Parish: St. Ann
Clarksonville, located in St. Ann, is one of the first free villages established after emancipation. Named in 1835 by Reverend John Clark, a Baptist minister stationed in Brown’s Town, it honors Thomas Clarkson, an English abolitionist who fought tirelessly to end slavery.
The land for Clarksonville was purchased to provide a settlement for former slaves after August 1, 1838, when slavery was abolished. This village offered freed people the opportunity to live independently, own land, and build new lives. Clarksonville stands as a lasting reminder of the hard work of abolitionists and the resilience of those who embraced freedom.