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

Clayton Farm Owned By War of 1812 Veteran Honored

From the December 28, 2017, Herald-Whig (Illinois)  "Clayton farmer recognized for sesquicentennial farm" by Matt Dutgo.

The original 1864 deed for the farm of John Heinecke hangs on a wall in the farmhouse.  The farm became the 15th Adams County farm to achieve sesquicentennial status.

The original 160 acre plot was given to Robert Rickaby, a soldier who served in the War of 1812.  Over the years, the farm was sold several times, once even for as little as $70 and as much as $1,000 before John's great-great-grandfather Charles Heinecke bought it in July 8, 1864, for $37.99 an acre.  Heinecke was an immigrant from Hanover, Germany.

--Brock-Perry