The Coloured Corps: Black Canadians and the War of 1812-- Part 1: Free and Enslaved Blacks

Since I have been writing a lot about the Black Experience in the United States  in many of my other blogs lately in honor of Black History Month, I'll will be exploring one of their roles in the War of 1812.

From the Canadian Encyclopedia.

The Coloured Corps (also known as Runchley's Company of Colored Men, or Black Corps) was a militia company of black men raised during the War of 1812.

Created in Upper Canada, where enslavement had been limited in 1793,  the corps consisted of free  and enslaved black men.  Many of them were veterans of the American Revolution, in which they fought for the British and were called Black Loyalists.

The Coloured Corps (British/Canadian spelling) fought in the Battle of Queenstown Heights and the Battle of Fort George before it was attached to the  Royal Engineers as a construction company.

In later years, it was reactivated  during the Rebellions of 1837-38 and also served as a police force during the construction of the Welland Canal.

--Brock-Perry

St. Mary's County Museum Division Exhibits Detailed Model of British Ship of the Line HMS Albion

From the November 24, 2020, Southern Maryland Chronicle .

The St, Mary's County Museum Division in Leonardtown, Maryland, has partnered with a local  model ship builder to have a special exhibit of a model of the British ship HMS Albion, the flagship of a fleet of British ships that raided Leonardtown and St. Mary's County during the War of 1812 Chesapeake Campaign of 1814 which led to the burning of Washington, D.C., and the Battle of Baltimore.

The model enthusiast is retired Marine Colonel Robert Ballard who has loaned the stunning and intricate model to  display at the Old Jail Museum.

Several display panels give the history of the ship, her raids along the Chesapeake Bay and Admiral Cockburn (I've been writing about him recently because of his proclamation to Blacks to emigrate from the United States.

Mr. Ballard said this model took a year to make and he wanted people to see it.

--Brock-Perry

Historic Black Canadian Settlement Honored-- Part 3: The Land Was Pretty Bad

And, the little amount of land that Blacks did get was not very good for growing anything.

Sail Ralph Thomas, historian and descendant of the original Willow Grove settlers, said:  "When they (Blacks) got here it (the land) was not as good as they had been told."

"You know, the places weren't ready for them.  The grounds that were given to them were grounds that we know, even today,  to do anything as far as growing anything...."

Willow Grove is one of two historically black villages which will be featured on Canadian stamps in February.  The other is Amber Valley in Alberta.

Thomas said these stamps are a good way to start remembering and recognizing more black history in New Brunswick and Canadian history.

Now, this is something that the Black Lives Matter folks need to concentrate more on.

You Can Never Get Too Much History in My Book.  --Brock-Perry

Historic Black Settlement at Willow Grove to Be Honored-- Part 2: Blacks Were Not Welcomed and Those Who Came Got Smaller Plots of Poorer Land

But, the British government ran into problems when they tried to arrange land for the new immigrants in the province of Nova Scotia.   They wanted to send upwards of 3,000 of the new subjects to this province, but the legislature of it  said there were already too many Blacks there already.

So, they turned to New Brunswick, where the reception wasn't much better.

On April 13, 1815, Major General  Stracey Smyth, the Administrator of New Brunswick, asked the Executive Council to consider whether the province should receive 400-500 black refugees.  Although the council voted 3-2 to accept them,  the government was reluctant to take any responsibility for their welfare.

Of the thousands who departed the United States , 371 settled in Willow Grove.  Here they unfortunately found that the good land for farming they were promised was not exactly what they got.  The plots they received were smaller than the ones whites received

The policy of New Brunswick at the time was to give white settlers 100 acres while the Blacks received just 50 acres according to historian W.A. Spray.

And, to make matters worse, the plots Blacks received was not very food farming land.

--Brock-Perry

Historic Black Settlement of Willow Grove to Be Honored on Canadian Stamp-- Part 1

From the November 22, 2020, CBC by Jordan Gill.

A community outside of  Saint John will receive a stamp during next year's Black History Month according to Canada Post.

For Ralph Thomas, a descendant  of the residents of Willow Grove and a proponent of black history, the honor is a long time in coming.  "We have gone through the years without being recognized with some of our great folks that came to these parts and  went through a very tough time to get started in life."

The community was founded in 1815 as a result  of an 1812 British call to anyone living in the United States would be welcomed in the British Empire.  This was primarily aimed at Blacks, both enslaved and free.  Thousands of the Blacks took them up on it along the coast and especially from the Mid-Atlantic states and ended up living in  New Brunswick looking for a better life.

--Brock-Perry

Black Nova Scotia Man Fights For Land Title Dating Back to Early 1800s

From the August 9, 2020, Pique Magazine  "Black Nova Scotia man 'overjoyed'  as struggle for land title moves forward" by Canadian Press.

Christopher Downey  finished building his home in 2012 in North Preston, Nova Scotia, on land that had been in his family for generations.  Only, he found out he didn't own the land.  This set off a years-long effort to get title to it.

Downey is among scores of Blacks who have struggled for years to have their title claims recognized.  But now, after he won his case in the Nova Scotia Supreme Court, this is going to make it easier for other Blacks to win their titles.

The problem dates back to the 1800s when the Nova Scotia government distributed land to white and black Loyalists -- people who had stayed loyal to the British government during and after the American Revolution.  They moved to Canada.

Yet, the white settlers received claim to their land, their black counterparts did not.  They were allowed to occupy the land they were given, but did not receive title to it.

Downey said that his ancestors fought alongside the British in the War of 1812.

It is good to see a wrong being set right.

--Brock-Perry

Black Canadians Fought For Their Freedom: Richard Pierpoint-- Part 2

During the War of 1812, the threat of re-enslavement was real if the Americans won. Knowing this, Richard Pierpoint petitioned the government to form and lead a "corps of men of colour," saying "I fight for my freedom." //// The unit was eventually formed, but commanded by a white officer and known as Captain Runchey's Company of Coloured Men. It was the first all-black unit in Upper Canada, present-day Ontario. //// They fought in key battles including Fort George, Stoney Creek, St. David's and Lundy's Lane. They were among the first reinforcements at Queenston to help take back Queenston Heights. ///// As many as 20% of combatants in the war were black, many servinf in the Navy. //// After the war, blacks were granted land in the rtemote Oro land, but the land proved too difficult to clear and cultivate and many left. //// In 1821, at age 77, Pierpoint petitioned for passage back to Senegal but was given 100 acres near present-day Fergus. He died impoverished around 1835. //// Quite An Amazing Story. --Brock-Perry

Black Canadians Fought For Their Freedom: Richard Pierpoint-- Part 1

From the February 25, 2013, Toronto Globe and Mail "In 1812, black Canadians fought for their freedom" by Rosemary Sadlier. //// The Bicentennial of the war continues and Black History Month winds down. The United Nations International Decade for People of African Descent continues, and, unfortunately, Black p[articipation in te War of 1812 is largely ignored. //// Richard Pierpoint was born around 1744 in Bondu, West Africa, (now Senegal). He was captured at the age of 16 and brought to the Americas and became the property of a British military officer. //// During the American Revolution he accepted British military service to achieve his freedom. He served in Butler's Rangers and like thousands of other black Loyalists, was granted land in Canada, working 200 acres near Twelve Mile Creek in Ontario. //// Other Blacks helped settle Niagara Falls, Niagara-on-the-Lake, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. //// --Brock-Perry