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ProQuest Information and Learning 300 North Zeeb Road, Ann Arbor, Ml 48106-1346 USA 800-521-0600 UMI' Presence and Perseverance: Blacks in Hants County, Nova Scotia, 1871-1914 by David W. States Thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Masters of Arts (Atlantic Canada Studies) at Saint Mary’s University © Copyright by David W. States, 2002 6 September 2002 Approved By: Thesis Supervisor : 13 %00'l. Dr. Jtmn Reid Date SainiMary’s University Examiners : l l l û l j ù l . f. James Momsorr Date Sfaint Mary’s University r. Richard Twomey Date Saint Mary’s University National Library Bibliothèque nationale 1 * 1 of Canada du Canada Acquisitions and Acquisitions et Bibliographic Services services bibliographiques 395 Wellington Street 395, rue Wellington Ottawa ON K1A0N4 Ottawa ON K1A0N4 Canada Canada Youriilo Votreréfàfonco Ourfiie Notre référence The author has granted a non­ L’auteur a accordé une licence non exclusive licence allowing the exclusive permettant à la National Library of Canada to Bibliothèque nationale du Canada de reproduce, loan, distribute or sell reproduire, prêter, distribuer ou copies o f this thesis in microform, vendre des copies de cette thèse sous paper or electronic formats. la forme de microfiche/fîlm, de reproduction sur papier ou sur format électronique. The author retains ownership o f the L’auteur conserve la propriété du copyii^t in this thesis. Neither the droit d’auteur qui protège cette thèse. thesis nor substantial extracts from it Ni la thèse ni des extraits substantiels may be printed or otherwise de celle-ci ne doivent être imprimés reproduced without the author’s ou autrement reproduits sans son permission. autorisation. 0-612-72673-8 C h n a d ^ Table of Contents Acknowledgements ..................................................................................................i Abstract ..................................................................................................................... ii Maps......................................................................................................................... iii Introduction...............................................................................................................1 Chapter 1- Historiography of Blacks in the Maritimes............................................................ 4 Chapter 2- Origins, Settlement and Development of Blacks in Hants County to 1871........ 33 Chapter 3- Black Families in Hants County, 1871-1914 ......................................................... 56 Chapter 4- Employment and Unemployment; The Economy of the Black Community, 1871-1914 .................................................................................69 Chapter 5- Education, Religion and Culture in the Black Community, 1871-1914 ..................84 Conclusion.................................................................................................................... 98 Appendices Appendix 1 ..................................................................................................... 101 Appendix 2 ..................................................................................................... 102 Appendix 3 ..................................................................................................... 103 Appendix 4 ..................................................................................................... 104 Appendix 5 ..................................................................................................... 105 Appendix 6 ..................................................................................................... 106 Appendix 7 ..................................................................................................... 109 Appendix 8 ..................................................................................................... I l l Bibliography................................................................................................................ 113 Acknowledgements I wish to thank professors John Reid, Ken McKinnon, Colin Howell and John N. Grant for their support and exchange of ideas, as well as guidance, over the years. On numerous occasions, I felt like abandoning the task but their reassurance that my work was important helped me continue the pursuit. In addition, I wish to thank professors Jim Morrison and Richard Twomey, the other members of my committee, for their encouragement and direction. I appreciate having had the opportunity to share classes and discussions with Sharon M. H. MacDonald, Kimberley Berry, Jonathan Dembling, Julie Morris, Jackie Logan, Carolyn Thomas, and Sharon Myers. I would also like to thank the staff of the Public Archives of Nova Scotia, the Hants County Court House, Windsor, and the West Hants Historical Society, Windsor. In addition, I am deeply indebted to the late John V. Duncanson of Falmouth, Larry Loomer of WolfVille, Terrence Punch, Allan Marble, John Johnston and Allan Robertson of Halifax, for their generous assistance and continuous encouragement, and to Dawn Allen of Centre Burlington, for providing cartographic assistance. More personal thanks go to my partner Claudia Kingston, for her constant inspiration, support and encouragement in seeing me through this academic pursuit. Firstly, I dedicate this thesis to my mother, the late Dorothy Wilhelmina States, who first nurtured my enthusiasm to learn more about the history of our family and community. Secondly, I dedicate this to the countless people of African descent in Hants County who struggled and protested against unfair treatment, to ensure their descendants would experience a more equitable future. Abstract During the early nineteenth century, Black refugees from the Southern United States immigrated to Nova Scotia and New Brunswick as a result of being offered freedom and a chance to own property if they fought for the British or escaped from their owners’ plantations or farms and managed to get behind British lines. The majority of these escaped refugees settled in Nova Scotia in the communities of Preston and Hammonds Plains, although a few small groups settled in other more remote communities throughout the province. At no time were the circumstances of the refugees less than dire. In most cases the residents in the areas where the government chose to settle them looked upon them as an intrusion and treated them as a separate and inferior segment of the population. As a consequence, the refugees found it necessary at all turns to adopt approaches that might help them combat their differential treatment. In Hants County, Nova Scotia, the Black families adapted to these circumstances during the nineteenth century and the first decade and a half of the twentieth century, albeit with great effort. There was employment for them but usually at the lower end of the economic scale, and the land that they were settled upon was of limited agricultural value. Nevertheless, these families actively participated in issues that affected them directly, or had a large impact on the welfare and future success of their offspring. The agency shown by these people would result in the generations following them achieving a level of competency not thought attainable by the immigrant generation. M i II a s ■Klaillai B a s i u CSiiibridge Smnnienille BiÇliiigtoj'' Sclmbenacadie^ KeiÙÀJirie Haiite^ j^Scolch Dfflisoii g VlUnge n Rriw=-aaf' Nùie Mile Rive: FiihnouUi BrooldyiiJ Ciiny’s /Soutli Corne 1 Ra\e(lon Croix V- îiiilock s| Winds 01 y) Forks pY' Mile ^L^'Mdoisc ^ Tlu-ee Y Mile Plains , flForks (\'aiiglirm)/l U.S. A., /ni 20 ^ kiloinerieü Cartographie repres^tation • 0. Allan. Sept. 2002. Introduction The school house at Five Mile Plains is in a very bad condition. This is a colored school, and the people are not wealthy. A new building is required, but it will be a heavy undertaking for the section.' In my last report I spoke of the bad condition of the school building in Five Mile Plains. This is a colored school and the people are not wealthy. I did not see what could be done to improve conditions. The school house was not worth repairing, and the section did not own the grounds. However it was decided to obtain a piece of ground and erect a building. Help came from many quarters. The Episcopal Church of Windsor presented the section with a site-truly a Christian act. Today this section has a better school house than the average country school. I have had difficulty in getting colored teachers, and would like to know the number of such teachers in proportion