Video
Guns Across The Lakes S2: Black Defenders of York
Transcript
During the War of 1812 Black Canadians served in the defense of British North America as sailors, soldiers, and militiamen a number even came into battle as members of indigenous nations. They fought alongside their white and indigenous comrades endured the hardships of war and some paid the ultimate price and never returned home. As part of the Toronto History Museum's network Fort York National Historic Site has embarked on a journey to expand the stories we tell here at the site. We aim to enhance the experiences of our guests by providing a deeper understanding of the rich histories of Toronto's diverse communities and neighborhoods. With this in mind this video will introduce you to some of the black residents of early Toronto, then known as the town of York, whose service in the War of 1812 have up until recently gone largely unrecognized. Historians have estimated that as many as 700 enslaved persons of African descent were brought into what is now Ontario in the decades following the American War of Independence. And unlike other Euro-American settlers to this land who numbered about 10 000 at this time these enslaved men, women, and children were brought here against their will and toiled not for their own comfort but for the purpose of increasing the personal wealth of their enslavers. Around the time of York's founding in 1793 at least 13 of the town's first black residents were enslaved. People like Peggy and her children Amy, Milly, and Jupiter, Moses and his wife Phoebe, John and his brother Simon were considered the property of some of the colony's wealthiest elites. Men such as the provincial administrator Peter Russell provincial secretary and registrar William Jarvis and solicitor general Robert Gray. Colonial legislation passed in 1793 gradually eliminated slavery in Upper Canada by banning the further importation of enslaved persons and establishing a path to freedom for children who were born after the legislation was passed. While it was the first piece of legislation to abolish slavery anywhere in the British Empire the act did not free any enslaved adults or their existing children already in bondage interestingly this legal protection of slavery within Upper Canada resulted in some fugitives from slavery actually escaping Upper Canada and heading to the United States particularly after the Michigan Territory abolished slavery in 1805. In the end it would not be until the Slavery Abolition Act of 1833 that all slavery was ended in the British Empire by which points estimated there were less than 50 enslaved people in British North America. These enslaved persons were not the only displaced Africans living in early Upper Canada there was also a very small minority of free blacks, less than 50, who had fought for or sought protection of the British Crown during the American War of Independence. There is also a small growing number of free blacks who moved to the British territory to escape racialized violence and inequality in the United States. Although these groups did not enjoy the same places in the colony as their white counterparts, often having unequal access to land and being barred from certain occupations, they did generally enjoy greater freedoms in British Canada than if they had remained in the United States. During the War of 1812 the prospect of American invasion and the possible annexation of Upper Canada roused this small free black community to take up arms and defend the colony they believed that if America won the coming war it would bring about a degradation of their already precarious position in colonial society and potential enslavement. In short the legal and social dynamics within early Upper Canada meant that there were people of African descent with conflicting statuses within the colony. Although the 1793 act to limit slavery showed a growing shift in imperial attitudes towards slavery it also reinforced the enslavement of those who were in bondage prior to its passage.
As historian Philip D. Morgan wrote there was no single black experience in the British Empire. Ambiguity flux and varied levels of openness to blacks characterized racialized relations in Upper Canada at this time racial barriers shifted gave way and stood firm without consistency predictability or even credibility wrote historian Robin Winks. This nebulous position in colonial society also carried over into the military. There has been a long history of persons of African descent serving the British Armed Forces. The Royal Navy and the Provincial Marine here in Canada both employed black sailors. Other black semen worked aboard privateers during wartime. James long a black resident of York was captured by the US Navy on November 11, 1812 while serving aboard the Provincial Marine schooner Elizabeth. He was later paroled without exchange at York in April of 1813. His father Peter had served as a gunner aboard the British Nova Scotia during the American War of Independence but more on him later. In the 18th and 19th centuries it was also common for British army regiments to recruit black men and boys to serve as enlisted military musicians. The fashion for Turkish music at the time resulted in most British residents employing black musicians to play percussion instruments such as symbols tambourines and bass drums. The Canadian Regiment of Fencible Infantry which saw service in Upper Canada during the War of 1812 and was stationed at Fort York following the close of hostilities was no exception. It boasted at least one black bandsman Charles Faulkner who had exchanged from 104th New Brunswick Regiment served with Canadian Regiment throughout the war and was among the black veterans to receive a land grant in Oro Township, Upper Canada. As a reward for his service. Black soldiers were also often employed as military laborers. The pioneer section of the 104th Regiment which also fought in Upper Canada during the war was composed entirely of black men. These men would have been the 19th century's equivalent of modern combat engineers. One of them John Baker was a former enslaved resident of York who'd originally been brought to the town by Robert Gray, Upper Canada's first Solicitor General. Whatever their role these black soldiers and sailors enjoyed most the same rights and privileges as white soldiers and sailors. Both wore similar uniforms drew the same rations and received the same pay and punishments. Consequently these men held a unique status in colonial society along with the regular forces. The results of the local militia Upper Canada was divided into counties and the militia regiments bearing the county's name included every able-bodied male from 16 to 60 years of age. This was however a paper army and except for a couple annual training days these units received very limited military instruction. The formation of a segregated militia company of all black Upper Canadians was first proposed by Richard Pearpoint a black loyalist veteran of the American War of Independence. Although the colonial government did not accept his offer a nucleus of an all-black militia company had formed in Niagara during the Summer of 1812 attached to the 1st Lincoln Militia Regiment and under the command of a white tavern keeper named Robert Raunchy. This small unit was reinforced by the transfer of 14 men from the 3rd York Militia in the Fall of 1812. During the first year of the War of 1812 