THE BLACK REFUGEES
During the War of 1812 between Britain and the United States, the British forces for a time blockaded much of the Atlantic Coast of the United States and for a while also occupied Chesapeake Bay. Many Black slaves took advantage of this occupation of Chesapeake Bay to escape from their masters in Virginia and Maryland. The British forces welcomed these runaway slaves and gave them provisions and shelter. Many of these people were later taken to Bermuda where many of the British vessels were based.
Upon the conclusion of the war, the British authorities had to decide what to do with these escaped slaves. Since many freed Blacks had been settled in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia after the American Revolutionary War, it was decided that some of the runaway slaves at Bermuda should be sent to these colonies. In 1815 the Lieutenant-Governor of Nova Scotia informed the New Brunswick government that between 1,500 and 2,000 additional Black refugees were expected to arrive shortly in Halifax and that if it was agreeable to the New Brunswick government some four or five hundred of these people would be sent to New Brunswick. The Read More
During the War of 1812 between Britain and the United States, the British forces for a time blockaded much of the Atlantic Coast of the United States and for a while also occupied Chesapeake Bay. Many Black slaves took advantage of this occupation of Chesapeake Bay to escape from their masters in Virginia and Maryland. The British forces welcomed these runaway slaves and gave them provisions and shelter. Many of these people were later taken to Bermuda where many of the British vessels were based.
Upon the conclusion of the war, the British authorities had to decide what to do with these escaped slaves. Since many freed Blacks had been settled in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia after the American Revolutionary War, it was decided that some of the runaway slaves at Bermuda should be sent to these colonies. In 1815 the Lieutenant-Governor of Nova Scotia informed the New Brunswick government that between 1,500 and 2,000 additional Black refugees were expected to arrive shortly in Halifax and that if it was agreeable to the New Brunswick government some four or five hundred of these people would be sent to New Brunswick. The Read More
THE BLACK REFUGEES
During the War of 1812 between Britain and the United States, the British forces for a time blockaded much of the Atlantic Coast of the United States and for a while also occupied Chesapeake Bay. Many Black slaves took advantage of this occupation of Chesapeake Bay to escape from their masters in Virginia and Maryland. The British forces welcomed these runaway slaves and gave them provisions and shelter. Many of these people were later taken to Bermuda where many of the British vessels were based.
Upon the conclusion of the war, the British authorities had to decide what to do with these escaped slaves. Since many freed Blacks had been settled in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia after the American Revolutionary War, it was decided that some of the runaway slaves at Bermuda should be sent to these colonies. In 1815 the Lieutenant-Governor of Nova Scotia informed the New Brunswick government that between 1,500 and 2,000 additional Black refugees were expected to arrive shortly in Halifax and that if it was agreeable to the New Brunswick government some four or five hundred of these people would be sent to New Brunswick. The Executive Council, by a vote of 3 to 2, decided that they would accept these refugees.
The impression given is that although these people had escaped from slavery in the United States and were now considered by the British authorities to be free, the New Brunswick government considered them little better than slaves.
The Black Refugees arrived in Saint John on May 25, 1815, aboard the British warship Regulus. The number who arrived is given as 371 in some sources and 381 in others…It took some time before anything was done to implement a policy of land settlement and even longer before any of the Black Refugees were to receive title to lands they did occupy. The impression given is that the Executive Council felt that the Black Refugees might be less than desirable neighbours.
In 1816 it was suggested that land in the vicinity of Loch Lomand [near Saint John] might be suitable for the formation of a settlement for Black people. The Whites who resided near Loch Lomand gave their support to a proposed settlement and Judge Ward Chipman [who had been asked to investigate the matter] was favourable. As a result of Chipman’s report, the government decided to form a settlement in that area.
Small lots of 50 acres each were to be surveyed for the Black Refugees, at their expense (and) they were to be issued licences for a three year period. The licenses of occupation were reissued in 1820 and in 1823 the settlers still had not received titles to their lots. In addition, the Whites were given grants of 100 acres, 200 acres or even larger blocks of land while the Blacks were given only 50 acre lots. [It was not until] September 7, 1836 [that] 74 Black refugees received titles to lots in the settlement.
- adapted from W.A. Spray, The Blacks in New Brunswick, Fredericton: Brunswick Press, 1972. pp. 42-51.
During the War of 1812 between Britain and the United States, the British forces for a time blockaded much of the Atlantic Coast of the United States and for a while also occupied Chesapeake Bay. Many Black slaves took advantage of this occupation of Chesapeake Bay to escape from their masters in Virginia and Maryland. The British forces welcomed these runaway slaves and gave them provisions and shelter. Many of these people were later taken to Bermuda where many of the British vessels were based.
Upon the conclusion of the war, the British authorities had to decide what to do with these escaped slaves. Since many freed Blacks had been settled in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia after the American Revolutionary War, it was decided that some of the runaway slaves at Bermuda should be sent to these colonies. In 1815 the Lieutenant-Governor of Nova Scotia informed the New Brunswick government that between 1,500 and 2,000 additional Black refugees were expected to arrive shortly in Halifax and that if it was agreeable to the New Brunswick government some four or five hundred of these people would be sent to New Brunswick. The Executive Council, by a vote of 3 to 2, decided that they would accept these refugees.
The impression given is that although these people had escaped from slavery in the United States and were now considered by the British authorities to be free, the New Brunswick government considered them little better than slaves.
The Black Refugees arrived in Saint John on May 25, 1815, aboard the British warship Regulus. The number who arrived is given as 371 in some sources and 381 in others…It took some time before anything was done to implement a policy of land settlement and even longer before any of the Black Refugees were to receive title to lands they did occupy. The impression given is that the Executive Council felt that the Black Refugees might be less than desirable neighbours.
In 1816 it was suggested that land in the vicinity of Loch Lomand [near Saint John] might be suitable for the formation of a settlement for Black people. The Whites who resided near Loch Lomand gave their support to a proposed settlement and Judge Ward Chipman [who had been asked to investigate the matter] was favourable. As a result of Chipman’s report, the government decided to form a settlement in that area.
Small lots of 50 acres each were to be surveyed for the Black Refugees, at their expense (and) they were to be issued licences for a three year period. The licenses of occupation were reissued in 1820 and in 1823 the settlers still had not received titles to their lots. In addition, the Whites were given grants of 100 acres, 200 acres or even larger blocks of land while the Blacks were given only 50 acre lots. [It was not until] September 7, 1836 [that] 74 Black refugees received titles to lots in the settlement.
- adapted from W.A. Spray, The Blacks in New Brunswick, Fredericton: Brunswick Press, 1972. pp. 42-51.
© 1972, W.A. Spray. All Rights Reserved.
