THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD IN CANADA
Author: Mary M. AlwardPublished on: Feb 2, 2002
In 1793, the Upper Canada Act Against Slavery was passed. The Act was inspired by Governor J. G. Simcoe and made Upper Canada (now Ontario) the first British Colony to legislate against slavery.
Slavery had been the norm in Upper Canada for people of African ancestry since the beginning of the 17th Century. The Act did not free existing slaves, but did prohibit the import and assured that the children of slaves would be freed when they reached the age of twenty-five years.
After the Act was passed, slavery in the colonies declined. In 1833, the Imperial Act, which abolished slavery in all British Territories was passed, though it didn't become law until 1834.
Sandwich First Baptist Church
In present day Windsor, Ontario stands the Sandwich First Baptist Church. It is one of the oldest Black Baptist churches that have survived the Underground Railroad era in Canada.
In the early 1800's, Sandwich was a popular spot for escaped slaves who had just crossed the Detroit River from the U.S. into Canada. Slaves were able to maintain ties with family in the U.S. from both Sandwich and nearby Amherstburg. These Black communities flourished.
The Sandwich First Baptist Church in conjunction with the First Baptist Church in Detroit formed the Amherstburg Regular Missionary Baptist Association. This organization assisted refugee congregations in Canada and fought for the abolition of slavery. In 1840, the First Baptist Congregation was formed. In 1851, they built a lovely brick church, which still serves the community today.
St. Catherines British Methodist Episcopal Church
The City of St. Catherines, Ontario was growing rapidly. It was on rail lines and was situated close to the U.S./Canada border. Refugee slaves poured into the community to take advantage of the city's great employment opportunities. The community attended a small log church.
In 1855, the log church was replaced with a larger building. It had a three-sided balcony and an open hall. The seating capacity was large. Newly arrived refugees often attended. The refugees had been led to St. Catherines by Underground Railroad "conductor" Harriett Tubman. The "passengers" were often assured safety and given shelter in the "safe house" behind the church. Harriett lived in the house during the 1850's and often travelled to the U.S. southern states to assist slaves in their escape from cruel masters. The church was visited by many leading abolishionists of the day.
Mary Ann Shadd Cary (1823 - 1893)
Mary Ann Shadd Cary was an abolishionist, teacher, feminist, newspaper editor and civil rights advocate. She was an influential voice for the Underground Railroad in Upper Canada. she was active in Black communities in Toronto, St.Catherines, Chatham and Sandwich. She was editor of the Provincial Freeman, a newspaper that was widely read in the Black community. Mary Ann was the first Black woman editor in Canada.
Mary Ann Shadd Cary believed in equality of all, regardless of gender, color or ancestry. She encouraged Black communities to be self-sufficient and showed them how to succeed.
The R. Nathaniel Dett BME Church National Historic Site
The Niagara River provided a fairly accessible route for escaped slaves to make their way to the Niagara Penninsula of Upper Canada. During the 1800's, many refugees came to the community. In 1814, an African Methodist Episcopal congregation was formed. It continued to grow rapidly as escaped slaves poured into the area by means of the Underground Railroad.
In 1836, the Black community constructed a clapboard church at Fallsview.(present day Niagara Falls) The church was damp and chilly due to mist that was produced by the thundering Falls all year 'round.
Oliver Parnell, a successful refugee, donated a more hospitable site for the church in 1856. The church was moved from the original site by being rolled on logs. The congregation became a founding member of the British Methodist Episcopal Conference. The church was named for Robert Nathaniel Dett, who was a famed composer of sacred music in the 1900's.
Thornton and Lucie Blackburn
Thornton and Lucie Blackburn were arrested in Detroit for fleeing slavery. Their supporter's resistence to having them returned to the south started Detroit's first race riot. The couple escaped and fled to Upper Canada. They reached Toronto in the 1830's.
Thornton started Toronto's first cab company. He was well-known and respected by business associates as well as within the Black community. The Blackburn home is the only residence documented that was built by Underground Railroad refugees in the City of Toronto.
Thornton and Lucie Blackburn are designated personsof historical significance. The honor was bestowed upon them in recognition of their achievements. The couple represent the many refugees who integrated into Canada's urban life.
