in Samana that was without a pastor. The Wesleyan Methodis which were of the Church of England sent them a pastor. This pastor took them over then. They became Weslyans. Truly yours in Christ, Martha Willmore Samana, Republica Dominican

Here I am with Martha Wilmore and her brother Leslie in her house. Photo by Aquair Muhammad