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From Slavery to Freedom in Niagara by Peter Meyler

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From Slavery to Freedom in Niagara by Peter Meyler From Slavery to Freedom in Niagara WRITTEN BY PETER MEYLER PHOTOS BY PETER MEYLER EXCEPT WHERE NOTED. 36 Niagara Escarpment Views • winter 2019-20 any historic sites along the Niagara frontier recognize African-Canadian history. MAfrican-American freedom seekers travelled hundreds of miles, through wilderness, at night, dodging slave catchers and informants. At the Niagara River, they realized the dangers of the crossing. Freedom Crossing Monument at Lewiston, New York, on the American side of the Niagara River, commemorates The Underground Railroad that helped slaves escape to freedom in Canada. The monument shows Josiah Tryon handing a baby to the fugitive mother while another woman points the way across the river. PHOTO BY MIKE DAVIS. winter 2019-20 • Niagara Escarpment Views 37 Opening text of Lieutenant John Graves Simcoe’s act to limit slavery, entitled “An Act to Prevent the further Introduction of Slaves and to limit the Term of Contracts for Servitude within this Province.” Available from the Archives of Ontario. Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons. “It was the 28 of October, 1830, crossed the dark waters of the Loyalist who was working Council. The result was the in the morning, when my feet Niagara River into freedom. near Queenston. Looking first anti-slavery law in the first touched the Canada shore. In 1793 Lieutenant towards the Niagara River, he British Empire. Ironically, I threw myself on the ground, Governor John Graves Simcoe saw Chloe Cooley bound and the law would not have rolled in the sand, seized had signed into law an act to struggling with three men as freed Chloe since it allowed handfuls of it and kissed limit slavery in Upper Canada. she was dumped into a boat Ontario slave owners to keep them, and danced round till, This set free any enslaved and transported across the those enslaved as property. in the eyes of several who person when they entered river. She was an enslaved Today a provincial plaque were present, I passed for a the colony. But it was a tragic servant of William Vrooman beside the Niagara Parkway madman.” So wrote Josiah event that triggered this law. who had sold her to someone tells of Chloe’s abduction and Henson, who with his wife On the evening of Friday, in New York State. Martin sale. It is one of many sites Charlotte and their four March 14, 1793, screaming and another witness reported along the Niagara frontier young children, had escaped caught the attention of Peter this action to Simcoe and that recalls African American enslavement in Maryland and Martin. He was a Black Upper Canada’s Executive freedom seekers and chattel 38 Niagara Escarpment Views • winter 2019-20 Voices of Freedom Park at 244 Regent St. in Niagara- on-the-Lake was opened in late 2018 to feature significant members of Niagara’s early Black community. PHOTO BY MIKE DAVIS The plaque beside the Niagara River, commemorating Chloe Cooley, whose capture and sale to a person in the U.S. led to a 1793 act to limit slavery in Upper Canada. slavery, both integral parts Also featured is Solomon had settled here by 1794, is here, Richard Pierpoint. of North American history. Moseby. He was arrested and also mentioned on the art Pierpoint had been found guilty of stealing his installation. Members of the captured as a 16-year-old Voices of Freedom master’s horse which he had family received land grants, around 1760, bought by an Niagara-on-the-Lake has just used to escape from slavery built houses and farms, took American officer serving with added another memorial to in Kentucky. He was in the part in the War of 1812 and the British during the French African Canadian history. On Niagara Court House awaiting served in local government. and Indian War. During November 2, 2018, the Voices return to the U.S. when a They also attended St. Mark’s the American Revolution of Freedom park was officially riot broke out by members Church, the iconic Anglican Pierpoint managed to escape, opened in the heart of the of the Black community who Church in Niagara-on- join Butler’s Rangers and town. The park features an had surrounded the building. the-Lake. The other person gain his freedom. He came art installation called Rite of Moseby escaped and remained commemorated was one of the to Niagara in 1780 as a Passage which features four in Niagara, a free man. earliest and most important member of the Rangers. One stories, including Chloe’s. The Waters family, who African Canadians to settle of only a handful of Black winter 2019-20 • Niagara Escarpment Views 39 Richard Pierpoint was captured in Africa as a slave but became free fighting the American Revolution. After further military service, he eventually became an early Black settler of his own land. This provincial