In 1862 the entrepreneur Bernard Kock, who owned a Florida cotton plantation, visited the World Fair in London.
When he saw two bales of cotton from Haiti, he was impressed by the quality and immediately saw a business opportunity.
He was an ardent abolitionist, but he believed that after they were freed, former slaves had to have meaningful work.
Therefore, he conceived the plan to develop Île-à-Vache by sending 5,000 emancipated slaves from the United States to grow cotton there.

He left for Haiti on May 17, 1862, and arrived in Jacmel on June 3.
From there he went on horseback to Port-au-Prince, where he was warmly received by the president of the country, Fabre Geffrard.
The negotiations were difficult, however.
On the one hand, the president supported the arrival of more blacks to the country, but he was also reluctant to rent a piece of Haitian soil to a white man.

Still, Kock managed to sign a contract on August 8 which granted him a 10 year lease of Île-à-Vache, with the right to an extension of a further 10 years.
The rent was 3.5 gourdes (about $0.35) per hectare.
He had to start operations within six months and a number of employee supervisors had to be black.
They would be immediately naturalized as Haitians upon arrival.
Kock was to provide a percentage of all the wood that he chopped on the island, as a kind of tax.
The contract also guaranteed that he would protect the Haitian state, and that he would not have to pay import duties on the supplies that he imported.

During the same period, the United States was embroiled in the American Civil War and President Lincoln, who was in favor of the abolition of slavery, was considering plans to establish "colonies" of emancipated slaves in countries like New Granada and Liberia where they could live and work.
He even offered $50 to anyone who took a black person abroad and gave him a job there.

Kock left on August 14 for New York, and arrived on August 28.
However, the American Secretary of State, William Seward, had received many complaints from Central American governments who saw no advantage in the advent of so many blacks to their region.
In light of these complaints, Seward stalled Kock's plan.

So Kock went directly to President Lincoln.
Lincoln had his doubts about Kock's sincerity at first.
He suspected that Kock was only after the $50 per person which had been promised.
Kock managed to convince him, however, and on December 31, the President promised that he would think about his plan.
But just one day later, on January 1, 1863, Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation, which contained not a single word about this or any other colonial plan.

Disappointed, Kock moved to Washington.
There, he managed to find some blacks who were interested in going to Haiti.
Back in New York, he found three financiers who pledged $70,000 to his venture.
On the basis of this pledge, Kock chartered the British ship the Ocean Ranger and with this ship he brought 500 people to Île-à-Vache on April 13, 1863.
Some of his passengers became ill from smallpox while on board, forcing Kock to found a small emergency hospital upon arrival.

Kock closed with laborers on a 4-year contract for a wage of $0.16 per day, costs included.
He printed special Gourde notes, upon which read the text Island of A'Vache  [sic] and his own name, Bernard Kock.
These were exchangeable for normal Haitian gourdes.

The financiers, however, did not fulfill their promise.
They still paid the initial amount, partly in hopes of reaping the promised $50 per person.
This reward remained in effect because the government continued to doubt Kock's good intentions.
After the reward was given, the financiers sent scarcely any more money or supplies to the island.
The workers found themselves in rebellion, and Kock had to call in 15 Haitian soldiers for help in controlling the situation.
In addition, the financiers made increasing demands, which Kock could not meet without money and goods.

Ultimately, the contract was broken.
On December 22, 1863, President Lincoln sent a ship to Haiti to bring the remaining 453 wo
In 1862 the entrepreneur Bernard Kock, who owned a Florida cotton plantation, visited the World Fair in London. When he saw two bales of cotton from Haiti, he was impressed by the quality and immediately saw a business opportunity. He was an ardent abolitionist, but he believed that after they were freed, former slaves had to have meaningful work. Therefore, he conceived the plan to develop Île-à-Vache by sending 5,000 emancipated slaves from the United States to grow cotton there.
He left for Haiti on May 17, 1862, and arrived in Jacmel on June 3. From there he went on horseback to Port-au-Prince, where he was warmly received by the president of the country, Fabre Geffrard. The negotiations were difficult, however. On the one hand, the president supported the arrival of more blacks to the country, but he was also reluctant to rent a piece of Haitian soil to a white man.
Still, Kock managed to sign a contract on August 8 which granted him a 10 year lease of Île-à-Vache, with the right to an extension of a further 10 years. The rent was 3.5 gourdes (about $0.35) per hectare. He had to start operations within six months and a number of employee supervisors had to be black. They would be immediately naturalized as Haitians upon arrival. Kock was to provide a percentage of all the wood that he chopped on the island, as a kind of tax. The contract also guaranteed that he would protect the Haitian state, and that he would not have to pay import duties on the supplies that he imported.
During the same period, the United States was embroiled in the American Civil War and President Lincoln, who was in favor of the abolition of slavery, was considering plans to establish "colonies" of emancipated slaves in countries like New Granada and Liberia where they could live and work. He even offered $50 to anyone who took a black person abroad and gave him a job there.
Kock left on August 14 for New York, and arrived on August 28. However, the American Secretary of State, William Seward, had received many complaints from Central American governments who saw no advantage in the advent of so many blacks to their region. In light of these complaints, Seward stalled Kock's plan.
So Kock went directly to President Lincoln. Lincoln had his doubts about Kock's sincerity at first. He suspected that Kock was only after the $50 per person which had been promised. Kock managed to convince him, however, and on December 31, the President promised that he would think about his plan. But just one day later, on January 1, 1863, Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation, which contained not a single word about this or any other colonial plan.
Disappointed, Kock moved to Washington. There, he managed to find some blacks who were interested in going to Haiti. Back in New York, he found three financiers who pledged $70,000 to his venture. On the basis of this pledge, Kock chartered the British ship the Ocean Ranger and with this ship he brought 500 people to Île-à-Vache on April 13, 1863. Some of his passengers became ill from smallpox while on board, forcing Kock to found a small emergency hospital upon arrival.
Kock closed with laborers on a 4-year contract for a wage of $0.16 per day, costs included. He printed special Gourde notes, upon which read the text Island of A'Vache  [sic] and his own name, Bernard Kock. These were exchangeable for normal Haitian gourdes.
The financiers, however, did not fulfill their promise. They still paid the initial amount, partly in hopes of reaping the promised $50 per person. This reward remained in effect because the government continued to doubt Kock's good intentions. After the reward was given, the financiers sent scarcely any more money or supplies to the island. The workers found themselves in rebellion, and Kock had to call in 15 Haitian soldiers for help in controlling the situation. In addition, the financiers made increasing demands, which Kock could not meet without money and goods.
Ultimately, the contract was broken. On December 22, 1863, President Lincoln sent a ship to Haiti to bring the remaining 453 wo
Île-à-Vache