A Jesuit-enslaved person is someone whose involuntary labor (“owned, rented, and borrowed”) helped establish, expand, and sustain Jesuit missionary efforts and educational institutions until the abolition of slavery in 1865, before, during, and after the sale of the 272 by the Society of Jesus in 1838, including those enslaved in other U.S. locations including but not limited to Alabama, Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and beyond.
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The Society of Jesus, commonly known as the Jesuits, is a Catholic religious order founded in 1540. The Jesuits were among the key players in the establishment of Catholic missions and educational institutions. They founded plantations in the 17th century to fund their missionary activities and maintain their operations. Enslaved labor was used to sustain the economic viability of the Jesuits’ agricultural estates.
Plantations, like those in Maryland such as St. Inigoes, Newtown Manor, and St. Thomas Manor, are among many that relied heavily on enslaved individuals to cultivate crops such as tobacco and wheat. The Jesuits often kept meticulous records, including baptismal, marriage, and death records for the enslaved. These records often included names, familial relationships, and sometimes detailed narratives.
By the 1830s, the Maryland Jesuits were facing significant financial difficulties. Their plantations were struggling to remain profitable due to declining tobacco yields, mismanagement, and the growing national debates over slavery. To alleviate debt and secure the financial future of their operations, the Jesuits decided to sell a large portion of their enslaved population.
In 1838, the Maryland Jesuits sold 272 enslaved individuals from these plantations.
To view the names of slaves from each plantation, click the buttons below
The Jesuits in Maryland owned several plantations from the 17th to the 19th centuries, which were central to their operations and heavily reliant on enslaved labor. These estates were primarily located in Southern Maryland and on the Eastern Shore. These plantations were owned and managed by the Maryland Province of the Society of Jesus, commonly known as the Maryland Jesuits. The income generated from these estates supported their religious missions, educational endeavors, and the establishment of institutions like Georgetown College (now Georgetown University).
| Plantation Name | Location | Approx. Number of Enslaved People | Notes |
| St. Inigoes Manor | St. Mary’s County | ~80-100 | This plantation often had one of the largest enslaved populations due to its size and output. |
| St. Thomas Manor | Port Tobacco, Charles | ~70-90 | Another large estate, serving as a central hub for Jesuit activities. Many sold to Louisiana buyers. |
| Newton Manor | Leonardtown, St. Mary’s | ~50-70 | Known for its agricultural activities and connections to Jesuit missions. |
| White Marsh Manor | Bowie, Prince George’s | ~40-60 | Records indicate it was smaller than some others but still significant in operations. |
| Bohemia Manor | Warwick, Cecil County | ~30-50 | Located on the Eastern Shore, this plantation was less populous but vital to Jesuit outreach in the region. |
| St. Joseph’s | Queenstown, Talbot County | ~20-40 | The smallest plantation, supporting Eastern Shore missions. |
The largest amount of the enslaved individuals were sold to two Louisiana planters:
Batey transported these individuals to his sugar plantation in Iberville Parish, Louisiana, near Maringouin. Their labor for sugar production, one of the most grueling types of plantation work.
Johnson sent the enslaved people to his plantations in Ascension Parish and Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana. Like Batey, Johnson used these individuals primarily for work on his sugar plantations, which were a cornerstone of Louisiana’s economy.
The fate of the remaining individuals varied, with some sold to other buyers in Louisiana or remaining in Maryland for a few more years before being sold later.
The agreement stipulated the enslaved people would remain Catholic and be treated humanely, but these conditions were largely ignored after the sale. The 272 enslaved individuals were transported from Maryland to Louisiana, forcibly separated from their families and communities. Many ended up working on sugar plantations, where conditions were notoriously brutal, and life expectancy was low. Families were torn apart, with children, parents, and spouses sold separately in some cases.
West Oak Plantation
West Oak was not an original Jesuit plantation but became a destination for many of the enslaved individuals sold.