militia companies were often kept on duty for many weeks often without proper equipment and uniforms. Captain Raunchy's color company for example was embodied from the 24th of October to the 24th of December 1812. Such a situation however was unsustainable these militiamen were ultimately armed civilians and they would have to go home eventually. Therefore in the Spring of 1813 the army raised distinct incorporated units of militiamen who would serve full-time like British regular troops. The re-designated colored corps was one of the units incorporated for permanent service. Originally attached to the Quartermaster General's Department in 1814 the unit was turned over to the Engineer Department and was heavily engaged in the construction of Fort Mississauga located at the mouth of the Niagara River for the remainder of the war. It's not known for certain whether the manner which sees black militiamen were used by the Engineer Department was influenced by contemporary attitudes towards race though as we saw in the case the 104th regiment's pioneer section it was common to employ black soldiers as military laborers in segregated units. Despite its honorable service soldiers of the colored corps experience years of hardships following the war due to bureaucratic mismanagement and racial discrimination. For example these black veterans were given land grants of half the acreage of land allocate each of their white counterparts for their service. Nevertheless as historian Gareth Newfield wrote the color corps set the precedent for the broader acceptance of military service of black Canadians. In all approximately 55 black men served in the colored corps during the war. Of these we know the names of six who were known to be from York: John Call, Daniel Coughley, Samuel Edmonds, Prince Henry, William Jones, and Robert Scott. Let us now take closer look at some of these men. Daniel Coughley was born in Vermont around 1786. He was probably born free. Coming to Upper Canada around 1805. He established himself in York and worked for the prominent Bolton family. Coughley married Elizabeth Austin a free black woman in early 1811. Throughout his adult life Coughley made many connections with both free and enslaved African Canadians. In early March 1811 the provincial secretary William Jarvis took two of his slaves to court for stealing gold and silver out of his desk at home. The accused culprits were an unnamed enslaved woman and a male slave named Henry commonly known as Prince. Jarvis also charged Coughly with aiding and abetting the accused. Prince Henry was sentenced to a period of incarceration in the town jail while the enslaved woman was ordered back to Jarvis's custody. Coughly on the other hand was cleared of all charges. Coughlin served in Captain Raunchy's company in the latter half of 1812 and likely fought in the Battle of Queenston Heights. Since his name does not appear on later muster roles it is assumed that he did not re-enlist in the colored corps upon its embodiment to full-time service. Prince Henry also joined the colored corps and likely fought the Battle of Fort George. It is not known currently whether he was still enslaved at time of his enlistment but the two pounds four shilling and eight pence he was played for his 91 days of service between April 25th and July 24th 1813 was likely more than he was ever paid by William Jarvis. In 1825 now with a family of seven children Coughley petitioned for a land grant in Oro township near Lake Simcoe and received a location ticket for lot 22 concession 2. In 1834 Elizabeth had died and Coughley married Mary Oliver. As his eldest son grew he petitioned for more land in Oro and acquired lot 14 in concession 2 and later purchased part of lot 12 in concession 5. In 1837 when the Upper Canadian Rebellion broke out his sons Daniel Jr and Nathaniel signed up with Captain Alexander Lang's company of the Medonte Volunteer Militia. Sadly Daniel Jr died in Toronto while on militia duty in 1838. Of the remaining Coughley children several married some staying in Oro and others moving to Syracuse, New York. Coughley married his third wife Jane Williams in 1844, however as there is no record of either of them in the 1861 census it is thought that they have both passed away before that time and are buried in the African cemetery in Oro township. Robert Scott was a free black man living in York on what is now Richmond street by 1810. We know nothing about his life before moving to York but his intentions to serve in Raunchy's company are unambiguous. He carefully drew up his last will and testament before leaving York understanding full well that he might not return. He wrote quote "I Robert Scott of the town of York in the home district of the province Upper Canada a free black man taking into consideration the uncertainty of life the more especially as I am now about to embark for Niagara as a volunteer to defend my King and Gracious Sovereign King George the Prince of the good and the enemy of all slavery Do make and publish this my last will and testament." As one scholar has observed this interesting document has opened up a window on the thoughts and mindset of a free black man in Upper Canada on the precipice of war with the United States in 1812. Scott would have been fully aware that if the Americans were successful in conquering Upper Canada his own freedom could have been in jeopardy. Scott was living with Sarah Long and her children when he left to join the war. In his will Robert Scott left his house, lot horses, cart, two cows, his hay, and oats, and all of his other goods chattel to Sarah and after her death to their son David. Sarah Long was married at that time to Peter Long who had served as a gunner aboard the British schooner Nova Scotia during the American War of Independence. He had brought his family to York in 1793 and along with 19 other free black men petitioned unsuccessfully to allow free blacks to settle together in a small community. By 1806 he had moved away from York and later served in the King's Works in Prescott during the war. Sadly both Robert Scott and Peter Long died in 1813. Scott while serving along the Niagara River on January 15, 1813 and Long later that year in Prescott. Sarah lived another 43 years dying in Toronto on June 16th 1856 at the reputed age of 119. As we have seen there was no universal black experience in early Toronto yet despite enslavement, prejudice, and segregation black soldiers, sailors and militiamen made significant contributions to the defense of Canada during the War of 1812. Annual observances like Black History month in February provide all Canadians with an opportunity to pause and reflect upon how Canadian Sovereignty, security, and peace have been achieved and maintained by black Canadians.
Description
During the War of 1812, Black Canadians served in the defence of British North America as sailors, soldiers, and militiamen. A number even came to battle as members of Indigenous Nations. They fought alongside their white and Indigenous comrades, endured the hardships of war, and some never returned home, but paid the ultimate sacrifice. As part of the Toronto History Museums network, Fort York National Historic Site has embarked on a journey to expand the narratives and stories it tells. Drawing upon prima
Duration
14 minutes, 20 seconds
Credit
Fort York National Historic Site/Toronto History Museums
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