plaque is located in Centennial Gardens, St. Catharines, near Dick’s Creek which is named after him. United Empire Loyalists, he he is not mentioned. This battles, including Queenston the-Lake Golf Club. A path received 200 acres in what plaque sits atop Queenston Heights, Fort George and leads visitors to the remaining is now St. Catharines. A Heights in the shadow Stoney Creek. The Corps star-shaped earthworks provincial plaque is situated of Brock’s Monument. It also built Fort Mississauga and square brick tower. in Centennial Gardens recognizes the Coloured along Lake Ontario. Today Many more historic sites near Dick’s Creek which Corps, an all-Black militia the only shots heard here along the Niagara frontier is named after him. unit formed at Pierpoint’s are from golfers because the recognize African Canadian Another provincial plaque suggestion. The Corps took remains of the fort sit in the history and culture. Oliver relates to Pierpoint although part in many important middle of the Niagara-on- Parnall of Virginia survived 40 Niagara Escarpment Views • winter 2019-20 In Voices of Freedom Park, the art installation Rite of Passage has curved walls of rusted metal with historical details carved into them. PHOTO BY MIKE DAVIS The Coloured Corps was an all-Black militia unit that was formed at the suggestion of Richard Pierpoint. The Corps took part in many important battles, including Queenston Heights, Fort George and Stoney Creek. This plaque is located on Queenston Heights in the shadow of Brock’s Monument. J.M. Davis and Associates Limited Environmental Engineering Since 1994 the swim across the mighty Church, an African-Canadian Niagara River, entering the church that still exists as a Environmental Engineering cold water and pushing a national historic site at 5674 Services we provide: • Phase I and II Environmental small crate containing all his Peer Street in Niagara Falls. J.M. (Mike) Davis, P. Eng., QPRSC Site Assessments possessions. Parnall prospered 905 866 7888 Harriet Tubman • Remediation Plans [email protected] in his adopted homeland • Clean-up monitoring of www.jmdavis.ca and eventually had enough Another important church is contaminated areas wealth to donate land for the found in St. Catharines and • Record of Site Condition We are bank approved. British Methodist Episcopal is nicknamed the Harriet winter 2019-20 • Niagara Escarpment Views 41 The all-Black militia The Coloured Corps built Fort Mississauga near Lake Ontario with a view of Niagara River. Earthworks and the original central brick tower are all that remain at Niagara-on-the-Lake today. PHOTO BY MIKE DAVIS. At Salem Chapel British Methodist Tubman Church after its Tours and the recipient of the Americans escaped slavery by Episcopal Church in St. Catharines, most famous congregant. 2018 Underground Railroad crossing the Niagara River. nicknamed the Harriet Tubman Church, Officially it is the Salem Free Press Prize for the A permanent exhibit at a sculpture and plaque commemorate Chapel British Methodist Advancement of Knowledge. the St. Catharines Museum the value of Tubman to the cause of Episcopal Church. Tubman Lezlie is a descendant of a and Welland Canals Centre, freedom. On the plinth is carved “After lived in St. Catharines from freedom seeker. Her great- “Follow the North Star,” gives the passing of the USA 1850 Fugitive 1851 to 1861. She is the most great-grandfather Jack Bright an insight into the African Slave Law she said ‘I wouldn’t trust Uncle Sam with my people no longer. I famous Underground Railroad escaped from Kentucky and Canadian people and places brought them all clear off to Canada.’” “conductor” and became its arrived in Ontario in 1851 that were part of Niagara’s public face. She led many of with his brother and nine- development. her rescue missions from and year-old sister. Like many to St. Catharines. There is a others, they had travelled Peter Meyler’s research focuses For our feature on Owen campaign for the preservation hundreds of miles, much on Ontario’s Black history. Sound’s role in the Underground of this important church. through unknown wilderness, He is co-author of A Stolen Railroad, see “Freedom The stories of these freedom much at nighttime, all the Life: Searching for Richard Celebration! Owen Sound’s seekers inspire Lezlie Harper while dodging slave catchers Pierpoint and editor of Broken 150th Emancipation Day Wells, a tour leader with her and their informants. An Shackles: Old Man Henson Picnic,” Summer 2012. company Niagara Bound estimated 40,000 African From Slavery to Freedom. The Underground Railroad was a secret organization of trails, safe hiding places and people helping slaves escape the U.S. for Canada. 42 Niagara Escarpment Views • winter 2019-20 Christmas a ISc COMING GIVE Harriet Tubman is the best-known conductor on The Underground Railroad and led many of her rescue missions from and to St.
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