Alexander Covington

Chose to join the British Marines over enslavement.

born circa 1793 –

Susannah Rawlings was a parishioner of Middleham Parish in Lusby, Maryland. Records show that in 1814, she owned fourteen enslaved persons. In July of 1814 three of her enslaved people, Minty Caden, Alexander Covington, and Peter Newlings escaped from Ms. Rawlings to the British forces. Three additional slaves, Mary, Harriet and Sidney Mitchel escaped from Susannah’s granddaughter, Juliet, who was living with Susannah at the time.

Shortly afterwards, on August 4th, one of those enslaved, Alexander Covington, enlisted with the British troops under the First Company of the Colonial Marines. The company was comprised entirely of black soldiers. Susannah Rawlings’ neighbor George Ireland testified to seeing Covington in the company of a British officer, having “no doubt [he joined] the British marine forces.” Covington settled in Trinidad following the War of 1812, along with 70 other men from his company.  See to the right the original attestation regarding Covington’s status.

Additional Resources

Middleham and St. Peter’s | Trail of Souls (mspparish.org)

British Vice Admiral Cochrane’s Proclamation