Category: Robertsport

Robertsport was founded in 1856. In 1860, the legislature allocated five acres of farm land and a town lot to each immigrant willing to settle there.

The town had one public school in 1874 conducted by Mrs. S. A. Roberts, who was paid $150.

Due to fallout from the slave trade in the region, conflicts persisted in the area. In 1870, the legislature provided for the relief of Robertsport. In 1884, it ordered the purchase of small arms and munitions for defense of the town.

Footnote: Acts of the Liberian Legislature, 1860, p. 71; “Government schools in Montserrado County, African Repository, July 1874, p. 220; Acts of the Liberian Legislature, 1870, pp. 15-16; 1884, pp. 11-12.

In 1892, the legislature provided $500 for the surveying and plotting of the town. It also allocated funds for the education of 13 male students at Liberia College, one each from the Saint Paul’s River, Junk-Marshall, Careysburg and Robertsport and three each from Grand Bassa, Sinoe and Maryland.

In 1895, the secretary of war and navy was authorized to furnish Robertsport, Grand Cape Mount, and Careysburg, Monstserrado County [fifty Peabody rifles and fifteen thousand rounds of cartridges], Sinoe [one Gatling gun, two hundred Peabody rifles and twenty thousand rounds of cartridges] and Maryland [one Gatling gun, one hundred Peabody rifles and two thousand rounds of cartridges.

Footnote: Acts of the Liberian Legislature, 1892, pp. 4-5; 1892, p. 10; Acts of the Liberian Legislature, 1895, p. 9.

In 1915, the Protestant Episcopal Mission led by Bishop S. D. Ferguson received from the legislature six acres in Robertsport, for a girls boarding and day school and for other industrial purposes.

In 1916, the city charter was altered, providing for a mayor, a city clerk, one city treasurer, one auditor, one solicitor, one chief of police, one health commissioner, one tax collector, one commissioner of public works, one magistrate and a seven-member council with the power to elect a chairman, sergeant-at-arms, clerk and messengers, and to collect the following taxes: a $1 poll tax on males 21 to 75 years of age; a fifty cent dog tax; and a $1 female tax.

Resident Benjamin F. Lewis was restored to citizenship, suggesting he had previously committed a crime.

Footnote: Acts of the Liberian Legislature, 1915-16, pp. 24-25; Acts of the Liberian Legislature, 1916, pp. 21-26; Acts of the Liberian Legislature, 1919, p. 5.

In 1919, the local Protestant Episcopal Church was formed, led by M. W. G. Muhlenburg, rector; James Dwala, senior warden; E. Z. B. Jones, junior warden; W. A. Williams, treasurer; W. B. Gray, secretary; and E. D. W. Shannon, vestryman.

In 1920, the legislature allocated $200 for the local Court House and Jail House. It also granted to the Compagnie des Cables Sud Americains, the rights to construct and operate an aerial line of telegraphic communication between Grand Cape Mount and Blieron in the French Ivory Coast to be completed by July 31, 1921 and operated for 35 years.

The legislature set the penalty for violating the city charter at between $50 and $500.

Footnote: Acts of the Liberian Legislature, 1919, p. 9; Acts of the Liberian Legislature, 1920, pp. 6-7; Acts of the Liberian Legislature, 1920, pp. 23-24; Acts of the Liberian Legislature, 1924-25, p. 5.

In 1924, the Robertsport Patriotic Matrons Club for formed, with the following officers: naming Lucretia A. David, president; Hannah A. Ware, secretary; Laura A. Emmons, treasurer; and members: S. E. A. Sherman, Eliza B. N. Jones, Matilda A. Chinoweth, Hannah Hoff, Amy E. Jones, Martha Marshall, Elsie Chinoweth, Anna A. Muhlenburg and Frances G. Striker.

The local Protestant Episcopal Church was named “Saint John’s Parish (Irving Memorial)” in 1927. In 1934, the legislature granted the Protestant Episcopal Church Mission led by Bishop Robert E. Campbell Missionary public land for missionary purposes in connection with St. John’s Academy and Bethany School.

Footnote: Acts of the Liberian Legislature, 1924-25, p. 39; Acts of the Liberian Legislature, 1927-28, p. 23; Acts of the Liberian Legislature, 1934, pp. 25-26

The status of the city was elevated to a municipal district in 1938.

The legislature also sipulated the salaries of officers; requiring periodic reports by the court clerk to the bureau of internal revenue and by the police chief to the circuit court; and extending the jurisdiction of the Municipal Court in this district only to include: examination of all criminal cases above the justice of peace level; all revenue cases; sanitation violations; and violations of municipal ordinances.

The Union Lodge No. 4463, Grand United Order of Odd Fellows, received one town lot in the city for the purpose of erecting thereon a temple.

Footnote: Acts of the Liberian Legislature, 1938, pp. 5-7; Acts of the Liberian Legislature, 1938, p. 17.