Just before the American War of Independence, twenty percent of the people in the British ruled portions of North America were of African descent. Most of the people of African descent were enslaved, serving masters on large farms in both the north and south of the thirteen British colonies of America. Many slaves were forced to work long hours looking after farms and crops by hands. Enslaved people of African descent in the British colonies of America did not have the freedoms and rights of citizenship. They did not have the same human rights which we now have as citizens of Canada. Some people of African descent were not enslaved; however, free Blacks also did not have the rights enjoyed by other citizens. People of African descent suffered poor treatment in the British colonies of America because of their colour.
In 1775, Britain and the American Colonial settlers and farm owners, were arguing about how much control Britain should continue to have over the businesses, farms, taxes and life of America. The British wanted to break the economic strength of Colonists who were now challenging England's right to control the Thirteen Colonies. Colonists thought that since they had left England and had set up farms in America, they should be able to make their own laws and taxes. They thought that the parent country, England, should now let them make their own decisions. The American War of Independence was the result of their inability to peacefully solve their disagreements.
The economy of the Thirteen Colonies in America was built in part by the slave labour of people of African descent. The British sent word to the people of African descent who were enslaved, free, or indentured servants; that they should leave their places of enslavement and take up arms against the Colonists. In return, they would be given their freedom and would receive free passage to British soil, free rations and land grants.
In 1775, Lord Dunsmore, who was Governor of Virginia and a supporter of the British side in the War of Independence, declared freedom for all free people of African descent and Black indentured servants who agreed to take up arms and fight against the Colonists.
The American Colonists were determined to free themselves from British control. When it seemed clear that the Americans would win the war against the British, Sir Henry Clinton, the British Commander-in-Chief, issued The Philipsburg Proclamation (1779). This Proclamation freed all people of African descent who agreed to desert the American Colonists and to come behind British lines. People of African descent showing their loyalty to the British were called Loyalists. The Philipsburg Proclamation was a major blow to the Colonial slave built economy. Without slave labour, Colonial farm owners would find it more difficult to make a living.
In 1783, the new commander-in-chief of the British army, Sir Guy Carleton, arranged to remove Loyalists of African descent from New York to protect them from their former owners who wanted to put them back into slavery. Britain's General Birch provided each free person with a certificate showing that they were free. The names of the Loyalists of African descent were recorded in The Book of Negroes. Entries include a description of each person, the names of the ships on which they travelled, the names of ship captains and ports of destination.
In 1783 and 1784, over a ten month period, 1230 people of African descent who remained enslaved to white Loyalists and an estimated 3500 free and indentured people of African descent were brought by ship to Nova Scotia from New York. Nova Scotia destinations included Port Roseway, the Annapolis Valley, Halifax and the Saint John River Valley. Free Loyalists of African descent were offered free land and provisions. An estimated 100 000 enslaved and free people of African descent left the American Colonies for British territories.
Thirty years after the Black Loyalist Pioneers of 1783, another group of people of African descent came to start pioneer life in Nova Scotia.
Black Pioneers of 1812
In 1812, Britain was at war with France. The United States of America wanted to continue to trade with France. The British set up a trade blockade to stop American ships from carrying supplies needed by France in their war with Britain. The British blockade of American shipping and trade was viewed by the Americans as unjust. The British refused to stop the blockade and the Americans and British began an armed conflict now known as the War of 1812.
The Americans had continued to build their economy from the slave labour of people of African descent after the War of Independence. The British again tried to break the American economy as a way to try to win the War of 1812. The British declared that all people of African descent living in the United States would be free if they joined the British and left the United States of America. The British knew that the American economy would have great difficulty adjusting to a lack of slave labour. People of African descent were offered freedom and residence in Nova Scotia, Ontario, Bermuda, Trinidad, and parts of Europe. They were to receive free passage, rations, land and freedom from slavery.
Between 1812 and 1816, 1600 or more new Black Pioneers made their way by ship from the Chesapeake Bay area to the Maritimes to settle in the communities of Preston (924 people); Hammond's Plains (50 people); Refugee Hill, located on the North West Arm of Halifax Harbour (76 people); and Halifax (115 people). The remaining Black pioneers settled in existing communities in the Maritimes.
Slavery During the Black Loyalist and Black Pioneers of 1812 Periods
In 1775, American slaves who escaped their Colonial owners to fight on the side of the British were granted freedom by the British. White Loyalists who had slaves in the American Colony were allowed to keep people of African descent enslaved as farm workers and skilled tradesmen when they moved to Nova Scotia. As a result, people of African descent came to Nova Scotia as free Black Loyalists who had escaped American Colonial slave owners and as enslaved and indentured people owned by white Loyalists.
During the 1780's and 1790's in Nova Scotia, slavery was a fact. Before 1780, 100 to 200 people in Nova Scotia were enslaved. By 1790, an estimated 1284 people of African descent were enslaved in Nova Scotia. Many of the enslaved people were personal servants and valets to British and Loyalist military officers. They were, according to the law, property.
In what communities were slaves kept?
Annapolis Royal 230
Cornwallis and Horton 69
Country Harbour 45
Dartmouth 41
Digby 152
Halifax Unknown
Newport and Kennetcook 22
Town of Shelburne Several hundred
Windsor 26
In many white Loyalist communities, slaves cleared land, planted and harvested crops, built homes, served as midwives, nannies and household labourers to white masters. Farming in Nova Scotia was quite different than on the large cotton plantations of the American South. Smaller crops, and smaller farms required fewer workers. Slave owners found they did not need as many slaves to generate their wealth. Many enslaved people were sold as a result. White Loyalists from the American North found that farming in Nova Scotia was quite similar. Their slaves continued in the lifestyle and work patterns they had experienced in the New England (northern) states.
Many of the men of African descent were trained by the masters to perform skilled labour. Owners who could not afford to keep unskilled slaves let them go free. However, skilled slaves were often kept and rented out to make money for the owner. Many skilled slaves were bought and sold at the will of the white owners.
Some slaves were poorly treated. They were physically abused and harshly punished. The law did not protect slaves as it did other Nova Scotians from cruel treatment and abuse. Lashing and hanging were forms of punishment. The courts of Nova Scotia were not a source of equal justice for enslaved people of African descent. Many enslaved people of African descent attempted to escape slavery and poor treatment by running away. Runaways were advertised by the masters in the newspapers. Some enslaved Blacks were able to eventually buy their freedom from the slave owner.
Enslaved people were considered by law to be possessions. In his will, White Loyalist Thomas Robinson (1787) gave his son Thomas 500 pounds in cash, his watch chain, gold seal, silver spectacles and case, and his "negro boy Manuel and the bed and furniture he slept on." (Kings' Bounty, Marion Robertson, p.94)
When the Black Pioneers of 1812 arrived in Nova Scotia beginning in 1813, slavery was still a fact of life. Most Black Pioneers of 1812 were free people who carried a certificate of proof of their freedom. However, they were still discriminated against and were vulnerable to mistreatment and loss of freedom. In Nova Scotia, in 1813, racist ideas and laws benefitted Nova Scotians with economic, social and political power. In many ways, the life of Black Pioneers was not much different than it had been in the American Colonies.
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