The AME Nazrey Church National Historic Site
In 1848, the church was both heart and soul of the Black community. It was in this year that the Underground Railroad refugee community began to build a stone chapel in Amherstburg, Upper Canada. The fieldstone walls are hand-laid and the structure is a prime example of the excellent workmanship of that era. It is historically significant for its' connection to Bishop Willis Nazrey, who led numerous African Methodist Episcopal congregations to the newly formed British Methodist Episcopal Church, a denomination established by Canadian Underground Railroad refugees. This newly formed association allowed the refugees to govern the churches in their new communities.
Underground Railroad Monument
In 1999, a committe was formed to establish a monument on Windsor's riverfront, commemorating the significant role that the people of the area played in the Underground Railroad movement. The committee decided the Underground Railroad Monument should celebrate the Windsor/Detroit connection of the Underground Railroad heritage.
It was decided that two monuments would be erected to represent the final stop on the Underground Railroad. Located in Hart Plaza, the Detroit monument depicts the "Gateway to Freedom." It features a bronze sculpture of six slaves awaiting transport to Canada. The sculpture acknowledges the participation of numerous people of Detroit in the Underground Railroad movement.
The Winsor sculpture depicts the arrival of fleeing slavesin Canada and their emotions upon reaching a land of freedom. The north side of the monolith shows a young girl holding a doll, who is looking back across the Detroit River. On the south side, two women with a baby stand beside a man who has his arms lifted in praise. The sculpture stnds on a 10 x 10 base, which will become home to the newly worded bronze history plaque. The plaque will hold the names of places of significance, as well as names of local citizens who supported the Underground Railroad movement. The "Flame of Freedom" and a bronze Canadian flag will also rest on the base - a touching tribute to the flight for freedom.
We, as Canadians, must remember our roots, our history and our past in order to understand how we came to be a great nation and move successfully into the future.
Have you ever wondered what it was like to be a slave? Well now you can experience the trip of an escaped slave. You will start in 1850 Maryland, where you are owned by a farmer. You yearn for freedom. Make the same choices fleeing slaves had to make on their way to Canada, as NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC takes you for a ride on the FREEDOM TRAIN. Your life will be changed forever. It is an awesome experience. Be sure to allow the page to load, then enter the site under the swinging lantern. I would love to hear your reaction to the trip in the discussion area. http://www.nationalgeographic.com/featur...
Website of the Month
Celebrating Black History Month Event
Resources:
National Library of Canada
Ontario Heritage Foundation
Parks Canada
City of Toronto Heritage
Ontario Black History Society (This society was reponsible for initiating the first celebration of Black History Month in Canada)
The Harriett Tubman stamp is from the collection of my friend. Thank you so much for allowing me to use it.
Links:
The Ontario Black History Society
http://www.blackhistorysociety.ca/
South End of the Gateway to Freedom
http://www.southend.wayne.edu/days/10172...
Take a Tour of the Undergound Railroad (fantastic) http://www.web.net/~proverbs/ugrail.html
John Freeman Walls Historic Site, Windsor Ontario http://www.web.net/~proverbs/
Settlements of the North Star: Stories of the Underground Railroad in Canada http://www.wcpn.org/spotlight/news/1999/...
Underground Railroad Quilt (Lots to learn here) http://www.beavton.k12.or.us/greenway/le...
Women of the Underground Railroad http://www.ugrr.org/learn/heroines.htm
Directory of Underground Railroad Operators in the United States http://www.ugrr.org/ur-names.htm
Quilts Hold Coded Messages for Slaves http://veracity.univpubs.american.edu/we...
Quiltmaker tells how slaves followed hidden messages to freedom http://www.ohio.com/bj/news/2001/Novembe...
Levi Coffin House (State Historic Site) http://www.waynet.org/nonprofit/coffin.h...
Suite101 Links
David Newman pays tribute to Black Canadians http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/life...
Tina Coruth writes of "Slavery and New Hampshire." http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/new_...
Paula Chase - Hyman writes,"Choosing Pain Over Shame http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/soul...
Meg Greene Malvasi's, "A Slave Ship Speaks" http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/hist...