The plantation was situated near Maringouin, in the fertile sugar-growing region of southern Louisiana. Like other plantations in the region, West Oak focused on sugar production, a labor-intensive crop that demanded relentless work under harsh conditions. After purchasing the enslaved individuals, Batey transported them from Maryland to Louisiana. West Oak became one of the key sites where these individuals, separated from their families and communities, were forced into grueling labor. Many of the enslaved individuals sold to Batey had strong familial and religious ties, which were disrupted by their relocation.
A Tour of Life at St. Inigoes, Newtown, St. Thomas, White Marsh, Bohemia, and St. Joseph’s, Sara Phillips Georgetown University
After the 1838 sale of 272 enslaved individuals, the Jesuits in Maryland experienced both continuity and gradual change in their relationship with slavery. While the sale was intended to resolve financial difficulties and reduce their reliance on slavery, it did not immediately end the practice. Here’s an overview of what happened after the sale:
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to David Patterson and Shannon Christmas for their invaluable contributions of materials, documentation, and research, which have greatly enriched the content of the Jesuit Enslavement page. Your dedication and expertise are deeply appreciated and instrumental in preserving this important history.
| Founded | 2017 |
| Primary Focus | Researching and preserving the genealogies and histories of descendants of individuals enslaved by Jesuits. |
| Relationship to Georgetown | Independent organization, may collaborate with Georgetown and other institutions for research. |
| Leadership | Led by genealogists, historians, and descendant members. |
| Approach | Research, historical documentation, and public education. |
| Goals | To document and share the stories of descendants and their enslaved ancestors. |
| For more information on the Descendants of Jesuit Enslavement Historical & Genealogical Society please visit our site | |
| Founded | 2021 |
| Primary Focus | Healing the wounds of slavery through truth, racial healing, and transformation. |
| Relationship to Georgetown | A partnership between Georgetown, the Jesuit Conference, and descendant communities. |
| Leadership | Co-chaired by descendant leaders and Jesuit representatives. |
| Approach | Collaboration, reconciliation efforts, and transformative initiatives. |
| Goals | To dismantle the enduring legacies of slavery and promote racial healing. |
| For more information on the Descendants Truth & Reconciliation Foundation please visit our site | |
| Founded | 2015 |
| Primary Focus | Genealogical research and historical documentation |
| Relationship to Georgetown | Independent of Georgetown University |
| Leadership | Run by independent researchers and genealogists |
| Approach | Research-driven |
| Goals | Preserve and document history |
| For more information on the Georgetown Memory Project please visit our site | |
| Founded | 2015 |
| Primary Focus | Reflecting on Georgetown’s historical ties to slavery and recommending steps for reconciliation. |
| Relationship to Georgetown | Internal Georgetown group, tasked with addressing its historical role in slavery. |
| Leadership | Composed of Georgetown faculty, students, and administrators. |
| Approach | Institutional reflection, research, and policy recommendations. |
| Goals | To acknowledge and address Georgetown’s involvement in slavery and its legacies. |
| For more information on the Georgetown University's Working Group on Slavery, Memory, and Reconciliation please visit our site | |
| Founded | 2016 |
| Primary Focus | Advocacy for reparative justice and community-building among descendants of the 272 enslaved people. |
| Relationship to Georgetown | Independent organization, collaborates with Georgetown on issues involving descendants. |
| Leadership | Led by descendants of the 272 enslaved individuals. |
| Approach | Advocacy, public awareness, and descendant-focused initiatives. |
| Goals | To preserve the memory of the enslaved, restore their honor, and seek reparative justice. |
| For more information on the GU272 Memory Project please visit our site | |
| Founded | 2016 |
| Primary Focus | Research and educational collaborations on the legacy of slavery and its impact on descendants. |
| Relationship to Georgetown | Formal academic partnership between Southern University and Georgetown University. |
| Leadership | Jointly led by representatives from both institutions. |
| Approach | Academic collaboration, research, and public engagement. |
| Goals | To advance education, research, and dialogue on the history and legacies of slavery. |
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