Letter of Rev. J. J. Fitzgerald
ROBERTSPORT, GRAND CAPE MOUNT
September3, 1860
Rev. J. B. Taylor:
DEAR BROTHER - Having received information that Grand Cape Mount
was assigned me as my field of labor, I took the first opportunity to remove to that
place. On the 12th of July my family and self took passage in a small schooner, the
Randel, bound for Sierra Leone, and made Grand Cape Mount the same day.
The landing at this place is exceedingly bad in the wet season, and in
attempting to get on shore our surf-boat swamped and capsized, and my wife, child
and myself were only saved by God’s mercy and the prompt assistance of friends.
The accident caused Mrs. Fitzgerald a severe spell of fever.
MY FIELD OF LABOR
A few days after my landing I made a tour of Cape Mount, calling on all the
families of the church, and many others, for religious conversation, and to ascertain
their condition. The people of this settlement are perhaps the poorest of any on the
coast, for many good reasons: 1st, It is a new settlement, and before it received
sufficient strength Carysburg was commenced, and all the emigrants were sent there,
and Cape Mount has never had sufficient strength to start fanns up the rivers and
give them protection. 2nd, The Veys and Golas, who inhabit this part of the country,
have been in continual hostility for years, and have made life and property so
insecure that opening fanns on our rivers was out of the question. These, and other
causes that I might mention, have made the people poor, work scarce, and labor
cheap.
Our congregation has largely increased of late, but in visiting them at their
homes, I find that many, very many, females are prevented from attending on the
Sabbath for want of shoes. I mention this only to show the condition of the people.
STATE OF THE CHURCH
I found the church in a state of confusion. They have been much neglected,
and as sheep having no shepherd, had become scattered. My first efforts were to
harmonize discordant feelings, and to heal ancient wounds. By the assistance of the
Prince of Peace, harmony has been restored. Some who were refractory made
confession with tears in their eyes. Believing it then to be a propitious time to labor
for the salvation of the lost, I protracted my meeting three weeks, and as the fruit of
our efforts, we have received twelve candidates for the ordinance of Baptism; some
fifteen or sixteen have made a profession during the progress of the meeting, all of
