OUR
HERITAGE:
The
following is based largely on the publication ‘’Amherstburg
1796-1996’’ published by the Amherstburg Bicentennial
Book Committee.
Amherstburg,
because of its location on an easily crossed location on
the Detroit River, became a place of refuge from the tyranny
of American slavery beginning in the latter years of the
18th century. This corresponded to the passage in 1793 of
Upper Canada’s Anti-slave Law and the first Fugitive
Slave Law in the US. The former ended the importation of
slaves into Upper Canada and gave freedom to all born after
that date when they reached the age of 25. As a final terminal
on the Underground Railroad, Amherstburg was to become a
key center in the history and development of one of Canada’s
oldest communities - The Community of Black Canadians.
The
first Blacks recorded in Amherstburg came with the arrival
of the United Empire Loyalists beginning in 1784. Some were
the slaves of loyalists, such as the 60 owned by Matthew
Elliot while others such as James Robertson and James Fry
were themselves granted land for their defense of the British
Empire. By 1828 there were 100 Blacks living in Malden and
Amherstburg.
Some
of the names of the early settlers include Simpson, Hall,
Brooks, Alexander, Saunders, Stokes, Washington, Harris,
Hurst, Foster, McCurdy, Thompson, Wilson, Green, Adams,
Hughbanks, Chapman, Nelson, Thurman, Walls, Jones, Banks,
Henderson, Kirtley, Nall, Kersey, Allen, Stewart, Jefferson,
and Binga.
Two
events were to dramatically increase their number - the
Abolition of Slavery (Emancipation) Law of 1934 in Canada,
and the second, more stringent fugitive slave law of 1850
in the United States. It
is during this period that activity of the Underground Railroad
reached its peak. Too, many free Blacks from the Northern
and border states fled the increasingly oppressive conditions
in the US to establish roots in Canada.
Many
of them were highly skilled and well educated and
provided leadership in an evolving Black Community.Some
such as Nasa McCurdy continued to be active in the
Underground Railroad.Others
provided leadership into the creation of the Communities
core institutions - its churches, self-help organizations,
lodges, newspapers and schools.
Blacks
in Amherstburg participated in all aspects of business
and community life. Among those active in business
were William Hamilton (innkeeper), Henry Turner (grocer),
William Watkins (tobacconist), James Alexander (miller),
and Albany Pines (shoemaker).
Levi Foster
owned a successful livery stable and ran the stagecoach
between Windsor and Amherstburg.
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Nasa McCurdy
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Many
worked on the lakes as sailors and other marine endeavors.
In the surrounding areas Black farmers established an excellent
reputation for the quality of their produce.
Many
were residents of such Black settlements as Marble Village
on Texas road as well as Gilgal, New Canaan and Verecker
in Malden and Northern Colchester.
The
core of the Black Community was the Church. Nazery African
Methodist Episcopal Church on King St. (now the site of
The North American Black Museum), was established in 1848
and the First Baptist Church on George St. was established
in 1849.
With
the segregation of Ontario schools in 1950, the community
had to have its own school. The school building, which later
became Mount Beulah Church, was constructed on King St.
in 1874. With John H. Alexander as principal it provided
a good education to its students until 1912 when school
segregation in Amherstburg ended. Mr. Alexander also served
on the School Board and on Town Council for three years.
From 1930 until his retirement he was the Town Assessor.
Mr.
Alexander was but one of many from the Black Community to
have served in public office. Among other prominent names
in public life over the years were McCurdy, Hurst, Adams,
Banks, Simpson and Davis. From among them came constables,
town criers, magistrates, school board trustees, union leaders,
civil rights activists, town councilors, a deputy reeve,
key government officials and a Member of Parliament. The
long history of Black contributors to town government was
capped in 1997 with the election of Wayne Hurst as the Town’s
first Black Mayor.
One
of the most prominent of Amherstburg’s citizens
was Delos Davies who in 1886 became Canada’s
first Black lawyer. As the first Black in the British
Empire to be appointed King’s Counsel, he continues
to inspire African Canadians who aspire to be members
of the Bar.
Amherstburg
also produced a Black hero, Jesse Henderson who, while
serving as an army gunner, earned five medals of honor
from four different countries. |
Delos Davies |
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Amherstburg’s
North American Black Historical Museum, the first
of its kind in Canada, preserves much of the history
recorded here. Inspired by the Guardian Clubs historical
exhibition of 1964, it was founded through the efforts
of Max Simpson in 1981.
It remains
a work in progress for there is much of the town’s
Black history hidden among the keepsakes and records
of the descendants of the founders.
It is
hoped that the Amherstburg Heritage festival will
stimulate those who have not done so to research
and reveal the considerable number of stories yet
untold. Particularly interesting would be the identification
of the descendants of the very earliest settlers
- those who arrived as slaves and those who came
as united empire Loyalists.
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