Cato Perkins facts for kids

Cato Perkins was an African-American man who was enslaved in Charleston, South Carolina. He became a very important missionary in Sierra Leone.

Cato Perkins: A Journey to Freedom

Cato Perkins was enslaved by a man named John Perkins. During the American Revolutionary War, when the British army attacked Charleston, Cato saw a chance to become free. He bravely joined the British forces, which was a way for many enslaved people to gain their freedom during the war.

Finding Freedom and a New Home

After joining the British, Cato Perkins traveled to New York. He was a skilled carpenter and worked there. When the war ended in 1783, many Black Loyalists (African Americans who supported the British) were moved to other places. Cato Perkins was evacuated to Birchtown, Nova Scotia, in Canada. His name was recorded in a special document called the Book of Negroes, which listed all the Black Loyalists who left New York for Nova Scotia.

A New Faith in Nova Scotia

In Nova Scotia, Cato Perkins met John Marrant, a preacher from a Christian group called the Countess of Huntingdon's Connexion. This group was a bit like the Methodists, focusing on personal faith and helping others. Cato Perkins became a Christian and joined this group.

Building a Community in Sierra Leone

Later, Cato Perkins decided to move to Sierra Leone in West Africa. This was a new colony started for formerly enslaved people. In Sierra Leone, Cato continued to work as a carpenter. He even led a strike of carpenters against the Sierra Leone Company, which was the company managing the colony. This showed his leadership and desire for fair treatment.

Cato Perkins also played a huge role in spreading his faith. He started the very first church for the Countess of Huntingdon's Connexion in Sierra Leone. Other preachers from Nova Scotia followed his example, starting more churches in villages where formerly enslaved Africans lived. Cato Perkins passed away in 1805. The churches he helped establish are still a reminder of the Countess of Huntingdon's Connexion today.