History of New Market, (Frederick County) Maryland United States of America

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Henry Highland Garnet, clergyman, was born in New Market, Md., Dec. 23, 1815; son of George Trusty, a slave, whose father, called Joseph Trusty, was brought from the western coast of Africa and sold into slavery in Maryland. In 1824 George Trusty escaped with his family to New Hope, Berks county, Pa., and from there removed to New York city the following year and took the name of Garnet. Henry attended the New York free school No. 1 and subsequently went to sea. In 1829 he lost his right leg and returning to New York city he became a student at the high school for colored youth in 1831. Afterward he attended Canaan, N.H., academy and was graduated from Oneida institute, Whitestown, N.Y., in 1840. He then removed to Troy, N.Y., where he taught school and conducted religious meetings. In 1841 he was ordained a ruling elder of the Presbyterian church, the following year was licensed to preach and in 1843 became first pastor of the Liberty street Presbyterian church, Troy. He held this charge for nearly ten years and at the same time published the weekly Clarion. In 1850 he went to England where he lectured on slavery and in 1851 was a delegate to the peace congress at Frankfort, Germany. While abroad he connected himself with the United Presbyterian church in Scotland and was sent by that society as missionary to Jamaica in 1852. He returned to the United States in 1853 and became pastor of the Shiloh Presbyterian church in New York city. In 1861 he made a second lecture tour in England as president of the African civilization society. During the civil war he volunteered as chaplain of the colored troops on Riker's Island, and was chaplain of the 20th, 26th and 31st regiments of colored soldiers until they went to the front, He was pastor of a Presbyterian church in Washington, D.C., 1864-69; president of Avery college, 1869-70; and again pastor of the Shiloh church in New York city, 1870-81. He was appointed by President Garfield U.S. minister and consul-general to Liberia and entered upon the duties of that office on Dec. 23, 1881, but in a few months he was overcome by the climate. In 1841 he was married to Julia Williams and their daughter, Mrs. Mary Highland Garnet Barbosa, under the auspices of a New York society, organized in 1880 at Brewersville, Liberia, a school for native girls which was subsequently endowed in honor of her father. He died in Monrovia, Liberia, Feb. 13, 1882.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

History of New Market, (Frederick County) Maryland

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